Embarrassed to be drawing attention, she reluctantly agreed, and before long they were eating some pretty tasty gyros. But aware of the time, and her dining companion, she ate as quickly as politely possible, listening while Aaron went on about what a good sales season he was having at Hanford Homes.
“I’m happy for you.” She took a fast sip of her iced tea.
“And good news.” He looked at his phone. “Your farmhouse sink and quartz countertops will be ready for install tomorrow. You all set for that?”
“I just finished painting the kitchen cabinets.”
“Great. And my HVAC guys have scheduled your new heat pump to be installed early next week.”
“That’s great,” she said as she finished off the last bite of her gyro.
“I think those were the last things on your list, but I haven’t had time to come by to check on the progress. How’s it looking to you so far?”
“Just fine. Your guys do good work. I might need a couple of tweaks. Minor things. I’ll text you a list later.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin and then stood. “Thank you for lunch, Aaron. You’re right, the gyros were good. But I need to get going. Make hay while the sun shines.” She forced a smile as she headed for the exit. At the door, she was surprised to see Marta Orosco and another woman seated nearby.
She greeted Marta but was met with a somewhat questioning look along with a stiff little wave. Flustered and wanting to explain that meeting with Aaron was just business, which may not have been completely true, she simply waved back and hurried out. Small towns! She never knew who she might run into. Of course, that was also the beauty of a close community—something she looked forward to enjoying more. But she hated to give Miguel’s mother the wrong impression.
Honey
After Jewel had left for town, CT was fixated on painting and kept asking when he would get to do it, even after Honey had told him a dozen times, “Not until Jewel says so.” She wished Jewel hadn’t mentioned it. Jewel and Cooper still sometimes imaginedit brightened CT’s world to talk about things to come. But CT’s time span was all about here and now. Like an anxious three-year-old, he didn’t know how to wait.
So when CT went AWOL shortly after Jewel left, Honey wasn’t too surprised and suspected he might be getting into Jewel’s art materials again. She set down the banana she’d brought for his midmorning snack and hurried outside, calling for him as she went to check the barn. But when she found him, he was inside the farmhouse kitchen, trying to pry open a bucket of paint with a dinner fork.
“CT,” she said, trying not to scold. “This is Jewel’s project. She’s been working on it.” She glanced around the room that barely resembled her old kitchen. “Jewel needs your help outside.”
He looked up from the can, fork still in hand. “Outside?”
“Yes. She went to get house paint. We have to wait for her to come home.”
“Home? To paint?” He set the fork on the floor. “Okay.”
“You need to save your energy so you can help her this afternoon.” She took his hand. “You know how you get tired.”
“I know.”
“And there’s a banana waiting for you.”
He smiled. “You take care of us.”
“That’s right.” She led him to the back porch, waiting as he paused by the red honey cabinet. As usual, he removed a jar of honey. She didn’t bother to tell him they were overly stocked. “Can’t have too much honey,” she said as they went outside.
“Too much honey?” He scowled. “No.”
“No, not too much. We have enough honey.” She waited for him to navigate the steps. “Honey is one thing we always have plenty of.”
He pointed at her. “Always have you, Honey.”
She smiled. “That’s right.”
“Always together,” he said as they walked. “How many years?”
“Forty-seven in August.”
“How old am I?”
“How old do you think you are?” This was a question she askedhim from time to time just to see if he could remember. Sometimes he got close.
“Forty-seven,” he proclaimed.
