"Who's the new guy?" he wanted to know. "And don't give me a color."
Ash stepped up beside me. "He went to Southwind a few years before us. When I was your age, he was graduating. Went to college and law school, took care of Gran, and is someone I think of like a brother."
Zeke nodded. "He's flirting with my mom. He's not married, is he?"
"Not married," Ash assured him. "Is that a common problem?"
"Yeah," Zeke admitted. "One guy was married. Another had a girlfriend. Some of the dicks she goes out with think that because she had me it means she's easy. It's what people say about her, you know?"
"I haven't heard that," I assured him.
"Yeah, well, it's what the kids at school say," Zeke grumbled. "I just need to know if I should tell him to leave her alone."
"Berto's a good guy," Ash promised. "He's straight, he has a successful career, and he is not a womanizer. I mean, he might be a Republican..."
"Ash," I huffed, stopping him before he could get started. "I'm pretty sure that Zeke doesn't care about political parties yet. He's more interested in whether or not he needs to chase him off, right?"
"Yes!" Zeke agreed, sounding almost relieved that I understood. "But she just got the job, and I don't want to mess things up because I really want to live here, you know?"
"If there's a problem," Ash told him, "then you talk to me. When it comes to Southwind, I'm Cobalt's boss. Violet's also the one who runs this show, and she wants your mom working here, so I think you're safe." Then he propped his elbow up on the truck and leaned against the side. "I can tell you that Berto doesn't care about who's gay, bi, pan, or anything else. He also doesn't live around here, he is very serious about his job in Austin, and he really does flirt with everyone if he thinks it will get him a vote."
Zeke nodded. "Ok. Thanks. I just know that Mom's so happy, and she keeps saying that this is the break she needs to change our lives. She was asking me what color curtains I want. Curtains, Ash! Like I know about curtains."
"She's excited," I told the kid. "It sounds like how I felt when I started working here. Now let's get the rest of this stuff inside."
Bit by bit, we got the vehicles emptied out and the cottage filled up. Every open space had a box in it, and most had them stacked up a few high. Technically, the cottage was smaller than the mobile they were living in before, but the rooms were more spacious and laid out better.
"Does anyone see a box that says sheets?" Violet asked, weaving through the rooms. "They're going to need to sleep on something tonight."
"Over here," Cessily called out. "I just put that one in the master bedroom."
"What else do we need for tonight?" Darnell asked. "I mean, beds, clothes, and I think there's a box from the fridge somewhere with food."
"Back of my car," Violet yelled at him. "Can you put that away?"
"Got it!" Faith yelled.
The whole thing was chaos, but it was the kind that just worked. All of us were ducking and dodging around each other, weaving through the piles of boxes, and trying to make sure that stuff ended up in the room it was marked for. I'd moved a couple of times in my life, and not once had it been this efficient - or fun.
When someone said the wrong thing, jokes were made. When something was heavy, more jokes were made. We guys kept egging each other on for one more load of stuff, then another after that. At some point, Berto told the ladies to start putting things away so the family could at least have some comforts. And then I saw him pull Emily up the hall, just out of the main traffic area.
"I'm sure you probably want to relax after all of this, but we're going to have dinner up at the house," he said. "You and Zeke should come and let us cook for you."
"Us?" I asked, peeking my head around the corner to make it clear I'd heard him. "You offering to cook, Cobalt?"
"Since I have a feeling that I've carried a lot less than you, sure." He glanced at his watch. "I can run to the store if we need stuff."
"There's stuff to cook," I assured him. "The house has been full for a bit, so Cy and I have kept the fridge stocked."
Berto smiled. "I was thinking some steaks."
"Won't say no, but it's about twenty minutes to the closest store. We have stuff for fajitas, burgers..." I paused, thinking about what else would feed this mass of people. "I have tofu and salad coming out my ears."
Emily just laughed. "I like a good salad, but I've never had tofu."
So I looked at Berto. "Know how to make fajitas on the grill?"
"I'm Latino," he said. "I think it's in my DNA. That, or Bea taught me before I headed to college. You know how to cook tofu?"
