Miriam came back onto the porch. Antonia and I both stood, and Miriam chuckled. “Rolling out the red carpet for the dying.”
Antonia took a quick inhale, and I pondered how to reply. Do you say yes to something like this? Meet humor with humor or let the comment go by the wayside?
Miriam shook her head and eyed her friend. “If I can’t joke, then I’m not going to make it very long, am I?”
“You dying isn’t something I care to joke about.” Antonia stepped aside and directed Miriam to sit in the rocker. “Would you like coffee? Tea?”
“Tea would be fine.”
Antonia looked at me. “Can I get you anything else? A refill?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
She nodded softly and then disappeared into the house. I sat back down and looked at my dog, who sat expectantly next to Miriam. She slipped her hand into her pocket and handed him a treat. She patted Scout’s head and leaned down to kiss his nose.
“You’re such a good boy,” she said to him. “Do you think he knows?”
What a loaded question. I laughed and directed my answer to be about my dog being a good boy and not sensing Miriam was sick. “Yes, I tell him every day, and I believe Antonia told him as well. He’s going to get an inflated ego if we keep complimenting him.”
Miriam huffed. “Toni.”
“Toni?”
She nodded. “Her friends call her Toni.”
“I’m not sure we’re friends, at least not yet.”
“You will be,” she said as she continued to make lovey faces at my dog. “Aside from my kids and the staff at the hospital, you’re the only one that knows.”
I swallowed hard. Was this a burden? I didn’t think it was. “I did tell Jerome. He won’t say anything, but it was important for him to know as well, since he also teaches and coaches Cutter.”
“That’s fine. It’s only a matter of time before everyone will know.” Miriam sat back and began rocking. “My son is going to need you: someone to talk to.”
Her words tore at my heart. She was going to be in the fight of her life, and she was worried about her son. “He’ll have me,” I said and then cleared my throat. “Cutter will have the whole town to lean on.”
Miriam looked down at her hands, and I saw her lips move into a fine line. I knew I shouldn’t stare but couldn’t help it. I wondered ifthis moment would be one I recalled in the future. Maybe when Nova was older, in ten years ... a thought struck me then: Would I even know her in ten years? Would they go live with Antonia in Boston? Or Miriam’s parents?
They were the missing piece in all of this. I’d never seen them at a game or heard Cutter ever mention them.
The screen door opened, and Antonia returned. She handed Miriam a teacup and set the saucer down on the tray, then wiggled a bottle of water at me.
“Thanks,” I said as I stood and took it from her. I motioned for her to sit in the rocker while I leaned against the pillar. We sat in awkward silence for a minute, and I considered leaving. I supposed it was one thing to sit and talk to either of them, but both made me feel like a third wheel. Not to mention, there was an obvious worry between them.
After chugging half the bottle, I righted myself. “I’m going to head to the hardware store, and then I’ll be back to fix the loose boards.”
Miriam met my gaze. “You don’t have to do that, Wes.”
“I know, but I want to.”
I nodded to them and then took my leave, calling for Scout to follow me. I half expected him to stay back and milk the two ladies for more snacks, but he sauntered behind me.
As I walked home, I thought about what I’d need from the hardware store besides wood and realized I should’ve inspected the porch better. For all I knew, the columns needed repairing, along with the roof, the screen door, and the wood trim. The house would also fare better if it had siding instead of clapboard.
You’re getting ahead of yourself. It wasn’t my house, and I didn’t have a vested interest in it. Nor had Miriam asked me to fix anything. Still, I wanted to. It was one less thing she or Antonia would need to worry about.
I opened the truck door, and Scout hopped in. He sat in the passenger seat and liked to stick his head out the window, which meant I had to keep the heat cranked this time of year, or I’d freeze.
He wagged his tail in excitement when we drove past Miriam’s, and he continued to watch her house until it was out of sight.
