“I’m the reason that she distrusts me.I blame that fully on me.But once we talked, I had a wonderful time with her.We went to get dinner together, too.I’ve never had so much fun.”He was grateful that his mom didn’t say she told him so, but he could tell himself.Once they were off thephone, he took a shower.He was feeling the effects of the day and wanted to go to bed.He’d been going since before seven this morning, and he was worn out.
After making him a bowl of cereal, he ate it at the counter and rinsed out his bowl.He was going to have to get himself a house soon, even though he had a three-bedroom condo.It would be crowded with the three of them in it, as it only had one bathroom.Still thinking about how big he’d need, he got online and looked homes up.There was plenty to choose from, but he knew nothing as to what Anna and Harri would want in a home.
After an hour of shopping, he headed to bed.It was nearly midnight when he thought of Anna again and smiled.She’d been nice to him all day, and there were a couple of times when he knew she wanted to hit him.But he was learning about having a daughter in his life and a seemingly endless supply of money.He didn’t want her spoiled any more than her mother did.
Waking at seven, his usual time to get up, he was at work at eight.He was in such a good mood that he didn’t mind running the church crowd and was happy to be there when they started pulling out of the lot.Once a week, they had to control traffic at the local church, and he knew that today the sun was shining in his favor.Getting the traffic flowing in the right direction made him feel good.There hadn’t been a fender bender, nor did there seem to be any harsh words over having to stop people from making the streets too overcrowded.
At lunch time, he called Anna.She said it was laundry day and that she and Harri were getting their clothing separated out.He knew how to do laundry, too, and wondered what it would be like to have little things in his wash.He still marveled at how much Harri looked like a shrunk-down version of her mother.Even their shoes matched when they went out.
“I have to change sheets too, so that takes us a bit longer than normal.I usually do them on Saturday, but we were busy all day yesterday, so I’m a day behind.”He said that he has a service come in and do his house twice a week, so he didn’t have to worry about it.“That must be nice.I’ve never been able to afford someone to come in and dust, much less clean my house for me.But Harri is neat as a pin, so I don’t have much to worry about.”
He noticed that she did put her things in her backpack when she had them.So she’d not lose them, she’d told him.When she’d had to explain to him about the character on her pack, she did it in a way that didn’t make him feel stupid.She’d told him who she was and how she related to some of the things on the shows that she watched.Harri even had him look up the cartoon so that he’d have a better understanding.He was falling for the kid hard and wondered what it was going to do to his heart if he and her mother couldn’t work things out.Suddenly, he was speaking to the little girl.
“I had a lovely time yesterday, and thank you for not making me cry.”He told her she was very welcome and that he’d had a good time too.“Most adults hear that mommy has a kid, and they run away.You didn’t, so good for you.”
Laughing when she handed the phone to her mother, he told her what was said.He could hear Anna telling Harri to watch herself, and that was the end of it.He wondered what it would be like to have an entire family of little Harri’s running around and decided that he couldn’t do any better than that.She was the perfect little girl for his family, and he wished he’d gotten to know her better the week before.He felt like he’d missed some really good times.
After lunch, he was still feeling good about the day and wondered if they’d allow him to pick them up for dinner tonight.Then he remembered that Harri had school tomorrow and would need to get into bed earlier.He would, too, as he was feeling the effects of not getting a full eight hours of sleep last night.But still, he might go by with a pizza or something just to be able to hang out with them.
“I was wondering what you’re doing for dinner tonight.I know that we all have to work, so I was wondering what time I could bring over a pizza.”She didn’t say anything for a few moments, and he was worried that he’d overstepped his bounds.But she told him that they usually ate at six so that she could be bathed and in bed by nine.“I can do that.Do you want a salad to go with your pizza?I usually have one when I have it.The place where I’m going to pick up has the best house salad dressing.”
“That sounds heavenly.We’re headed to the grocery store in town now.I have to pick up Lunchables for her lunch for the week.”He said that he got off at four today and would be there at six with the pie.“No sodas, however.I don’t like her to have them, so I’ll pick up some juice too.What do you want to drink?You can have soda, but she can’t.I’m brewing tea for the week, too.”
“I’ll have tea then.That sounds really good.”He told her that he didn’t drink it sweet when she asked him.“Is that all right?I can drink it if that’s what you’re making.”
“I don’t drink it sweet either, and it’s decaffeinated.That’s the way I can cut down on all the caffeine through the week.”He said that sounded good and that he’d see her around six.“We’ll be here.”
He couldn’t bring pizza over every night that he wanted to see her and decided that he’d have to find out what they eat on the weeknight.He could cook, too, but he wasn’t going to mess up her kitchen with his skills.He could cook, but he was a messy cook and left behind a wake of pans when he did it.He’d just stick with picking things up for them until he got to know them better.
At four o’clock, he was headed out the door.He’d seen Alaric and Farley, and that made his day.He didn’t get to see his younger brother all that often, so he was glad that Farley came by to see him.He taught at the elementary school in Nashport, third grade, and he loved it.
The only time that he was able to see them all once a week was on Saturdays when Mom had them all over.He was going to see what he had to do to make sure that Anna and Harri were a part of the family on Saturdays, too.Sometime.
He was moving in the right direction right now, but knew that he was going to have to slow things down.He also didn’t want to pressure her into anything either.He was just going with the flow for now and was having a wonderful time.
Picking up the pizza and salads, he’d even gotten one for Harri, as he knew that she loved salads.If no one wanted it, he’d take it home and use it for work tomorrow.They were delicious, no matter if you ate them the next day or not, and he was all right with having salad two times in the same week.When he showed up at the house, there seemed to be tension in the air, and he didn’t know what to do about it.
“She’s upset because we’re having pizza tonight.”He told Anna that he could go and get something else.“No, she’ll either eat it or not.I’m not cooking a whole meal for her just because she wanted to decide what we were having for dinner.There is more than her in this house.”Anna said that last part like she wanted Harri to hear it, and he wasn’t surprised when she came out of her bedroom crying.
“You just don’t understand.”She said that she didn’t and asked Harri to explain herself.“I like to pick dinner on Sunday night.It’s my turn.”
“What would you have picked?”Harri said she would have picked pizza, but didn’t get to.“I don’t understand you right now.You’re mad because you didn’t get to pick pizza as our dinner, and we’re having it.He even brought you a salad to have with it.You love salads.”
“I do love salads.”And just like that, the crisis was over.“Can I have mine in a bowl?That way I can save some for later if I want it.”
“Of course.Now tell Zeno that you’re sorry for causing a scene.You didn’t have to have a fit when you wanted pizza in the first place.”He was told how sorry she was, and he believed her.As soon as they sat down to eat, Harri ate her salad as if she had not eaten for days.
~*~
Shawn couldn’t believe that his dad was finally here.Meeting him in the lobby of the hotel, he was glad that he didn’t have much in the way of luggage.They would charge him for a double, and he was worried about how much money was on the credit card that he’d stolen.Dad hugged him several times when he saw him.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said about Benjamin.You said that he wasn’t going to be going out on runs with us anymore.I’m thinking that’s all right.”He asked him why they were family.“Yes, we are, but if he don’t want to do it anymore, then we should let him.Besides, it will be nicehaving someone on the outside to come visit us if we get caught.You have to always think like you’re going to get caught, and that makes it better for you.You don’t make as many mistakes.”
“That’s right.I remember you saying that to me before.I’m never getting caught again.If I do, then I’m going to have death by cops.I’m not going back to prison.It’s not the life for me.”Dad said that he didn’t mind it as he got his three squares a day and a roof over his head.“Yeah, I like that too, but not enough to go back in.I’m finished with the prison system.”
“I’m glad to see you, son.Now, tell me what you think is going on with your sister?Mac never was a team player, even when she didn’t know any better when she was a kid.I never did cotton to her talking back to me either.”He said that Benjamin said she was getting married.“If he’s saying that she was getting married, she more than likely is by now.That’ll make it harder to get to her money, but not impossible.I heard that she’s married to that Dresden family.Now there is some fine money coming from that quarter.”
“I don’t think I ever found out who she was marrying.How did you find out?”He said that there are a lot of things that he could find out if you knew who to ask.“I suppose so.I’ve been cooped up in this hotel room just waiting for you to come along.Also, if you’re in the room when they come to clean up, they tend to hurry and get out faster.I don’t want them finding my shit.”
