Bring Bailey for
moral support.
Landon let out a sigh. This was all the confirmation he needed that Red knew something they didn’t. His brothers began chiming in on the text chain, responding that they, too, would be at the family meeting.
Rather than disrupt Bailey at her workstation, Landon texted her from across the room.
Red has called an urgent family meeting. Tonight at 7. Can you make it?
Seconds later three dots appeared, followed by her reply.
Of course. What’s up?
Is it about Hattie?
He didn’t say, but my gut says yes.
Sorry about our tree plans. Raincheck?
Don’t be silly. Hattie comes first.
He put a smiley face emoji along with his dad’s address, warmed by her comment. It felt so nice to be with someone who also cared about his grandmother and what was happening to her. He hadn’t needed to explain anything to Bailey. She knew that Hattie was critically ill and living on borrowed time. She’d also seen Hattie this morning. Nothing could change the fact that she was fading away before their eyes.
That evening Landon arrived at Red’s house at ten minutes to seven. After work he’d made a quick trip to the house to switch up his clothes. Judging by the fact that he didn’t see any other vehicles other than Red’s in the driveway, he figured that he was the first to arrive. Bailey had also swung by her house to check up on Foxy Brown. It had made sense to drive to Red’s house separately. He burst out laughing at the sight of the lit-up reindeer perched on the roof of the ranch-style home. It served as a pick-me-up from the somber circumstances of tonight’s meeting. Blinking candy canes led the way to the front door. Although his memories of this house were hazy, his brothers remembered growing up as kids in this same home. Red had purchased it a few years ago and renovated the inside.
Once he stepped inside the house, Landon smelled the familiar aroma of corn bread. He followed his nose to the kitchen, finding his father at the stove. He had a pan of salmon with rosemary and lemon in his hands.
“Hey, Dad,” Landon said. He was still testing out the D word after years of only calling him Red. It had never been malicious on his part. Calling him Dad hadn’t felt right until recently. It was a title one had to earn.
“Hey, you snuck up on me,” Red said, placing the pan down on top of the stove. He turned to Landon and hugged him, a gesture Landon could never get enough of. He still had a long way to go to make up for all the hugs he’d missed out on over the years.
“I could smell the corn bread from outside,” he teased.
“I figured we could talk and share a meal. Could you take the salad out of the fridge for me?”
Landon took the salad out and placed it on the kitchen counter while Red sliced up the corn bread. A few moments later they heard footsteps that announced the arrival of Caleb, Sophia, and Lily. Caleb came rushing into the kitchen.
“Is that smell what I think it is?” he shouted. Red and Landon laughed at his excitement. Red’s corn bread was legendary.
The doorbell rang, and Landon had the feeling it was Bailey. Everyone else would’ve just opened the door and walked into the house.
“I’ll get it,” Sophia said, turning and walking toward the front door. Before he even saw her, he heard Bailey’s voice. He couldn’t describe how good it felt to have someone here for him to lean on. He was grateful that his father had suggested that he invite Bailey. Yet he knew what it meant. They were about to hear sobering news about Hattie.
Bailey quickly made her way over to him after greeting everyone. “Hey, you,” she said.
“Hey,” he said back, pressing a quick kiss on her lips. It felt amazing to not have to pretend anymore. Both of them were fully engaged and open. There was nothing to hide anymore. Their feelings were real and genuine.
Last to arrive was Xavier, who showed up solo. “True is alittle under the weather, so I just told her to stay home and get some rest. Jaylen is watching over her.”
“The first trimester is pretty rough,” Sophia said. “Morning sickness isn’t just mornings. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
“Tell me about it,” Xavier said. “We’re stocking up on saltines and ginger ale.”
“Why doesn’t everyone gather around and fill up a plate?” Red suggested. “Salmon, corn bread, and salad. Help yourselves. We can head to the dining room so we can eat and talk at the same time.”
Red stacked plates on the kitchen counter, along with napkins and utensils. Everybody gathered around and took a plate, then proceeded to fill it up with the food Red had prepared. Within minutes they were all seated at the dining room table. Lily had her own special table, a plastic Barbie-themed one that she loved sitting at all by herself. Grandpa Red had bought it for her for when she came over.
Everyone dug into the food, offering praise for Red’s delicious corn bread and salmon. Red clearly was an amazing cook, and he seemed to enjoy feeding people. It was one of his talents, even though Landon didn’t remember him cooking for them much as kids. Then again, he’d been so young when they’d left Moose Falls, he barely remembered anything.
