Chapter Twenty-Two

The motor on the dust collector hummed in the background, muffled by Dale’s hearing protectors. She turned the heart-shaped box in her hands and smoothed the edges until she was satisfied with the shape. The lines of the lacewood made a delicate pattern over the top and sides of the box. Dale pressed the floor switch to turn the sander and the dust collector off. She placed the box on the workbench.

The fading sunlight filtering through the trees drew deep shadows over the drive. The last few oak leaves sounded their death rattle before they let go of the tree’s branches as a blustery wind sent them scattering over the lawn. Dale sat down and contemplated her work. The sweeping curves she had shaped with the sander gave depth to the box. Will she like it? Is it too much? It’s too much. Too early. She’ll go to New York. Who wants an insta-family?

Dale turned her back on her project and set about tidying her work space. She swept up stray wood chips from the floor and deposited them into the bin. The only thing left to do was to saw the box open. A critical step. A sloppy cut would ruin all the other work that had gone into building the box. Once the two halves were separated it was only a matter of a bit more sanding, finishing, and then adding the hinges and the latch.

She’d cut open hundreds of boxes in her time in the workshop but this time it wasn’t merely a wood and glue creation. Her gift to Mai was all the things she struggled to say. It was as if her own heart lay on the bench instead of the clever box she had created.

What if she takes the job? What if she doesn’t come back? At least we had what we had. Dale picked up the box and carried it to the bandsaw. After adjusting it for the cut she wanted, she replaced her hearing protectors and flipped the switch. The subtle vibration of the saw transferred through the wood. Dale focused on the line of her cut and let out the breath she had been holding when the heart split into two.

She turned off the saw. The two halves cleaved perfectly in her hands. The inside of the box was as she had envisioned it with the lacewood grain pattern highlighting the unique shape of the box. Dale lined up the two halves and inspected the edge. A straight and solid match. A touch of sanding with ultrafine sandpaper and it would be ready for the oil finish she had planned. She ran her thumb over the curve of the box.

“Came out better than I thought it would,” Eli called from the door.

“Thanks, Dad.” Dale placed the two halves on the workbench.

Eli scratched his beard. “You in love with her?”

Dale sat down on the tall stool next to the workbench. “Does it show?”

“Only if you’ve got eyes.” Eli walked over to Dale. “You look awful blue for someone in love.”

“Noah told me she’s had an offer to do an eight-week special. She’d be gone for three months.”

“And? It’ll take that long for you to finish the renovation.”

“She’ll be working with her ex.” Dale drummed her fingers on the workbench. “Her much younger and very sexy beautiful ex.”

“You’re missing the key word in that sentence.” Eli leaned on his elbows on the workbench. “Her ‘ex.’”

Dale barked out a laugh. “You and I both know that is no guarantee nothing will happen. What if she wants Mai back?”

Eli stacked the two halves of the heart together. “So what if she does? Mai seems solid. Does she know how you feel about her?”

Dale pursed her lips. “No. Yes. She told me she loved me, and I freaked and didn’t say it back. Just said I cared for her.” She flushed as she remembered the aftermath of her apology.

Eli tapped the top of the box. “This is your way of doing it? Giving her your heart?”

“It’s silly, isn’t it?” She snatched the box up. “It’s childish. I should be able to say it.”

Eli reached out and touched the back of her hand. “Not silly, daughter, scary as fuck, but not silly to be afraid to say it. But, box or no, you need to tell her how you feel.”

Dale lifted her gaze to his. “I know.” She placed the box gently on the workbench.

*

The grocery store was sparsely populated on Thursday afternoon. Noah pushed a grocery cart ahead of Mai. Thomas and Seth trailed behind her with another cart.

Mai tore the grocery list in half. “This will go much faster if we split up. Call me if you have questions about the list. Meet you by the registers when we’re done.” She handed half the list to Thomas and Seth.

“Thanks for doing this. Mom always made our birthdays special. Even when we were broke as hell.”

Mai patted Seth’s shoulder. “I’m happy to do it.” Thomas pushed the cart ahead and Seth jogged after him.

Noah popped a wheelie with their cart. “I bet we can beat them to the front.”

“Easy, tiger, we need to take our time, so we don’t forget anything. And we have more items to procure.” She waved the list in the air and led the way to the first aisle.

Noah chewed his lip, a pensive expression on his face.

“What?” Mai placed two dozen eggs in the front of the cart.

“What if Mom’s mad we spent the grocery money on her birthday? This going to put us way over budget for the month.”

Mai rested her palm on his shoulder. “This is my treat. You all have been more than gracious housing me. I would have been in some crappy hotel or short-term rental. This is on me.”

“Mom sure liked it when you bought the flowers.” He looked at her from under his shaggy fringe of hair. “She likes you. Like a lot, I think.”

Mai tilted her head at Noah. “I know. I like your mom too.”

Noah straightened. “Are you going to tell her?”

“Tell her what?”

“How you feel.” Noah placed a container of sweet cream into the cart.

Mai settled a block of cheese next to the eggs and studied the list and avoided Noah’s eyes.

“Not yet,” she lied.

“You should tell her. Soon.”

“Noah, what are you not saying?”

“Mom has a date. On Saturday. She wants me to spend the night at Chip’s. And she asked Seth to sleep somewhere else that night.” He smirked. “That’s code for her not wanting to worry about us when she gets home.”

Mai stomach clenched hard. She hadn’t asked for exclusivity. She’d assumed. And now she had to deal with it. What the hell? You would think telling someone you loved them might make them at least not date anyone for a while. Fuck her. Her decision to expose her feelings to Dale settled firmly in her gut. She doesn’t love me. She cares. But not enough to wait until I leave. Ugh. Charlene all over again.

“Did you get the nutmeg? Your jar is older than you are.” Mai inclined her head toward the spice aisle.

Noah frowned. “I guess you don’t want to talk about it.”

“You guessed right.” Mai rolled the edge of the shopping list. “Your mom’s free to do whatever she wants.” Damn it.

*

“Come on, Dad. We’re going to be late.” Dale rattled her car keys.

“Hold on a minute. I’m in the middle of texting with Ms. Zettler.”

“Do it in the truck!”

“Reception’s terrible. And you can wait for me.”

“I’ll be in the truck.” She strode out of the back door and across the yard.

After entering the truck, Dale pulled out her phone. A text from Noah. She opened it.

Mom. You need to come home. Right now. Bring Granddad.

Dale leaned on the horn, not letting up until her father appeared.

“What in hell is wrong with you? I said I would be a minute.”

“Get in Dad. Noah needs me, us.”

Eli clambered into car, barely getting his seatbelt clipped before Dale peeled out of the drive, throwing gravel.

“Did he say why?”

Dale tossed her phone in his direction. “No. Text him back and tell him we’re coming.” Her hands ached where she gripped the wheel.

The normally twenty-minute drive to her home only took ten. The house was dark, and Dale struggled to breathe as rising panic swamped her.

She pulled in the drive, shut the truck down, and yanked the keys from the ignition. Eli scrambled to keep up with her.

The door hung open and Dale shoved through it, sending it crashing against the frame, and stormed into the dark kitchen.

“Surprise!” Noah, Seth, Thomas, and Mai shouted.

Dale clutched her chest. “You assholes. You scared me to death.”

The boys and Mai broke out into laugher and Eli leaned against the counter. “We got her, boys.”

Dale eyed the “happy birthday” streamers and balloons hanging about the dining room. She rolled her eyes, and then laughed with them. “I almost peed my pants.”

Noah stepped forward and gave her hug. “Sorry we scared you.”

Dale ruffled his hair. The wonderful smell of homemade ravioli filled the kitchen.

Seth waved a bottle of sparkling non-alcoholic cider in one hand and a growler of beer in the other. “What do you want to drink, Mom?”

“After that I’m ready for a tall glass of beer.” She hung her purse by the door.

“I’ll take a beer too.” Eli walked over to the stove and lifted the lid on the pan of sauce. “Smells divine.” A knock at the door made him turn.

Thomas opened the door.

Ms. Zettler stood on the porch with a bouquet of roses and baby’s breath. “Am I late?”

Eli stepped forward. “No. Right on time. We wanted you to miss the swearing.” He kissed her cheek. “Let me get your coat.”

Ms. Zettler shrugged out of her coat and he hung it up.

Dale eyed the couple, her heart envious of the obvious affection between them. She sensed Mai’s eyes on her and turned in her direction. Mai held out a glass of beer. “Your beer.” Her gaze settled on Dale. “I got the coffee stout.” Their fingers grazed each other’s as she took the glass from Mai.

A liquid heat flowed from her touch and directly to her belly. Later. After the family left, Dale decided, she was going to punish Mai in the most delicious way she could think of for helping the boys pull off the surprise party. Mai raised an eyebrow as if she could read Dale’s naughty inner thoughts and, in that moment, there was no one else in the room.

“Um, Mom, do you want to open your present?”

Dale frowned at Thomas. “You didn’t have to get me anything. This party is plenty.”

Thomas guided her to a dining room chair. “Wait here.”

Seth and Thomas scurried from the room. Noah and Mai huddled in the corner, their voices pitched too low for Dale to hear what they were saying.

The back door swung wide and the boys carried a Maloof style rocking chair with a yellow bow tied around it and deposited it in front of Dale.

She ran her fingers over the polished wood. “You made this?”

“Granddad helped. But we all worked on it.” They turned the chair so that the bottom of the seat was up. Burned into the wood was the inscription: To Mom, with love, Seth, Thomas, and Noah.

Dale blinked back tears as her sons placed the chair to rights. “Come here.” They crowded around her chair and hugged her. “Thank you. It’s precious.”

She caught Mai’s gaze and held it. Mai’s half smile made her heart squeeze tight. This. A family. And a partner who understood, who helped her kids, instead of trying to always get rid of them. Someone like Mai.

“All right, break it up, this old man is hungry.” Eli winked at Dale and she let go of her sons.

“Noah, come help me. Guys, set the table and someone get Ms. Zettler a drink.” Mai pulled the plates from the oven where they had been warming.

Thomas and Seth moved the rocking chair to the living room and then moved the table back in place. Noah set the table with napkins folded like swans and silverware.

“Anything I can do to help?” Ms. Zettler set her glass of cider down on the counter.

Mai handed her a basket with crusty slices of bread. “If you could put this on the table, that would be great.”

Dale sipped her beer and Eli sat next to her. “You okay?”

She patted his arm. “Yeah. Got a bit weepy with the gift. It’s amazing.”

“Thomas and Seth built it and Noah did the finishing. They worked on it for months. Mai helped them with the food, but they made most of it. Seth made the cake.” Eli sat back in his chair and took a sip of his beer. “You gonna give her the box?”

Dale’s gaze settled on Mai. “Yes.”

“When? Should I take the boys back to my house?” His gaze rested on Ms. Zettler.

“Not if you had plans. I’ve got something planned for next weekend.”

Eli leaned forward and clasped her arm. “Don’t chicken out.”

Dale lifted her shoulders and let them fall, straightening her posture. “I won’t.”

Eli raised his eyebrow.

“Promise, I won’t chicken out.”

Mai settled two steaming platters of ravioli in the center of the table. Noah brought another platter of ravioli and a bowl of tomato sauce alongside the other platters. Seth and Thomas filled everyone’s glasses.

Mai stepped back and raised her glass. “To Dale, happy birthday, from your assholes.”

“Language,” the entire crew yelled before they all took a sip of their beverages.