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Ethel lived in the downstairs apartment of a giant, old house. From the outside, the place didn’t stand out from the long row of other old houses on the quiet side street. But when Sandra stepped inside, for the second time that day, she was enveloped in an invisible welcome hug. Soft music played in the distance, and the brightly colored, well-lit space smelled of fresh bread and cinnamon. When Ethel offered her a cup of tea, she almost burst into tears at the sweetness of it all.
Yet, she asked for a rain check on the tea. Though she had nowhere to rush off to, her brain was rushing around in her head, and she wanted to be alone. Or, as close to alone as one could be with a baby and a new best friend angel.
Ethel graciously granted the rain check and then just as graciously declined the paltry stack of dollar bills Sandra held out to her. “Are you kidding?” she chirped. “I should be paying you for this treat! Little Sammy has been the highlight of my whole week!”
“Do you ever work in the church nursery?” Sandra asked as she tried to wrestle Sammy into his car seat. He was almost too big for it. She groaned at the thought of upgrading. Maybe she should ref a few soccer games, if only for the few extra dollars.
“I’m on the list, and they know I’m available if they need me, but I so hate to miss the sermon, and the young moms like to hang out in there and chitchat during the service, and I wouldn’t want to interfere with that. I remember how lonely it can be being home with the baby all week long.” She gave Sandra an encouraging smile. “But if you ever need help with any of your kiddos, I’ll be right here. I don’t get out much.”
Sandra decided then and there that she and her kids had to take Ethel somewhere. Out to lunch, or to the beach when the weather got nice again. She slid the car seat off the table. “Thanks, Ethel, you’re the best.” She had the urge to hug the woman, but she was on the other side of the table, and Sandra didn’t want to make things awkward. She’d never hugged the woman before. Maybe she’d shoot for a Sunday hug, when everybody was already in the mood.
“You bet.” She gave a little wave to Sammy. “You have a good rest of your day.”
Sandra returned to her car to find Bob in the front seat. She tucked Sammy into the back and then slid behind the wheel. She put the keys in the ignition, but then she just sat there. “Now what?”
“I’m not sure.”
She looked at him. How could he not have a plan? He was a supernatural being. She put the car in reverse and slid out of the driveway.
“Maybe you could go help Isabelle clean up?”
Oh sure, volunteer her for the heavy labor. “I offered.”
“You did?” He sounded shocked. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
She bit back a retort about his eavesdropping prowess. “She didn’t want my help. I’m wondering why she wanted us over there at all. Well, wanted me over there. I guess she didn’t know you were there. She’s obviously suspicious of Frank, yet she was willing to let us snoop around, looking for evidence against him?”
“I don’t think she’s suspicious of him at all. I think she wanted us to find something that cleared his name. Though I can’t imagine what that would be, and we certainly didn’t find anything.”
“Hard to find something when you don’t know what you’re looking for.”
His head snapped toward her as if a light bulb had popped on. “I guess it’s time to find out how to become a soccer official, then.”
She snorted. “Oh, is it?”
Each time the idea surfaced, it sounded less terrible. But why? Why was she even considering it? It was preposterous.
You know why you’re considering it, a tiny voice in her head said.
Oh, I do? Why?
Because you’re bored.
She gasped.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. Just had a thought.” Was she bored? Yes, she kind of was. But how was that possible? She was beyond busy and always exhausted. She had a great life and should be content with it. Yet, that annoying, critical voice had a point. She was a little bored. Not all the time. But more than once in a while. “I can’t do anything without checking with Nate.”
“Good. Check with Nate. I’ve got to go. There’s a cross-country meet.” He vanished before she could say good-bye.
She said it anyway, to the empty seat beside her. She had more than an hour before she had to pick up the kids from school. It was kind of pointless to go home and unpack Sammy just to pack him up again. Maybe she should go surprise Nate at his school. Just pop in and say hello. Yeah, that was a great idea! She never did that.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she was about the idea. Seeing Sammy in the middle of his workday would surely brighten it. She went through the Dunkin’ drive through too, just in case Sammy’s sweetness wasn’t enough to warrant a surprise visit. Sure, she knew Nate loved his son, but he also really loved vanilla frosted donuts with sprinkles. She bought him two, and ate one on the way.