Standing at the sink, Annie stared out the window in a daze as she swished the dishrag around. Deeply enthralled in watching the trees sway and a few birds hopping around from limb to limb, she didn’t even hear Jack come in. Flinching as he wrapped his arms around her waist, Annie let out a small explicative at the same time she whirled around in his arms.
“Hi, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He leaned in and kissed her.
“I was a million miles away.”
“I can see that. What’s on your mind?” He moved away from her and opened the cabinet nearby, retrieving a glass.
“Oh, this and that.” She turned and finished what she was doing at the sink. “We’re having grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. Hope that’s okay.”
“That’s perfect,” he said.
“Carolina is taking a nap; Ashton is over at the cottage. He’s been over there for twenty minutes, and I haven’t received any sort of SOS from them.” She laughed.
“I better go save the day,” he said, throwing back the glass of water he’d just poured.
“They’re coming for dinner. At least that’s what they said. I told them all we were having was grilled cheese and soup. They said it sounded lovely to them.” Annie shrugged.
Jack was almost to the front door. “It’s probably more about just hanging out with us. It’s not about the food.” He turned the knob and opened the door. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Closing the door behind him, Jack paused a moment, taking in the beautiful scenery of Sweet Magnolia. He had to pinch himself often, reminding himself this was theirs. His and Annie’s and their sweet children. A place for them to grow old and a place for the kids to grow up. Sighing, he descended the few stairs and jogged over to the cottage. He rapped twice before opening the door.
“Hello. It’s me Jack.” He poked his head inside.
“Come in, Jack,” Patty said.
Digging his hands deep into his pockets, he rocked back on his heels. There, sitting quietly was Ashton, watching something on the television. “This is nice,” he said, tipping his head toward his son.
“He loves this show. We turn it on, and he won’t move a muscle until it’s over with. The best babysitter since a little shot of bourbon in the bottle.” Lilly snickered.
“Now, now, Lilly. I’m sure you never put any alcohol in Annie’s or Mary’s bottle,” Jack said.
“No, of course not. But their father, well, that’s another story.” She cackled, making Ashton look away from the television.
“Daddy,” he said, running and jumping into Jack’s arms.
“Ready for dinner?”
“I’m hungry,” he said.
“You ladies joining us tonight?” Jack asked as he stepped back out of the tiny living area.
“We were going to. But I think we’ll just stay in. We have some canned soup here, and some crackers. We’ll be fine,” Lilly said, getting up from the sofa.
“Tell Annie we’ll take a raincheck.” Patty patted Jack on the arm while leaning in for a kiss from Ashton. “Sweet boy. We love you,” she sang.
“If you need anything just holler. We’re just next door.” Jack smiled.
“Yes, Jack, we know.” Lilly furrowed her brows.
Jack turned his back on them and began to head out. He came to a halt, turning around. “You know you two are welcome to come over any time. You don’t need an invitation. The door is always open.”
“That’s so sweet of you to say, Jack,” Patty said.
“We know you’ve been at work all day and would like to spend some time with your beautiful wife and family. You don’t need us old broads over all the time,” Lilly said.
“I don’t think of you as old. I’d rather put you in the category of experienced beyond years.”
“Patty, that’s just a nice way of saying old.” Lilly cackled.
“At any rate, you both are welcome to come over any time. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. By the way, have you noticed anything strange with Annie?”
Both women’s eyes bulged then they shook their heads.
“It’s probably nothing, but the last couple of nights she’s seemed distant.”
“I know she’s been thinking a lot about the bakery. Should she sell it, should she keep it. That sort of thing,” Patty said.
“Okay, as long as it’s just that. I didn’t want it to be about me. I’m so deep with wood orders I can hardly come up for air.”
“I know, dear. She knows it too. I think that’s why it’s weighing on her so. She wants to be home with the children, but a small part of her is envious about your work. She once felt that way too,” Patty said softly. “Just keep talking to her. Don’t let her clam up. Us McPherson women tend to keep it all inside.
Jack’s jaw dropped.
“Speak for yourself, Patty Bolander,” Lilly said, her unabashed tone coming through loud and clear.
Jack laughed. “Good night, you two.”
“Good night,” they said, waving as he walked out the door.
The smell of basil filled the kitchen. On the stove, the tomato soup sputtered softly. Jack watched as Annie flipped the sandwiches. “Darn, a little brown.”
“I like my grilled cheese toasty,” Jack said, taking the spatula from her.
Annie moved to the soup pot and began to ladle out the soup. “Grandmother and Auntie not coming?”
“No, they decided to stay in. Something about having soup there.” Jack slid the sandwiches off and plated them.
“They’ve been acting rather strangely. I don’t know what’s gotten into them.” Annie carried the bowls to the table.
Jack knitted his brows. This was weird. He thought she was acting differently. She thought they were acting differently. Maybe he was the one behaving strangely. “How so?” he called out.
“I asked them earlier if they wanted to come over and have tea. They declined. Then they asked if Ashton could come over.”
“What’s so strange about asking Ashton to come over?” Jack lifted the plate with the grilled cheese and crossed over to the table. He turned to the living area where Ashton was playing with his metal cars.
Annie placed her hands on her hips. “You don’t find it strange that eighty-year-old women want to have a four-year-old over?”
“He’s almost five. He was fine. You should have seen him. He was enthralled in a television show.”
“Did you smell his breath?” Annie asked.
Jack belted out a hearty laugh. “You know about the bourbon, huh?”
“Ashton, dinner is ready,” Annie called. “Yes, I know, and they better never do that to our children.”
Just then, Carolina opened up her lungs and cried, sending Annie running. “You guys go ahead. I’ll be a while.”
Jack helped Ashton into his booster chair. He placed half a sandwich on the table. As he watched Ashton lick the cheese that oozed out between the toasty slices of bread, his mind wandered for a brief minute. Were any of the McPherson women telling him straight? Sometimes they could be so hard to read. He clasped his hands, and while in thought, waited for Annie.
“Here you go, changed and ready to see Daddy,” Annie said, handing Carolina over.
Jack pulled her up and kissed her on the check. “How’s my baby girl today?”
Carolina cooed at her Daddy.
“Sit down and eat. I’ll take my turn afterward,” Jack said, nodding toward the bowl of soup.
Except for the murmurs coming from the television in the other room, the only other sounds were spoons hitting bowls, slurping sounds, and Ashton slapping the tabletopand kicking his feet against the chair legs.
“Everything all right, Annie?” Jack repositioned Carolina in his arms.
“Yes, why do you ask? In fact, that’s the second time tonight you’ve asked that same question.” She peered at him through half-closed lids.
“I just sense something is bothering you, is all. I hope you know you can tell me anything.”
“Of course,” Annie said, dipping her spoon in the bowl. “I guess I do have a lot on my mind.” She set the spoon down into the soup, letting it rest on the side of the bowl.
“What kind of things on your mind?” He lifted his right brow and waited.
“What should I do with the bakery. Sell it, lease it out, run it, or something else?”
“Those are all viable options,” he said.
She sighed.
“What do you want to do?”
“Part of me misses working there. I started that business from the ground up, you know.”
He let out a chuckle. “Yes, dear, I do know.”
“I want more bread,” Ashton yelled.
“Use your inside voice,” Jack said.
Tossing a quarter of grilled cheese onto his tray, he sat back down.
“I want juice,” Ashton screamed.
Annie could feel the vein in her neck bulging. “Now, that’s enough, Ashton.”
“I think he wants attention,” Jack said, giving Ashton a sharp look.
Annie set the sippy cup full of milk on his tray. He immediately put it to his mouth. He spit it out. “Juice,” he demanded.
“You’re having milk, young man. Drink it, or have nothing,” Jack said, scolding him.
Ashton threw his head back and wailed.
Jack handed Carolina over to Annie and whisked Ashton out of the chair so fast, Ashton gulped a wad of air and started coughing.
Looking over his shoulder, he made eye contact with Annie. “We’ll be right back.”
Annie bounced Carolina on one knee while she finished eating her dinner. This was becoming the norm around Magnolia. How could she ever think she could go back to work?
The sounds of Ashton’s little shoes as he ran across the wood floor caused her to look up.
“I’m sorry,” he said, holding out his arms.
Annie caught Jack’s gaze.
“Okay, I accept your apology. Do you want to finish your dinner?”
He nodded.
Jack picked him up and got him settled back on the booster seat.
Facing Annie, he clasped his hands in front, resting them on the table. “Now, where were we?”
“Ha ha. Right. We were discussing the demise of Sweet Indulgence.” She lowered her head.
“Demise? No, we were talking about maybe you going back to work. I think it’s a great idea.”
Raising her head, she locked her eyes on him. “You do? But the children are so young. They need their mommy.” Her eyes teared up when she looked at them.
“Maybe part-time is the answer?” Jack said.
Shaking her head, she stood.
“Just think about it. Whatever you decide, I’m here for you. We can make anything work.”
Reaching over, she began gathering dishes while still holding Carolina. Jack jumped up and took them out of her hand. “I got this. Why don’t you go sit in the living room, put your feet up? I’ll wash up Ashton and the dishes. Maybe Daddy will put Ashton in the sink with all the sudsy water.” He leaned over and nuzzled Ashton’s nose, making him laugh. “No, Daddy.” His laughter infectious, soon, all of them were in stitches, even baby Carolina.
“By the way, I passed Vicky and Scott on their way to the airport tonight. They have a long flight,” Jack said.
Annie moved toward the living room. “Yes, I hope everything works out for them, and they bring little Jackson home safe and sound.”
“Jasmine,” Ashton called out.
“Yes, Jasmine is going to have a brother. His name is Jackson,” Annie said.
Fluffing up the couch pillows, Annie settled into the soft cushions, still holding Carolina. She loved the baby age, but she also loved when they became a little more independent too. Soon she’d be crawling, followed by walking, and then becoming this little person with opinions, gestures, and ideas. Just like Ashton. Annie widened her eyes, letting her jaw drop. “Just like Ashton.” A small chuckle came from nowhere. “Please, not quite as strong-willed as Ashton.”