An hour later, I’m elbow deep as I attempt to build owls for a thing Chloe has at her preschool. The emphasis is on attempt because my owls so far look like deformed potatoes. The kids are in the backyard, and I can hear them bickering from here.
“Victoria!” Sienna pokes her head through the living room door. “Can I go to the movies?”
“With whom?” I ask automatically.
“The usual. The resident weed dealer and the head of an underground fight club.”
“So, Ben and Emma?” I ask, referring to two good friends of hers.
“You got it.”
“Smartass. What time will the movie end?”
“I guess around nine. I’ll come straight home afterward.” She bats her eyelashes at me, grinning.
“Sure, go. Have fun.” She spends so much time helping with Lucas and Chloe that I’m afraid she isn’t living enough.
Soon after Sienna leaves, I get the hang of making owls. They end up looking so cute that Chloe and I build a few for our home too. I can't help wondering how Mom did it. I don't remember ever seeing her cry. Sure, she lost her temper now and again, but she always seemed in charge, as if she could handle anything life threw at her.
After we’re done with the owls, we settle in a companionable silence in front of the TV, watching a documentary about saving whales. Since it's Saturday, both Lucas and Chloe are allowed to go to bed later.
Today has been unexpected on so many levels. Christopher's presence here was everything I dreamed of, as well as everything I feared. I watched him and Lucas while they trained, and I could practically feel Lucas's self-confidence grow the more time he and Christopher spent together. The bad part is that we obviously can’t control our attraction to one another. I almost climbed him in the kitchen… while the kids could have walked in on us at any moment!
My skin heats up at the memory of having him near me. Even talking about my parents wasn't as painful as thinking about them usually is, and I have a suspicion it's all because of Christopher. He was there with me, strong, resilient, and listening intently. With a sigh, I hug my knees to my chest on the couch, trying to put the day behind me.
We're all entranced in the documentary when my phone lights up with a message.
Christopher: My mother wants to ask you something about her kitchen furniture. Is that okay?
Victoria: Sure, I'll call her right away if you give me her number.
After Christopher sends me her number, I move away from the living room into my office, where my laptop is, and call her. She answers at once.
"Hello, Mrs. Bennett. Victoria Hensley here, Christopher's decorator."
"Hi, Victoria! Please, call me Jenna. Thank you for calling me so quickly."
"My pleasure. What are you looking for?"
"I want to add some cabinets to the kitchen, but the shop I've bought from doesn't stock the model anymore. I haven’t been able to find anything similar enough."
"If you tell me the brand and model number, I'll look for it. I'm sure I'll find what you need." Jotting down what she dictates, my mind already races with potential shops that might still store it. Opening my laptop, I'm about to type the model in the search engine when Mrs. Bennett changes topics.
"Christopher told me you've got quite the soccer player on your hands."
"Yeah, my brother, Lucas, hopes to make his school's team. Christopher was very sweet to help him today. Dad was a great player, but unfortunately, neither my sister Sienna nor I were ever interested in it."
"I'm sorry for your loss, child."
"Thank you. It's been harder for the little ones." My throat clogs up. Damn, I'm overly sensitive today.
"Pain is pain, no matter the ag
e. And having to raise three kids on your own on top of that is no small feat."
"You've raised nine. You're the authority on that." Tucking my feet underneath me, I can't help asking, "Were there days when you felt overwhelmed?"
"Every single day. Hard doesn't even describe it. It was beautiful, but raising them felt like an impossible task most days. Don't be hard on yourself. One day you'll look at them and won't believe they’re adults."