“You watch that tongue,” Mama Porter pointed a spatula at Johnson.
Braxton cleared his throat. “The sky is clear today so rather than check your sutures, I think we should get you into the medical center in West Yellowstone.”
“Okay. After breakfast?”
“Whenever you feel up to it, ma’am.”
“Thanks.”
Everyone dished up their breakfast and then after a quick prayer by Johnson, they all disappeared, even Mama Porter. Tucker brought Maryn a plate loaded with pancakes, sausage, and eggs. There was no way she could eat half of it. She was hungry today though so that was good. “Could I bug you for some ibuprofen?”
Tucker jumped up. “Of course, but do you want something stronger? The doctor left Lortab if you don’t want any more OxyContin.”
“No thank you on either, I’m afraid I probably said enough things I shouldn’t in my drug-induced coma.”
Tucker grinned. “Nothing that bothered me.” He rushed to a medicine cabinet and came back with a bottle of ibuprofen. Maryn took two with a swig of orange juice.
“Now why did everyone disappear?” she asked as she forked a bite of eggs. She couldn’t believe how much better she felt as she sat normally in her chair, her back not fully pressed against the cushion but in contact with it.
“They all have stuff to do this morning,” Tucker said.
Maryn didn’t believe him for a minute, but she liked having him to herself. It was still kind of odd to her these four adults living together, but they were more like a family than she’d ever been around and all seemed to be productive and normal.
She swallowed her eggs and drizzled some strawberry syrup onto her pancake then took a bite. “Oh, these are heavenly.”
“Braxton’s specialty. He likes to cook breakfast.”
“Nice.” Maryn drank a sip of juice then asked, “So, I’ve heard about how you and Johnson met and Braxton was your foster grandfather that you loved and brought with you, but what’s Mama Porter’s story?”
Tucker chewed a bite of sausage and swallowed before saying, “It’s kind of a sad story.”
“I don’t like those kind. Happy ending?”
“Sure, because Mama makes it happy.”
“She’s a sweetheart.”
He ate some pancakes and then set his fork down. “Mama lost her husband and two teenaged sons in a horrible car accident. She didn’t have any insurance or marketable skills so she lost her house as well. Her neighbors and church friends loved her and her next door neighbor took her in, but she always felt like a burden. She finally couldn’t take it anymore so she left.”
“Wait, where was this?”
“Boise, Idaho. She took a bus to Southern California and lived and cooked at a homeless shelter there. Have you heard of the Friendship Shelter?”
“Yes. It’s a nicer one.”
“She loved it there. Johnson and I met her while we were doing some volunteer work—painting buildings and fixing things around the place. She adopted us like we were her own and when we were ready to move to Grand Cayman, like we usually do the end of February, we forced her to come with us.”
“Forced her?”
“She loved her purpose there, helping everyone. It took her mind off of things. But we make sure wherever we are to help out those around us so she gets a chance to cook and love. It’s a bit harder to find opportunities here in Island Park, but sometimes I think she needs that break too.”
“Wow, Tucker Shaffer. I knew you were charitably-minded, but this is a bit above and beyond. You’d love my friends Alyssa and Beck.”
“What do they do?” Tuck blushed at the compliment and shoveled some pancakes in his mouth.
“Beck has a charity called Jordan’s Buds that he uses to help children around the world.”
“That’s great. I would love to meet them someday.” His eyes caught hers and held.