Page 42 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

“Let me see,” he said when his brother was done looking. Mac handed over the phone. “I’ve passed the house. I didn’t see a sign though.”

“There is no sign,” Sidney said. “The realtor told me they are trying to sell it like this first. It just went up this week. I want to check it out. Maybe tomorrow.”

“It’s a nice street,” Jarrett said. “The area is quiet. That house is older, but it’swell maintained. I remember when the roof and windows went in last year.”

“Storm damage,” Sidney said. “That is why it was done.”

“I don’t care the reason, but it’s a big expense we won’t have,” Mac said. “See if we can look at it tomorrow. It needs work though.”

“That close to me,” he said. “I can pitch in.”

“You still have your own house to finish,” Mac argued.

“My kitchen and the baths are done. The living room too. That’s good enough for me. I’ll get to the other rooms at some point. I’m the only one there.” His deck and patio needed work, the front porch could use new steps, but they functioned well enough. The list went on and on.

“It’s settled,” his mother said. “Hopefully it’s what you’re looking for and we can all pitch in and get it ready if it works out. I’m going to check on dinner and then come in and relax with you all before I have to get the table set.”

“That’s right,” Jarrett said. “Sit and relax and then we’ll help you get the food set up when it’s time to eat.”

“Look at you sucking up and being all helpful,” Mac said. “Always the baby of the family kissing Mom’s ass.”

He snorted over the joke. “Whatever.”

“Leave your brother alone,” Sidney said. “I hope our kids are like this someday too.”

“Yeah,” he said. “Listen to your wife.”

“Like you know what it’s like having a significant other,” Mac said.

“Maybe someday Jarrett will find his perfect mate just like my other boys did,” his mother said. “It’s almost game time. Let’s enjoy.”

Funny how he never thought he’d find a perfect mate, but Andi popped into his head and he wondered what she was doing right now. And if she felt alone and missing her family.

Maybe he should check in on her too…

14

GETTING BY

“Hi, Jack,” Andi said when she saw him calling. She’d just finished cleaning up her dinner.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Jack said. “Did you cook a turkey?”

“I did,” she said. “The same meal I made for us last year.”

A small turkey breast, mashed potatoesandcorn. Rather than make a pie, she made pumpkin bread for herself. She’d freeze half of it, maybe. With the chocolate chips in it and how moist and sweet it was, she could put it away herself with the nostalgic way she was feeling.

“I could go for that right now,” he said. “I bought dinner. A small local place was selling them. It was easy and on my way home. Not like what you made last year but better than me popping something into the microwave.”

“You should learn to cook, Jack.”

“I’m not around enough,” Jack said. “I get by.”

She knew the truth about getting by. It felt like that was what her life had turned into.

“We know you won’t starve,” she said.

“Never that,” Jack said. “Though I miss your pumpkin pie this year. Did you make one?”

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