Page 48 of Everlasting Promises

“Such a helpful young man,” she remarks, her eyes practically sparkling with delight.

“Yeah, he is.”

“Mmhm.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask defensively, widening my eyes. “Mmhm?”

She presses her lips together, like she’s trying to hold back her smile, but it’s a lost cause at this point. She can’t hide her delight. “I was just agreeing with you. I’ve noticed the difference in Evan, and he loves to talk about Ben. It was lovely to meet him. That’s all.” She raises her eyebrows, her eyes gleaming beneath the gym’s overhead lights.

I narrow my eyes. “That’s all?” I grouse. “Why don’t I believe you? I know your mind is working a million miles a minute.”

She leans in close. “Would it be so bad if I were thinking how nice it would be ifyoualso happened to develop a friendship with Ben? Maybe something a little more?”

A fresh wave of customers interrupts our conversation, and I send up a thank you to whatever higher power rescued me. We sell more trays of cookies, and I bend to the crates to collect more to restock the table again. When I stand, Mom sidles up close.

“I bet he looks fantastic in his uniform,” she says.

I flick my eyes to Ben, hoping he didn’t hear, only to find him shaking hands with Dad. I guess there was no avoiding it since he’s with Evan. Dad’ll talk to anyone, and the fact that he’s with his grandson makes him a prime target.

“Oh, look. Stan likes him, too.”

I roll my eyes skyward. “Dad likes everyone, Mom.”

She nods sagely. “True. But I can tell hereallylikes Ben.”

I slowly turn my head toward her, my expression dripping with disbelief. “They’ve spent less than a minute together, Mom. Settle down.”

She flicks her wrist toward me. “After forty years of marriage, I know your father better than I know myself most days.”

That’s probably true, seeing as it was the same for me and Wyatt. We were together since I was sixteen, married when I was twenty. Then, I lost him when I was twenty-eight. A weight falls on my chest, threatening to force me to my knees, but I take a deep breath and bring my focus back to the present—just like my grief counselor taught me in group.

After another hour, the gym finally empties, and we pack down our tables. I have two trays of cookies left. Not bad. Ben, Dad, and Evan help where they can, Mom stacks chairs, and I collect the empty crates to store behind the gym. When we’refinally finished, we walk out to our cars together. I pull my sweater tighter around my body to ward off the chill in the late afternoon air.

Mom wraps her arm around Evan’s shoulder and tugs him to her side, leaving me to walk alongside Ben and Dad. He goes willingly, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Would you like to come for a sleepover? We can watch a movie, and I can make waffles and bacon for breakfast.”

He turns to me, his eyes wide and excited. You’d think he’d get sick of seeing Mom every day, but he loves her so much. “Yeah, can I, Mom?”

“Good idea, June. He can help me harvest the veggies for dinner,” Dad adds, mussing up Evan’s hair.

I almost pout. That means I’ll be home alone tonight. I hate being in the house on my own. Even with the television on, it feels too quiet. Too empty. But I paste on a smile. “If you want to.” I look up at Mom. “What time would you like me to pick him up tomorrow?”

“Why don’t you come for lunch?”

I nod. “All right. That sounds like a plan.”

I say my goodbyes to Mom and Dad and then pull Evan into me to hug him, which he allows. “Have fun and be good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I will.”

I kiss the top of his head. “Remember, I love you all the way toKnowhereand back again.”

“I love you too, Mom.” He squeezes me quickly, then pulls away. “See ya tomorrow.” He turns to Ben. “See ya later, Ben.”

“See ya, Ev.” Ben waves.

“It was so lovely to meet you, Ben. Hopefully, we’ll see you again soon.” Oh, god!Seriously, Mom, could you be any more transparent?“Evan’s birthday is coming up next month. Perhaps we’ll see you then?”

Ben chuckles, showing his perfectly straight teeth. “Nice to meet you, too. If I’m lucky enough to score an invite, I’ll definitely be there. Enjoy your evening.”

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