Page 14 of Sins of the Flesh
h my goodness, I’m stuffed.We’re going to have to have a talk about portion control.”I groan after another incredible lunch with Caleb.
He grins, “It’s not my fault you always ask for seconds.”He says turning towards the sink with our dishes.
“It absolutely is to!If you weren't such a good cook I could control myself, you're making me chubby!”I say lifting my shirt.
Caleb quirks a brow and scoffs, his Adam's apple bobbing, “Not from where I’m standing.”
“This was your plan all along wasn’t it!”I accuse, teasing him.He chuckles, his back turned once more.I’ve been working here 5 months and have gotten to know Caleb pretty well and that chuckle isn't his normal happy one.
“Everything alright boss?”I ask and he shrugs then turns around leaning against the counter drying his hands with a dish towel.His eyes are pained, though he attempts a small smile.
“It’s nothing really, my Son called from college last night.They’re so grown up now.Sometimes I miss them when they were little, dragging me all around the house by my fingers, cuddling on the couch with me watching movies until they fell asleep.”He smiles wistfully but it's full of pain.
“Anything I can do?”I ask quietly.I’ve never seen Caleb like this.He's always had a quiet strength.This version of him is breaking my heart.
He shakes his head, folding the dish towel out of ingrained habit."No, but thank you for asking."His eyes meet mine, holding for a beat too long before darting away."It's just the empty nest syndrome.Eighteen years of being needed every day, and then..."He snaps his fingers."They're gone.I just really miss them."
I can understand missing someone you love, so I nod and slowly walk up to him, gently wrapping my arms around him in a hug.He wraps his arms around me tightly and we just breathe.I drink in the warmth of his body, as he absorbs mine and we take something we both need.
We stay like that for a while, two bodies sharing a moment of silence in the heart of the tiny breakroom.His grip around me tightens briefly before he lets go, stepping back with a sigh.I see a glimmer of sadness in his eyes as he turns away, busying himself with the dishes once more.
For the rest of the day the sad look on Caleb’s face haunts me, the shimmer of tears he held back causes a lump to form in my throat.Caleb has never failed to be there for me and show me compassion when I got emotional about my Dad.I want to give that back to him somehow.But how do you comfort the man who is everyone else’s comfort?
Awhile later I absently bang my hammer on a nail as I contemplate what I can do to make Caleb happy again.Then it hits me, no seriously, the damn hammer hits me on the thumb.“Mother….”I hold my breath squeezing my thumb.And an idea comes to mind.I blow on my smarting thumb as I pull out my phone and ring Mason.
THE NEXT DAY I have everything in place.I shake out my nerves and knock on Caleb's office door, when I hear his muffled ‘come in,’ I enter with a big smile on my face.“Good afternoon bossman.”I say in a cheery voice.
He laughs a small laugh, “Uh hey, Cole what's up?”
“Today lunch is on me.”I say with a wide grin pointing my thumb at my chest.
“You brought me lunch?”He asks as he stands.I turn to head out looking over my shoulder,
“Something like that.”
Right before we get to the breakroom I turn to him, “Close your eyes.”He does and I grab his wrist pulling him through the doorway.“Okay open.”He opens his eyes and looks at me.
“Why is there an old TV on the table?”A confused half smile covers his face.
“Well I thought we could have some entertainment with lunch today.I even brought popcorn.”I gesture to a big blue mixing bowl full of the white, fluffy and lightly buttered kernels.With a plate on either side of it each with a bologna sandwich that I made myself.The lunch isn't luxurious I know, but I’m lucky I didn't burn the popcorn.That's how bad I am with all things related to the kitchen.
He smiles widely as he steps over picking up Ratatouille.“My favorite movie.”He muses then turns to me, “You did all this for me?”I grip the back of my neck.
“Well I thought it might help you not feel so sad about missing your kids.”I whisper.
He sighs and murmurs, “Thank you.”His beautiful smile causes a lump to form in my throat so I cough chasing it away.
“Shall we?”I motion.We pull our chairs next to each other and I put on the movie in the old TV/VCR combo that I borrowed from Mason.When we were kids we parked in front of that old TV for hours devouring movie after movie.When I called him yesterday I knew he wouldn’t have thrown out the memories attached to the old box.And being a vintage VHS collector he had all the movies I needed for this little surprise.
I take my seat and grab my sandwich, I bite into and cringe.The dry bread mixed with the single slice of meat tastes like dog food and I cough, putting my hand up to stop Caleb as he is about to take a bite.“Don't eat that, it's terrible.”
“Nonsense.”He takes a bite and chews for a long time as I stare at him.What is he doing?“It's good.”He mumbles through the mouthful.I roll my eyes.
“I thought Priests couldn't lie?”He swallows and takes a gulp of water.
“We can't.”He says smiling.And I roll my eyes again, “Cole it's not the food that matters, it's the intention behind it and I will eat every bite.”I blush, ducking my head.
“Okay you win.”I mumble and muddle my way through the dry sandwich as the commercials end and the movie starts.The resolution is grainy and dull almost like it's an old-fashioned movie and the sound on the TV is a little messed up, so it's either way too loud or way too quiet, but Caleb is smiling anyways.
