Page 30 of Clean Sweep
“Wait,” Stella cried, “Landon is engaged?”
“What?” Dahlia said at the same time.
I patted Stella’s arm. “I’ll tell you about it later, when I know more myself. In the meantime, have a seat.” I nudged her into a nearby chair. “I need some baby time while you chat with Dahlia. She has all the gossip for you.”
Dahlia’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
While I swept Mark Jr. around the shop with me, Stella sank into a chair. The longing for real-life connections outside of spit up and breastfeeding was all too fresh in my mind, despite my youngest being on his way to graduate from high school. I was only too happy to take Mark Jr. for a while.
Sometimes, I missed the early years. Not the tantrums or exhaustion or sense of helpless I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing. But the feeling of having them close, within touch. Knowing that I could make their day better with a bandaid and a smile. This whole sending-them-into-the-world-to-make-big-mistakes could go rot.
Suddenly, I understood the appeal of grandbabies.
Dahlia and Stella provided soothing background chatter while I mentally puzzled together pieces of Maverick’s family reunion. Catering on certain days. Pizza on others. Hotel rentals, car coordination, a blow-up bouncy house for the little kids. The Mercedy family didn’t mess around.
Mark Jr. remained in my arms, contemplative as I carted him around while I did inventory one handed, made a few phone calls, and kept my ear attuned to the conversation in the shop.
“The forest around Adventura was spared from the fire,” Stella murmured in the background. “There are a few spots that tried to take off and burn up the mountainside, but the hot shot crew thankfully put them out. Adventura is good to open up in the spring with campers, thank heavens.”
“Sione called me last night,” Dahlia said. “Said he landed safely in Tonga to see our grandparents. He’s not coming back until right before Adventura opens.”
Their conversation continued to flow, and took my mind with it. Right back to where it had been going every hour ever since the disaster of yesterday.
Tanner Beck.
After Landon’s hasty departure—which clearly indicated a guilty conscience and a lacking desire to talk to me about his life decisions, the twerp—I’d spun my mind back through the afternoon. Had I done something wrong? Should I have said something different?
Inevitably, my brain landed right back to the phone call that came from Tanner and into the words he’d casually said.
You did great, by the way.
They had a not-so-casual effect on me. His compliment had, several times, settled the rattled part of me that blamed myself for my son’s behavior. At twenty-three, Landon was more than old enough to take responsibility for himself. Most of the time, I did a great job of giving him said responsibility. The rest of the time?
Well, being a mom wasn’t easy.
After thirty minutes had passed like a moment, Stella glanced at the clock and cried, “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time!”
I emerged from my office with a reassuring smile. “Please, take more of it anytime. Mark Jr. and I are going to be close!”
Dahlia snorted. “Are you kidding? I loved this. And I’m paid for it!”
Mark Jr., on seeing his mama, let out a little gurgle and a quick smile. His wiggly legs flailed when Stella gave him a warm grin and reached for him. Reluctantly, I transferred his easy weight back to her.
Yeah, this grandma thing would be just fine.
“Thank you,” Stella said with feeling. “I didn’t know how much I needed that.”
“I totally get it, honey. He’s perfect and you’re doing great. Text me tonight if he’s doing that spit up thing again, or whatever. I’m always here for you.”
She willingly went into my hug, and I couldn’t help but squeeze her extra tight. With both parents deceased and her grandma living in Florida, Stella had been stopping in and calling almost daily with questions. She pulled away.
“You’re too good to me.”
“Nah.” I squeezed her arm. “We’ve got you, Stella. You’re never alone in this Mom thing.”
Dahlia fidgeted behind the counter while Stella gathered up her things and I helped her out to the car with the diaper bag. When I stepped back inside, Dahlia burst.
“What is going on with Landon?”
