Page 63 of Between Now and Forever
“About what, exactly?”
I hold my breath while he explains, hoping there’s no mention of a towel.
“Just that Juanita Miller saw you dropping your kids off at school the other day,” he says. “We were going to send you a card and invite you to a meeting. But since I’m here, I’ll just invite you personally.”
“The old Alden Social Club. What are you all up to nowadays?”
“We’re still doing charity work, of course.” He shakes his head. “Your mother was the best fundraiser I ever knew. She could convince anyone to donate to anything.”
My heart swells at the mention of her.
“Hey, Mom,” Carter says with Dylan on his heels.
I wait for them to reach us, giving them a look to remember their manners.
“Kids, I’d like you to meet Billy Madrid,” I say. “He was the high school principal when I was in school, and he was in a club with your grandma.”
“Your grandma was an amazing lady,” Billy says, shaking both their hands. “And this mama of yours is pretty special.”
“We love her,” Carter says, smiling up at me.
“I bet you do,” Billy says. “I tell you what, Gabby, finish your shopping. The club meets every Friday at Betty Lou’s for fish and Tuesdays for our weekly meeting at the community building at the park. We’d love for you to come by.”
“I’ll try.”
He grins. “It was nice meeting you, boys.”
“You too,” Dylan says, watching him walk away.
Carter wastes no time in bringing me back to the activity at hand. “So hear us out. We get one cereal that’s healthy and one cereal full of sugar. Then we go one bowl healthy stuff, one bowl good stuff.”
“Fine,” I say, giving in entirely too easily. It doesn’t bode well for the rest of the shopping excursion. “Hey, guys. I forgot to get orange juice. Will you run back and get a jug of it, please?”
“Pulp or no pulp?” Dylan asks.
“Some pulp but not to where it’s chunky.”
They take off to the back of the store with Dylan lecturing Carter on not interrupting people, something I find ironic.
I pause next to the discounted spice bin to check my email. But as I bring it up, a text comes through.
Della:Are you ready for tonight?
Me:I can’t wait.
Della:I’ll pick you up around eight?
Me:I’m usually in bed at eight. Ha! If I fall asleep, prop me up and put a drink in my hand.
Della:
“Whoa,” I say as the cart rattles. An armful of items is deposited with our other items. “That was more than orange juice.”
“But it was healthy,” Carter says. “String cheese. Yogurt with strawberries.”
“Bagels,” Dylan says, wincing. “But the cream cheese was dairy.Ish.”
I sigh and push on. “You guys have absolutely no idea how much food costs these days. If you keep eating like this, I’m going to have to get an actual job.” I laugh at myself. “Come on, guys. That was funny.”
