Page 21 of Sawyer
Holding her hand firmly, I watch where we connect for a moment, this whole thing feeling both completely out of place for me, yet one hundred percent comfortable.Her eyes lift and meet mine again, and our fingers intertwine.My shoulders lower instantly, and without thinking, I rub my thumb up to her wrist, caressing her skin slightly.She looks at me, the energy swirling between us almost palpable before I clear my throat and we both look at Kevin.
I can’t remember the last time I sat at a dinner table like this, in someone's modest home and said grace.Saying grace was something we did as kids.My mother always ensured that we were thankful for our food, but as we got older, it fell to the wayside.I put my other hand across the table to Kevin, who takes it, and as we all join hands, Annabelle lowers her head and closes her eyes.Her movements are effortless, gratitude for what she has evident.Her hair falls across her face, hiding her from me, but I find that my eyes don't move from her, eager to get any glimpse of her that I can.
Talking with her briefly this morning at the game felt nice.Having never been to a kids’ baseball game before, it was something new, but I didn’t hate it.It was very much a community event, and like Tanner said, it’s a good place to get to know people.To see her watching Kevin play, the emotions so clear on her face, the way she never let go of Noah.I feel like her heart is huge, bringing a sense of warmth and care to those around her.
For a beat, I wonder if I’m losing my mind.Maybe there’s something in the water here in Whispers that has me completely forgetting who I am.A city lawyer, who likes fast cars, has expensive tastes, and enjoys beautiful women at my beck and call.A town like Whispers is the last place I ever thought I would be.Yet these past few weeks, my business hasn’t suffered; my new little office is quiet, enabling me to be more productive, and my city teams are self-sufficient, used to not always having me around anyway.I’m enjoying this small town more than I ever thought possible, not that I would admit that to Tanner just yet.But it’s growing on me, the pace of life here, the possibilities, the stress-free environment that still feels like there’s something meaningful happening that I don’t want to miss out on.Andher.Annabelle completely has my attention, especially now, as her hand settles into mine like it was always meant to be there.The weird thing is how comfortable I feel sitting here, at this old timber table, a simple, yet beautiful meal on offer, with a woman who’s starting to infiltrate my daily thoughts and her son, who looks at me with a curious eye, like he doesn’t trust me, like he doesn’t trust anyone.
“Dear Lord, we thank you for this food we are about to receive…” Kevin starts and looks up briefly at me, before his eyes move to where I’m holding his mom’s hand, and he frowns.“…and for the company ofSawyer the Lawyer.”He says it in a smart-ass tone, smirking up at me.“Thank you for helping me get a home run in my first game today and for making me the cool kid for once.Amen."
“You’re always the cool kid, Kevin.”She squeezes his hand, mine still holding her other.
“You’re my ma, you're supposed to say that.”He’s sweet to her.They grin at each other, the love they have for one another obvious.
“Well, let’s eat.”Annabelle’s voice is upbeat as I let go of her hand and we start to dig in.Taking a bite, I almost groan.It’s the kind of homemade dinner that kids love when they get home after a big trip or when they’ve been away at college for too long.The kind of food that makes you feel like you’re eating right, feeding your body and your heart what it needs.You can tell it was made with love.
“So, did you love your first game, Kevin?”I ask, though it’s clear he did.I’m just feeling like it’s going to take some effort to get him to like me even a little.
“Yeah,” is all he offers me, barely looking at me as he shovels food into his mouth.
“He loves baseball, watches it all the time,” Annabelle says, giving Kevin a stern look.
“Who’s your favorite team?”I know he has one if his TV viewing is anything to go by.
“The Mets.”
I smile at that.“They’re my favorite too.”
Kevin doesn’t acknowledge my response, continuing to eat like he hasn’t seen food in over a decade.
“Kevin’s been working outside with me all afternoon.He’s famished,” Annabelle tells me, and I start to understand the pressure this young kid must feel.Not from his mother, but from himself.It’s something I also endured when I was younger, wanting to be the support my mom needed and putting my own needs aside to help the family more.
“So what did you do today after the game?”
“Well, Hudson paid for the team to celebrate at the diner with a sundae, and then we came home and had work to do around here in the afternoon.”There’s a little weariness in her eyes.
“Do you have any help?”Surely it isn’t just her.
“Oh no, it’s just Kevin and me.”I take a bite of my chicken, not liking her answer.
“So you do everything around here?You don’t have a farmhand or anything?”A farm this size would be a full-time job.
“Yeah, it’s just us.It isn’t too bad.I prefer it.I like to see what the plants are doing each day, and if I had someone else here, it may interrupt the quality.Everything here is organic.I don’t use sprays or fertilizers unless it’s organic compost.I wouldn’t want to have to worry about anyone following the rules.”She takes a drink of water, stopping herself from saying anything else.I’m sure I saw somewhere that their soap is organic, but I had no concept of what that really means from a farming perspective.Clearly there’s a higher workload, given the increased quality control.She doesn’t take the easy route, that’s for sure.
“What do you do when you go away or are sick?”
She looks at me like I have two heads.
“Um… well, I don’t go away, and when I’m sick, I just work through it,” she says like it’s the most normal thing to work yourself to the bone and then keep on working.
“And you work at the school too?”
“Yes, they were so kind in offering me a teaching support position a little while ago.I work in a variety of classrooms and with a variety of subjects.Wherever they need me, really.It’s great, because one day I might be assisting in art class, and another, I’m helping kids to read.I like the variety.”
“So where do you find the time for soapmaking?”I wonder how she fits it all in.
“At night, mostly.Sometimes on the weekends.It just depends on what's going on and what the stock levels are like.”
I sit back as a renewed sense of admiration fills me.I’m a workaholic.I constantly have my head in my phone or eyes on files.It’s obviously something we have in common.
