said, the look vanishing. “Take one guess who waltzed in here last night with flowers like he’d never left you in El Paso. He tried to kiss me on the cheek and called me Mom. I damn near threw his skinny butt out the door.” She motioned to the other room.
Peyton walked to the living room, where the walls were lined with photos honoring years of farm life: Elise and Peyton, big toothless grins, sitting on tractor tires that were taller than they were; the girls picking rocks ahead of the harvester; Lois standing before a table of men, preparing to serve the afternoon meat-and-potato meal during harvest; and one of her late father fly fishing in the Alagash. But it was the bouquet on the coffee table near the television that caught her eye. She shook her head and returned to the kitchen.
“No card,” Lois sneered, “since he brought them in person. I told Jeff we already had material for the compost pile.”
Peyton chuckled. “I bet you actually said that, didn’t you?”
“Damn right I did. No one hurts my daughter and grandson.”
“Jeff showed up at Gary’s while Elise and I were having coffee,” Peyton said. “That was great timing on my part. He probably eats there every morning.”
“All the local businessmen do,” Lois said. “And the politicians. I go there at six a.m. some days to complain about my taxes.” Lois sipped her coffee, then looked at the cup as if she’d added too much cream. “May I ask why you’re buying your home through Jeff, Peyton?”
“I’m not necessarily buying it through him. We’re back in Garrett now, Mother, so Tommy will see him.”
“Jeff’s only called once to see Tommy. In four months .”
“I hope that changes, for Tommy’s sake. Anyhow, I have to at least be cordial.”
“Well, I’ve been cordial. I let him pick Tommy up after school, didn’t I? But Tommy was in bed when he showed up last night. I didn’t have to hold back. To tell you the truth, it felt nice to give him a piece of my mind.”
“I bet it did.”
“So you’re going house shopping at nine for Tommy ?”
“He’s just showing me a couple houses,” Peyton said. “I need some sleep first.”
“And if the showing goes well?” Lois said. “Then what? Lunch? Then dinner …”
“Mom, there’s more to this than meets the eye.”
“Don’t give up your dignity so your son can have a father, Peyton.”
“I’m not giving up anything, Mother.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I hope you end up with someone,” Lois said. “I know this sounds old-fashioned, but Elise is taken care of. She and her son have a man to care for them. I want that for you, too. Your job is so dangerous. Peyton?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you staring at the floor? Why won’t you make eye contact?”
“Just tired, Mom.”
“Well, just don’t forget that Jeff hurt you once.”
“Tommy comes first, Mom.”
“Think of yourself, too.”
The remark brought back Darrel Shaley, who was now facing jail time for trying to care for his wife. She didn’t know that kind of loyalty. But Tommy would be eight soon, and people could change.
She left the room. The stairwell to the second floor seemed like Mount Washington.
“Guess what, Mom?”
She registered Tommy’s tinny voice and stirred. Her sleep had been dreamless. She rolled over to see Tommy, wide-awake, wearing Superman pajamas and smiling.
“Guess what?”
“What is it, Rocket?” She’d nicknamed him as an infant, when he first started to crawl.
“Dad’s going to my soccer game today.”
Maternal fear hit her like a hand to the throat. But she managed calmly, “Well, you know your dad’s busy. He might not make it.”
The seven-year-old shifted. She realized he hoped she’d refute his fears, and she’d done the opposite. Now she’d make damned sure to remind Jeff of the game.
“Mom,” Tommy said, “if Dad says he’ll be there, he’ll be there.”
Such loyalty. She could only nod.
“I’m wearing my new cleats
Peyton walked to the living room, where the walls were lined with photos honoring years of farm life: Elise and Peyton, big toothless grins, sitting on tractor tires that were taller than they were; the girls picking rocks ahead of the harvester; Lois standing before a table of men, preparing to serve the afternoon meat-and-potato meal during harvest; and one of her late father fly fishing in the Alagash. But it was the bouquet on the coffee table near the television that caught her eye. She shook her head and returned to the kitchen.
“No card,” Lois sneered, “since he brought them in person. I told Jeff we already had material for the compost pile.”
Peyton chuckled. “I bet you actually said that, didn’t you?”
“Damn right I did. No one hurts my daughter and grandson.”
“Jeff showed up at Gary’s while Elise and I were having coffee,” Peyton said. “That was great timing on my part. He probably eats there every morning.”
“All the local businessmen do,” Lois said. “And the politicians. I go there at six a.m. some days to complain about my taxes.” Lois sipped her coffee, then looked at the cup as if she’d added too much cream. “May I ask why you’re buying your home through Jeff, Peyton?”
“I’m not necessarily buying it through him. We’re back in Garrett now, Mother, so Tommy will see him.”
“Jeff’s only called once to see Tommy. In four months .”
“I hope that changes, for Tommy’s sake. Anyhow, I have to at least be cordial.”
“Well, I’ve been cordial. I let him pick Tommy up after school, didn’t I? But Tommy was in bed when he showed up last night. I didn’t have to hold back. To tell you the truth, it felt nice to give him a piece of my mind.”
“I bet it did.”
“So you’re going house shopping at nine for Tommy ?”
“He’s just showing me a couple houses,” Peyton said. “I need some sleep first.”
“And if the showing goes well?” Lois said. “Then what? Lunch? Then dinner …”
“Mom, there’s more to this than meets the eye.”
“Don’t give up your dignity so your son can have a father, Peyton.”
“I’m not giving up anything, Mother.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I hope you end up with someone,” Lois said. “I know this sounds old-fashioned, but Elise is taken care of. She and her son have a man to care for them. I want that for you, too. Your job is so dangerous. Peyton?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you staring at the floor? Why won’t you make eye contact?”
“Just tired, Mom.”
“Well, just don’t forget that Jeff hurt you once.”
“Tommy comes first, Mom.”
“Think of yourself, too.”
The remark brought back Darrel Shaley, who was now facing jail time for trying to care for his wife. She didn’t know that kind of loyalty. But Tommy would be eight soon, and people could change.
She left the room. The stairwell to the second floor seemed like Mount Washington.
“Guess what, Mom?”
She registered Tommy’s tinny voice and stirred. Her sleep had been dreamless. She rolled over to see Tommy, wide-awake, wearing Superman pajamas and smiling.
“Guess what?”
“What is it, Rocket?” She’d nicknamed him as an infant, when he first started to crawl.
“Dad’s going to my soccer game today.”
Maternal fear hit her like a hand to the throat. But she managed calmly, “Well, you know your dad’s busy. He might not make it.”
The seven-year-old shifted. She realized he hoped she’d refute his fears, and she’d done the opposite. Now she’d make damned sure to remind Jeff of the game.
“Mom,” Tommy said, “if Dad says he’ll be there, he’ll be there.”
Such loyalty. She could only nod.
“I’m wearing my new cleats
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