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Not wanting him to get in trouble, I say, “Yes, they’re for my favorite boy.”
Brooke says, “See, Caleb, they’re for Dane.” She gives me her trademark lifting of the brow and small dip of her chin.
“Lettie loves Dane. Lettie loves Dane.” Caleb dances around, and I hold out the bag.
“I do love Dane, but I love you sooooo much. They’re from Dane and me.”
He opens up the Minions basketball, and you would have thought we spent thousands of dollars. Caleb spins it between his chubby little hands, then immediately dribbles it around the house.
Reed comes down dressed in his hockey wear. “No. Just no,” he says, laughing.
“He looks like a natural,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. “Caleb, put that down and open this one.”
Caleb rips off the paper, turns it over, and tears off more. He studies it and sounds out the letters on the box. “K, mm, ss, tt, ww, ya. Kmsstwya.”
“Good try, buddy. It’s a chemistry set. You can make a volcano explode. Turn water red and shock your daddy.”
“Can we play it now? Can we? Can we?” he asks, bouncing on his toes.
Brooke glares at me. “You’re staying. And cleaning up.”
“Okay, kiddo, let’s move this to the kitchen.”
I hear Reed say to Brooke, “She’s going to be a great mom.” My heart flutters, and my skin flushes at the compliment.
“Dane Greathouse, get your finger out of the mashed potato bowl,” Granny says, smacking Dane with the towel that’s flipped over her shoulder.
“Ouch. You put your finger in the bowl,” he argues.
Granny says, “Because I know where my fingers have been. I have no idea where yours have been.” She gives him a pointed stare. “Now go set the table. Lettie, help me fill the glasses.”
Dane leaves, and Granny takes the moment to ask, “Still best friends?” I nod. “Do you want to be more?”
I take a breath, remembering to be truthful. “Yes, but I’m scared.”
“Scared of what? That boy smiles at you like you’re his whole world.”
“That we'll repeat what happened. We’ll be too busy for each other, and we’ll self-destruct.”
She has the knife in her hand, carving the ham, and points it at me. “Now I may just be a mountain girl, but one thing I know about is love. Love ain’t easy, and sometimes it hurts. Paps and me, we’ve been dealt some hard knocks. I never told you, but I lost a baby, years after I had your mama.”
“Why didn’t you tell me when I…?”
“Because I didn’t want to make your pain about me. You needed to grieve your loss, not mine. It was the hardest thing I went through until your mama chose drugs over you. Speaking of your mama, a friend of mine said she’s at a shelter in Maven County, if you want to see her. I think she’s clean at the moment. If you want to go see her, we can.”
Tears fill my eyes, but I speak my truth. “She has her life, and I have mine. I don’t need that hole filled. I’m saving those holes for the children I’ll have one day.”
“Oh sweetie, you’re going to be the best mother, and Dane is…”
“Dane’s what?” he asks, leaning against the fridge.
Granny’s scratchy giggle floats through the air. Dane has that effect on women of all ages. “I was just sayin’ Dane is hungry. Aren’t ya?”
“Yes, ma’am. Mom is on her way.”
His mom arrives bearing gifts. It’s the most relaxed I’ve ever seen her at Christmas. She’s normally dressed to the hilt, rushing around making sure the tablescapes are beautiful, all the decorations match in each room, cooking, and plating each dish. Believe me, she still looks as classy as they come. Instead of heels, she has on Sperry’s. And instead of wearing her diamonds, she wears classic gold hoops. After we stuff ourselves, Dane and Paps clean up the table and wash the dishes, while I put the leftovers away.
When I walk into the den, Mrs. Greathouse and Granny cackle. I hear Mrs. Greathouse say, “He asked for Paps’ permission? Really?”
