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Watching them together hurt her in a strange kind of way. She had always believed she was more than enough for Danny, that he didn’t need a father in his life. But as she watched them play together, she wondered if she was making a big mistake keeping Johnny as a mere friend and not as a father to the little boy.
As they played, Johnny and Gramps visited about the weather and things going on in the small town. Danny occasionally added his voice to instruct Johnny how to place a block.
Mimi watched and listened to it all, and a quiet peace fell over her. She was grateful that none of her other friends had shown up tonight. She’d needed this more peaceful night.
“I have a bit of good news,” Johnny said. “I don’t know if you’ve heard that the town council wants a big gazebo built in the middle of the park across from the grocery store.”
“I heard something about it the other day when a couple of men on the council came through my line at the grocery store,” Mimi replied.
“I put a bid in on the job, and I’m happy to announce that my men and I will be building the gazebo.”
“Congratulations,” Mimi and Gramps said at the same time.
“Gratlations,” Danny echoed with a giggle. “Mommy, look how tall our tower is.” He scrambled up off the floor. “It’s almost as tall as me.”
“We make good towers together,” Johnny said, and the two high-fived each other. “Now you can keep going with it.” He got up off the floor and sat on the sofa close to Mimi. “My focus is for me and a small team of men to work locally from now on,” he said.
“But what about your family business?” Mimi asked.
“Oh, we’ll continue to do big projects wherever we’re hired. The difference is I now have some good foremen I trust completely to run those jobs, so I don’t have to be there in person,” he said. He held Mimi’s gaze for a long moment. “I will never leave Black Bog again unless it’s just a day trip or a fast overnight.”
She broke the eye contact. Could she ever believe him again? Right now, it just felt too risky. Despite the years that had passed, she was vaguely surprised to realize that the pain of his previous abandonment still resonated deep inside her. She wasn’t over it yet.
“It will be nice to have a gazebo in that green area,” Gramps said. “Danny and I can sit in it while Mimi does all her shopping.”
“I can’t remember the last time I was in a store other than the grocery,” Mimi replied.
“It wouldn’t hurt you to go into Miss Daisie’s and buy yourself something new,” Gramps said. Miss Daisie’s was a popular dress shop in town.
“I don’t need to buy anything. I have plenty of clothes and don’t need anymore,” she replied.
“Said no woman ever,” Johnny replied, making Gramps laugh and slap his knee.
“Ha ha,” Mimi said. “Aren’t the two of you so funny.”
At that moment, Danny’s tower fell to the floor.
“Danny, it’s time to put the blocks away and head to bed,” Mimi said.
“But, Mommy, Johnny wants to build one more tower with me,” Danny protested. “Right, Johnny?” He looked winsomely at his father.
“Hey, don’t look at me,” Johnny said with a laugh. “What I think you need to do is mind your mother.”
Mimi shot him a grateful look. It would have been so easy for him to undermine her authority.
Danny gave him a disappointed gaze but began to put his blocks away. Once he was finished, Mimi excused herself and went with her son into his bedroom. Thankfully, Gramps had put him in the shower earlier in the day when it had just been cloudy outside. He changed into his pajamas, crawled into bed and grabbed the worn Mr. Wiggles.
She sat next to him and stroked the side of his face. He smelled of minty soap, strawberry shampoo and sweet innocence. “I hope you have happy dreams tonight. I love you so very much, Danny.”
He smiled, his eyes drifting to half mast as she caressed the side of his face. “I love you, too.”
She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead and then stood. By the time she walked to his doorway, he was sound asleep.
The storm overhead had finally moved on, leaving behind an occasional rumble of distant thunder and a soft patter of rain against the windows. She returned to the living room where Johnny and Gramps were talking about the gazebo Johnny and his team would be building.
Once again, she sat next to him on the sofa. As she listened to the two talk, she remembered how difficult Johnny’s relationship had been with his own father, a cold and cruel man. It was one of the reasons why Johnny had bonded so tightly with Gramps. He’d been seeking warmth and approval, and Gramps had given that to him.
Johnny’s father had died a week before Johnny left town. Despite the contentious relationship, the day Jeb Night died of an unexpected heart attack, Johnny had grieved in her arms. He’d cried like a baby for the father he wished he’d had…for the father who would now never have the chance to give Johnny what he wanted, what he needed most—love and acceptance.
