Sweet Remembrance by Debbie White

Author:Debbie White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Debbie White

The smell of basil filled the kitchen. On the stove, the tomato soup sputtered softly. Jack watched as Annie flipped the sandwiches. “Darn, a little brown.”

“I like my grilled cheese toasty,” Jack said, taking the spatula from her.

Annie moved to the soup pot and began to ladle out the soup. “Grandmother and Auntie not coming?”

“No, they decided to stay in. Something about having soup there.” Jack slid the sandwiches off and plated them.

“They’ve been acting rather strangely. I don’t know what’s gotten into them.” Annie carried the bowls to the table.

Jack knitted his brows. This was weird. He thought she was acting differently. She thought they were acting differently. Maybe he was the one behaving strangely. “How so?” he called out.

“I asked them earlier if they wanted to come over and have tea. They declined. Then they asked if Ashton could come over.”

“What’s so strange about asking Ashton to come over?” Jack lifted the plate with the grilled cheese and crossed over to the table. He turned to the living area where Ashton was playing with his metal cars.

Annie placed her hands on her hips. “You don’t find it strange that eighty-year-old women want to have a four-year-old over?”

“He’s almost five. He was fine. You should have seen him. He was enthralled in a television show.”

“Did you smell his breath?” Annie asked.

Jack belted out a hearty laugh. “You know about the bourbon, huh?”

“Ashton, dinner is ready,” Annie called. “Yes, I know, and they better never do that to our children.”

Just then, Carolina opened up her lungs and cried, sending Annie running. “You guys go ahead. I’ll be a while.”

Jack helped Ashton into his booster chair. He placed half a sandwich on the table. As he watched Ashton lick the cheese that oozed out between the toasty slices of bread, his mind wandered for a brief minute. Were any of the McPherson women telling him straight? Sometimes they could be so hard to read. He clasped his hands, and while in thought, waited for Annie.

“Here you go, changed and ready to see Daddy,” Annie said, handing Carolina over.

Jack pulled her up and kissed her on the check. “How’s my baby girl today?”

Carolina cooed at her Daddy.

“Sit down and eat. I’ll take my turn afterward,” Jack said, nodding toward the bowl of soup.

Except for the murmurs coming from the television in the other room, the only other sounds were spoons hitting bowls, slurping sounds, and Ashton slapping the tabletopand kicking his feet against the chair legs.

“Everything all right, Annie?” Jack repositioned Carolina in his arms.

“Yes, why do you ask? In fact, that’s the second time tonight you’ve asked that same question.” She peered at him through half-closed lids.

“I just sense something is bothering you, is all. I hope you know you can tell me anything.”

“Of course,” Annie said, dipping her spoon in the bowl. “I guess I do have a lot on my mind.” She set the spoon down into the soup, letting it rest on the side of the bowl.

“What kind of things on your mind?” He lifted his right brow and waited.

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