After school, Cal stopped by BeanHereNow as he did every day. The pumpkin Bryony and he had carved sat among other Jack-o’-lanterns. Garlands of orange, red, and yellow leaves, gourds, black cats, and full moons decorated the front of the shop,
Unusually affectionate, Bryony’s fingertips feathered across his hand before clasping his credit card. She told him she had big news. He invited her again to come to Cleveland for the party on Saturday. She declined again, saying it was too soon.
She asked if he needed any help while he was gone. Would he like her to bring in his mail?
He liked her asking, but said his Saturday mail would be there when he returned Sunday night. He did not need help with his dog. He would take Bailey with him.
They spoke on the phone later in the evening about highlights of the day, and Bryony’s big news. She told him she was serious about starting a pie business, though she had no idea how her plan would evolve over time. Maybe she could start at home, make them in her kitchen, sell locally to people she knew.
He encouraged her, made her promise to let him taste test every experiment, and vowed to not blame her for extra pounds around his middle. She laughed.
They were doing okay, better than okay.
Right before turning off his bedside light, Cal’s cell phone rang. The voice on the other end disappointed his hope of Bryony calling again, but his warmth was honest, real.
“Heidi!” he said. “Can’t wait to see you this weekend. How are the munchkins?”
“They’re fine,” she said, her voice weary. “But Dad fell this morning.”
“Oh, no!” Cal took off his reading glasses and laid them on the book he had been reading. “Is he okay?”
“We took him to the ER, and they checked him out and released him. I made him come to my house. You know how he is. He wants to be in his own house. Can you come sooner?”
Cal rubbed his cheek with his free hand. He had planned to drive up Saturday morning. “I’ve been subbing in a trivia championship on Friday nights, and we made it to the final rounds.”
“Trivia?” Heidi asked with disdain. “Where are your priorities, Cal?”
“It’s work related, Heidi.” Bailey jumped on the bed and snuggled his head into Cal’s armpit. “The principal is the other member of the team. And I’m, uh, kind of dating his sister.”
Heidi huffed. “Another train wreck?”
“I don’t date train wrecks,” Cal said, distracted as his mind worked through the classic dilemma of can’t-be-two-places-at-one-time. Mitch would understand, he thought. Family trumps bar games. He would tell Mitch to find someone else. “I’ll leave right after class on Friday.”
“You’re not bringing the sister with you, are you?” Heidi asked.
“I invited her twice, but she declined.”
“Good for her!” Heidi said. “Because you couldn’t possibly know her well enough already to bring her home to meet the family.”
“You’d like her, Heidi. She loves making pies.” He changed his phone to his other hand so he could rub Bailey’s belly.
“We need you here. Come home and find someone in Cleveland. Besides, you’re too old to start over someplace else. You need to be around people who know and love you.”
“I’m not too old!” Cal looked at Bailey. “She says I’m too old. What do you think?”
“Is she there now?” Heidi asked, mild panic in her voice.
“I was talking to the dog.” Bailey rolled onto his back and wagged his tail. “Tell Dad I’ll pick him up Friday night and take him home.”
“Thanks, Cal.”
“Sleep well, Heidi.”
“You, too.”
Cal tapped the screen to disconnect the call. He knew his father was in good hands, and trusted Heidi’s judgment about the fall being no big deal. Still, he looked forward to being able to see for himself. He tapped the screen again and put the call on speaker.
“Hello?” Bryony’s sleepy voice answered.
“I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Cal asked.
“I was watching a movie, must have dozed off.”
“Sure you won’t come with me to the party in Cleveland?”
“I’m sure.” Her voice sounded alert now, but still soft and sleepy. “Sure you don’t need help with anything while you’re gone?”
“All covered,” Cal answered. “But you can soothe my anxiety about your brother’s competitive spirit. We have a championship round Friday night, and I have to leave town. Dad fell.”
“Oh!” Sounding fully awake now, Bryony asked, “Is he okay?”
“Heidi had him checked out. He’ll stay at her house until I get there. They’ll do okay together until Friday, I think. I hope.” Cal settled against the pillow. “Will Mitch excuse my absence or give me detention?”
“Mitch is serious about his trivia,” Bryony said.
“To take trivia seriously is an oxymoron because trivia, by its very nature, should be seen as something trivial.”
“One might think so,” Bryony said. “Unless they had grown up in a town where the details obscure the overall reality.”
