“What would you like me to say to him?” Randy scoffed. “Grant and I had the birds and the bees talk a very long time ago.”
“It never hurts to refresh a boy’s memory,” Nora suggested. “Right?”
“Okay,” Randy frowned at her. “I promise. I will talk to him.”
“Thank you,” Nora nodded. “You’re a good dad.”
“If I was, Ike would be here with us today and Grant wouldn’t resent me so much,” Randy shook his head. “Don’t patronize me, Nora. Not today.”
“Randy,” Nora cried. “Can’t you see that you drove a wedge between us a long time before you ever laid eyes on Cindy, and this is why! Until you stop blaming yourself for what happened to our son…”
“How do you stop blaming yourself for something that was your fault?” Randy bellowed. Then, his voice softening, he took Nora into his arms. “I didn’t mean to yell at you…not about Ike…not about anything. You don’t deserve that. It’s just that…”
Nora shook her head, unwilling to allow Randy to finish. She reached her hand up and turned his chin so that he was looking at her. He avoided eye contact at first, but soon gave in. “You were put in an impossible position that day, Daddy…there was no right answer…there was nothing you could have done any differently…”
“That was my weakest moment…the worst day of my entire life,” Randy nodded. “I don’t know how you get over something like that.”
“I don’t know either,” Nora said, genuine sympathy apparent, not only in the tone of her voice but in the touch of her hand, as she lovingly stroked Randy’s back. “I wish I did.”
Randy stared down at the porch. “There is a huge part of me that doesn’t ever want to move on…that never wants to get over it…that wants it to sting as bad every day for the rest of my life as it did that night at the hospital when the doctor came out and told us the news. That is how much I loved my son.”
Nora was quiet for a moment as she reflected on the day that had changed both their lives and the lives of their family. “I guess the only thing you can do now is be a good father to the son who still needs you.”
Randy nodded. “He told me today that he feels like I blame him for Ike’s death,” he blurted.
Nora stared back at Randy, shocked.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how much that hurt,” Randy said, his voice cracking. “Knowing that Grant has ever felt that way…”
Nora’s voice was soft but firm. “Ike is never coming back, Randy. But, you still have time with Grant, and it would be ashamed if he missed out on seeing what an amazing father I know you can be.”
Randy nodded. “I love that kid, Nora. Loving Ike doesn’t mean I love Grant any less. It’s just that Ike was just like me…”
“No,” Nora disagreed. “Ike was just like the man you used to be. Grant has never known that man…and that breaks my heart.”
Randy took a long, deep, deliberate breath.
“Randy, I didn’t say that to hurt you,” Nora cried.
“I love him, Nora,” Randy insisted. “I don’t resent him or blame him or wish that he was anybody besides who he is.”
“I know; I know you do,” Nora smiled as she took Randy’s hand. “Come-on,” she motioned toward the door. “We better get on back inside before Granny comes huntin’ us. It will be time to eat.”
“Nora, wait,” Randy said, stopping in his tracks as he followed her inside. He exhaled loudly. “This shouldn’t be so hard to say…it’s just that I want you to know that I mean it.” He swallowed. “I love you too.”
Tears glistened in Nora’s eyes as she turned back to him. “I believe that,” she nodded before quickly turning away and making her way inside the screen door.
“Granny?” Wally called, rushing into the already over-crowded kitchen. “I can’t find Spotty Sue anywhere?”
“What the heck is a Spotty Sue?” Joanna asked.
“Perhaps he has an illegitimate child from every past relationship?” Grant whispered.
“What do you mean you can’t find him?” Granny protested. “That was the only job I gave you, boy!”
“He was here eating the scraps I gave him, then he was just gone,” Wally recounted. “I think he might have run off into the woods behind your house.”
“Are we talking about that mutt?” Grant scoffed.
“His name is Spotty Sue,” Granny insisted.
“Did Johnny Cash teach you nothing?” Grant rolled his eyes.
Joanna and Hailey shared a quick glance at one another, both grinning.
“I have been looking after that dog for days,” Granny practically swooned. “I figured this big crowd might run him off.” She shoved the bowl she was mixing aside and looked urgently toward the kitchen table. “David, you’re an officer of the law. What should I do?”
David looked up from his seat at the table, stunned. “Ma’am?”
“You’re a policeman,” she said almost scoldingly. “Don’t you ever have to locate missing persons?”
“There is no missing person, Mama,” Nora sighed. “You can’t be responsible for every stray in town.”
“I want my dog found, do you understand me?” Granny Miller insisted, her bony finger pointing at Nora and then back at David and finally at Wally.
“I’ll find him,” Wally vowed. “Just let me grab my jacket, and I’ll head out into the woods to see if he’ll come to my voice.”
