Husbandry (18 page)

“Not yet,” I admitted, “but I’d love to have him and the
family here soon.”

“We want to get the renovations done first.” Chuck jumped in
to save me.

“Mmm.” Mom’s expression didn’t change, but she didn’t argue.
“It looks like you’ve almost finished. This house will be a great home for
children. Chuck already showed me which room you plan to use for the nursery,
which is what got us talking about toys and swing sets. I look forward to
having more grandchildren.”

“Whoa, I—”

“We’ve got the space for it in the backyard,” my husband said.
“It’s just a matter of positioning. Chad also wants an herb garden so we can
have fresh seasoning, but I’m thinking we could put that in the side yard.”

“Hold on.” I threw up my hand and tried to breathe though my
heart palpitations. “I realize you’re excited about this, but aren’t we getting
ahead of ourselves? We agreed children are a few years off.”

Several expressions flitted across Chuck’s face.

My mother nodded. “You’re wise to wait.”

“What?” Chuck and I blurted the word at the same time.

I couldn’t believe she’d sided with me, and my husband had
clearly expected her to push for grandbabies too.

“Why do you say that, Minnie?” He looked at her like she was
the head matriarch, which I suppose she was.

“You’re still young. There’s no rush. Having children is the
biggest commitment you’ll ever make. Besides, there are benefits to being a
more mature parent. What you may lose in energy, you’ll make up for in patience
and life experience. I was a much better parent with my second, third, and
fourth children than with the first. All that on-the-job training, yes, but I
grew up too. Art and I were just kids when we started out.” She got a faraway
expression, coupled with a small smile.

My parents had become…well,
parents
, when they were in their early twenties. Although that
wasn’t unusual, I remembered what I’d been like at that age. Now that I was in
my thirties, that seemed very young to me.

“Good points.” I was glad to have the support, especially
since I could see Chuck was giving serious thought to what she’d said. Wanting
to get off the topic of babies, I clapped my hands. “So did you two eat yet, or
should I make something?”

“I’ve only had espresso. Your…Charles offered me some before
he and Art left for their golf game.” She released a put-upon sigh. “It’s
amazing how much time grown men can waste hitting a silly little ball.”

Bracing myself for the usual tirade about my dad and golf, I
proceeded to pull out the frying pan to make omelets for us. Since only four of
us were home, we could fit at the table in the breakfast nook, which Chuck set
while I handled the cooking. I sent him to fetch Chad so we could eat.

My mom paused in her antigolf harangue as soon as Chuck left
the room. “I like him.”

“Chuck?” I smiled. “Me too.”

“He was so cute this morning. After Art and Charles left, he
offered me my choice of toast or cereal. He’s just like your father. Handy
around the house, but useless in the kitchen. I bet he burns everything too.”

“Except when he grills.” I answered on autopilot, distracted
by her about-face. So now an inability to cook was cute, not the act of a
helpless pet?

“Chuck is going to be a great father someday,” she
continued. “You should have heard him talking about his dreams of a family. And
he clearly adores you. Oh, he doesn’t come right out and say it like that. Men
like him and your father never do, but he’d be lost without you.”

“I’m not sure it isn’t the other way around, Mom. I rely on
him for a thousand little things, and he’s always dependable, even if he can’t
keep his socks matched.” The image alone made me chuckle. “You’re right. He’ll
make a fantastic father, as will Charles and Chad, though it may take them a
while to find their paternal instincts. Thanks for helping me convince Chuck to
wait on having kids, by the way.”

She waved that aside. “It’s too soon. You haven’t gotten
your life settled yet. If Chuck starts his own business as a general
contractor, he could support you and any children very well. You’d have to
manage the money since construction isn’t as steady as a nine-to-five job, but
you know how to budget. Yes, I think I was too hasty last night. Chuck is the
keeper. He’s the husband for you.”

“Mom, they’re all my husbands.” Why didn’t she get it? Why
was she trying to make me choose?

I opened my mouth to say more and then snapped it closed
when Chad and Chuck walked in. Arguing in front of them would only make matters
worse and end in hurt feelings. I’d have to talk to her about this later.

* * * *

Later, as it turned out, would have to be much later. We ate
a leisurely breakfast together, over which I caught up on the family news and
my mother got better acquainted with two of my husbands. Although she started
off with a cooler attitude toward Chad this morning, she couldn’t maintain it
for long. He worked his charm on her until he had her relaxed and approving
again. Afterward, Chuck went upstairs with my mother to fix the zipper on her
train case, which she claimed she’d tried to get my father to repair “forever.”
Chad and I stayed behind to clean up the kitchen.

He bumped shoulders with me as we washed and dried the
dishes. “It looks like Chuck is growing on your mother. She seems to like him
now.”

“Mm-hmm.” I kept my gaze on the glass I was drying.

If it had been either of my other husbands, I probably would
have gotten away with the evasion. Chad stared at me until I felt as if twin
laser beams were boring through my skull.

“Fila?”

“Yes?” I tried to play innocent, but inside I cringed.

He continued to study me. “Did I miss something? Does your
mom still want to get rid of Charles and Chuck?”

“She hasn’t gotten to know Charles yet, so I doubt there’s
been any change there. It looks like Chuck has won her over with talk of her
future grandkids. You should have seen them. They were huddled in front of the window
when I came down, discussing the safest place to erect a swing set.” I talked
quickly, hoping he wouldn’t probe any deeper.

The last thing I wanted was to tell him that he was now one
of the husbands on the outs with my mom. It would break his heart.

Maybe the desperation showed on my face because he let it
drop. “It will just take time,” he said after a minute. “How long are they
staying?”

“I have no idea. And no, before you say it, I did not ask my
mom when they’re leaving. She’ll act like I’m impatient to kick her out and
make a big production of it. You heard her over breakfast, though. My brother,
Frank, will be back in the country on Wednesday, so she and my dad will want to
swing by and see him on their way home. That means they should be out of here
by Tuesday morning at the latest.”

“Wednesday is your birthday. They won’t stay for that?”

“Only if I ask. It hasn’t come up.”

Chad handed me the last dish to dry. “It’s your day. If you
want to celebrate with your parents, that’s fine. Please let us know, though.
Charles and Chuck and I can delay our plans until the weekend.”

“Plans?” Curiosity cascaded through me. “What kind of
plans?”

“It’s a surprise.” A flash of concern crossed his face. “Not
a surprise party, though. I hope that’s okay. Since your birthday falls on a
weekday, and your friends don’t all know about the three of us…well, a party
didn’t seem practical. We were planning something more intimate here at home.”

“Again with the secret plan.” I used a teasing voice because
I could see he really was worried I’d be disappointed. “Can I wheedle it out of
you? The best part of a secret is sharing it. A party of four suits me just
right, but since I was already counting on that, that can’t be the surprise.”

His smile was back. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“Is it a good surprise?”

“Would I tease you with a bad one?”

No, if he was going to this much trouble to drop hints, then
it had to be great. Anticipation tingled through my veins like champagne
bubbles. I’d always been the kid who shook the box but didn’t open my present
until I was allowed. The suspense was part of the gift.

Chad knew that about me, so he remained sphinxlike while I
riddled him with questions.

The sound of the front door opening and closing interrupted
us. It was a little early for my dad and Charles to arrive home, but not
impossible if they hadn’t stopped at the clubhouse. I popped out of the kitchen
to see who it was and watched my mother walk back in through the door.

“Did you forget something in the car?” I hoped that explained
her venture outside. Otherwise I had visions of her mapping out my property for
a whole playground.

“Your husband is being a dear and looking at the car for
me,” Mom explained. “It kept making a squeaky sound the whole way here. Of
course your father swears he can’t hear anything. Either he’s going deaf, or he
doesn’t want to admit there’s a problem with the car. Sometimes that man can be
so stubborn. He’s like an emu burying his head in the sand.”

“Ostrich.”

“What?”

“Like an ostrich,” I corrected her.

“Right. Well, Chuck said something about tightening a belt.
He’s taking a look at it for us so I don’t have to listen to the squeak all the
way back.”

I could already guess what my father would have to listen to
the whole trip home.

My mom fanned herself. “I didn’t think it would be so hot
out.” She glanced at her watch. “Goodness, it’s almost eleven. Where has the
morning gone? There’s something about being on vacation. I always lose track of
time.”

“That’s the whole point of being on vacation,” I told her.
“You aren’t supposed to worry about sticking to a schedule. For that matter, I
thought that was the point of retirement too.”

Mom dismissed this philosophy with a flick of her hand.
“Everyone needs a schedule. Otherwise, you wind up lollygagging all day, not
getting anything done. Still, it is nice to relax and visit with my daughter.”

I wasn’t sure how relaxed she ever got, but I appreciated
the sentiment. “Thanks, Mom. I’m glad you’re here.” And I was, for the most
part. I loved her very much and missed her when she wasn’t around.

“Aren’t you sweet?” She came closer to give me a kiss and a
pat on the cheek. “I thought I saw some iced tea chilling in your refrigerator.
You should take a glass to your husband before he has heatstroke out there. Men
never think of that sort of thing. Then maybe you’d like to go for a drive and
show me the neighborhood.”

Others might have been caught flat-footed by the hairpin
turns my mother’s conversations sometimes took. I was used to it. The fact that
she’d snooped through my refrigerator was no surprise. I suspected she’d
already done the same to all the cabinets and closets in the house. As for
fetching my husband a drink, I had a split second of indignation before I
reminded myself he didn’t expect the service. Besides, he was being a good
sport about doing chores for his mother-in-law. He deserved at least an iced
tea and a kiss.

“Sure, Mom. Let me finish up here, and then we can take the
second car.”

Charles had obviously taken my father in our other vehicle. Since
my dad liked to drive, I had to wonder if he really was avoiding the squeak in
his car.

I strode back into the kitchen and nearly collided with
Chad. He handed me a full glass of iced tea, ready for delivery. When I looked
at him in surprise, he shot me a wink.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?” I asked.

“Yes, but it never gets old. Now go save Chuck before he
expires from the heat.” He kissed me, and I felt the vibrations of his quiet
laughter.

The man was a godsend. I accepted the glass from him and
rode to the rescue. Outside, I found my husband-turned-auto-mechanic already
hard at work. The hood was up, and Chuck was bent underneath its shade. He had
his arms buried in the guts of the engine, tight between some thick black
hoses. I couldn’t see what he was doing, but by the way his shoulders moved, I
guessed he was pulling or cranking something.

Although I was informed enough that I could change a tire or
refill my windshield wiper fluid, I was in awe at how much he could do with a
car. He was a genius at keeping everything in working order. Fixing and
maintaining the cars and house were Chuck’s way of taking care of me—his way of
taking care of all of us, really. It made me feel protected and was as romantic
from him as a bouquet of roses from Chad.

As I watched, he released a satisfied grunt and straightened
from under the hood.

“Don’t tell me you fixed it already,” I said.

He finally turned to me. “Okay, I won’t tell you. Actually,
I won’t know for sure until I start her up and turn on the AC. From what Minnie
described, I’m guessing the problem was a loose air-conditioner compressor
belt. I turned the idler pulley and tightened the lock nut, so if I’m right,
that should do it.” He looked at the glass of tea sweating in my hand. “Is that
for me?”

I passed him the drink.

“Thanks, honey. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Just looking after my husband’s health. If this works,
you’ll score huge points with my mother. In fact, you did already by fixing her
luggage.”

Chuck shrugged in that humble way of his. “No big deal. It’s
nice we’re all getting along.”

He tipped back his drink and drained it in one long swallow.
Then he handed me the empty glass before opening the car to turn on the engine
and the AC. The car purred to life.

“Hear anything?” he asked above the noise.

I shook my head. The car was officially squeak-free.

After another minute of listening, Chuck turned it off and
spun the key ring around his finger. “That’s it, then.”

“Good job.” My gaze dropped from his triumphant grin to a
smear of grime on the front of his shirt. “Oh no. Not another one.”