“I know, sweetheart.”
“Of course,” Brenda said. “We’ve got time.”
Timothy suggested inviting his sister over on Saturday.
“I’ll cook,” Brenda offered.
“That sounds lovely,” I said.
“We’ve got time.”
“Mom can have the kitchen for the afternoon,” Timothy added.
He hadn’t asked me, but I wasn’t going to argue over serving dishes.
“Just leave my breakfast things where they are.”
“I think I can manage that, Heather.”
He hadn’t asked me.
On Saturday afternoon, I was carrying clean towels upstairs when I heard Brenda speaking to Timothy in the living room.
“I’ve been thinking about your offer, son.”
“What offer?”
“Staying longer if the renovations run over.”
“What offer?”
“I said we could discuss it, Mom.”
“Well, what if I want another month or two after everything’s finished?”
I stopped outside the doorway.
Another two months?
I stopped outside the doorway.
Her kitchen cabinets were going in the following week.
I’d assumed the remaining work wouldn’t take much longer.
“Mom, that’s not what I offered.”
“You said I wouldn’t have to worry about finding somewhere else.”
“Because I didn’t want you worrying.”
“You said I wouldn’t have to worry.”
“I’ve enjoyed being here with Henry,” Brenda said.
“Heather doesn’t even know we talked about this,” Timothy replied.
Brenda gave a small laugh.
“Oh, she’ll get used to it. You said she always does.”
I walked into the room.
“I’ve enjoyed being here.”
“Get used to what?”
They both turned.
Timothy stood.
“Heather, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I noticed.”
“Get used to what?”
Brenda looked at her son.
“Well, you’d better explain.”
I faced Timothy.
“Did you offer your mother another two months in our house?”
“I only said we’d discuss it if the renovations ran late,” Timothy replied.
I faced Timothy.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He had no answer.
Brenda stepped forward. “I thought staying longer might be nice.”
“Then you should’ve asked me too,” I said.
Timothy reached for my hand.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I stepped back.
“I was trying to reassure Mom,” Timothy said.
“By making me deal with the consequences?”
Brenda folded her arms. “You’re making this sound worse than it is.”
“You ignored me about the sponge because Timothy told you my rules didn’t matter.”
I stepped back.
She looked at him. “He did.”
Timothy lowered his eyes.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
Brenda shook her head.
“He did.”
“Well, I certainly don’t want to stay somewhere I’m unwanted.”
“You’re not unwanted, Brenda. But I won’t keep agreeing to things just because you’ve already discussed them with Timothy.”
She looked away.
I placed the towels on a chair.
“You’re not unwanted, Brenda.”
“Your daughter will be here soon. I’m not turning dinner into an argument.”
Timothy nodded.
“We’ll sort this out.”
“Not by making another promise,” I said. “By actually deciding together.”
Dinner started pleasantly.
“We’ll sort this out.”
Henry helped carry the napkins to the table, and Brenda brought out her stuffed potatoes.
Timothy’s sister complimented the food.
“Mom, you’ll have to make these when you’re back in your own kitchen.”
Brenda smiled.
“Well, there’s no telling when that will be.”
Brenda smiled.
I looked up.
