A Good Measure, page 10
“Happy Mother’s Day!” he said with his sweet shy smile.
“Oh, my goodness! I forgot it was Mother’s Day!” she said, shaking her head and giving him a hug. “Thank you, hon.”
“You’re welcome,” Cash pulled away to flip three golden blueberry pancakes from the hot griddle, and then artistically framed them with two links of sausage. “Here you go,” he said, setting the plate on her placemat.
“Where are yours?” she asked, as she refilled her coffee mug.
“Right here,” he said, spooning more batter onto the griddle.
“Do you want one of these?” she asked.
“Nope, you go ahead. Mine will be ready in a minute.”
“Should I wait?” she asked.
“Nope. Eat ’em while they’re hot.”
She sat down, buttered and drizzled syrup over her pancakes, and took a bite. “Mmm,” she said. “These are ah-may-zing, and what a nice presentation, too!”
“I learned from the best,” he said, grinning and sitting across from her. “Oh!” he said, standing back up so abruptly he almost knocked over his chair. He hurried over to the sink, reached behind the flour and sugar canisters, and came back with a white envelope.
“Is this an original Cashmark?” she asked, smiling and using the name he wrote on the back of the cards he’d been drawing for her since he was little.
“It is,” he confirmed, grinning.
She slipped the homemade card from the envelope and studied it. It was a drawing of a coffee mug with the words: BEST MOM IN THE WORLD on it. She pressed her lips together, opened it, and through the blur of tears, read the words he’d carefully printed:
Thank you for all you do for me and for loving me no matter what! I LOVE YOU!
Love, Your Son, Cashen
“Oh, Cash,” she said, looking up, her eyes glistening.
He furrowed his brow. “You’re not supposed to cry, Mom,” and because her tears worried him, he gestured to her plate. “You should eat. They’re gonna get cold.”
She nodded, wiped her eyes, set the card in front of her, took another bite, and tried to keep from crying, but when he looked up, he noticed a tear trickling down her cheek. “What’s the matter, Mom?” he asked. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m just happy, Cash,” she lied, her heart aching with the very real possibility that he would be on his own sooner than she ever expected. “I’m happy to have such a good son, and I’m crying because I love you, and you make me very proud.”
Cash beamed. “You make me very proud, too, Mom.”
She searched his boyish bespeckled face. “Thank you, Cash. That means more than you know.”
18
“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!” CHASE SAID, KISSING LIBBY’S CHEEK AND HOLDING out the bouquet of wildflowers he’d picked after helping his brothers with chores.
She looked up from the scrambled eggs she was stirring in her old cast iron pan. “Thank you, hon,” she said. “These are beautiful!” She put down her fork and reached into the cabinet for a vase. “Are your brothers coming in? Because these eggs are almost ready.”
“Yep, they said they’d be right in.” He poured a mug of coffee and opened a different cabinet in search of some aspirin.
“Do you have a headache?” she asked, frowning.
“I do,” he said, chuckling. “My own fault,” he added, recalling the liter-size bottle of Jack Daniels he and Liam and his brothers had passed around the bonfire the night before.
“How late were you up?” Libby asked, shifting her attention to the bacon.
“Too late,” he replied, swallowing some Tylenol with his coffee. He looked over at the sputtering pan. “Why don’t you let me do that?” he said. “You shouldn’t be making breakfast. We should be cooking for you.”
Libby laughed. “It’s okay,” she said, but she relinquished her fork. “Do you want an apron?”
“Do I want an apron?” he teased, rolling his eyes. “What do you think?”
“Well, I know how particular you are about your clothes.”
“I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt, Mom.”
Libby eyed her handsome son, put her hand on his tan cheek, and gazed into his summer-sky-blue eyes. “I’m so glad you and Liam came for a visit. It was such a nice Mother’s Day surprise.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, reaching up to place his hand on hers. “I wish I could take credit for knowing it was Mother’s Day, but quite honestly, I forgot. I just wanted to come home because we hadn’t seen you since Christmas and it’s been too long. I miss you . . . and the fam.”
“We miss you, too. I’m glad everyone could come over last night—it was just like old times.”
“It was,” Chase said, smiling. “We had quite the bonfire.”
“I know! It was so bright the firelight was dancing on my bedroom walls.”
“Is Liam up?”
“I haven’t seen him.”
“I’m not surprised. He’s not used to partying with the Tennyson boys.”
“Do you think you should check on him?”
“I will, but there’s something I wanted to talk to you about first—while we have a minute.”
Libby frowned and searched his face. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” he said. “In fact, everything is great.” He pressed his lips together and leaned against the counter. “We were gonna tell you together, but last night, I started to think it might be better if I talked to you alone . . . and Liam said it was fine.”
Libby’s heart started to pound—What was this about? What news did he have to share? “What is it?” she asked.
Chase took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I hope you’ll be happy, Mom,” he began tentatively, “because Liam and I want to have a family . . . and we plan to get married. We’re engaged—we actually got engaged when we were here for Christmas—do you remember when we went for a walk after church on Christmas Eve?”
Libby nodded slowly, her heart still pounding. She knew how serious her son was about Liam, and she’d known all along that news like this would likely come, but now that it was here, she was still surprised. She loved Chase with all her heart, and she loved Liam, too, but deep down, she struggled sometimes. She couldn’t tell him this, though—his gentle heart was much too precious to her, and she knew he would remember this moment for the rest of his life. Suddenly, she heard a clear but quiet voice in her head: Just love him! Love him with all your heart—that’s all that matters! She blinked in surprise. “Oh, Chase,” she said softly. “I’ve always prayed you’d find the right person to love—and that that person would love you back just as much.” She pulled him into a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Chase said, beaming. “That means more than you know.”
Just then, Liam shuffled into the kitchen, wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt and rubbing his temple, and Chase looked over his mom’s head, and gave him a thumbs-up.
Liam smiled. “Happy Mother’s Day, Mrs. Tennyson,” he said.
Libby pulled back. “Thank you, Liam . . . but I think you need to start calling me Mom, like all my boys.”
He laughed. “I can do that,” he said, giving her a hug.
Chase turned his attention back to the bacon and began lifting the long strips to a waiting plate. He’d just transferred the last piece when the screen door squeaked and Ellie clumped in with Gus at her heels. She kicked her barn boots onto the mudroom floor. “Uncle Gage says he has a long ride home and needs to get going soon,” she called out, relaying the message that had been assigned to her.
“We have a long ride, too,” Chase said, eyeing Liam.
“You’re leaving, too?” Ellie asked, a shadow falling over her rosy cheeks.
“Afraid so, kiddo.”
“Dang!” she muttered, and then she moved closer and whispered, “Did you tell her?”
Chase leaned down, and whispered back, “Yes!”
“Good,” she said, giggling and reaching for a piece of bacon.
“They’re hot,” he warned.
“Not for me!” she said, taking a bite. “I love bacon!” She grinned at Liam, turned, and almost tripped on Gus, who was sitting behind her. “You want a piece, too, don’t you, boy?” she asked, breaking off the end as he thumped his tail.
There was a commotion on the porch and then Matt pushed open the screen door, laughing as he walked in, followed by Gage, Grayson, and Eli, all of whom had—from years of habit—stopped to take off their boots. “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!” they called, giving her hugs.
Libby laughed. “Thank you! I couldn’t feel more loved than I do right now!”
Ellie gave her a hug, too. “Happy Mother’s Day, Gran! All this love is your reward for having all these kids!”
“It is indeed,” Libby said, smiling.
19
“THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL ROSES, HON!” AMES SAID, SWITCHING HER phone to speaker and setting it on the counter so she could continue chopping nuts for her banana bread.
“You’re welcome, Mom,” Quinn said, and then she paused. “What in the world is that noise?”
Ames laughed. “I’m chopping walnuts. Is it too loud?”
“A little.”
“Okay, I’ll mash bananas instead.”
“Mom, why don’t you just sit for a minute and talk? I can’t stay on long because I have to get back to work.”
“Okay. Do you want to call me back so we can FaceTime—like we did the other night—and I’ll answer on my new iPad?”
Quinn laughed. “Okay, I’ll call you back.”
Ames quickly washed her hands, grabbed her iPad, and sat out on the porch with Ned. A moment later, her daughter’s beautiful face was right in front of her! “Happy Mother’s Day!”
“Thank you, honey! It’s so good to see you! This newfangled technology is so amazing. It’s almost like being together.”
“Almost,” Quinn said, laughing. “Except actually being together and being able to give you a hug would be much better.”
“So, when are you coming home?” Ames teased.
“Ha! Very funny. That’s another reason I’m calling—for Mother’s Day, I’m also giving you a plane ticket so you can come visit me.”
“Oh, hon, it’s not the money. I can afford a plane ticket.”
“I still want to treat. You know it’s not easy for me to get away, and since you’re retired—you could easily come visit for a week.”
Ames nodded. “I know, and I actually have some news about that.”
“Yeah?” Quinn said, tucking her wispy blond hair behind her ear, just like she’d done since she was a little girl. “What is it?”
“Well, you know how I said I didn’t want to leave Ned?”
“Um, no . . . I don’t remember you saying that, but if that’s the reason you won’t come, that’s crazy—Ned will be fine! Can’t you leave him with Mrs. Childs?”
“Well, that’s what I was going to tell you. Payton never seems to want to let Cash do anything on his own . . .”
“Oh, how is Cash?” Quinn interrupted, fondly remembering her old classmate. She and Chase had both looked out for Cash when they were kids. He’d struggled socially in school and become easily upset, but he’d also been a genius at math and a talented artist. Chase had been first to take him under his wing—always standing up for him, especially if he was being picked on, but there were times when Chase hadn’t been around and then, Quinn had stepped in and gotten Cash to “just breathe” until he calmed down.
“He’s fine—all grown up, just like you, but he’s aching for independence and Payton just won’t let go. The other day, though, she and I were talking about me visiting you and when I said I was reluctant to leave Ned, Cash piped up and offered to house-sit and take care of him. It was no surprise,” she continued, “that Payton pooh-poohed the idea, but then I told her I would leave Ned and visit you, if she would let Cash stay with him . . . and you’re not gonna believe it, but she called me a little while ago and said she’s going to let him!”
“So you’re coming for a visit?!”
“If you still want me to . . .”
“Of course I want you to!” Quinn practically shouted, a smile lighting her face. “What changed Mrs. Childs’s mind?”
“She didn’t say, although she did say Cash had made her a very nice Mother’s Day breakfast, and she seemed more cheerful than she’s been lately.”
Quinn nodded. “So when do you want to come?”
“Well, that’s the other thing. It’s a little up in the air because Payton might need to have surgery—she won’t know for another week. I also wasn’t sure of your schedule.”
“Whenever you can come will work for me,” Quinn assured her, but then she frowned. “Why does she need surgery?”
Ames sighed. “I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“Ma, I’m in California. Who’m I gonna tell?”
“I don’t know. You’re on social media so you keep in touch with people.”
“I won’t tell anyone, but if you don’t want to say anything, that’s fine, too.”
“She doesn’t want Cash to worry—that’s why it’s a secret, but her doctor found a tiny lump on her thyroid and she had an ultrasound, but it was inconclusive, so she has to have a biopsy. If it turns out to be cancer, she’ll have to have it removed.”
Quinn nodded. “That’s not as big a deal as it seems. I have a couple friends who had their thyroids removed, and they said their recovery wasn’t that bad. They also said if you’re gonna get cancer, thyroid is the one to get.”
“I heard the same thing from Callie Jasmine—she had it, but Payton’s still worried. It’s easy for us to say don’t worry, but when the word cancer is used regarding your own health, it’s scary.”
“Of course,” Quinn agreed. “Are you waiting till she finds out or . . .”
“Payton thinks I should go soon, so if she needs me—or Cash—I’ll be back.”
“Okay!” Quinn said happily. “This is awesome—I mean, you coming, of course!” As she said this, her little tiger cat hopped up on her lap, peered into the camera, and meowed. “You’re gonna get to meet your grandma, Clem!” Quinn said, and the cat swished her tail and meowed again.
Ames laughed. “She’s so sweet—I can’t wait to meet her.” Then she leaned down, turned her iPad, and nudged Ned. “Say hello to Quinn and Clementine, Ned.”
The big dog sniffed the screen, his wet nose filling the camera and Quinn laughed. “Hey, Neddy!” she said. “I miss seeing you, ole pal!” Ned thumped his tail. “I’m so glad you have him to keep you company, Mom.”
“He is good company,” Ames agreed, “but he hogs the bed more than your father ever did!”
“Wait! You let him on the bed?!”
“Yep,” Ames said, nodding. “There’re no rules around here anymore! He lies on your old bed, too, because the sun shines across it every morning.”
“Love it!” Quinn said. “Well, do you want me to find a ticket for you, or do you want to look?”
“I think it would be better if you find it—you’re much better at that sort of thing, and you know your schedule, so whatever works for you.”
“Okay. I’ll look tonight as soon as I get home and I’ll text you.” She smiled. “I’m so glad you’re coming, Mom. We’re gonna have so much fun.”
“I’m glad I’m coming, too. It will be so good to see you—in person! And give you a hug.”
“All right. Well, I better run. It doesn’t take much for chaos to ensue at the restaurant, especially today. Enjoy the rest of your day . . . and your banana bread. Maybe you can bring some out when you come,” she added hopefully.
“With chocolate chips or just walnuts?”
“With chocolate chips, of course!” Quinn said, remembering her mom’s luscious recipe.
“Okay,” Ames said, laughing. “I’ll wait to hear from you on timing and tickets.”
“Sounds good! Love you, Mom!”
“Love you, too, hon!”
Quinn waved and Ames waved back and then her daughter’s face disappeared. Ames sighed and looked out across the field. It had been wonderful to see her, and she was excited about seeing her in person, but she still worried. “Ah, worry,” she whispered, “why do you torment me? Dear Lord, help me have faith so I don’t worry so much.” Then she nudged Ned with her foot. “Shall we go have a banana?” she asked, and he perked right up and headed for the door, tail wagging. “I guess I’m gonna have to make a list of all the things you like to eat . . . and I’ll have to write down our routine so Cash knows what to do.”
20
“I THOUGHT THE FEEDERS WERE ON THIS SHELF,” LIBBY SAID, STRAIGHTENING up. “But now I’m not sure where they are.”
“Did you look in the pantry?” Ellie asked as she scooped sugar into a measuring cup.
“Why would I put them in the pantry?” Libby asked, sounding exasperated.
Ellie shrugged. “It’s a fourth of a cup of sugar to one cup of water, right?”
“Yes, I think so,” Libby answered. “I haven’t put them out in several years, so they could be anywhere.”
“They must be in a safe spot,” Ellie teased, knowing how her grandmother was famous for putting things in safe spots, and then not being able to find them. “Want me to look?”
Libby sighed. “You’d probably have better luck than me.”
Ellie handed her the spoon, disappeared into the pantry, and began scanning the long wooden shelves lined with homemade jams and pickles.
“We may as well make a cup of tea while we’re at it,” Libby mused.
“Okay!” Ellie called back as she rummaged around in some boxes.
“What kind would you like?”
“Hmm . . .” Ellie murmured thoughtfully as she continued to look.
“Can’t hear you, hon.”
“How ’bout Constant Comment?” Ellie called back.
“Good choice,” Libby said, reaching for the little basket of assorted teas she kept on a shelf above the stove and taking out a slim red package of the tea with “the curious blend of orange peel, cinnamon, and other aromatic spices.” Constant Comment had been one of her grandmother’s favorites. She filled the kettle with fresh water, lit the back burner, set the kettle on it, and dropped the tea bag into her pot, draping the tag over the side.
