picnic. How about that?
For real?
She held up a solemn hand. For real. I promise. It was fun doing things for him, even if it was only making a picnic lunch. She had brought salami sandwiches, and big fresh country potato chips, macaroni salad, beautiful peaches and a basket of cherries. And there was a thermos of lemonade and a slab of chocolate cake. He even ate like a kid now.
What's it got? His eyes were dancing again. The wanting to go home with Katie was already forgotten. For now.
You'll see what's in the picnic when you get hungry for lunch. She waggled a finger at him, and he caught it. It was a game they had played since they met. They still played it. It was one of the things that allowed her to pretend, for a moment, a minute, the flash of an eyelash, that everything was the same.
I'm hungry.
You are not. You just want to see what's in the picnic basket. She lay on the grass, feeling like an overturned whale, and grinned up at him.
Honest, I'm hungry! But he was laughing again, they both were.
How can you be hungry? It's ten-thirty in the morning.
Mr. Erhard didn't give me any breakfast. But the laughter danced right out of his eyes and he couldn't keep a straight face.
Baloney. You fibber.
Come on, Katie, I'm starving.
You're impossible. But she pushed herself up to a sitting position and thought about getting the basket. If he was hungry, why not? I brought you a present, by the way.
You did? What?
You'll see.
Oh, you're so mean! He said it with the outrage of childhood, and a fierce impatience for both the picnic and the gift. And with another slow smile, Kate got to her feet and then bent down to kiss the tip of his nose. Don't do that! Gently, he swatted her away.
Why not?
Because you're a meanie, that's why! But his arm went around her waist, and for a moment they stayed there, he in his chair and she standing next to him. This time she moved away first.
I'll go get the stuff. There was smoke in her voice, and they still had the day ahead of them.
Want me to help?
Okay. You can carry the picnic basket. He wheeled himself to the car as she walked along slowly beside him in the sunshine. They chatted, and he told her what he'd been doing, about the drawings, about a new game she'd brought him the week before, about a nurse he hated at the main house, and the best dinner I've ever had, while Kate listened as though it were all true, as though it mattered.
When they got to the car, she lifted the picnic basket carefully onto his lap, and reached in beside it for a red- and white-striped package tied with a big bow.
For you, my love. She closed the car, and pushed him slowly back up the walk.
Hurry up!
We have a problem? She'd need Mr. Erhard for that. Tom was far too heavy for her to cope with when he needed to relieve himself.
No, dummy, I want to open my present! He was holding it close, and Kid already dug a hand into the picnic basket and come up with a handful of cherries and a little tiny piece of the cake.
Stay out of that, Tom Harper, or I'll--
No, you won't, Katie, you love me too much.
You're right. They both smiled then, and Kate settled him under a tree outside his cottage. The grounds were fresh and bright In time he might tire of them. But not yet.
Can I open it now? He looked at her for approval and she nodded, as he quickly tore off the paper. It had been a foolish thing to buy him, but she hadn't been able to resist when she'd seen it. And she'd bought one for the baby's room too. Oh, I love him! What's his name? Tom held the big brown bear close, and squeezed it tight. Kate was surprised and pleased at his instant delight.
I don't know his name. You tell me. I think he looks like a George myself.
Yeah. Maybe. Tom looked him over thoughtfully.
Lucius? Kate was smiling again. She was glad she'd bought it for him after all. So what if it was silly? What difference did that make now, if it made him happy?
Not Lucius, that's horrible. I know! Willie!
Willie?
Willie!
For real?
She held up a solemn hand. For real. I promise. It was fun doing things for him, even if it was only making a picnic lunch. She had brought salami sandwiches, and big fresh country potato chips, macaroni salad, beautiful peaches and a basket of cherries. And there was a thermos of lemonade and a slab of chocolate cake. He even ate like a kid now.
What's it got? His eyes were dancing again. The wanting to go home with Katie was already forgotten. For now.
You'll see what's in the picnic when you get hungry for lunch. She waggled a finger at him, and he caught it. It was a game they had played since they met. They still played it. It was one of the things that allowed her to pretend, for a moment, a minute, the flash of an eyelash, that everything was the same.
I'm hungry.
You are not. You just want to see what's in the picnic basket. She lay on the grass, feeling like an overturned whale, and grinned up at him.
Honest, I'm hungry! But he was laughing again, they both were.
How can you be hungry? It's ten-thirty in the morning.
Mr. Erhard didn't give me any breakfast. But the laughter danced right out of his eyes and he couldn't keep a straight face.
Baloney. You fibber.
Come on, Katie, I'm starving.
You're impossible. But she pushed herself up to a sitting position and thought about getting the basket. If he was hungry, why not? I brought you a present, by the way.
You did? What?
You'll see.
Oh, you're so mean! He said it with the outrage of childhood, and a fierce impatience for both the picnic and the gift. And with another slow smile, Kate got to her feet and then bent down to kiss the tip of his nose. Don't do that! Gently, he swatted her away.
Why not?
Because you're a meanie, that's why! But his arm went around her waist, and for a moment they stayed there, he in his chair and she standing next to him. This time she moved away first.
I'll go get the stuff. There was smoke in her voice, and they still had the day ahead of them.
Want me to help?
Okay. You can carry the picnic basket. He wheeled himself to the car as she walked along slowly beside him in the sunshine. They chatted, and he told her what he'd been doing, about the drawings, about a new game she'd brought him the week before, about a nurse he hated at the main house, and the best dinner I've ever had, while Kate listened as though it were all true, as though it mattered.
When they got to the car, she lifted the picnic basket carefully onto his lap, and reached in beside it for a red- and white-striped package tied with a big bow.
For you, my love. She closed the car, and pushed him slowly back up the walk.
Hurry up!
We have a problem? She'd need Mr. Erhard for that. Tom was far too heavy for her to cope with when he needed to relieve himself.
No, dummy, I want to open my present! He was holding it close, and Kid already dug a hand into the picnic basket and come up with a handful of cherries and a little tiny piece of the cake.
Stay out of that, Tom Harper, or I'll--
No, you won't, Katie, you love me too much.
You're right. They both smiled then, and Kate settled him under a tree outside his cottage. The grounds were fresh and bright In time he might tire of them. But not yet.
Can I open it now? He looked at her for approval and she nodded, as he quickly tore off the paper. It had been a foolish thing to buy him, but she hadn't been able to resist when she'd seen it. And she'd bought one for the baby's room too. Oh, I love him! What's his name? Tom held the big brown bear close, and squeezed it tight. Kate was surprised and pleased at his instant delight.
I don't know his name. You tell me. I think he looks like a George myself.
Yeah. Maybe. Tom looked him over thoughtfully.
Lucius? Kate was smiling again. She was glad she'd bought it for him after all. So what if it was silly? What difference did that make now, if it made him happy?
Not Lucius, that's horrible. I know! Willie!
Willie?
Willie!
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