cautious. I’ve known of two perfectly wonderful people who just didn’t work out together at all.”
Judith nodded her agreement, then said, “So, any future plans? Dinners? Outings?”
“Daddy and P.C. are taking the boys to the hockey game next Friday night.”
“He likes hockey?”
“You’re surprised?”
Judith shrugged. “I guess I am… a bit. I mean, he seems more like the kind who would be into—I dunno—polo. Cricket.”
They looked at each other and fought to control their giggles.
Cynthia became serious again. “Guess he likes most every sport—according to Daddy.”
“So the two men will be going off with the boys to this hockey thing. Then what? More events? More outings?”
“I suppose.”
“And you don’t mind?”
Cynthia looked up, not sure what the question implied. “What do you mean—mind? It’s good for boys to have—to be with men. Daddy has always said so. I’m glad that someone is willing to take them. Sports are good for them—except wrestling. I draw the line at wrestling. I never could understand grown men—”
“And what do you do?”
Cynthia set her coffee cup down. “What do you mean?”
“If these … these males in your life spend their time running to … to sports things, what do you do?”
Cynthia frowned. She had not thought about the lonely nights sitting at home by herself. It was not an enjoyable prospect.
“Maybe you should find something to do with Mrs. Weston,” Judith went on.
“Could you join us?”
Even though Cynthia was learning to care deeply for the older woman, she was not quite prepared to take full responsibility for the friendship.
“I have a family,” answered Judith simply. “Friday night is our family night. The kids always look forward to planning the activity. They plan way ahead. Next Friday we are going bowling.”
“Oh, fun.”
“You could join us. Cal wouldn’t mind.”
For a moment Cynthia was tempted but she quickly shook her head. “I couldn’t,” she said lamely. “It would feel very … odd. My father taking the boys out and me going off on my own.”
“Another time then. Maybe you all can join us.”
Cynthia turned back to her pastry. It did sound like fun, but after all, family outings were special and meant to be just that. It would change things if she horned in.
She looked up at Judith and smiled her thanks but made no commitment.
When spring came, Mrs. Weston decided to go home and put her big house up for sale. Cynthia knew that she would miss her. It wouldn’t be the same without her cheerful smile greeting them each Sunday.
“This is late notice,” the diminutive woman said on her last Sunday with them, “but could you go out for dinner? I’m going to miss you all so much, and I thought that we should spend one more—”
“Yes!” Todd drew back a fist and pumped it enthusiastically.
“I do have a roast in—” Cynthia started to explain.
“I can run home and remove it from the oven,” her father said quickly.
Cynthia smiled. “Well,” she said, “it sounds like the family is much more interested in your invitation than in eating at home—so, yes, thank you.”
“I have my car. Preston came early for the men’s prayer time before the service. I’ll meet you at Dixon’s,” Mrs. Weston instructed. “I’ll go on ahead and have them set up the table.”
“Dixon’s.” Cynthia nodded, watching as Mrs. Weston hurried away to her car.
“C’mon, Grandpa Paul,” prompted Justin. “Let’s go take out the roast.”
Her father moved to follow the two eager boys, then turned back to Cynthia. “No need for you to come. We’ll just turn off the roast and meet you at Dixon’s.”
“But… how am I to—”
“You can ride with P.C.” And he was gone.
Cynthia felt her cheeks coloring. How was she going to go to the attorney and say that she had been left behind? But he suddenly was there beside her. “Ready?” was all he said. She nodded, relieved that
Judith nodded her agreement, then said, “So, any future plans? Dinners? Outings?”
“Daddy and P.C. are taking the boys to the hockey game next Friday night.”
“He likes hockey?”
“You’re surprised?”
Judith shrugged. “I guess I am… a bit. I mean, he seems more like the kind who would be into—I dunno—polo. Cricket.”
They looked at each other and fought to control their giggles.
Cynthia became serious again. “Guess he likes most every sport—according to Daddy.”
“So the two men will be going off with the boys to this hockey thing. Then what? More events? More outings?”
“I suppose.”
“And you don’t mind?”
Cynthia looked up, not sure what the question implied. “What do you mean—mind? It’s good for boys to have—to be with men. Daddy has always said so. I’m glad that someone is willing to take them. Sports are good for them—except wrestling. I draw the line at wrestling. I never could understand grown men—”
“And what do you do?”
Cynthia set her coffee cup down. “What do you mean?”
“If these … these males in your life spend their time running to … to sports things, what do you do?”
Cynthia frowned. She had not thought about the lonely nights sitting at home by herself. It was not an enjoyable prospect.
“Maybe you should find something to do with Mrs. Weston,” Judith went on.
“Could you join us?”
Even though Cynthia was learning to care deeply for the older woman, she was not quite prepared to take full responsibility for the friendship.
“I have a family,” answered Judith simply. “Friday night is our family night. The kids always look forward to planning the activity. They plan way ahead. Next Friday we are going bowling.”
“Oh, fun.”
“You could join us. Cal wouldn’t mind.”
For a moment Cynthia was tempted but she quickly shook her head. “I couldn’t,” she said lamely. “It would feel very … odd. My father taking the boys out and me going off on my own.”
“Another time then. Maybe you all can join us.”
Cynthia turned back to her pastry. It did sound like fun, but after all, family outings were special and meant to be just that. It would change things if she horned in.
She looked up at Judith and smiled her thanks but made no commitment.
When spring came, Mrs. Weston decided to go home and put her big house up for sale. Cynthia knew that she would miss her. It wouldn’t be the same without her cheerful smile greeting them each Sunday.
“This is late notice,” the diminutive woman said on her last Sunday with them, “but could you go out for dinner? I’m going to miss you all so much, and I thought that we should spend one more—”
“Yes!” Todd drew back a fist and pumped it enthusiastically.
“I do have a roast in—” Cynthia started to explain.
“I can run home and remove it from the oven,” her father said quickly.
Cynthia smiled. “Well,” she said, “it sounds like the family is much more interested in your invitation than in eating at home—so, yes, thank you.”
“I have my car. Preston came early for the men’s prayer time before the service. I’ll meet you at Dixon’s,” Mrs. Weston instructed. “I’ll go on ahead and have them set up the table.”
“Dixon’s.” Cynthia nodded, watching as Mrs. Weston hurried away to her car.
“C’mon, Grandpa Paul,” prompted Justin. “Let’s go take out the roast.”
Her father moved to follow the two eager boys, then turned back to Cynthia. “No need for you to come. We’ll just turn off the roast and meet you at Dixon’s.”
“But… how am I to—”
“You can ride with P.C.” And he was gone.
Cynthia felt her cheeks coloring. How was she going to go to the attorney and say that she had been left behind? But he suddenly was there beside her. “Ready?” was all he said. She nodded, relieved that
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