For the first time in a long time, Ellen felt they were going to be okay.
Penny came out to the porch. She was using her cane regularly now. Her eighty-fifth birthday was coming up right before Christmas, and she was worried about falling. But her age hadn’t stopped her from maintaining control over her kitchen.
“I swear, Ryan is eating for an army,” Penny said with a smile.
“We work him hard.”
“He’s a good boy.”
“He is.”
“I talked to Margery yesterday when you were at George and Millie’s place.”
“How are she and the baby?”
“Her husband is coming home next month,” Penny said. “It’ll be the first time he’ll hold that perfect little girl of his.”
Margery had delivered a six-pound, two-ounce daughter named Amelia Rose nearly at term. Susie went back to college in September, so Margery was alone in her house.
“When does he have to go back?” Ellen asked.
“He isn’t. He’ll be stationed permanently at the Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth.”
That was less than two hours from their house in Rock Creek.
“I’m happy for them.”
“Margery is over the moon,” Penny said. “She, Susie, and the baby are coming for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.”
“I’m glad. The more the merrier.”
“We have the Perez family coming, the Mendozas, the Pritchards and their four kids, Greg and his two girls, and Travis invited his friend Chris from the Army—he’s married with three or four kids, I don’t remember. Maybe five now.”
“I’m sure more will stop by. I’ll ask Ryan and Jake to get the tables out of storage. It should be nice enough weather to eat out on the porch. I’ll set up the heaters just in case there’s a chill.”
Penny said, “And I think Jake is bringing a girl.”
Ellen froze. “What?”
“He hasn’t told you?”
“Told me what?”
Penny just smiled and walked back inside.
Was Jake seeing someone? And why wouldn’t he have told her?
Her kids were growing up too fast.
Bobby ran out, screen door slamming behind him, Whiskey at his feet. “Hi, Mom!”
“Where are you going?”
“I want to see Gracie before school! She’s going to have a foal!”
“I heard.”
He turned around, walking backwards. “Why can’t I stay home from school? Why does Lyla get to stay home and I have to go? I can help.”
