There was something about the way he said it that was almost suspicious, but Jenny couldn’t put her finger on what.
“I’m nine,” Gael reminded her. “And you’ll be right downstairs.”
“That’s true,” she said.
“Sounds good to me,” Erik told her. “We’ll have a little coffee and chat, then you can join Gael for some quiet time.”
“You’ll come right downstairs if you need me?” she asked Gael. “Or if you get bored or lonely?”
“How can I be bored or lonely when I have new comics?” he asked, grinning at her.
She hated to leave him on his own, but there weren’t many people staying at the inn, and she really would just be downstairs in what was essentially a big old house.
“Fine,” she said.
“Can I order room service?” he asked.
“Oh, now I see how it is,” Jenny laughed. He was probably picturing himself as one of the rich heroes or villains onRidley Hospital, staying in a fancy hotel and eating lobster thermidor on vacation.
“Of course you can,” Erik said. “If it’s okay with your mom.”
Gael’s eyes lit up and went pleadingly to Jenny.
“Room service is whatever Miss Trudy already has prepared,” Jenny warned him. “You just get to eat it upstairs.”
“Okay,” Gael said.
“And you can’t eat it in bed,”Jenny told him.
“Inbed?” Gael echoed, laughing.
“And probably not while you’re reading your comics, since you don’t want to get them messy,” Jenny told him. “I can put on a movie for you instead if you want to sit at the table and watch it on my tablet.”
“Okay,” Gael said, looking more and more excited.
Jenny couldn’t keep from smiling at his joy at having a simple snack and a movie on his own. But she remembered being his age. A little independence went a long way, especially when you knew your mom was right downstairs.
They headed inside, and it turned out that Trudy was thrilled to plan a “room service” snack for Gael, and the same for Jenny and Erik to enjoy in the library.
While it was being prepared, Jenny went upstairs with Gael, started “The Charlie Brown Christmas Special” for him, and made sure he had everything he needed.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” she asked him.
“I need somemetime,” he told her, and then giggled.
“Fine,” she told him, trying to keep a straight face. “But if you change your mind, we’d be glad to see you in the library.”
“I know, I know,” he said, shooing her away.
She opened the door to find Trudy headed in with a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup, along with a tall stack of sugar cookies.
“Wow,” Jenny said.
“He’s a growing boy,” Trudy laughed. “I’ll be right back with cocoa.”
“Whoa,” Gael said excitedly. “Thank you, Miss Trudy.”
“It’s my pleasure, dear,” Trudy said. “You come find me if everything’s not perfect.”
