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“How long have you and Arthur been married?” she asked to start the small talk.
Sally smiled with a faraway look in her eyes as she handed Tessa another water bottle. “Since he was seventeen and I was sixteen. It’ll be fifty years next March. You should have seen how much my parents hated him after he enlisted and we eloped.”
“That’s basically our story too,” Tessa said. “Except we were both nineteen. Landon had joined the Navy and I was in college. I wasn’t sure that the long-distance thing was going to last. But he came home on leave to visit and fate had other plans.” She looked over at Mason who stood waiting for the silverware.
Sally cast a knowing look between the two of them and then burst into laughter. “I bet your parents loved that.”
Tessa couldn’t help but smile at the memory that had plagued her entire adult life. “It’s just my dad, actually. And he absolutely hated it.”
“Oh, you poor girl.” Sally wiped the happy tears from her eyes and bit her lip to hide her smile. “Does he still hate him?”
“He does,” Tessa groaned. “Eight years later and he still blames Landon for me dropping out of college and leaving home.”
“He’ll get over it someday.” Sally pat her on the arm. “It took my parents twenty years to warm up to Art. Trust me, you still have time.”
Even though it was too hot in the kitchen and her kids were starting to argue in the dining room about where the silverware should be placed and the power still wasn’t turned back on, she felt a comforting sort of peace in talking with someone who’d walked her path before. “Someday you’ll have to tell me how you convinced them to accept Arthur’s role in your life.”
“What role?” The interior garage door slammed behind Arthur and Tessa jumped.
“Nothing dear.” Sally leaned on her cane, standing on her toes to kiss his scruffy cheek. His rough stance melted against her tiny frame and Tessa lowered her eyes, embarrassed and filled with the familiar longing that made her hate romance movies when Landon was away.
“We were just chatting.” Sally pointed to the dining room. “Now go wash up and help those kids with the forks. Dinner is almost ready.”
The smell of Thanksgiving, smoked ham and roasted vegetables, wafted through the house when Sally opened the sliding glass door to the back porch. “Can you grab those gloves and bring this in for me?” She motioned to the oven mittens hanging on the hook over the stove. Tessa slid them on and grabbed the pot off the grill.
“That’s good.” Sally nodded, inspecting the succulent feast. “Now let’s start eating. Arthur gets grumpy when he’s hungry.”
The plastic water bottle crinkled in her hand as Emily sucked the rest of it down. She hadn’t wanted any water all day, but she had to choose now to be thirsty.
“Let me grab you another one.” Even with her cane, Sally was quick to her feet.
“She’s fine.” Tessa paused mid-bite. The small talk at dinner had made it too easy to forget why she was even here in the first place. The water. The dead tweaker. She shook her head. “I should have brought them drinks. Besides, if she has too much then she might wet the bed.”
Emily’s jaw dropped and the potatoes almost fell from her mouth. “You’re lying. I don’t pee the bed anymore. I’m a big girl now.” She folded her small arms over her body, fuming at her mother. Tessa felt heat rush to her face.
“It’s okay.” Sally turned to the kitchen. “I told you we had more than enough.” Arthur stared at her with his brow furrowed and Tessa lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze.
“So…” she began awkwardly. “Do you two have any children?” Even as she said it, she knew it was stupid to ask. There were no family pictures on the walls. They hadn’t volunteered the information. To get out of one uncomfortable conversation, she’d dove headfirst into another. Great.
“One girl,” Arthur said. “Anissa is in the Airforce. She’s stationed in Germany right now.”
Tessa sighed in relief. “You must be so proud.”
“She’s a good girl.” Arthur’s voice cracked as he spoke and his hand was shaking when he took another bite of ham.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“He’s fine.” Sally reappeared with the water bottle and leaned against his side for support as she screwed off the lid. “We’re just worried about how widespread this is and if she is doing alright or if she’ll ever be able to make it home.”
Tessa swallowed hard; the warm food suddenly cold in her stomach. “I’m sure it isn’t like this everywhere and she’ll make it home as soon as she can.”
“We hope so too.” Sally nodded as she handed Emily the water bottle. The girl took it with a sideways glance of triumph directed at her mother.
After everyone had cleared their plates, Mason and Emily offered to carry the dishes to the sink.
“You’re raising good ones.” Sally winked when Mason took her plate away.
Tessa rolled her eyes. “I’m raising devils who know how to put on halos when there are popsicles involved.”
