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And then it sank in.
Because if she meant to come and stay, he would have to tell her about himself. The entire truth about himself.
“You want me to tell Mama anything?” Beansie yelled out to his sister.
“No. I don’t have anything to say to her.”
“Even though Miss Alice say to go to her?”
“Mind your own business, Beansie. Go on take this car back to Miss Alice. Tell her I’ll arrange a truck to get my things.”
They both stood in the doorway and watched the car go off into the August dusk.
“Why you need a truck?”
“I told you when I didn’t show up last night they would fire me. They did and put me out of the apartment. I have tomorrow to get my things.”
Something else to arrange. He had some idea about how to help her. The home had a large transport car and some space in the shed in the back.
He put an arm around her. “Cat, what was that talk about your mother?”
“They want me to go to her, tell her about Andie’s care. Forget it. If she really cared about her granddaughter, she would have come down off of that hill and seen to her herself. I don’t care what anyone says, I don’t have to see her.”
Mike squeezed her shoulders and hugged her to him. If he wanted to make a life with Mama Bennett’s daughter and granddaughter, he had to make peace with her. And he wanted that life. More than anything right now.
Once he helped Cat up to his room and settled her in with Andie, who was wide awake, he went down to Mr. O’s office.
“Can I speak to you about something?”
“Sure, Mike, what can I help you for?”
“Is there some room in the shed?”
“Haven’t been out there for a while. Why?”
“Andie’s mother, she lost her home. I need to have her in the room for a little bit longer. She’s got to move her things quickly and she needs to put them somewhere else. For now.”
“I don’t see any problem with it. It’s unfortunate. We’re using every bit of equipment just now.”
Mike knew that the home was filled with polio cases. If he hadn’t offered up his own room for Andie, would she have been able to come for care?
“I know how it might appear, and I, well, I’m going to find a home for them, if I can have a few hours tomorrow.”
“Are you planning to marry this woman, Mike?” Mr. O’s smile spread across his face and he folded his arms.
“If she’ll have me. I don’t know that she will.”
“You’re a good man. Why wouldn’t she?”
“I think you know. Woman wants a whole man. Not part of one.”
Mr. O looked down at his trimmed nails and shuffled some papers. “I see. You’re such a good man, we couldn’t do without you around here. If she has a home, you might want to leave us.”
Mike shook his head. “No. I want to help Andie and keep helping all of the other children here. Being here has given me some…purpose. I’ll look close by here. In the Hill District. There’ll be something for us there.”
“Of course.” Mr. O put the papers down. “And that isn’t too far in case we do need you.”
“Exactly.” Mike warmed at the prospect of getting a home. When Andie got better, she could go to school and Cat could sing in one of the clubs in the Hill if she wanted to.
