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Elise smiled but didn’t move toward him. “Yeah, it does.”
A few beats of silence passed between them as the boys came running down the stairs and out the backdoor into the yard.
Garrett stared at the dish. “My mom sent this over. I’m not sure what it is, but it smells good.”
“Oh, tell her thank you for me,” Elise said. “Here, I’ll take it.” She took a step toward him and reached out her hands.
Garrett pulled back. “I can take it to the kitchen for you.”
She bit her lip, and her eyes cut to the other side of the room. She looked ready to tell him no but sighed and changed her mind. “Sure,” she gestured to the back of the house.
Garrett followed, and, with her back to him, he was able to look around the room. Laundry was stacked high on the couch in the living room, and toys were strewn across the floor. That didn’t seem unusual for a house with young kids. What caught his eye was the pile of papers on the counter when he turned the corner into the kitchen. A quick glance told him more than one of them had a red stamp with “past due” or “final notice.” His heart thudded in his chest.
Elise pushed a stack of dishes aside on the counter to make room and pointed to it. “You can just put it there.”
Garrett set the casserole on the counter and stepped back. He shoved his hands in his pockets trying to think of something to say. “So…uh…how are you guys doing?”
Elise held her hands out indicating the room. “About as well as it looks. I’m sorry it’s such a mess. I wasn’t expecting anyone today.” She ran her hand over her ponytail again in a move that Garrett recognized. She always did that when she was nervous. He hated that she felt nervous around him. They had been such good friends once.
“You don’t have to clean up for me,” he said. “I’ve got six brothers, remember?”
“Yeah, but I bet your mom's kitchen never looks like this.”
“Maybe not now, since we’re grown. But I bet it did when we were kids. There were plenty of days where she didn’t know which way was up.”
Elise crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned a hip against the counter. “That would be me every day.”
Garrett wanted to comfort her in some way, but he didn’t have the words. He wanted to tell her what she was doing was hard, and she wasn’t meant to take that on at her age. Instead, he shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. My mom says she’s still figuring it out.”
Elise cracked a smile. “Well, that does make me feel a little bit better.”
“It should.” He stopped and looked around the kitchen. He had planned to be in and out as quickly as possible, but now that he was here, he felt compelled to stay. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Elise looked like she’d been startled as she quickly straightened up and held her hands up. “Oh, no, no. The dinner is very helpful. Please tell your mom thanks. We’ll be alright.”
Garrett let himself really look at her then. Her eyes seemed more tired than he remembered. She wasn’t supposed to look that tired in her twenties. He couldn’t imagine the burden of raising two young kids right now. He was sure there was something else he could do to help, but he didn’t know what it might be. “Well, if you think of something you need, let us know. Any of the Macklins would be happy to help.”
Elise nodded. “Sure. I’ll do that. Thanks again for the food. We will certainly enjoy it.”
Garrett smiled. “I know you will. Everyone knows Mom is the best cook in town.”
“Yes, it’s true. My mom has a couple of her recipes, but not the really good, secret ones.”
“None of us boys know those either. The wives do now, though, so they can carry on the tradition.”
Elise dropped her eyes to the floor at that, and Garrett knew he’d said the wrong words. He cleared his throat. “Well then, I’ll be going now. I can let myself out. See y’all later.”
As much as he wanted to help, after seeing the look on her face, his feet carried him swiftly out the front door and to his truck.
Before he started the ignition, he sighed. “God,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I hurt her back then. I don’t want to see her so sad, though. And I know she needs help. Show me and my family how we can help her, even if she doesn’t want it.”
3
Elise fell into a chair in the kitchen and dropped her face into her hands. Of all people, how could Garrett Macklin be the one to walk into her house and see things like this? Thankfully, the boys had run out of the room. That way Garrett didn’t see the chocolate down the front of their shirts from the ice cream they’d snuck from the freezer. She hadn’t exactly told them not to eat it, but that was only because she was trying to keep it hidden for herself. She needed something to look forward to when she was ready to crash tonight.
“Ugh,” the groan escaped her lips and echoed through the kitchen. “How could I let him see how bad I’m failing at this?” she asked herself. Of course she hadn’t known he was coming by. Lydia hadn’t even told her she was sending food. Thank goodness she did because Elise had forgotten to plan dinner. Again.
She reached across the table for her notebook and pen. Sliding it to herself, she saw the note at the top:
