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Mia’s jaw slackened. “Now I really hate you.”
Giggling, I shrugged. “Better get to class.”
“I’ll see you at lunch ... bitch.”
“You love me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Having time to spare, I moved to my personal workstation near the window. The smaller table was neatly organized with an assortment of paintbrushes, tubes of paint, colorful chalk and dark charcoals, and a palette filled with an array of vibrant colors.
Selecting a medium-sized blank canvas, I placed it on the easel. I squirted different colors, including white, onto a small palette. Dipping a paintbrush into a jar of water, I wet the bristles and dabbed green and white onto it. With long strokes, I covered the bottom of the canvas, stopping to add a deeper shade here and there, leaving trails of paint behind.
Switching to a smaller brush, I used white to create dimension in the grass. Moving on, I blended hues of blues together, creating harmonious shades and variations to the summer sky. Occasionally I’d stop and assess my progress, but before I knew it, I’d created a family scene. One that included me, Cash, and a young Jimmy in the park. I sat on a blanket much like the one from my picnic with Cash while he and Jimmy played catch. It wasn’t an elaborate scene for the time I put into it, but the foundation was there. Enough to make my eyes water. It was how it should have been all those years ago.
As my class start time approached, I set aside my brushes and covered the painting with a small sheet I kept attached to the easel. What bothered me the most was thinking about how Cash used to make me happy. Now it brought melancholy. That wasn’t good for anyone. I needed to get past this for my sanity. Cash had offered for us to be a family. Even though I wasn’t sure about that, I knew it was best for Jimmy. And as he has all his life, he came first.
The day went by quickly. Jimmy had practice, and I knew Cash would be with him, which gave me time to myself. Time to think. Shortly after I got home, I changed into my favorite yoga pants and a loose cotton T-shirt, then pulled my hair back into a ponytail.
Needing to straighten up, I started with Jimmy’s laundry. Opening his door, I couldn’t stop my nose from crinkling. Damn, that teenage funk. I had no idea where it came from but couldn’t wait for him to grow out of it. Thankfully he didn’t try to mask it with awful body spray.
Glancing around, I looked at the poster of Cash on the wall. It was an image of him delivering a pitch. The look on his face was filled with concentration. I smiled at the resemblance to Jimmy. I loaded the basket with dirty clothes and headed downstairs.
My doorbell rang, so I set the basket down and opened the front door to find my parents on my porch. I’d never been so happy to see two people before.
“What a great surprise!” I said, stepping aside to let them pass. My mom hugged me, then my dad. “What are you doing here? When did you leave Kansas? How’s Aunt Maggie?”
“She’s fine. We left last night. Your dad and I stayed longer than we’d intended. You look so good, sweetheart,” my mom said, pulling me into another hug. “How’s my grandson?”
“He’s great. At practice.”
“Is Cash around?” I knew that voice. My dad was a big softy, but when he had that stern, fatherly tone, I could tellwhyhe wanted to talk with Cash.
“No, he’s at the practice.” For some reason, the need to protect him washed over me. “He’s been trying to spend time with Jimmy. Since he wanted to be here, he volunteered at the school. Everyone thinks it’s great.”
“I’m sure they do,” Dad quipped.
“Can I get you something to drink? Lemonade? I just made a fresh batch.”
“No, thank you,” they replied as one.
“Come sit down. Talk to us. Tell us all the things that have been going on.” My mom’s tone softened. “We’re worried about you and Jimmy, Hannah.”
It hadn’t surprised me that they felt that way. So much had changed in so little time. My mom and I sat on the sofa while my dad sat in the chair adjacent to us.
“I wish you wouldn’t worry, but I understand why you are. To put your mind at ease, Jimmy is thrilled that Cash is his father. Both were shocked but elated all the same.”
“And you?” my dad said, leaning his chin on his closed fist. “How’s my baby girl? It had to be tough for you.”
How did I tell my parents that having Cash here had been tough, but not for the reasons they thought? That my heart felt as though it were in a tug-of-war between my past and future? The present didn’t seem to matter since it was a constantly changing entity. My past brought me both happiness and sorrow, and my future was another story altogether.
“Once Jimmy forgave me, I’ve been better. It had to be the most difficult and longest couple of days. Even harder than all those years ago when I thought Cash didn’t want him.”
“But he does?”
I couldn’t blame my dad for asking that question.
“Yes, very much so.” I smiled. “They’re so alike. We all saw the similarities even when Cash wasn’t around. Now that he is, it’s beyond obvious that he’s his father. The sad part is this has ruined Cash’s relationship with his own dad. Ironic, really ... in an awful way.”
