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“It’s on me today. It’s Mr. Sherman’s birthday.”
My mouth drops. “Itis? Well, shit, I didn’t know that.”
“Of course, you didn’t. How could you?”
“How doyouknow?”
Jeannie sighs, then shrugs. “I never forget a date, and my parents must have mentioned it at some point. Before he died, my dad and Mr. Sherman were friends.”
“Jeannie, does Roger have any family here? I never see anyone come to see him.”
“No.” Jeannie shakes her head as she adds an extra cookie to the bag. “Roger and Sue never had any kids, and Sue’s been gone, jeez, twenty years now, I guess.”
“That’s so sad. He’s a really nice guy.”
Jeannie looks over at me in surprise and then laughs.
“What? He is.”
“Well, he may be nice toyou, but he’s always been kind of a grumpy old man. He’s your typicalget off my lawnguy, you know?”
I shake my head. “No, I’ve never seen that side of him. That’s so funny. Hey, throw in a chocolate cupcake, and I’ll pay for it.”
“That’s sweet. I even have a candle you can have.”
“That’s awesome. Thank you. Well, I’d better hit up one of the shops for a gift for him on my way home. Thanks, Jeannie.”
“You’re welcome, honey. Go enjoy that weather.”
I nod and, with the hot soup and cookies in one hand, set off across the street to a shop that sells both women’s and men’s clothes, and find Roger a nice scarf. It’s blue and will be handsome on him.
With that finished, and content because they offered to gift wrap it for me, I hurry home and make Roger’s house my first stop, before going into my apartment.
“Hello?” I call out as I open the door. Roger told me a while ago that I didn’t have to knock, since I come over so often. “It’s just me.”
“Oh, hello, dear.”
He says it that way every day, as if it’s a surprise to see me, even though he sees me every day. His eyes light up when he sees the wrapped box in my hand.
“You didn’t tell me that it’s your birthday.” I set the bag of food on the table and hold the wrapped box out to him. “But thankfully, I have my ways of finding things out.”
“It’s just another day,” he begins, but I shake my head.
“No, sir, it’s yourbirthday.You’ve been incredibly kind to me since I moved here, and you’re one of my closest friends. I celebrate my friends on their birthday.”
His eyebrows pull together as he stares down at the box, and then he looks up at me with soft brown eyes.
“Thank you,” is all he says.
“You’re welcome.”
“Now, since itismy birthday, I’d like you to stay for dinner. Jeannie always packs enough soup for two.”
“It’s your favorite today,” I inform him. I don’t personally love beef with barley, but for Roger, I’ll choke down a small bowl. “What did you do today?”
“I took my morning walk,” he says as I bustle about his kitchen, pouring our soup and getting us settled at the table. “They changed the sign again.”
“I saw it! I was so excited becauseI’mone of the new people they added.”
