Bad Ideas (First & Forever 4)

The last thing he’d want was for me to make a big deal out of this revelation, though. So instead, I started rambling on about the other weird stuff my mother used to cook. He laughed at my description of the gelatinous monstrosity she’d produce for special occasions. “I could almost understand the raisins, shredded carrots, celery, and mini marshmallows,” I said, as he scraped up what was left on his plate and ate every last pancake morsel, “but what the hell were Vienna sausages doing in that lime Jell-o mold?”

He shook his head as he leaned back in his chair. “You have to be making that up.”

I grinned as I put one hand over my heart and raised the other. “I’m not, I swear. She was really proud of that thing, too. In fact, she’d often bring it to our church potlucks.”

“Wow. That dish sounds like a crime against humanity.”

“It was for sure.” He started to get up with his plate, but I took it from him and said, “Stay right there and enjoy your coffee. In fact, I’ll bring you a refill.”

He got up anyway and followed me with his cup as he said, “You don’t have to wait on me.”

“But I enjoy it. I also absolutely love cooking for you. When can I do it again?”

“Any time you want. I’d never turn down a home-cooked meal.”

That statement was so much more poignant now that I knew he’d grown up in foster care. And no wonder he’d treated a pancake breakfast like something special. To him, maybe it was.

I drew him into my arms and kissed his forehead before saying, “I wish I didn’t have to work this afternoon, or I’d make you dinner.”

“That’s sweet. This was so great, though.”

“I’ll make them for you again, any time you want.” He smiled at me, and I asked, “So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

“I’m going to a nursery and buying some new pots, and then I’m moving some of my plants into bigger containers.”

“Want company?”

He seemed surprised. “Wouldn’t that be boring for you?”

“As if spending time with you could ever be boring.”

Theo looked skeptical. “What would you be doing today if you didn’t come with me?”

“Super exciting stuff. I’d spend two hours at the gym, then catch up on some laundry and run an errand before going to work early.”

“To read to Oscar, I assume.”

“Yes, and I also want to take some craft supplies to Alma Dobrevski, the girl in two-twenty-two. She’s going to be stuck in the hospital at least a week, and when we were talking yesterday, she was really upset. She’d planned to make gifts for her mom, grandma, and sister for Christmas, but she didn’t think she’d have the chance now. I promised to help her out, since she obviously didn’t want to ask her mom and ruin the surprise. That’s my errand, to go to a craft store and pick out some stuff for her.”

He touched my cheek and murmured, “You really are an amazingly kind person.”

I shrugged and grinned at him. “Whatever. You’re the one secretly buying kids tablets.”

“Not all of them. Oscar breaks my heart, though. I know what it’s like to be all alone, and…” His voice trailed off, and he looked away and murmured, “I really hope his mom pulls through.”

“Me, too.”

I had a feeling he kept revealing more about himself than he’d intended, and that bit about being alone must have felt like a step too far. He went to the sink and started rinsing the dishes as he changed the subject. “If you want to, maybe we could combine our errands. A craft store sounds fun, and that nursery is actually one of my very favorite places. I’d love to show it to you.”

“Let’s do that. I have a feeling you’re going to come home with six hundred more plants, and you might need help with that.”

He chuckled and said, “It could happen.”

“I just need to run home to change and check in with my housemates. I haven’t seen much of them lately.”

“What about the gym and laundry?”

“They can wait.”

“Okay. I’ll clean up the kitchen and get ready while you do that.”

“I’m not going to leave you with this mess.”

He gave me a playful push toward the door. “You cooked, so I’ll clean up. It’s only fair.”

“Well, alright.” I glanced at the time on his stove and said, “I’ll pick you up at ten.”

I went up to his bedroom and finished getting dressed, then grabbed my backpack. He met me in the foyer, and I scooped him off his feet and planted a big kiss on him. As I put him back down, I winked and said, “See you soon.” He was grinning and looked a little flushed as I headed out the door.