The Return of Bowie Bravo

Chastity spoke again. “I know what you’re thinking. Stop.”

He said, “Glory loved her husband. I’m old news.”

His mom looked into her coffee cup, but then set it down without taking a sip. Mr. Lucky jumped from her lap and strutted off down the hall. “How long you here for?”

“As long as it takes to work things out with my son and to see that Glory’s back on her feet and managing okay with a new baby to look after.”

“I wouldn’t say she’s on her own. She can’t walk down the street without tripping over a relative.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Oh, yes, I do,” his mom said too sweetly. “Probably better than you.”

Back at Glory’s house, he found Mamma Rose at the cooktop in the kitchen with a very fussy Sera on her shoulder. “Stella and Glory had words,” she said with a shrug. “So Stell went home. Then Angie left, too. She’s got the boys and Brett to look after.” Angie and Brett had two sons—Jackson, who would be six in a couple of months, and Graham, who was two. Rose stirred a big pot of pasta sauce. “Johnny’s upstairs in his room.…” Sera let out a yelp, then yawned, then yelped some more. “Stir this,” she instructed. “I’ll take this baby back up to her mamma.”

“I’ll take her up,” he volunteered.

Rose sent him a doubtful look. “You sure?” He already had his arms out. “Well, you did deliver her. I guess you can manage to carry her upstairs well enough.” Rose handed over the tiny pink-blanketed bundle.