The Bad Son

Katie pointed to the cookies. “Granny and me made peanut butter cookies. Want one?”

“You bet.”

Katie slipped to the floor and he smiled at his mother. Her brown hair was turning grayer every day, but she still looked the same to him, petite with a few extra pounds and a heart of gold. She stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

“Hi, dear. How was your trip?”

“Pretty good.”

Katie came toward him walking very carefully with a cookie held in both hands. Bandy hopped up and down behind her. Althea grabbed a napkin and Katie deposited the treat gently on the table. Beau sat down and took a bite, Katie’s big brown eyes watching him.

“Is it good?” she wanted to know.

“The best ever.”

“It’s got lots of love in it. Granny and me always put it in.”

He kissed her forehead. “And I taste it.”

Andrew walked in, his glasses perched on his nose. “Beau, son, I didn’t know you were home.”

Beau stood and hugged him. Accepting his stepfather, Andrew Wellman, into his life after living with Joe McCain hadn’t been hard at all.

Beau was afraid of his father and his temper, but he’d never been afraid of Andrew. Everything he’d learned about kindness and caring, everything that wasn’t inherited, he learned from Andrew. He taught him about life and how to be a man with a sensitive heart and a strong faith. Church had been the cornerstone of his new life and he needed that just as his mother had. Without her eldest son, she was lost, and so was Beau.

Now they all had a second chance and he’d never seen his mother happier. She thrived on being a grandmother.

Andrew turned to Katie. “I’ve got the movie all set to go. Ready?”

“Yay.” Katie clapped her hands. “Is it about the donkey?”

“Yes.”

Katie looked at Beau. “Want to watch it?”

“No, thanks. I’ll talk to Granny.”

“Okay. Grandpa, Bandy and me will watch the movie.”

After they left, Althea brought more cookies to the table. “How about a cup of coffee?”

“Sure. Where’s Jake and Elise?” Katie was now in school so there had to be a reason she was here today.

“It’s a teacher workday so the kids didn’t have school, but Jake, Elise and Ben had a meeting with Ben’s teacher.”

“Is he okay?” Ben had developmental problems and they all worried about him.

“He’s fine. He wants to play Little League baseball. Elise and Jake are cautious and I don’t blame them. They just want to make sure he’s up for it.” She set a cup of coffee in front of him.

He took a sip. “Have you heard from Caleb?”

“They’re visiting Josie’s family in Beckett. They should be back tomorrow.” Althea smiled. “Caleb walks about six feet off the ground these days.”

“He’s very happy,” Beau commented.

“Yes, and it’s wonderful to see. I wish all my sons were as happy.”

Beau shifted uneasily. “Who’s not happy?” But he knew what was coming next. He’d opened a can of worms and he prepared himself for the stink. It took about a split second.

“You’re not happy. You’re my single son, my unmarried son.”

He gritted his teeth. “Not all men have to be married to be happy.”

“You do.”

“Mom.” He took a deep breath and shifted gears. “Macy’s sister, Delia, is back and she had a baby girl last night.”

“What!” Althea drew back, thrown completely off guard, as he’d intended.

“She gave birth last night,” he repeated.

“How is Macy taking this?”

“She hasn’t seen Delia in a year and she’s trying to be supportive.”

“Yes. That’s Macy.” Althea shook her head. “So sad what happened to that family. They just broke apart after the divorce, then Macy married that man. Don’t even remember his name, but he was all wrong for her. I haven’t talked to Irene in years. Macy said she’s remarried?”

“Yes. Divorce is sad. I deal with it every day. Maybe that’s why I’m not so strong on marriage. So far it hasn’t lived up to its billing.”

“Don’t be cynical. That’s not you.”

It wasn’t. He always suggested counseling to people who came to him wanting a divorce. If he could get them to talking, communicating, it helped with the process. Some only wanted to talk to him and he gladly obliged, saving a few marriages. When he did that, he knew he wasn’t a bad person, a bad son.

He decided to change the subject. “I have a job offer from the law firm I visited in Dallas. Senior partnership, big office, unbelievable perks—the works.”

She patted his hand. “How nice. Everyone knows what an excellent attorney you are and I’m sure there are a lot of firms who’d love to have you. But I’m also sure you refused.”

“Not yet. I’m giving it some thought.”

Althea’s eyes opened wide in disbelief. Without a word she got up and walked into the kitchen, putting dishes into the sink. The rattle of pans was deafening in the silence of the room. Beau was dumbfounded. Clearly his mother was upset. He never dreamed she’d react like this.

Andrew strolled in. “We need cookies and milk to watch the movie.”

His mother grabbed a plate and threw cookies onto it. “Beau’s moving to Dallas,” she said curtly.

“What?” Andrew looked from his wife to Beau.

“I had a great job offer,” Beau explained.