Chapter 4 #2
Going to his knees on his seat, Ryder leaned toward her. “I’m getting hungry now.”
Joey groaned. “Then I guess I better get to it.” She tipped her face up to Hendrix’s. “Would you like to join us?”
He quickly weighed his options. He could invite them to go into town with him instead, but that would mean immersing himself in all the fanfare, the repetitive Christmas music, elaborate window decorations, and everyone sharing holiday cheer.
Offering to make the pancakes himself was out.
He didn’t have pancake mix or syrup, and even if he did, he’d never made them before so odds were he’d botch it.
With his long hesitation, Joey gave him an understanding smile, then put a hand on Ryder’s shoulder. “I think Mr. Becker has other things to do today.”
The kid’s face fell.
Well, damn. Now he felt like a dick. “Actually, I’m free all day, so sure, I’ll join you. Thank you.”
Her lips curled up. “Even though you’re speaking through your teeth again?”
Under Ryder’s close scrutiny, he worked his jaw. “I’m not.”
Giving him a telling look, Joey asked, “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” It didn’t matter that he’d sort of bit off that word. He needed to talk to her about the white car anyway, so he’d suffer – again – her nauseating idea of Christmas.
Ryder bounced up. “You’ll love her pancakes, Mr. Becker.”
“You know what?” Hendrix scooped him up again. “Since we’re friends now, how about you call me Hendrix?” He glanced at Joey. “Is that okay?”
She pretended to give it some thought. “Yes, as you said, you’re friends now.”
“We’re friends for real?” Ryder asked.
“What’d you think? That I just go around lifting kids who aren’t friends?” He pretended to toss him, which had Ryder squealing in laughter and grabbing him for a tighter hold. Hendrix felt the boy’s meager grip even in his heart. “We’re definitely friends.”
“Then...” Ryder sent a sideways look at his mom, then leaned in to whisper, “Can I talk to you ‘bout something?”
Unsure what that might entail, Hendrix still said, “Anything.”
Showing relief, Ryder asked Joey, “Can I hang out with... Hendrix” – he grinned hugely after saying the name – “while you cook?”
Hendrix was quick to say, “It’s okay with me – unless you could use a little help? I can stir the mix or whatever.” For her, he’d suffer the glaring red and green.
After studying her son with concern, Joey nodded. “I can handle it, but thank you.” Her manner cautious, she said, “Go have fun. The pancakes will be ready in half an hour.”
“We’ll be back in time to wash our hands.” He set Ryder on his feet and the two of them started off – until Hendrix turned back. “Keep your door locked, okay?”
Tipping her head, her eyes full of questions, Joey glanced at Ryder.
Hendrix said, “I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
“I know.” Again, she looked around as if expecting to find a looming menace of some kind, but the park looked the same. Empty of people, bright with morning sunshine, and peaceful. With a quick wave, she stepped inside. A second later, he heard the door lock.
Hendrix caught up to Ryder, who was now staring at his feet and kicking gravel. “So.”
The kid looked up, but then looked away.
With no idea what he was getting into, Hendrix cleared his throat. “Something on your mind, Ryder?”
“I wanted a favor.”
“I see. What is it you –”
As if the dam had burst, he turned fast and said, “It’s almost Christmas and I don’t have a present for Mom!”
Ah. He could handle that. They could get online and order something. “How about if I –”
“There’s something I want to make her, but she’s always with me and Christmas presents should be a surprise, right?”
“Hmm, yeah.” That’s how he’d always done it – until he gave up on Christmas. Hendrix remembered his sister, who was seven years older than him, taking him shopping to get gifts for their mom and dad. Before that, like Ryder, he’d made presents.
He steered them both toward a bench. “I can see how that could be a problem. What can I do to help?”
Innocent green eyes stared up at him with a massive load of hope.
In that moment, Hendrix knew he’d move heaven and earth to give this kid what he wanted. “You can tell me.”
Ryder swallowed heavily. “If I could stay with you when Mom tutors, I could make her something.”
The idea warmed him. “Yes, that would probably work.” Would Joey agree?
She was so protective that he just didn’t know.
“We’ll ask her and see what she says. If she isn’t comfortable with that, then I’ll see if she’ll let us take a walk now and then.
Only we’ll walk to my back deck and you can work there.
That is...what did you want to make for her? ”
Eager now that they had a plan, Ryder scampered up to the bench beside him. “I’m going to find seashells and glue them together to make a Christmas tree. Won’t that be pretty?”
How would that even work? Hendrix said, “Um...”
Confident, Ryder stated, “Mom will love it.”
She probably would, so somehow he’d figure it out. “Sounds like an awesome plan. Do you have the shells yet?”
“Just a few. Mom’s always there when I’m doing that, too!” Grumbling, he added, “She won’t let me keep too many.”
Biting back his amusement wasn’t easy. “Yeah, a mom who loves you, and feeds you, and tucks you into bed, and cleans your clothes and” – he eyed Ryder’s hair – “brushes your hair and reminds you to clean your teeth, they’re always around.”
Ryder laughed. “She’s a really good Mom, huh?”
“The best.”
“So I gotta make her a shell Christmas tree. Will you ask her if I can stay with you?”
“Sure. For now, since we have a little time left, why don’t we gather some shells off the beach? If we hurry, I bet we can find some.”
“Yeah!”
He was up and on his way before Hendrix said, “You have to wait for me, bud. No way will your mom approve of us hanging out if we aren’t being careful.”
Ryder ran back, grabbed Hendrix’s hand and hauled him along.
Together, they found clam shells, along with some limpet and whelk shells.
They also gathered a few pretty stones and some agate that Ryder claimed would look like ornaments.
By the time they deposited their haul at Hendrix’s back deck, they were running late and far too sandy.
But Hendrix wouldn’t have changed a thing. Hell, he could almost picture the Christmas tree that Ryder would create. He also had an idea on the type of glue they could use, and he was pretty sure he could find a decent base for the tree.
Suddenly, making a Christmas tree – with Ryder, for Joey – didn’t seem like an awful thing at all.
Wondering what was going on, Joey looked from her son to Hendrix and back again. They each had wind-tossed hair now, and sand clung to the bottoms of their pants. Thankfully, they’d each left their shoes outside. “You two had a nice talk?”
“Just man stuff,” Hendrix said, giving her a wink.
Puffing up his chest, Ryder agreed. “Man stuff, Mom.” With a definite swagger, he headed off for the bathroom.
Lifting her brows, Joey waited, but no further explanation was forthcoming, so she crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Showing his amusement, Hendrix strolled closer, touched her cheek, then bent and put a soft kiss to her mouth.
Her arms fell to her sides. “What –”
Again he kissed her, not so quickly this time, but definitely with the awareness that her son was nearby. “It’s nothing for you to worry about,” he said quietly. “You’ll find out what he wanted on Christmas morning. But don’t say anything to ruin his fun.”
Oh. Of course, Ryder wanted to make a gift for her. He did so every year, but this year... “I usually give him a set amount to use... but with everything else, I hadn’t thought...” Giving up, she leaned back against the counter and closed her eyes.
“Hey. It’s covered, okay? No dollars required, so get that look off your face.”
If anything, she looked more tortured.
Hendrix put his hands to her waist. She was such a petite woman, slim but shapely, small but with an inner strength. “You can’t do everything, and you shouldn’t expect that of yourself.” When she started to object, he kissed her once more.
And Ryder said, “Hey!”
Joey jumped with guilt.
Hendrix, however, slipped his arm around her and turned them both to face him. “Hands all clean, bud?”
Suspicious, Ryder looked from her to Hendrix. “You were kissing my mom.”
“Because I’m fond of her. Both of you, actually.”
The suspicion remained. Joey knew why. The last few times Ted had dropped in unannounced, he’d also tried to kiss her.
They were already divorced and she’d resisted, but Ted had used his size to press the matter.
Shaken, she’d fought him off the best she could, but it wasn’t until Ryder had walked in that Ted had given up and stormed out.
She’d done everything she could to convince Ryder she was fine, but he’d become extra clingy after that.
To show Ryder that this was different, she went on tiptoes to kiss Hendrix’s cheek, then told him, “Your turn to wash your hands.”
As Hendrix started past Ryder, he put a hand to his shoulder. “Man to man, Ryder, I like your mom a lot, and I like you a lot. Is that okay?”
Slowly, a little uncertain, Ryder said, “I guess.” He eyed Joey again. “You like him, Mom?”
“I do, very much.”
Finally, Ryder nodded. “Okay then.”
Hendrix kept his smile contained. “Way to drive a hard bargain.” Crouching down, he offered his hand to Ryder. “If you ever think I’m out of line, let me know.”
Very seriously, Ryder took his hand and shook it. “Deal.”
Once Hendrix headed to the bathroom, Ryder looked at her. “I like him a lot, too.”
“Good.” Floating a little, because this relationship stuff wasn’t half bad, Joey set out plates, then poured a milk for Ryder, more coffee for her and Hendrix.
“You trust him, too, huh?”
That innocent question stalled her. “Yes.” Giving Ryder her full attention, she asked, “Do you?”
“Yeah. Mr. Becker – I mean Hendrix – is the best.”