Chapter 16
Sixteen
Chris stared at his home from the comfort of his truck. Late October had brought another snowfall, which had canceled his latest film day with PathLight. David wasn’t happy with the delay, so Chris needed to come up with something to appease the director.
For Gamble on Nature’s channel, he’d been able to upload some YouTube shorts of animals who didn’t hibernate that he’d spotted in the wild. Before he’d left work this evening, Cameron said they already had tens of thousands of views. Sometimes he couldn’t believe this was his life.
The center had been noisy as the elementary students would’ve rather been outside instead of inside learning about animal habitats and how to help the environment. His head still rang despite the pain reliever he’d swallowed midday. Now he had to gather up his courage to go into his former sanctuary, where Cheyenne and Ashlynn had done nothing but wail since they’d arrived yesterday. God forgive him, for the very thought drained Chris.
Cheyenne thought his house was ugly and didn’t want to live in the basement. She’d made her feelings quite clear in a tantrum Chris would have expected from someone younger. A shlynn simply cried. She probably picked up on the emotions of everyone else and reacted in the only way she knew how.
Frustration from Erykah, anger from Cheyenne, and sadness from the baby. Chris wanted to be a light to them all, but right now his well was dry.
He leaned his forehead against the steering wheel. “Lord, help me, help them.”
The words echoed in the cab and settled in his heart. All he wanted to do for Erykah and her nieces was ease their burden. He wanted to make the transition of care for Erykah as easy as possible. Maybe he should’ve encouraged her to just set the kids up in her living room until she purchased a larger place. Had he made a mistake by moving them to Woodland Park?
Yesterday he’d unloaded the trailer that carried the girls’ items and stored them all in the basement. He’d moved furniture around until it actually looked like a separate apartment. Granted, they came up to use the kitchen or sit in the living room. Cheyenne hated that he didn’t have her favorite streaming apps, but last night, Erykah managed to appease her with the use of a tablet. Cheyenne had watched his blooper reels and actually laughed a few times. Chris only had one streaming app, but he’d have to talk to Erykah today and find out which additional ones he needed to purchase. He wasn’t a huge TV show or movie watcher.
He sat back and looked up at the cloth ceiling. He should go in. See if Erykah needed help with the girls.
Just another minute. Sit in peace, and let the Lord fill you up.
Instead, all his mind could think of were the ways he could continue helping his new friend and her new charges. Man, life had a way of uppercutting you to the chin and knocking you out flat. He honestly didn’t know how Erykah still stood. She was incredible.
H is phone chimed.
Lamont
How you holding up?
Tuck
That’s what I wanted to know. You back at work or hanging with Erykah and the kids?
Chris
I’m hiding in my car. Maybe in a minute I’ll get the nerve to go inside.
Lamont
Whoa. You okay? Mentally, I mean?
Chris
Just tired. So tired.
Tuck
Man, sounds like you need to just be still and rest in the fullness of God.
Chris
Hence the hiding in the truck.
Lamont
Wherever it’s quiet, right? We’ll leave you to your peace. Know I’m praying.
Tuck
Same. You’re a good man and doing a good thing. Let your light shine, but make sure you have enough fuel to do so.
Chris
Appreciate you guys.
Lamont
Same. You two have been a huge influence in my life.
Tuck
Agreed. Y’all make me more mature.
Chris
I take full credit as the oldest in the group.
L amont
Have at it, grandpa.
Tuck
Chris slid the phone back into the inner pocket of his puffer jacket. Now he didn’t feel so bad for sitting here in the silence. He’d take another few minutes and just be still like Tuck advised. Let his heart empty out his worries to the Lord and go inside better equipped to lend a helping hand.
Ten minutes later, he exited the truck and trudged up the snowy sidewalk. Don’t forget to shovel after dinner.
He stomped on the outdoor mat while unlocking the door, then walked in. A heavenly aroma greeted him. The smells of a pot roast and bread welcomed him. Had Erykah really cooked while watching after her two nieces? That was so not what he’d expected. He’d fully intended to cook for them all when he arrived. He’d have to mention that he could pull his weight in household chores when he saw her.
But the toys littered around the living floor momentarily distracted him. As did Cheyenne lying in the middle of the floor with a doll in her hand, held up high before her.
“Hey, Cheyenne.”
She tilted her chin up to look at him. “Hi, Chris.”
He’d gotten her to drop the mister on the road trip out here. “Where’s Charlie?”
She sat up and peered around the room, a frown marring her smooth forehead. “He was just here.”
Great. Was Chris about to find something shredded, or had the pup done his business somewhere?
“Charlie?” He whistled low, something he’d started doing when he’d first begun watching the pup.
A tinkle that sounded like a dog collar met his ears. Chris watched for the dog and realized he was coming up the stairs. He trotted over, tongue lolling out.
“Hey, boy. Need to go out?”
Charlie barked.
“All right. It’s cold outside, but I think you’ll like it.”
“He doesn’t,” Cheyenne said. “He cried when I took him to the backyard earlier.”
“Did he go?”
She nodded.
“Then he’ll get used to it. I’ll grab a ball and let him get some exercise.”
Chris spent the next fifteen minutes outside with the pup until Charlie trotted close to him and plopped on the concrete deck.
“Tired, huh?”
Charlie panted.
“Let’s go inside and hang out with the girls.” Chris let him inside the back door.
Erykah stood in the kitchen and glanced over at him. “Oh, you’re home.”
“Yeah. Took the dog outside for a bit.”
“I made dinner.” She bit her lip.
“You know you don’t have to do that, right?”
A shadow fell over her face, and she turned away.
Crap. He reached for her arm. “Erykah.”
“Hmm?”
He wove his fingers through hers and squeezed. “I’m so grateful for the meal, but I meant, you have a lot going on. I’m more than happy to handle cooking dinner.” She’d been a machine since they arrived yesterday. If she stayed so busy, when would she have time to grieve?
She turned and faced him, arms folded across her chest. “Y ou’ve done so much, Chris. So. Much.” Her voice shook. “The least I can do is make dinner for you. The very least.”
He wanted to pull her to him, to give her another hug, but the folded arms were a neon sign he wouldn’t ignore. Chris slid his hands into his pockets and nodded. “Okay, thank you for dinner.”
A choked laugh fell from her lips. “You’re welcome. It’s ready. Let me get Cheyenne to wash her hands.”
“I’ll wash up in here.”
Thank goodness he’d managed to remove his foot from his mouth. After washing his hands, he dished up a bowl for him and Erykah. Then he found one of Cheyenne’s bright orange kid-sized plates and scooped up some roast for the girl. He had no idea if she’d eat it. Supposedly kids were picky eaters. He could only pray she wouldn’t give Erykah any grief. She’d doled out enough theatrics during that tantrum yesterday. Apparently basements were the stuff of nightmares. He’d blame Macaulay Culkin for that one, though Cheyenne may have never watched any of the movies in the Home Alone franchise.
He didn’t understand her concern considering he had a finished basement. Maybe Cheye just nitpicked because of the unfamiliar surroundings. She had to get her heartache out somehow, and that had showcased in a fit that lasted for-ev-er while she pounded the carpet and cried about life being unfair.
Chris placed the dinnerware at the table, then came with the rolls Erykah had heated up. He’d bought the rolls at the farmers’ market and frozen them before they left for Kentucky. Thankfully they warmed up well in the oven. He breathed in the yeasty smell now permeating the house.
“I don’t want to eat this.” Cheyenne pouted as she came to stand by the table. “It looks like poop.”
“C heye, don’t say poop at dinner.” Exhaustion filled Erykah’s voice.
“When can I say it? At breakfast? When I need to use the bathroom?” She glared at her aunt.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not for poop.” Cheyenne gave Erykah a pointed look.
Chris would have laughed if not for the frustrated look on Erykah’s face. “Hey, Cheyenne.”
“Huh?” She studied him warily.
“Have you read the book Green Eggs and Ham ?”
Her lower lip poked out. “Maybe.”
“Remember how he didn’t want to try the eggs, but in the end, he really liked them?”
She nodded slowly.
“Then consider that this could be a really good meal you’re missing out on because you don’t like the way it looks.”
“All right,” she whined.
Cheyenne sat down, and Erykah followed suit.
“May I say grace?” he asked.
Both of them nodded.
Chris bowed his head. “Lord, thank You for this meal. Please bless the hands that prepared it, and may the food nourish our bodies. Amen.”
“Amen,” Cheyenne said loudly. She tilted her head. “What happened to ‘God is great, God is good’? Didn’t your mom teach you that one?”
He stifled a laugh. “She did. When I got older, I started saying different prayers. Did you like this one?”
“Sure, but I don’t know what nourish is. Sounds gross.” She scrunched up her face as if physically affronted by the word.
Erykah’s shoulders shook, and her lips twitched, but somehow she didn’t laugh. “He meant he wanted the food to give us all the good stuff we need to keep growing healthy. Sort of like taking a vitamin.”
“Oh. I eat the gummy ones. They taste like candy, but Daddy says they aren’t.” She froze, then sniffed, looking down at her plate. “Why did they leave me?”
Big fat tears rolled down her cheeks, and Chris felt like his heart would split. There was so much heartache here, and he couldn’t do anything to make the passage of time go any faster or to make the grief be any less. All he could do was let them cry in comfort and peace.
He moved, picking up Cheyenne as she wiped at her face. But it was no use. The tears came faster than her little hands could make them disappear.
“They’ll always be in your heart, Cheyenne. Always,” Chris murmured.
“Really?” she stuttered.
“He’s right, Cheye.” Erykah pointed to her heart. “They’ll live in our memories forever.”
“I don’t want a memory. I want them here. Now.”
Frustration and despair warred for her attention, but in the end Cheyenne settled against him and hiccupped until her tears were gone. He and Erykah said nothing. She merely got up, reheated all of their plates, and then they attempted round two of eating.
Silence filled the table, and for once, Chris couldn’t think of anything lighthearted to say. And maybe that was a good thing. Maybe you didn’t have to always fill silence with platitudes or attempt well wishes. After all, the Bible did say, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
So Chris would sit in silence and mourn with the two women who had lost two important people in the blink of an eye.