Chapter 18
18
Honey
Honey proceeded to get ready for the neighbors’ barbecue as if she was walking on eggshells. And CT was visibly on edge, like their faithful old dog Piper always was when a suitcase emerged from the attic. He actually reminded Honey of Piper as he trailed her around the house. Now he sat on the end of their bed, watching her with an expression somewhere between annoyance and confusion.
“Where are you going?” he asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
“To a barbecue.” She carefully omitted the location.
“When?”
“At six.” She held up six fingers, just like she’d done five minutes ago.
He frowned. “Today?”
She simply nodded as she sat down on the chair by the closet.
“Am I going?” He stood up, rubbing his grizzled gray chin as if planning to do something about the several days’ growth of whiskers. She’d already reminded him over and over today he needed a shave. Not because she particularly cared that he looked unkempt. Nothing new about that. He actually looked kind of cute with some scruff. But she’d pointed it out in an effort to distract him from dogging her heels. But each time he’d walked off to the bathroom, he’d returned too quickly, clearly having forgotten why’d he’d gone in there. Sometimes he brought back a hand towel or a soap dish, like she’d asked for it.
“I’d like you to go with us,” she said carefully, bending to buckle her sandal.
He nodded. “Okay.”
She tipped her head toward the clean shirt she’d laid out on his side of the bed earlier that afternoon, when she’d first suggested he might shower. It was too late for that now. But CT looked down at the stained T-shirt he was wearing. “I like this shirt.”
“Yes, I know.” She stood to pick up the white-and-turquoise Hawaiian shirt she’d set on the bed. “But we got this in Maui,” she said, inserting extra cheer into her voice. “Remember?”
His eyes lit up. “Yes.”
“I’d love to see it on you.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
“I’ll be in the kitchen.” She kissed his grizzly cheek. “I’m glad you want to go with me, CT. It’ll be fun.”
“Fun,” he echoed as he struggled to tug off his T-shirt. She resisted the urge to help him, remembering the advice she’d been given. “Let him do for himself as much as he can for as long as he can.” Even so, she reached for the deodorant on his dresser. “How about some of this too?” She smiled. “Make you smell nice.”
“Okay.” He grinned at her, his hair tousled from removing the T-shirt.
“I’ll be in the kitchen,” she said again. “I need to slice some boiled eggs to put on the potato salad.”
“Huh?” He looked confused again. “Egg salad?”
“Never mind.” She laughed. “Just get ready for the barbecue, sweetie. We’ll leave in about twenty minutes.” She reminded him to use the bathroom, then left.
As she peeled the eggs she’d boiled earlier, she felt a smidgeon of guilt for being disingenuous regarding the location of the barbecue. But each time she’d mentioned the Orosco name earlier, he’d gone into a tizzy. Her plan now was to drive him around a bit, then get him peacefully next door. If she got lucky, he might not realize whose house they were at. What he might do when he did figure things out was anyone’s guess. But she would just have to deal with that then.
“Is Grandpa coming?” Cooper asked as she filled a water bottle in the kitchen.
“I think so.” Honey sliced an egg, then gave Cooper a closer look, smiling to see her granddaughter had dressed slightly more conservatively. Probably Anna’s influence. She still had on tattered jeans like all the kids wore, but with her white Converse and plaid shirt, she looked more like the local kids. Honey considered a compliment but knew that could backfire. Instead, she focused on Cooper’s feet. “I like your shoes. Takes me back to my youth.”
“You wore Converse?”
“Sure. They were from the boys’ department and black-and-white, but I thought they were pretty cool.”
Cooper smiled. “Yeah.”
“A lot of trends come back in time.” She sighed nostalgically. “Like Birkenstocks.”
Cooper beamed at her. “You know about Birkenstocks?”
Honey laughed. “Do I?” She spread the sliced eggs on top of the salad. “I still have an old pair that I got back when they first came out.”
“Vintage Birkies?” Cooper’s eyes lit.
“I guess so. I don’t wear them anymore.”
“What size are they?”
“Eight.”
Cooper’s jaw dropped. “That’s my size, Grandma.”
“Would you like to have them?”
“For sure.” Cooper hugged her around the waist. “Thanks, Grandma.”
“What are you thanking Grandma for?” Jewel asked as she came into the kitchen.
Honey filled her in, then told them both her idea for getting CT over to the barbecue with less fuss. “I thought perhaps you two could go separately.” She secured plastic wrap snugly over the large bowl. “Maybe you could take the salad for me. That way I can focus entirely on your father.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jewel agreed. “Ready to go, Coop?”
“I’m gonna walk over.”
“Me too.” Jewel picked up the salad. “We can use Miguel’s new gate.”
“Let them know we might be running late, please,” Honey told them.
“Will do.” Jewel smiled. “Good luck, Mom.”
Honey sighed. “I’ll need it. And no worries if we don’t last long there.” She forced a smile. The truth was, she wouldn’t mind coming home early. After feeling like she was tiptoeing around and cajoling CT all day long, she thought she might enjoy a quiet evening here with just the two of them. She might even be willing to watch an old western with him. Just not True Grit —again. She knew that movie by heart!
When CT finally emerged from the bathroom, they were already fifteen minutes late, but Honey didn’t mind. Although she was surprised by the strong scent of oranges that filled the air as CT walked down the hall. She kept an orange-fragranced air freshener in there, but it wasn’t usually so strong she could smell it in the living room. “Are you ready?” she asked, curiously sniffing him and realizing he’d probably used the aerosol on himself. Well, at least it was organic. And his hair, all combed down slick, looked a little goofy, but it would be hidden beneath the black John Deere cap he was reaching for.
He smiled. “Ready.”
“You smell like a fresh-squeezed orange.” She touched his hair, then smelled her fingers, realizing that was the source of the strong aroma. Well, certainly there were worse things. “Let’s go.” She jingled her car keys and was unsurprised that he didn’t even ask about Jewel and Cooper. Temporarily forgotten.
“Looks like a nice evening for a barbecue,” she commented as they got into her SUV. “Not too warm and not too cool.”
“Uh-huh.”
Even though they weren’t going far, she reminded him to buckle up, then started to drive, making small talk as she first went down the road, turned onto a side road, looped around, and doubled back. As she chattered at him, she pointed out a pair of red-tailed hawks, keeping him distracted as she turned down the Orosco driveway. So far, so good. As they got closer to the house, she noticed him frown.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“The barbecue. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Barbecue. What’s that?”
“Oh, you know. People getting together. Eating hamburgers.”
“Hamburgers?” His voice grew more cheery.
She chatted on about other foods people ate at barbecues and intentionally chose to park near vehicles that CT wouldn’t recognize.
“What people?” he asked as they got out.
“Well, Jewel and Cooper are here,” she said lightly.
“Oh, yeah.” He nodded like he understood this. She started to knock on the door, but seeing it was open, she simply led him inside. As far as she knew, CT had never set foot into the Orosco home. And since everyone was out back, she had a few more moments to help him adjust.
“Isn’t this a pretty room?” she said.
“Uh-huh.” He looked around with appreciation. “Nice.”
Female voices were coming from the kitchen, and soon CT was being greeted by neighbors he may or may not have recognized. No matter, he seemed glad to see them. And they were friendly and kind in return. Again, so far, so good.
“Welcome,” Marta Orosco warmly greeted them. “I’m so glad you came.” She handed CT a napkin and held out a tempting plate of appetizers. “Please, help yourself.”
“Uh-huh,” CT grunted as he filled his napkin. He still seemed oblivious. But then he’d only met Marta once, and that was a few years ago.
“Others are outside,” she told them as Honey took an appetizer. “And drinks too. Go visit with neighbors.”
“Thank you.” Honey exchanged winks with Marta. “We’ll do that.” She turned to CT. “Wait until you see their garden. It’s beautiful.” She led him outside and around the patio, pointing out the pond and fountain and plants, pausing to greet neighbors they hadn’t seen lately. Finally, feeling slightly relieved, she left CT with a group of older men. Some of the same friends he used to visit with at the feed store coffee group.
Honey spotted Jewel assisting Miguel at the barbecue. She smiled to herself. Those two looked good together! She spied Cooper and Anna sitting on a bench with their heads bent together as they focused on their phones, showing each other things that they clearly found highly amusing. So normal. So good. Things were going smoothly. Somewhat relieved, Honey returned to the kitchen to help out and perhaps catch up with some of the neighbors she hadn’t seen in a year or more. She suspected most of them were aware of CT’s condition, and probably just as well. That was life in a small town. She inhaled deeply as she waved to her old friend Donna Skinner. The Skinner farm was at the end of the road, and she and Donna used to walk together for exercise, catching up on all the latest news. Honey eagerly greeted Donna with a hug.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Donna gushed. “Where have you been keeping yourself? I hear you’re retired now.”
“I’ve been home,” Honey told her. “I thought retirement was supposed to feel like a break, but all I do is work.” She laughed. “Still, it’s nice to call my time my own.” Of course, even as she said this, she questioned herself. When was her time really her own? With CT, she was on call 24/7.
“That’s farm life.” Donna nodded. “Always something needs doing. Do you have chickens this year? I’ve been looking for someone to buy eggs from.”
“No.” Honey sighed. “But CT keeps bees, and we have lots of honey. I’ve been thinking about selling that. And now that I have my daughter and granddaughter here to help, I might get chickens again.”
“Oh, how nice for you! Rick had to hire help a couple years ago,” Donna said as they moved to a quieter corner of the kitchen. “I wasn’t sure about it, but it’s allowed us to go and do more.” Suddenly she was gushing about the trips they’d taken—a cruise to Alaska and then one to the Caribbean and even a vineyard in Tuscany, the one place Honey had always longed to visit. She suppressed a wave of envy.
“How about you?” Donna asked. “Now that you’re retired and have extra help, will you and CT be traveling?”
Honey sighed. “I’m guessing you haven’t heard about CT’s condition.”
“Oh, no.” Donna’s eyes grew wide. “Is it cancer? So many of my friends have been diagnosed lately.”
For a moment, Honey wished it was cancer. That sounded easier. “No, it’s FTD.”
Donna frowned. “FTD? Isn’t that a florist?”
Honey couldn’t help but smile. “You know, that’s exactly what CT thought when he first heard it.” Now she explained that FTD was early-onset dementia. She hated using that word, but sometimes it was just simpler.
“Oh, Honey.” Donna hugged her again. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah.” As usual, Honey felt her emotions coming to the surface. But she really didn’t want to cry. Not here tonight.
Donna released her and looked intently into her eyes. “I’m so glad you have Jewel and her girl to help you, but if you ever need anything, I hope you will call.”
Honey thanked her. “What I might need sometime is to get away for a cup of coffee.”
“You come on down to our place anytime, Honey. Or we can go to Starbucks if you’d like. You name it and I’ll be there.”
“ Mo-om? ”
Honey turned to see Jewel by the door with a slightly anxious expression. She motioned for Honey to join her, and Honey excused herself. “What is it?”
“Dad.” Jewel took her by the arm. “He’s, uh, making a scene.”
“Oh dear.” Honey let her daughter lead her out to where CT appeared to be about to get into a fight with one of the neighboring farmers. At least he wasn’t about to accost Miguel. That was something.
“CT,” Honey said gently as she firmly took his hand. “I want to show you something.”
“Huh?” His brow furrowed with a combination of confusion and anger. “What?” he growled loudly enough to grab the attention of several neighbors.
“The fish in the pond,” she said, acting as if it was the most important thing in the world. “You have to see them, CT.”
“Fish?” He sounded slightly curious.
She continued to chatter at him about fish as she led him to the little pond. She was careful not to ask what had transpired back there with the men, but when she glanced back, she noticed Jewel still talking to the men gathered in a tight circle, probably explaining her father’s condition. To her relief, they were nodding with what seemed understanding and perhaps a tinge of sympathy.
A little while later, Jewel brought over a plastic cup and offered it to her father. “Iced tea with sugar,” she told him. “Just how you like it.”
CT held the cup, then took a cautious sip.
“You look so nice tonight, Dad. I love that shirt.” Jewel pulled out her phone. “Can I take a picture of both of you by the pond here?”
CT was always a good one for photos. Honey not so much. But she held to his arm, forcing a smile while Jewel took several shots. “Thanks,” she told her daughter. “If they’re any good, send them to me.”
Honey visited a bit more with CT, talking about the fish and wondering how many lived there. Then, finally, with him somewhat calmed and comfortably seated on the bench by the pond, she considered returning to her conversation with Donna. But unsure about leaving CT unsupervised, she waved tentatively to Jewel, who gave a nod of assurance followed by a thumbs-up. Consoled that Jewel could keep an eye on CT while he was preoccupied with fish counting, Honey patted him on the shoulder, then slipped back into the house. But she had a feeling her time here, though enjoyable, was limited. Might as well make the best of it.