Chapter 13 #2
They were silent as they climbed into Levi’s truck, and the tense atmosphere was unbroken on the short drive to June’s house, except for the moments in which June reminded him where to take a turn.
They pulled into the driveway of her neat little house that Levi would have liked to examine more closely, since homes so often gave indicators of people’s personalities, but he would have to do that later.
For now, he just crossed quickly to help petite June jump down from the high truck, then followed behind her as she hurried toward the house.
Unless she told him to go, he intended to wait and see if he could help her in any way.
As soon as they went through the front door, they were greeted by an older lady that Levi vaguely recognized from around town. The two women quickly embraced, and then the older lady led June into the living room.
“He’s fine,” she said, calm aside from a slight tremor of nerves in her tone.
“He took one of those tablets, and we just checked his blood sugar again about two minutes ago. He’s back in normal range.
I think he’s a bit shaken up, and he definitely needs some hugs from his mom, but otherwise he’s looking steadier than he was even a few minutes ago. ”
“Thank you, Miriam,” June said fervently.
“Of course,” the lady said, squeezing June’s hand. “I’m going to bring you guys dinner… no, don’t protest, June Caldwell. I won’t be able to rest without coming back and seeing him doing better, so I’m going to make a casserole with all the good low-glycemic things that are good for our boy.”
“Okay,” June said. “Okay, thanks.”
Miriam shot Levi only a passing glance as she left the house, a faint smile floating in his direction before she headed out the door.
June continued into the living room while Levi hovered outside.
He watched June cross to a boy who was bundled up on the couch with a handheld video game.
The child was the spitting image of his mother, and he looked to be bearing up against his ordeal bravely, but as soon as he saw June, his lip poked out in a pout.
Despite the serious situation, Levi smiled. He remembered feeling this way as a kid too: courageous when he needed to be, then in dire need of some tender care as soon as his parents were on the scene.
“Hey, baby,” June crooned, her head going to the boy’s forehead. “Scary day?”
“Yeah,” Benjamin said, leaning into his mother’s embrace. “I felt okay, but then I forgot to have my snack because I was reading my book, and then all of a sudden I felt really bad…”
Levi slipped away, not wishing to intrude on the private moment between mother and child.
He found the kitchen, then checked a couple of cabinets until he found all the things he needed to make tea, then set the kettle to boil.
He knew that tea wouldn’t help fix June’s worry, but he hadn’t yet found a situation where tea hurt things.
That’s what his mother would say, after all.
He paused after setting the kettle on the stove, smiling quietly to himself.
He was thinking a lot about his parents today.
Maybe it was the proximity to seeing June in her mothering capacity, but it was still nice.
He made a mental note to call his parents and tell them how much he appreciated them.
The primary qualm he had about moving to Massachusetts was that it was harder to pop in for a visit with the people who had raised him.
Levi had to turn off the kettle twice and set it to reheat before June came into the kitchen, a weary expression on her face. She startled slightly when she spotted Levi.
“Hi, sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just didn’t want to leave in case you needed something, especially since you don’t have your car right now.”
She spared him a tired smile.
“That’s really sweet,” she said. “If you have somewhere else you need to be, though…”
He shook his head firmly. “I have absolutely nowhere else I have to be,” he informed her. “I am here to help unless I’m underfoot, in which case, you can tell me to scram. No hard feelings.”
That earned him a slightly more genuine smile.
“In the meantime,” he said, gesturing to the stove. “I made stuff for tea.”
“Okay, well, now that’s really sweet,” June said. Her kitchen had a small breakfast nook area, and she dropped into a chair. “I will absolutely accept tea… but only if you join me.”
“The pleasure would be all mine,” he said, feeling the truth deep inside him.
And, indeed, there was something intensely satisfying about watching June drink tea that he had made for her. He hadn’t had someone to take care of in a long, long time. It was nice.
“You know,” he said gently after June had taken a few sips of the calming brew, “I am also a good ear if you need to unload about anything.”
June paused, her mug halfway to her mouth, to give him a rueful smile.
“That obvious, huh?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, actually. You keep it together way better than I would if I were in your circumstance. I mean, look at this place.” He waved around her house, which was homey and well-maintained, even if some of the items showed signs of being loved for some time.
“You have a great house, a sweet kid, and when some punk musician came around asking you out, you had enough generosity of spirit to go out with him, instead of kicking that bum out on his behind.”
She kicked lightly at him under the table at his self-deprecation, the gesture playful, not painful.
“Yeah, you’re a real pain to have around,” she said with teasing amusement lighting her eyes.
“That’s why I’m trying to make up for it with tea,” he joked back. “But seriously, June, I hope you pause every now and again to feel proud of yourself. What you’ve done here, the life you’ve built? It’s amazing. You are amazing. I’m… seriously impressed.”
June blushed. She looked very fetching when she was blushing.
“That’s… really nice of you to say,” she said. She paused as though considering something, then sighed. “Okay, so you made me tea, and I’m taking that as tacit permission to unload.”
He spread his hand in front of him in invitation.
She let out another sigh.
“I’m glad that it looks like I have things together, but gosh, Levi, it’s so hard. I would do anything for Benjamin. Anything. He is the world to me. But keeping it all together, without having a partner to turn to when the days are hard? I know I’m repeating myself, but it’s just so hard.”
He reached across the table to put his hand on hers, and he felt good about providing something, no matter how small, when she flipped her grip so that they could lace their fingers together.
“I believe it,” he said. “I hate that I don’t have something more helpful to add, but I don’t know what it’s like to be a parent, let alone a single parent who lost their spouse. But gosh, June. I am in total awe of you.”
She looked doubtful. “You’re a famous country music star,” she pointed out.
“Don’t remind me,” he said, just to make her laugh.
“But I’m not just puffing you up. My job might have its stressors, but as my presence here shows, my obligations are mostly to myself.
So when I do things like flee to a little New England town, the person who I’m risking is myself and my own career.
But you live for somebody else, and from what little I’ve seen of him, you’ve done an amazing job with Benjamin, June.
I mean, just look at today! He was in a scary situation, but he’s resilient.
He trusted that his mom would come and take care of him, and you did.
That’s good parenting. That’s something that you gave him. ”
Her eyes drifted closed, as though this onslaught of praise was simply too much to take directly.
“Why are you being so nice to me, Levi?” she asked with a little laugh.
He didn’t care that her eyes were closed; he grinned, hoping she could somehow feel the force of his smile.
“Because I like you, June,” he said simply.
She peeked one eye open at him. Adorable.
“Even though I totally wrecked our date?” she asked cautiously.
“Okay, one, you did not wreck the date,” he said. “And two, yes, even if you wrecked the date—which you didn’t—I would still like you. In fact, I would still be taking this opportunity to ask you if you would be willing to go out with me again.”
Her other eye popped open.
“You’re a glutton for punishment, huh?” she asked.
“Oh, hush,” he chided. “You know that’s not it.” He grew more serious. “Listen, June, I know you have a lot going on. So believe me when I say that I am not trying to pressure you in the least. But…”
He drew in a breath and gathered his courage. Despite June’s clear self-doubt, Levi didn’t think she was anything but wonderful. And he felt strongly enough about her that he felt all the nerves that came with having a big, whopping crush.
And boy oh boy did he have all the fluttery feelings for June.
“But I feel strongly toward you,” he confessed.
“I felt it as soon as I met you. Actually, that’s not quite right,” he amended, trying to hide some of his vulnerability with humor.
“I liked you even when I saw you at the diner, before we even met. Granted, the first time it was just because I thought you were pretty.”
She blushed. Prettily.
“But then I met you for real, not to mention heard you sing, and all those first impressions were reinforced. So.” He wished he could see something in her expression, some hint of what kind of answer she planned to give him. “So, would you be willing to go out with me again?”
“My life is messy and complicated,” she reminded him.
“I know that,” he said levelly.
“My son is always going to come first.”
He scoffed. “Yeah, of course, June. That’s part of what I like about you.”
Finally, she cracked a smile.
“Okay,” she said, and relief rushed through Levi. “If you’re sure, then… yes. Yes, I’d like to go out with you again.”
He reached out to brush a finger over her cheek, following the arc of her blush.
“I’m sure,” he said. The words were simple, but the way he felt about them was far from plain. He wasn’t certain that he’d ever felt so sure about anything in his life. “Now, drink your tea before it gets cold.”