by Grady, D. R.
“No, Max likes us,” he answered, giggling, and squirmed away.
“Right. Well, we’ll have to see.” That’s all she could promise.
She flipped on more lights and stared at the neat rows and stacks of boxes in her living room. More filled the counter space of her kitchen. Even the bathroom harbored them. The women left paper plates, and a few mugs, as well as some bathroom essentials, but everything else was contained in the well marked boxes lining her living spaces.
Each cardboard receptacle was well inventoried, with a precise row of the contents labeled on the box itself. Not even her bedroom was exempt from the packer’s efforts. When she opened her dresser drawers, most of them were empty. There were enough clothes hanging in her closet for the remainder of the week, but not much more. All of her shoes were packed away, minus the few pairs she would need. Her pictures and candles were gone. Even the stack of magazines and books she kept on the nightstand were missing. When she looked, however, that box stood open. Someone had thoughtfully placed the items in the box, but left it accessible.
Ryan’s room was much the same as hers. His toys were in an unsealed box. But he only had enough clothes for the remaining week, also. The linen closet was nearly empty as was her tiny home office. A room barely larger than a closet, the space was fine for her small desk and filing cabinet.
The place shone with cleanliness, as well. They had not only packed everything, but also cleaned as they went, apparently.
Shaking her head in wonder, KC trailed back into the kitchen and noticed a note on one of the counters.
Hello KC and Ryan,
We finished up here and are going home. This was a very easy job. You don’t have all that much stuff. We left some of your things unpacked, thinking you might need the things inside. (And we left some of the more personal items in your drawers.) We did take several boxes to Max’s house already, and imagine he’ll be by later tonight for more. The boys will come on Saturday to move the big stuff, which shouldn’t take long.
We really enjoyed this! Thank you for the opportunity.
With love,
The Packers
A lump formed in KC’s throat and she swallowed to dislodge it. Her own mother wouldn’t have thought to bring so much as a tea bag, much less come in and pack the entire apartment. With breakfast treats and cleaning materials and big smiles and hugs and laughter and fun. Now, all she had to do was pack her and Ryan’s remaining things, and the job would be done. She could easily finish on Friday evening.
The Packers left a roll of tape and the box with her pots and pans open. They also left the box of dry goods open. When she opened the refrigerator, she noticed they had been in there too. The inside sparkled with cleanliness. They left all the essentials, but took the rarely used items. KC figured those probably took up space in Max’s fridge right now.
Something she wouldn’t have even thought of. Like what to do with the contents of her freezer and fridge. Opening the freezer, she saw most of those items were missing too. They left her plenty of selection for the week, but removed the excess. Max would need those things. It would be helpful for him to have the ingredients on hand.
Which set KC to thinking. She tugged out supper, already made – compliments of the packers – and kept thinking about it. Her thoughts continued to roil while they ate and cleaned up. Ryan wasn’t too interested in cooking, but he did like loading the dishwasher, and was actually pretty good help that way. He got upset if she wiped the table, so she always set him to that task too.
She wondered if Max cooked. If not, the time he spent with Ryan would be interesting. KC smiled, thinking about the pair of them eating out every night. Whatever worked for them, just as long as they ate somewhat healthfully. Max would learn quickly enough that if Ryan frequented fast food places too often, he got sick. She planned to make Max an in-depth list of Ryan’s likes and dislikes in general as well as his allergies. Max knew the basics, but this should help.
After supper, she watched Ryan play and retreated to the couch with her laptop. There, she opened a word processing document and started typing. Something that would make Max’s life easier would be a cookbook containing all of Ryan’s favorite recipes.
If she didn’t return from this assignment, something she purposely didn’t think about, Ryan’s favorites would be recorded. He would have a hard enough time adjusting to the chaos of them moving.
She refused to think any more about the prospect of her not returning home to him.
Chapter 6
Max, his three brothers, and his brothers-in-law all showed up at her door at eight on Saturday morning. His cousin Ben pulled up as the other men were filing into her apartment.
Ben was a Morrison through and through, she had long ago discovered. One could be fooled by his African-American good looks, but after watching him with his family for about ten seconds, one realized he was all Morrison. He, more than any of the other children and grandchildren, resembled their grandfather. They looked alike, walked alike, held themselves exactly the same way, and Max had once mentioned they even thought alike.
Ben was easily one of the more handsome of the Morrison men. KC figured she probably felt this way because he was a military man, and thus carried himself as such. She obviously respected anyone in the armed forces, since she shared a part in that noble profession, but Ben was Navy, like her. That could be why he was one of her favorite Morrisons. That and he also reminded her a lot of Max.
Smiling at each man as he made her little kitchen that much smaller, she offered coffee, doughnuts, and cookies which were accepted with matching smiles. Much foolery occurred as the men teased one another, but she noticed Mitch Monahan, Lainy’s huge, handsome husband, took most of the teasing this time.
“So, Mitch, four months after the wedding?” Ed, Max’s crazy brother, started the proceedings. He stroked his beard and adjusted his gold framed glasses. Ed was the epitome of absentminded inventor, easily as knowledgeable in electronics and as successful as Lainy with his inventions.
“Yeah, what’s this with four months?” John, Max’s sister Dory’s husband, continued.
“There’s nothing wrong with Lainy being pregnant so soon after our wedding. She’s not in the least bit upset by it.” Mitch calmly sipped coffee. He narrowed his eyes at the hecklers. Another military man, albeit a Marine, in their midst. He had brown hair and dark brown eyes, and was tall and muscular. He was quite an attractive man.
“Yeah, well, Laurie was pregnant before we got married,” Greg, another sister’s husband, said. Or rather, crowed. It was Greg and Laurie who were the legends of the linen closet in the lake cottage. KC wasn’t certain she believed all eight of their children had really been conceived in that closet.
All the men sputtered into their Styrofoam cups and one thumped Greg on the back.
“Yeah, and we wish you’d quit making babies,” Max said.
“Or at least quit making them in my closet,” Will, Max’s largest brother, informed him. Will was the eldest of the siblings, a fact he enjoyed making certain everyone knew. He also enjoyed the dubious honor of owning the cottage containing the infamous closet.
“Is there anyone here who hasn’t made a baby in Will’s closet?” Tom, Max’s youngest brother asked. His shirt was extra loud this morning with hot pink flamingos, a neon blue background, and chartreuse circles. Upon further inspection, KC wondered if the odd circles were actually supposed to be palm trees. She hadn’t decided when Tom’s question finally registered.
Max and Ben both raised their hands. And grinned at each other.
“Ben’s been in my closet with a woman,” Will stated, glowering at their cousin.
Max turned to him. “Really? Treeny went into a closet with you? Wow.” He shook his head sadly. “Poor tricked woman.” Treeny was Will’s wife’s younger sister. It was a well known secret that Ben didn’t date, and the family speculated that he was waiting for Treeny to finish her medical training.
Ben mock punched
him.
“So, Max, how many times have you taken a woman into Will’s closet?” Ed slurped coffee. He wore of ring of doughnut sugar around his mouth that also dotted his beard.
Max’s smile turned totally private and incredibly sensual and KC went breathless as something responded deep inside. Where on earth had that come from?
“Unlike you morons, I don’t kiss and tell.” Max’s voice turned complacent while for some reason he looked right at her. She had never entered that closet with him. Max had never invited her. Deep inside, something she couldn’t identify ignited as she thought of the possibilities if he ever did. KC smothered it before it could turn into an inferno before she refocused on the conversation swirling around her kitchen.
“Lainy tormented me with that closet the entire time I was in Kuwait. I couldn’t wait to try it out with her,” Mitch said with a grin.
“Yeah, and look where it got her.” Rick, husband to Melly, another sister, hooted.
Mitch’s smile was lazy and very masculine. “She’s not complaining.” He took another sip of coffee and KC experienced a little wistfulness at that satisfied, loving look in his eyes. If her wish had come true the way she wanted, maybe some man would look at her like that...
The men finished their coffee with more jests, and soon dug in to work. Her furniture disappeared through the door, and into the waiting trucks. The project didn’t take them long, as many of them worked together like they had done this often in the past. Not surprising because their mother said they had.
When the last box had been placed carefully into the trunk of her car, KC sent Ryan with Max and then completed a final walk-through of the place she called home for six years. Sadness reigned as she thought of leaving here, but when she returned from Kuwait, she would look for a house. Ryan needed a bigger yard to play in with Spuds and she wouldn’t mind a larger kitchen.
Whistling for Spuds, she pushed away the tantalizing little voice that whispered, “Max’s kitchen is the perfect size.”
She pulled up in front of Max’s house and watched for a moment while her furniture was carted inside. The light gray stone farmhouse had caught her eye when she first moved to Hershey. Even in need of extensive repairs, the rambling structure had been out of her price range. When Max bought the place, she’d been ecstatic. KC decreed it needed white trim, country blue shutters and faded yellow doors and Max agreed. She and Max had also spent plenty of Saturdays refitting the new windows, painting the multitude of rooms, and planting the shrubs, flowers, and trees that now dotted the gorgeous lawn.
Behind the house stood a matching gray stone bank barn that Max used for storage. Altogether, the showplace comprised five acres. There was a stream at the edge of the property and plenty of mature trees to keep Ryan happy. He was going to adore living here. So would she, for that matter. It was surreal to think of living in this gorgeous house, even though she spent a lot of time here. Maybe this odd feeling stemmed from the thought of moving in with her business partner who would care for her son while she was deployed.
You didn’t really know a person until you lived with them. Max would see how neurotic she really was.
Spuds made doggy-nose smudges on her windows and barked in her ear. KC sighed before shoving her door open. Spuds ran over her and into his new home as though this was all perfectly normal.
For that matter, Ryan didn’t seem to be having difficulty adjusting to their move, either. Only she displayed second thoughts, and third and fourth. Even Max was happily directing his family in the placement of her things. He appeared to be completely fine with her moving in and invading his home.
Just as that thought interrupted, Max glanced up and grinned at her. That same heated sensation tried to overtake her. What was happening to her? Was this what insanity felt like?
“Thanks for the furniture. And it’s great making these doofuses work,” he told her and directed the comment to one of his brother’s backs.
The next one to leave the house, a brother-in-law, Greg, wrapped an arm around his neck and tried to give him a noogie. Max broke the hold with ease and lightly punched the offender.
“What was I thinking?” Mitch shook his head and wandered out the door.
“You were thinking about how cute my sister is,” Max yelled after him.
Mitch turned with a huge grin. “That’s right. It’s all coming back to me now. When I finally get finished furnishing your house with KC’s things while she gets to go to Kuwait,” and he shuddered, not a good sign, “I’ll go home to my wife.” He started to whistle.
KC frowned before turning to Max. “That shudder in relation to Kuwait was alarming.”
“Yeah, but you’ll be home in eight months,” Max said, and draped a casual, friendly arm over her shoulders. It was reassuring to feel that familiar weight and she leaned into him for a moment, savoring his warmth and familiar scent.
Then she pushed away and returned to her car to unload more boxes. She was going to Kuwait, and she would return. She had to. Too many were anticipating her safe return. Plus, she had a son to raise.
*****
“That’s the last box.” Will peered around the doorway.
“Thanks,” Max replied as he and Ben worked at maneuvering her grandmother’s table through the door. Will hurried forward and adjusted the unyielding hunk of wood and the three men worked together so they could place it in Max’s empty dining room. They added boards so it fit the space.
“Perfect,” Ben commented as he surveyed the room.
KC had to agree with him. The honey oak table did look wonderful in the large, airy space with a lighted ceiling fan and built-in cupboards she had painted a darker green to match the pale sage walls. And it went perfectly with the oak hutch Max had inherited from some family member. If she wasn’t mistaken, the piece was a family heirloom, just as her table was. Her grandmother’s table had always looked a little out of place in her tiny eat-in kitchen. Here it finally graced a room worthy of its magnificence.
“It does look good, and I can’t believe my table matches your hutch so well.” Upon further inspection she turned to Max. “A hutch which is decidedly empty,” she murmured with an arched brow. It was the only piece of furniture in the room since Max moved in months ago, until now.
“Well, yeah. I have dishes in the kitchen, but there didn’t seem to be much point in getting fancy ones when I didn’t have a dining room table.” He shrugged and set the last matching chair in place.
“Well, now you have a table and dishes, if I’m not mistaken.” A woman’s voice wafted from behind them.
“Lainy,” KC exclaimed and rushed to hug her as Lainy plunked a small box down on the table.
Lainy returned the hug and when they parted, KC stared at her friend, noticing her happy glow. Some came from the pregnancy, she figured, but a good portion also came from being a woman who loved and was loved in return.
“Hello, KC. I see my brother has managed to utilize every one of your possessions.” Laugher rang in Lainy’s voice.
Her husband Mitch stood behind her, and KC again felt that wisp of envy at the love in his eyes as he looked at his wife. Max must have missed the moment because he swept his sister into his arms for a tight, but gentle hug, and then he ruined the effort by smacking her bottom.
“You know, brat, I don’t remember inviting you.” His tone remained conversational.
“I had to come and pick up Mitch. He rode with Will and Ed early this morning.” Lainy looked so happy she could get work as a light bulb. “I stopped by Will and Rachel’s house. Since Treeny was there, I had to eat breakfast with her and Rachel.”
KC watched as Ben stilled. “Why didn’t Treeny come?” KC asked so Ben wouldn’t be put on the spot.
Lainy darted a quick look at Ben before smiling at KC. “She intended to catch a ride over with me, but she got called into work for an emergency.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” KC said, careful not to stare at Ben like some of his cousins were.
“Yes. She said to tell you she was really disappointed and hopes to see you before you leave.” Lainy nudged her black framed glasses further up her nose as her blue eyes, so like Max’s, smiled up at Mitch.
“I’ll hold her to that.” KC noticed Ben’s shoulders remained tense. She was upset she would miss watching what happened between this pair. Maybe Lainy could keep her informed. “Treeny is welcome anytime,” Max said and then turned when the doorbell rang. “Ah, lunch.” He sauntered from the room.
KC, Ben, Lainy, and Mitch all looked at each other. Just as they made to follow him, Ryan came bouncing into the room. “We’we having pizza fow lunch, Mommy.” He didn’t notice the others until after he made his grand announcement.
“Aunt Lainy,” he squealed and leaped for her. Lainy braced herself from long practice, and didn’t so much as step back when Ryan launched himself at her.
“Careful, Ryan,” KC warned. Even though Lainy was a pro at this aunting business, Ryan could still be exuberant.
“He’s fine, KC,” Lainy assured her and accepted the sure to be sticky hug bestowed on her. She ruffled his hair in an unmistakable gesture of affection and a lump rose in KC’s throat and settled somewhere really close to her heart. She again saw how much this family loved her and Ryan but the gestures never ceased to amaze and humble her.
Max reentered the room with a stack of pizza boxes. “Hey, Ryan, run into the kitchen and get the plates, okay?” Ryan bobbed his head before racing out of the room.
Will sailed through holding a package of cups and KC left to follow her son. She had stocked up on drinks and snacks, since she figured they all might get thirsty and hungry. She found what remained and scooped them up, all the while watching with love and despair as Ryan grabbed the plates and scooted for the dining room.
Leaving him was going to be so hard. But at least he would be in good hands.
But would she?
Chapter 7
