Building a Family

by Lyn Cote

  Eleanor’s fears began to melt.

  “Want to help me set the table, Jenna?” Delia asked.

  Eleanor thought her eyes might pop out like in a cartoon.

  “Sure,” Jenna agreed. “I set the table all the time.”

  “Good. Let’s carry the dishes and flatware out and get everything done nice in the dining room. It looks like rain, or we’d set up outside on the picnic table.” Delia and Jenna gathered the tableware and left the room.

  Eleanor sank into the chair at the small kitchen table, her tension leaking from her every limb. She looked questioningly at her father.

  He shrugged as if to say, I don’t know what’s going on, either. Mavis just grinned and turned back to stir the noodles.

  The casual supper went easily. Jenna enjoyed the spaghetti and chatted about her baseball team and swim lessons at the park district pool. Eleanor kept up her part of the conversation, but mostly listened. Her parents told Jenna about their house in Arizona. The archeological dig, taking place now in Utah, especially captured Jenna’s interest. She asked many good questions.

  “I know what we should do now,” Mavis said, grinning. “There’s a new Disney movie on in Rhinelander. Why don’t we go?”

  “Ooh,” Jenna crowed. But then sobered. “I don’t have to go.” She looked at Eleanor. “If you don’t want to.”

  “I think it’s a fine idea.” Eleanor expected her mother to decline.

  “I haven’t seen a Disney movie in forever,” Delia said. “I used to enjoy taking Eleanor when she was little. My favorite was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

  Eleanor choked back her surprise. And suddenly she did remember going to the movie to see this as a child. “I remember that.”

  Delia gave her a self-satisfied look and took Jenna’s hand. “Let’s go wash our hands. Then if we get hungry at the movie, we’ll be able to eat popcorn.”

  Eleanor still couldn’t quite believe this had happened. She didn’t know what had caused this change. She only hoped this new, improved version of her mother would continue.

  Pete dashed through the rain, each of his children attached to one of his hands. Dripping, they ducked under the marquee and stopped at the ticket window. They paid and sauntered into the lobby where the fragrance of buttered popcorn hit them full in the nose.

  “Hey, Daddy, it’s Miss Ellie!” Cassie called out and began waving madly at Eleanor, surrounded by her family and holding Jenna’s hand.

  Suddenly Pete “got” why his mom had suggested that he take the kids to a movie this rainy evening. She probably knew Eleanor’s family had planned to come tonight. But complain, not him—unless this upset Eleanor’s plans. How could he convey that to her? And more troubling, or at least chancy, her mother lurked at Eleanor’s side.

  Would his presence give her something to complain about? Cause a scene? Hurt Eleanor’s feelings? He gave up trying to figure everything out and just smiled.

  John waved him over. “Why don’t we let the women take the girls inside and get seats while we guys—” John winked at Nicky “—manage the popcorn and drinks?”

  Nicky beamed at John and gave him a high-five slap. Pete chuckled. He gave Cassie her ticket and let her join the females as they moved into the theater.

  “How are things going with Jenna?” Pete asked John under his breath.

  “Smooth sailing so far.” They bought five huge tubs of popcorn. And since the kids behind the counter recognized Pete from high school, they squirted the butter lavishly over each tub. He grabbed extra napkins to deal with this largesse, and the guys got to their seats just as the feature presentation blared to life.

  Pete noticed that the seat next to Eleanor had been noticeably left open for him. Feeling a bit more conspicuous, even in the dark, he settled down beside her and offered to share his tub of popcorn with her. Jenna and Mavis were sharing a tub, so she smiled shyly and dug in.

  His lips next to her soft ear, he teased, “I don’t share my popcorn with just any girl.”

  She threw a kernel at his nose and then grabbed another handful. “I hope you brought napkins,” she said and then began to chew. Her eyes widened. “How much butter did they squirt on this?”

  Pete relaxed into the comfortable seat, more comfortable because Eleanor sat beside him. When they’d emptied the popcorn tub, he held hands with her. As they watched the cartoon hero and heroine fall in love, he couldn’t remember feeling so happy in a very long time. Finding Eleanor was like finding the perfect fit, and that made everything feel in its proper place. They didn’t have to act on their attraction. That was all in the future. Even if their relationship remained just friendship, what was wrong with that? Thank you, Father. I feel Your hand in this. I didn’t think I’d ever heal. Sorry for that.

  Later, Eleanor stood in the doorway to the room she hoped would be Jenna’s. She’d bought a twin bed and made it up with pastel blue-and-white linens. “I thought I’d let you pick out the paint color for this room.”

  “You mean this would be my room?” Jenna asked, standing by the bed in the almost empty room. She wore her pink-and-white Hello Kitty cotton pajamas and had just brushed her teeth.

  Suddenly choked up, Eleanor nodded.

  “When can I come live with you?”

  Eleanor’s joy hit the ceiling. “As soon as Ms. Green finishes all the paperwork. Then you’ll move in here as my foster daughter while the adoption papers go through.”

  “So you’d be my second foster mom, but you’d become my real mom?”

  Eleanor nodded, unable to speak. Love for this child filled her to overflowing.

  Jenna looked down as if in deep thought. She looked up. “You were sitting beside Nicky’s dad at the movie, and eating his popcorn.”

  Not expecting this, Eleanor took a deep breath. “Yes, Pete Beck and I are…just friends.”

  Jenna again appeared to consider this, her expression intent. “Then you two aren’t going to get married?”

  Leave it to a child to get straight to the point. Thinking this might turn into a long conversation, Eleanor waved Jenna to get into bed, and then she sat down at the foot. “I have feelings for Pete, and he has feelings for me. I think we may have a future together. But that might come or it might not.”

  “But what about me?” Jenna sounded worried.

  Eleanor smoothed back Jenna’s bangs. “Pete loves kids. If we would sometime, in the future, get married, we’d be a family.”

  “A family?” Jenna looked and sounded as if this were not to be believed.

  Eleanor nodded, cupping Jenna’s soft cheek. “Try not to worry about this. I want to adopt you. Pete is good with it. Like my dad said today—even if something weird happened, we’ll all still be in your life as friends.”

  “But I want you to be my family.”

  The words unleashed Eleanor’s deepest emotions. She didn’t know if she should or not, but she followed her instincts. She pulled Jenna to her and hugged her. “Don’t worry. Everything will work out right. When Ms. Green showed me photos of children available to adopt, I knew you were the one for me. I knew it at first sight. You see, I prayed for a little girl, and here you are.”

  Jenna clung to her.

  Eleanor sensed the child was wrestling with her own sad memories and tender hopes. I want us to be a family, too, Jenna. I want to build a family. God bless us.

  Later, after putting his kids to bed, Pete shuffled down the stairs and walked into the living room, not ready for sleep. His mom was reading a book while the continuing rain poured down the windows. Growing darkness was closing off the view of the oaks around their house. His dad was reading an agricultural magazine and looking unusually grumpy. The atmosphere in the room could only be described as tense.

  Kerry Ann looked up. “How was the movie?”

  Pete couldn’t stop his grin. “We just happened to run into Eleanor and Jenna there. Lucky coincidence?”

  His mother smirked. “Mavis just happened to mention they’
d be going tonight.”

  His dad sort of growled and flung a dark look at them. The difference between his optimistic mother and his pessimistic father kept their home lively. After forty years, Pete thought his dad ought to finally catch on that his mom’s view of life made for a better outlook, better outcome. For a moment, he pondered the fact that his parents had been married for forty years. Their party had been planned, and the invitations had gone out weeks ago. He tried to keep from smiling.

  “What do you think of Jenna?” Kerry Ann asked. “Cassie was telling me about her this afternoon.”

  “Who’s Jenna?” Harry grumbled.

  Pete sank onto the sofa. “Eleanor is planning on adopting Jenna, a little girl who plays on Nicky’s Little League team.”

  Harry lowered his journal. “But that lady lawyer isn’t married. Why would anybody let her adopt a child?”

  His dad’s words aggravated Pete, but he didn’t let this show. “Single women and men adopt children nowadays. Eleanor will make a wonderful mom.”

  His dad’s expression soured more. He lifted his journal, shook it and supposedly went back to reading.

  Then Pete noticed a little, furry face peeping over the arm of his mother’s chair. This shocked a comment from him. “A cat in the house?”

  His mother chuckled, lowered her book and picked up the grayfur ball that just fit in her hand, showing it to Pete. “Mama-cat must have just finished weaning her latest litter. This afternoon, she brought this baby to me. Carried her from the barn and meowed at the back door till I came to see.” His mom stroked the kitten’s head. “Isn’t she sweet?”

  “Cats belong in the barn,” his dad muttered.

  Kerry Ann found his comment amusing and tried without success to hide this. “Mama-cat has never done that before. I haven’t figured out why she’s done it now. I think I’ll call Dr. Jake, the vet, tomorrow and see what he thinks.”

  Pete leaned over and, using just his index finger, stroked the tiny kitten’s head, too. “Do you think she’s not strong enough to survive in the barn?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I should take her in to Dr. Jake—”

  “Wasting money on a barn cat.” With this pronouncement, his dad got up and left the room.

  Kerry Ann sighed. “I love your father, but sometimes he can be a big, old grump.”

  Pete grinned. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

  His mom shook her finger at him, scolding even as she grinned impishly. She sobered. “You looked very ‘together’ with Eleanor at the game today.”

  “Guilty as charged.” To forestall any forthcoming questions, Pete rose and went to the kitchen.

  His father was standing at the window, glaring out at the rain. From the set of his shoulders, Harry looked miserable. But Pete knew from experience not to try to cheer his dad up. That was Pete’s mother’s department. Pete opened the fridge to get something to drink.

  The phone on the wall rang. Pete answered it with the family name, “Hi, the Beck house.”

  “Uh, I, uh…”

  “Yes?”

  The person hung up.

  This didn’t happen very often. Pete looked at the receiver as if it would tell him what was up. Then, trying to identify the caller, his mind replayed the brief series of syllables. He gripped it tighter, rattled. No, it couldn’t have been. It couldn’t have been her voice.

  Two days later, Eleanor glimpsed Pete striding toward her at last. She’d been anxiously waiting inside the doorway of the Paxtons’ future home for Pete to arrive. Kevan had already arrived and was drilling in wall board with a few other volunteers. Even with every one milling around behind her, she was tempted to throw her arms around Pete. Mentally, she took a step back. She had so much to tell him about her weekend visit with Jenna.

  “Hey!” he greeted her. “Sorry I haven’t called. Life just got super busy on the farm. What’s on the agenda today?”

  She kept her “boss” identity in place, but it wasn’t easy. His dark hair needed a haircut and beckoned her to finger it into place. She resisted the impulse. “The plumbing and electrical have been inspected and we’re insulating and drywalling today.”

  “Fun. By the way, I wanted to invite you—”

  Before he could say more, Luis and Colby surged inside right behind him. “Hey. We made it.”

  Eleanor shook her head at them, smiling.

  “My mom wants to have you two over for dinner,” Colby said, “for getting the charges against Danny dismissed. And for going down to the station about those bottle rockets and beer bottles.”

  “Your mother doesn’t have to do that,” Eleanor said, not missing the fact that she and Pete were being invited as a couple. The Hope, Wisconsin, grapevine must be alive and active these days. Without meaning to, she moved closer to Pete. “Your brother is paying me for my services.”

  “Yeah, but Mom says you can’t pay for kindness with money.”

  Eleanor felt herself color. “I was just doing what was right.”

  “That’s something else no one can pay for with money,” Pete said.

  Eleanor wondered what Pete wanted to invite her to. It couldn’t be the fortieth anniversary party because she’d already received her written invitation, which had made it very, very clear that the party was intended to be a surprise!

  “Hey!” Kevan appeared just behind Eleanor in the open doorway. “This house isn’t going to get built if people stand around yakking.” His broad smile belied his criticism.

  “We’re here! We’re ready!” Luis saluted, making Kevan burst out laughing.

  “Glad to see they are getting the message about walking the straight and narrow way,” Pete whispered in her ear, making her shiver in the summer heat.

  Eleanor and Kevan gave way so Pete and the teens could enter. She wished for a moment alone with Pete but resigned herself to not getting one—now. Just as well.

  She watched Pete joking with Kevan, and then he buckled on his work belt and began working. She couldn’t keep her eyes from watching the confident way he moved. Every motion was calculated for efficiency and accuracy. He got the crew insulating quickly and self-assuredly.

  She turned at last and picked up her own cordless drill. We’ll talk later and see what I’m being invited for. She could wait. Her cup of love and happiness overflowed already.

  Heart beating with anticipation and apprehension, Pete, with Nicky and Cassie in the rear seat, drove up to Eleanor’s house. Pete got out and went to knock. Opening the door, Eleanor appeared. He could hardly take his gaze from her, so beautiful in a yellow blouse and matching shorts. With her long tanned arms and legs, she looked like summer in human form.

  Jenna shyly waited just behind her. Pete had invited them both to the picnic on the American Legion Campground to benefit an area family who needed help with medical bills.

  Pete’s stomach occasionally did a little hop and jump. This would be the first time that Eleanor and their kids would appear in public altogether. And he’d explained to Nicky and Cassie that he and Miss Ellie weren’t dating but that Miss Ellie was planning to adopt Jenna and he wanted to help Jenna feel good about this and feel welcome.

  Kids were always unpredictable. How would the afternoon go? Would the three children pull together or decide to squabble?

  All this could explain why his children waited so seriously and quietly in the backseat of his extended crew cab. “Ready to go, ladies?” he asked Eleanor and Jenna.

  “Yes, we’re ready.” Eleanor sounded as if she’d just run a race and won, excited and breathless.

  He grinned, recognizing the same feeling within himself. Sometime in the future, they might be a family of five. Right now he and Eleanor would be working on establishing their friendship on a strong foundation with a future goal of blending the three children into a possible family. He inhaled deeply. A plenty big enough job for now.

  Lingering acid bitterness over his divorce tried to leech into his heart. He refused to let it. The past was
past. Eleanor and Jenna were the present for him, Cassie and Nicky.

  Jenna climbed into the back, saying shy hellos to his kids who responded in kind.

  Clasping his hands on her waist, he swung Eleanor up onto the high seat. Despite cautions, elation lit his heart.

  She laughed out loud, giving sound to his own joy. Then, after he stowed her bowl of salad in the large cooler in the rear, he climbed in and off they went, driving to the thick, green forest nearby with its many lakes.

  When they arrived at the picnic site, gray clouds were already racing overhead. Probably yet another storm was blowing in. The instant he helped Eleanor down from the pickup, they were the object of general attention—as he’d expected. Everyone turned to study the five of them, speculating about the arrangement, no doubt.

  “Oh, look, the Paxtons have come, too,” Eleanor said, gazing behind him.

  He turned and saw Kevan, Jenelle and Tiesha looking ready for summer fun. Just behind them, Kevan’s Uncle Dex and Eleanor’s Aunt Mavis walked side by side. He sent Eleanor a sideways, conspiratorial glance concerning this twosome.

  She winked back at him and whispered, “Love is in the air.”

  He laughed out loud but tried to cover it by raising his hand and welcoming Kevan’s family. Together, they moved to the center of the bustling fundraiser.

  He and Eleanor wrote generous checks to the benefit family, bought activity tickets for the various games and added their bowls of two kinds of salad to the tables already piled high and wide with donated food. The Paxtons followed suit.

  As they strolled through the park, Pete introduced the Paxtons and Mavis to friends who came up to greet them. His friends appeared torn between welcoming the new family and obviously trying to figure out what was going on between him and Eleanor. He just smiled. Laughter and friendly voices surrounded them.

  Eleanor and he followed the children to the bean-bag throw. There, two of his old high school buddies had to be introduced to Eleanor. Pete put up with their veiled teasing. Nothing could bother him today.

  Then the five of them moved on to the hula hoop area.