Carolina Boudreaux mixed a can of tomatoes into the sauce bubbling lava-red in a large ceramic pot on the stove. Vapers of the oregano and basil wafted through the kitchen and into the dining room thick a fog in a harbor. The mismatched plates and blue plastic cups were arranged neatly on the gingham tablecloth. The silverware placed on Bounty paper towels, and a large wooden bowl of salad completed the modest but appropriate table setting.
A knock on the front door called Thaddeus to open it. Nathan and Bill stood in the doorway while Bill held out a small bouquet of flowers. Carolina patted her chest, “Oh, they are beautiful. Thank you so much. Come in, come in.”
Nathan looked around at the tidy little home. Thaddeus was helping his mother in the kitchen, buttering a long loaf of bread while George and Alice lay on the living room floor like throw rugs, watching a cartoon. Carolina wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist and came to the door.
Instantly upon looking at Nathan, her eyes welled up with tears, “I can’t even begin to thank you for all you have done for us.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed.
“You look amazing,” he said as she let him go again. “I am so happy for you. Thaddeus is a good kid and he needed his mother back, and I think you needed to be back too. You have a beautiful family here.”
“She sniffed and fluffed her hair, “I must look a wreck.”
“Not at all.” Bill said.
“You look beautiful Mom.” Thaddeus added.
“Thank you Honey.” She said and rushed back to the stove. “You boys take seats wherever you want. Come on kids, go wash up for dinner.” She called to her little throw rugs.
Soon they were all setting at the table with a huge bowl of spaghetti and two feet of steaming buttered garlic bread.
“Pastor will you say grace?” Carolina asked.
They all bowed their heads and Bill blessed the meal and the home and family. When he finished it became quite evident that the mountain of pasta and sauce was no match for three hungry kids, two hungry men and a sober mother. There was very little conversation at first as the six of them ate. But after seconds, and in the case of Thaddeus and Bill thirds, Nathan remarked, “Carol, this is fantastic.”
“Carolina.” She amended with subtle pride, “Carol is the old me. And thank you, I’m glad you like it.”
They relaxed and began to talk more; Bill and Nathan talked about the new youth group, Carolina talked about her recovery, Thaddeus talked about the ladies that came by and George and Alice talked about the cartoon they were watching.
When the meal concluded, Bill and Nathan took their dishes to the sink and began to fill the sink with hot soapy water to wash them in. Carolina shoed them out of her kitchen. They complimented the meal once more and decided to conclude the visit. On the way home, Nathan remarked on how good Carolina was doing and the kids too.
“We need to give her all the support that we can. She’s pretty happy now but life will settle back in and that’s when the problems start again.”
They made it back to Nathan’s house and Bill dropped him off. Then he went into his office to check his email – a coupon for new, triple pane windows – he went upstairs, got changed, and climbed in bed. The day had vanished and he was dumbfounded at how quickly the day had gone by, even though, for the most part it was a good day. The day was over now, and he was grateful for that.
A Glimpse Of Tomorrow Page 26
