Before they could continue the argument, the front door flew open. Her mother stepped onto the porch and pulled her threadbare robe taut around herwaist.
“What in hell are you two doing out there?” sheasked.
“I brought you some food,”Carolsaid.
“I told you, I don’t need your charity,” hermomsaid.
“It’s not charity. She’s your daughter and she wants to help you,” Hank said as he strolled up to theporch.
“Well, shit. Come in then, but you’re notstaying.”
Carol shot a glance at Hank, who gave her a soft smile. Just that little bit of understanding was enough to melt her heart. He was a good guy. If he didn’t already have a girlfriend, he was going to make some lucky woman reallyhappy.
“What’d you bring?” her momasked.
After Hank set the bag on the counter, Carol started unloading its contents. “I wasn’t sure what you like to eat, so I bought a little of everything. Chili, macaroni and cheese, and frozenpizza.”
“Ovendon’twork.”
“I’ll take that home,” Hank said as he put the pizza box back inthebag.
“What can I make you?” Carolasked.
“Chili mac,” her mom said withouthesitation.
Finally, they were gettingsomewhere.
Carol pulled a pot off the wall and found a matching lid. She filled it with water and set it to boil. She grabbed a second pot, then opened one of thedrawers.
“What do you need?” her momasked.
“A can opener.”And love, and compassion, and information about beingpartbear.
“Here.”
Her mom yanked open a drawer and pulled out a rusty can opener. Thankful that she was up to date on her tetanus shots, Carol took it and proceeded to open thechili.
“What do you do back in New York?” her momasked.
The question came out of nowhere and shocked her for a moment. “I’m a salesperson at a departmentstore.”
“That payprettygood?”
“I’m on commission, but I make enough to pay the bills,”Carolsaid.
“I used to work. Don’t think I laid around here feelin’ sorry for myself. Iworked.”
“What did you do?” Hankasked.
“Use to work in town at the hardware store. Cleaned the guns, kept the stock up. I was doing okay until I gotpregnant.”
The air in the room stilled as if everyone was afraid to breathe. Carol stirred the chili vigorously and checked on the water. It wasn’t quite at a rolling boil yet, but it was close enough. She tore open the box of macaroni and dumped it into thewater.
“I loved your daddy,” hermomsaid.
“You did?” Carol asked as she dropped the spoon into thechilipot.
“Let me get that,” Hank said. As he passed her, he placed his palm on the small ofherback.
