Of course, she knew what he would choose. He couldn’t stay with her. How could he? How could he want to?
Kensat back in his chair with his feet propped up on the porch railing. Honestly, he just bided his time until he could go to Daisy’s in the morning. When he heard the crunch of tires on the gravel, he opened his eyes and watched his mom park next to his truck.
She crossed the yard toward him, carrying a thermos. He knew without being told that the thermos contained homemade chicken soup. “Your father told me you called in sick to work today.”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, I have soup here for you. But you don’t look very sick to me.”
“No, ma’am.”
“And I called you, but you did not answer. Since you’ve never taken even one sick day in your entire career, in full disclosure, I really came out to see if you were still alive.”
“I’m alive.” He chuckled and lowered his feet to the ground. “I promised Daisy I’d take the day and think about something she told me. So, I’m keeping my word.”
His mom nodded and sat on the chair next to him. She wore a pair of pink Capri pants and a white blouse with pink flowers on it. She’d pulled her hair up into a ponytail. He thought she did not look old enough to have thirty-two-year-old triplet sons. “I see. Is there anything I can do?”
He didn’t know what to say. How did words come out that would make sense? “Daisy’s pregnant.”
“Ken!” Her mouth fell open. “I’m sorry. I just had this conversation with your brother. I don’t…”
She looked elated and disappointed at the same time. He imagined only a mother’s face could make that particular combination of looks. “It’s not mine, Mama.”
Suddenly everything about her changed. She grabbed his hand with both of hers and said, “Oh, honey. What news to hear!”
He looked at the sky and slowly shook his head. “Doesn’t feel bad. It feels like God is ready to do work here.”
She waited, but he didn’t say anything else. Finally, she said, “Do you know…?”
He knew what she meant. Could he name the baby’s father? He shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know his name, and I don’t care. She broke it off with him before me.”
“What are you saying, Ken?”
Words filled his mind. But the right sequence eluded him. He sighed and bowed his head. “I love her, Mama.”
She sat back in her chair. “You’re dating for a month. You find out she’s pregnant by another man. And all you want to say to me is that you love her?”
He looked around the yard and said, “You know, when I bought this property and this shell of a house, my plan all along was to complete this home, then marry Daisy and carry her over this threshold.”
“Oh, Ken.”
“Ask Jon. I told him about it a couple of weeks ago. I knew then that I loved her, that God had made me for her and her for me. But I’m a patient man, and I planned to give everyone the time that people seem to think people need. I was going to wait. Six months, maybe a year. Doesn’t matter to me. Ultimately what would happen was she would be in this house with me as my bride. And this is where we would raise our family.”
After a moment of silence, she said, “I see.” She took a deep breath and let it out in a slow sigh. “And so she’s coming with a ready-made family.”
“Seriously, Mama? Condemnation?” He focused his attention on her. “Okay. If I had met her, and she already had a child of any age out of wedlock, would that have presented a problem for you?”
She shook her head. “There is no problem. No condemnation. I am simply providing you with the words people are going to say to you. And to her. Are you prepared to hear them?” She reached out and took his hand. “I love you, and I trust you. I am not here to judge your feelings. Because I love you and I trust you, that will be transferred to Daisy as well.” She sat back and picked at an imaginary piece of lint on her leg. “I think you need to talk to your father about this.”
“Why?”
“Because his advice would be much better than mine. He’s a man. You’re a man. I doubt he’d play devil’s advocate like I just did.”
“See, the thing is, Mama, I did not ask you for advice in the first place.”
“I know. You think I was being nosy.” She stood and bent, kissing him on the top of his head. “You’re my son. I’m your mama. That’s my prerogative.” She walked away but then turned back and looked at him. “Go talk to your dad.”
AsKen walked out of his house, his dad’s truck pulled up in the driveway. Brilliant orange and yellow dawn had just cracked in the sky, and the birds danced through the trees, singing loudly for all to hear.
