Mind Games

He had to laugh. “You’re a really interesting woman, Thea.”

“Do you think so?” She got out a carton of eggs. “I so like being ordinary.”

An odd goal, he thought. “I don’t think you’re ever going to hit that mark.”

“I keep trying.” She got out a cloth bag. “I’m going to give you some butter.” She pulled a small lidded jar out of the fridge. “You can keep the jar, I have more. Or bring it back if you don’t have use for it.”

“If we bring it back, will more butter go into it?”

“That’s very likely. You should take Bray down to Grammie. He’ll like her dogs, and her ladies, and her cows and goat. I bet she’ll teach him how to milk the goat.”

“Excuse me?” He held up a finger. “She milks a goat?”

“It is a nanny. Grammie uses goat’s milk for different things. And for her soap and candle-making, her lotions and such.”

“She makes soap with goat’s milk.” He said it as if trying out words in a foreign language. “She milks a goat, and makes soap.”

“Mountain Magic, that’s her business. The candle I brought down’s one of hers.”

“It’s great. She made it?”

“Mountain Magic,” Thea said again. “I don’t have any manly sort of soap on hand, but she’ll give you some to try out. Be warned, it’ll turn you into a customer.”

“Seriously interesting women, both of you. And I get another care package. Listen, you’ve already fed us twice, now this. I can cook enough to keep Bray happy, but I don’t think canned pasta and frozen peas compare. Do you like pizza?”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Am I alive and breathing?”

“Looks like. I need a few more days to get to the point where I’m not living in chaos. There’s a pizza place in town—we’ve hit it a couple times. Next time we do, maybe you’d go with us.”

“I’d love it.” She handed him the bag. “I know about chaos. When you need to step out of it, take a walk down to Grammie’s—that always clears mine. Or just a walk in the hills. And you’re always welcome here.”

“I appreciate it.”

“I appreciate the shoulder to cry on when I didn’t know I needed it.”

When they stepped outside, Bray leaped up. “No, Daddy. Stay here.”

“We need to head back, pal.”

Thea produced a cookie Ty hadn’t seen her pick up. “This one’s for the walk home.”

That cleared the sulk.

“Thank you. I’m gonna run! Bye, bye, bye!” And shot off.

“We’re going to run,” Ty said. He jogged after the boy, then half turned. “Oh, by the way, I’ve heard your whistle. Impressive.”

Interesting woman, he thought again, and doing his best to keep the eggs from breaking, ran after his son.

* * *

On this night, she knew he’d come. Grateful for the interlude with man and boy, the moment of kindness and comfort offered, she found everything in her centered.

And focused.

Settled, she took a walk in the hills with Bunk. And planned.

And that night, she took her time preparing for bed, and the conflict to come.