Birdie jumped up and down, her hands clasped under her chin.
Cassie threw her arms up in resignation. “It’s worth a try. Nothing else has worked today.”
Birdie clapped, then held up her picture to show them.
“Very pretty,” Anna said. “Those look like sunflowers.”
Birdie nodded vigorously as Cassie peered down at the drawing. “This is really nice, Birdie.” Cassie traced her finger around one of the dozens of sunflowers that filled the page. In the center, two long haired stick figures held hands. Birdie added a few small flowers to their hair, then threw down her crayon and ran to put on her shoes.
“Seems like she’s ready,” Cassie said. “Why don’t you go now, and I’ll put the groceries away?”
“Great!” Anna said. She grabbed Harvey’s leash. “Come on, Birdie.”
Birdie pulled on her shoes as Cassie began unpacking the bags.
“Pretty random assortment, Mom,” Cassie said as she pulled out a second container of baby spinach leaves and a package of beef bones. “I hope you’re coming over to cook all this stuff.”
“It’s what Bobby wanted,” Anna called out before stepping outside.
Cassie stored most of the food in the fridge and dug around the cabinets until she found the best places to put the macaroni and cheese and granola bars. She thought Bobby would at least have had some sardines or instant rice tucked away for a quick meal, but the cabinets were surprisingly bare.
She had everything put away and a kettle of water on for tea when Birdie and Anna returned.
“You’ll never guess who we ran into down the street,” Anna said. “Nick!”
“Who’s Nick?” Cassie kissed Birdie on the cheek. “Go lay in your bed. I’ll come check on you in a little bit, okay?”
“You know, Nick. Mrs. Koval’s grandson. From the hospital?”
Cassie set the box of teabags on the table. “Oh. Him. I’m having tea. Want some?”
“Sure,” Anna said as she sat down. “Well, remember we thought it was a bit weird how eager he was to help with Bobby?”
“Yeah. I haven’t seen him.” Cassie poured hot water into two mugs and set them on the table. “Though the newspaper was on the front porch mat this morning. Perfectly centered.”
“Probably him,” Anna said with a nod as she selected a teabag and dunked it. “Anyway, I really like him.”
“That’s quite a turnaround from, ‘keep an eye on him.’” Cassie made air quotes with her fingers.
“I know,” Anna said. “But Birdie and I saw him working in his front yard at the end of the block, and get this: he was planting hollyhock bulbs.”
“So?” Cassie shrugged as she took a seat.
“For his grandma.” Anna sat back smugly, as if this explained everything.
“His dead grandma?”
Anna nodded, grinning.
“You are inordinately happy about this. What’s the big deal? Are you sure you feel all right?” She rested the back of her hand against her mother’s forehead. “You’re not warm.”
Anna laughed and pushed her away. “I’m fine. My point is, not many men often think about their grandmothers, let alone plant flower bulbs in their yards to commemorate them. He’s a good guy.”
“So, you’re basing your entire assessment on the fact that he’s planting flowers?” Cassie raised an eyebrow at her mother as she dropped a teabag into her mug.
“For his dead grandmother!” Anna leaned forward. “That’s the crucial factor. Anyway, we stopped and chatted for a few minutes, Birdie hiding behind my legs, of course, and he really is a nice guy. He said he’ll keep an eye out for you guys around the neighborhood.”
“Now he’s keeping an eye on me?” Cassie shook her head. “You really know how to do a total one-eighty, Mom.”
Anna smiled. “Someday, you’ll see what I mean. It’s the little things you look for in a man, Cassie. They can tell you so much. And this is one of those little things.”
“I’m not looking for anything in a man.” Cassie glared at her mother.
“I know that.” Anna blew on her tea. “He asked about you.”
“What? Why?” Cassie’s face flushed, and she dropped her head to hide it from her mom.
“He must have noticed your wedding ring.” Anna tapped the plain gold band on Cassie’s finger. “He asked when your husband would be joining you.”