Hello July

Drew decided he'd fry up some chicken nuggets for the girls, of course. He'd seasoned up the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Honestly, he was going for his grandmother's German recipe. She always did know a thing or two about being a short order cook. He smiled thinking about her. He guessed no one would think it to be so, but his childhood memories were full of a woman with a German accent who always felt she needed to fatten him up with her fried foods and pastries.

So he fried up the dredged meat and packed it up for a picnic. Hopefully, he wasn't too late, as he went to Ellie's. But she was home alone.

"Where are Zoe and Chloe?" He asked. She slowly told him they were with their Dad.

"He's here already?" Drew winced as he made it through the front door and then to the kitchen with his picnic basket. "I thought, it was later this month."

She shook her head, no, as if she didn't have much to say.

"Well, I made something." He would go on, getting out the mashed potatoes and the green beans along with a carrot salad. He was sure she needed to eat something.

She watched him in the kitchen doorway, leaning and hugging herself as if she might be sick. He'd never seen her so sad.

"It'll be OK." However, he knew no wine tonight, just lemonade from her fridge door. He talked of his German grandmother then. "She always made these vegetable gravies. My mom never figured it out. People probably don't cook the way she did, anymore. But she somehow could make do with whatever was in the fridge. Only, she really liked going grocery shopping every day. She never bought a lot, but her fruit and veg were always fresh." He mentioned there was a farmer's market tonight at the park. "We should go, after dinner."

He knew she wouldn't say anything. It was as if she needed to stand still until the girls came home.

Finally, Drew managed to get her to the dining table to sit. He even made a paper plate of food for her. "You know, you have to eat. Keep up your strength."

But she looked as if she were about to cry. Drew couldn't smile. This might be the saddest first date he'd ever been on. Still, he'd wait. Maybe if she talked about it, she would feel better.