What can make me feel this way?

 

Alfie was not going to change Boone's mind. If this was what Maddie wanted, well...it was going to happen.

He snapped the little box closed. He knew her ring size. He got the engagement ring at the local jeweler's on main street. In fact, she had pointed to it the time they went in. He knew that smile. It made him smile too.

"Maybe if you wait a year," Alfie had said while they were out Christmas shopping. They mainly shopped for Boone's adopted mother and their Dad. Alfie had several little things to get Zoey, mostly on her wish list which weren't that expensive, like bath towels, body wash, fuzzy slippers and pajamas. He'd gotten them both red sweatshirts donning "My Merry Era." Seriously, Boone thought his brother was a little silly, but he guessed it was a silly time of year. 

"I don't want to," He felt sad about saying this, but happy too. He knew they were happy together.  He wanted to keep it that way.

"But you haven't even slept together," Alfie pointed out that had to be a big factor in all this.

"Oh, God..do you have to bring that up?" Boone pouted about Alfie's observation. After all they were in the middle of ROSS when Alfie said that. Although, no one seemed to notice. "It'll be fine."

"What if it isn't?" Alfie persisted.

Boone had sighed then. It was the noble thing to do, he kept telling himself. He didn't want a long engagement, but he wouldn't tell his brother this.

"Oh, I don't know what to tell you," Oliver's dad squinted hard as he carried Carrie through the department store. Neither had done much shopping, other than finding everything Carrie wanted for Christmas which was weeks ago.

"It might not be that bad, if..if you know, you did have someone extra around the place," his dad Ed told him about the Gabby matter.

"Dad, she only has a one bedroom place. That would mean, we..we would be sleeping together."

Oliver looked at him wide-eyed. Carrie glared at him with a round pout as if she didn't like what he was saying.

"I'll sleep with Daddy. She can have my room." 

Carrie's answer only made Oliver's eyes roll. Now he was giving Carrie a pout. His father shook his head. He recalled how he slept in a the basement until winter set in when he moved in with Oliver's adoptive mother Betty. "Winter is a good time to sleep together."

His dad sounded rather Indigenous or was he just a pagon, after all. Of course, he couldn't find a thing for Betty. Oliver reached for the beautiful electric blanket and put it in the cart. He soon found her favorite chocolates and the perfume she liked. These were things his dad paid no attention too.  Oliver felt so down and out, but he reached for his phone to text Gabby. He wanted to know these things about her.

Love you most

 "I'm sorry about things with your mother," Betty decided maybe it was best for Brick to stay at her house. Things were not getting better with his mom. "I know it's my fault. I know I didn't do a thing right with her when she was growing up."

Betty went to make him his favorite. Waffles.

"Stop blaming yourself," Brick told her he didn't think her manic depression meds were working.  After all, the pandemic made things hard for his mom. She worked from home and carrying for two toddlers wasn't easy for her. Especially, when she didn't do that much with him as a toddler. Betty had raised him then.

"So technically you're my mom." Brick gave her a look from the kitchen table in her warm kitchen on this cold and snowy winter morning that she better get used to this fact.

Betty pressed her lips tight not sure she could top that. She went on whipping up the batter and continued with breakfast.

"Well, I didn't have parents growing up. I was shuffled around from one Aunt to the other. Sometimes, I wonder if I lived with my family at all," she winced remembering she'd felt more like the help than anything else. "When I was sixteen I got pregnant with your mother. And there were lots of good intentions. I lived with your mother's father's people. But they didn't like me and when he was killed in a street racing accident in front of the school, they blamed me. So maybe that's where it started. I never had the family I thought I would have."

She took a deep breath. It was so long ago now, she wasn't sure she even believed that story. She didn't want to worry herself now that any of it was her fault. But after all this time, she didn't even have a picture of Brick's grandfather.  After all, selfies weren't invented then and she didn't even have a picture of the two of them together.

"I've been almost married a lot of times since then, but there were wars, careers on the line that killed them. I have the worst luck," she told him.

"Not anymore. Not with Ed," Brick smiled. 

"Well, that was an accident," she shrugged. Of course, Ed looked over the newspaper he was reading and cleared his throat.

"See, best not to plan anything," Brick nodded.

Betty couldn't help but have an open smile. "Remember, though, you need to spend some weekends at home and help out anytime you can with your baby sisters."

"I know." He poured syrup all over the waffles and bacon that she brought him.

She knew he was a good kid. He'd practically raised his mom all these years, but she knew Tiffany wouldn't dare admit it.

sorry not sorry

 Omaha guessed it was the worst idea ever, but there were people on his block who were practically family. And having Thanksgiving was the tradition. But this year they were short quite a few. Thankfully, Ed and Betty with her grandson Brick came and of course, Minnie and her girls.

It was kind of odd. His wife Sheena wouldn't join them. She stayed home. And he knew the moment he got home she would ask him to toss his clothes in the washing machine and shower. She was quite sure he didn't wash his hands enough. 

And it did frighten him, Minnie's husband Josh was in the hospital with COVID. No one knew much. Minnie wasn't her noisy self. Usually, she always found something to laugh about, but he understood. It was a pandemic. And Thanksgiving.

Soon enough, Thanksgiving was leftovers and as he was cleaning up he asked Brick if he wouldn't mind following Minnie home.

"You mean, like carry her stuff home for her?" Brick asked.

"No, just follow her home, don't let her know," he told him Minnie was quite efficient when it came to being on her own.

"You mean spying?" Brick's eyes lit.

Omaha only nodded. "You let me know, if anyone is there. Listen for voices." He didn't tell him that Minnie was one to get into shouting matches easily. This was a girl from the Rez maybe that was where her loud mouth came from.

Brick did as he instructed.

Omaha went ahead I loaded up his stuff and headed home. Before he could even think about getting a shower, Brick was at his doorstep.

"Yeap, there's a man there," Brick told him Minnie was talking to someone in the kitchen. He could see the man was dark and while Minnie was somewhat serious, the guy kept laughing at her.

Omaha had an idea he knew who was visiting. He'd never liked Jay from the get-go. How many times had he told Minnie not to have anything to do with him? But she kept insisting he was an old friend and he needed help. This was what she'd said last year.

"Thanks, bro," Omaha reached in his pocket and pulled out a twenty. "Thanks for the trouble."

"I..I really shouldn't," Brick smiled, but the money was in his hands.

"Yes, you should," Omaha nodded wondering what he should do next. 

Brick only smiled back and said if he needed him for anymore spying he was up for it.

the long hot summer

What a week it had been of protests. Ed was hoping the one last Sunday by the police station would have been enough for Betty. It was peaceful and nice in their own little community. Of course, she was the only white woman there in her mask with a sign I HAVE A BLACK SON. But others found her with the same issue.

Of course, her only biological son Dewey was busy mowing neighbors' lawns. He and his wife Angie still lived in the basement and they were both far from the maddening crowd.

Naturally, Betty met lots of people to chat with. And Ed thought it would be over, but the following days she wanted to go where the real protest was happening in the heart of the city. He couldn't talk her out of it. She didn't care about Covid-19. She'd been trying for weeks to get a test through the state online site, but it hadn't happened yet.

Right now was more important she said. She was emotional about it. She would hate for anything awful to happen to Dewey. Didn't Ed understand?

He hated to tell her he thought the world was going crazy. But he took her where ever she wanted to go since he had nothing better to do, yet he was anxious in the crowds. She was vulnerable, and whatever she might be sick with he would be too. True, he understood it was an emotional time and he understood how people felt, but he wanted to go home.

"I just don't know what to do," he said to Dewey who hadn't even brought up the protest. He was busy making pizza for supper.

"I don't know either," Dewey shrugged. "But one thing for sure, I know you love her. I never met a man who could love her this much. If it was one of her old boyfriends, he'd be long gone by now."
Dewey smiled. "She'll come to her senses."

"Oh, My God!" Ed heard Betty from the livingroom. He hurried to find out where she would want to go to next.

"What?" He looked at her blankly as she was reading the thin newspaper.

"Have you seen the price of meat?" She scowled.

He couldn't help but smile as he listened to her talk about how they were staying home for good. They'd done far too much protesting. They'd have to live on beans and rice for the rest of the summer and maybe far into the fall with the looks of the economy.

one of these days

It was getting colder. Winter was back. As it was, the snow was to the north and moving east. Perhaps it would be a mild winter. Not like last January when there was snow on the ground and wind chills below zero. Still, as far as Betty could sum it up, everyone was going to hell in a handbag these days.

If wasn't the thought of war, it was wildfires, earthquakes and other disasters just waiting to happen, especially what was happening in China. Still, Betty was certain she was safe in her warm home, even if it hadn't always been that way. She felt lucky now.

After all, she was a married woman, a grandma in fact. What else could she want?

"Well, a cruise would be nice," Ed smiled at her before he sipped his black coffee. "Even Florida would do."

"Yeah, well," they didn't have her friend to stay with. It wasn't like they were exactly rich. Her best friend Doris wasn't going this year. She'd had a setback and was staying with her son and his family in Iowa. Betty shivered, thinking Doris was the best friend she ever had. They didn't travel all that much together, but it was good conversation and maybe some cooking or crocheting, even a jigsaw puzzle kept them busy.

She'd learned a lot about her friend over the years. Of course, she'd envied her a lot too, until she realized what an unhappy life Doris had spent with an unfaithful husband who was now in a home for his dementia.

Just thinking of Doris' husband made Betty feel she might be coming down with something. She remembered the strokes he'd been through. It made her restless to think it could happen to herself.

She took a sip of her creamed coffee. Next thing, she went and dumped it in the sink.

"What's the matter?" Ed wanted to know, looking over the newspaper at the dining table.

"Nothing." Betty put her hands on her hip. Yes, it was January. It would be a dry January she decided. No sugar. No flour. Christmas was over. It was time to have more vegetables in their meals. It was definitely time to turn over a new leaf.

Here's to us

Another  Thanksgiving with the family and Betty still found herself in the wonder of it all. There was a time when she didn't have a family yet did her best to fit in with another family.

She was the one who worked on the mashed potatoes and green bean casseroles, keeping quiet. In those days, it was best to be seen but not heard. It was a lifetime ago now. Now she was the matriarch of the family.

There was her grandson Brick by her side helping her every step of the way during dinner. Perhaps the dinner was a little smaller this year without her daughter Brit and her crew. But there was her youngest Dewey and adopted son Ollie with their significant others along with Dewey's sister and her family. And of course, Brick's mom with her new husband Gordy and her family.

After all this time, she actually had her own husband in the house, Ed. Yes, she'd always felt broken until now. This was the present. The future. Nothing wayward wondering where she belonged. This was her holiday of celebrating the present.

Still, she felt a bit sad, but not really. This was her life and the past couldn't change it, even if it tried.

Those summer days

The Fourth was coming and Betty learned from Omaha he couldn't handle the smoking and the grilling this time around cause the baby was here and everything had changed. Of course, she got Ed to man the grills and Ollie and her son Dewey were helping. Still, she knew Omaha was put off by it. He didn't like anything about there grilling possibilities.

"Can't you just relax?" Betty asked. Omaha was born on the Fourth of July. She talked about how great it would be this year with little Monty.

"I never celebrate my birthday," Omaha assured her.

"Well, we need to change that," Betty gave him a pat on the back. She was certain she could turn her wedding cake recipe into a birthday cake if given a chance. She would make sure there was a big celebration.

Possibly, he'd been more of a son to her than he even knew. "I appreciate everything you've done for us." She told him she felt her girls had been safer going to school with him back in high school."

Omaha gave her a perturbed look. She could see in his eyes he didn't see it that way, with all that had happened to her oldest daughter Tiffany while growing up.

"You just have to stop worrying and enjoy life," Betty wondered how many times she could say it before it sank in. He needed to leave the past behind. This was a new chapter in his life. He had his own family. He needed to make the best of it.

"Don't you worry about a thing," Betty was certain she and Ed and all those still at her house would make this a Fourth of July to be remembered.

winter storm

It snowed again, and Betty found herself thinking of the lonely days of her youth when time was ever so slow. She kept crocheting hoping not to go out into the bitter weather. Although, she hated to let Ed do all the work.

Gordy came by to tell her the news. "We're expecting, again."

Betty smiled at the thought of it. She giggled to herself, wondering who used words like that anymore. She remembered he'd grown up with old people. They'd chatted a bit over coffee. He wouldn't eat anything.

Still, there were so many things she didn't know about her son-in-law. She didn't know how her daughter Tiffany was treating him, either. But he'd left Tiffany in charge of the baby. It was awful cold to bring a baby out in this weather.

She went back to another granny square she was crocheting. She at least knew who she was crocheting for. On second thought, she hadn't made anything for her husband Ed. Although, they shared the same bed and he didn't ask for much.

And to think this was what was on her mind on a snow day. She didn't even go into work.

As soon as Ed got his coffee, she told him they needed to do something together. Enjoy this time together. No, she wasn't thinking about putting a jigsaw puzzle together.

Ed & Betty

Betty was definitely in the Christmas spirit. She made Christmas cookies with the grandkids and decorated the house in every ornament she kept over the years. Everything was coming together, except for Tiffany.

She was gloomy. Even quit her job. Of course, Gordy brought the baby over every night and practically slept here. Naturally, Betty wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Why are you still here?" She finally asked Tiffany. "Can't you stay at your own house?"

Betty went through a list of all the good things in Tiffany's life.

1. She was married to a good man with a good job.
2. They were blessed with a beautiful baby girl.
3. Her oldest son Brick loved his new Dad.

Tiffany sputtered about, but what it amounted to was the thought that Tiffany didn't deserve such a good life.

Of course, Tiffany went into a rant about how bad she'd been since she was born.

"You didn't even marry my father." Tiffany's grim reality only made Betty laugh.

"Well, those were just very long engagements, back then." Betty shook her head with a grin. "As if that would have made a difference," Betty explained to her that some people just weren't meant to be together. But then she told her she was a lot like her father. "He probably wouldn't have liked you anyway."

Betty told her she was looking for ways not to be happy. "All you have to do is be happy. Be happy that Gordy is here, not off fighting some war." After all, that was how they lost Tiffany's father. Betty knew she might have been the brunt of all of Tiffany's pain.

"But we love you. It's your turn to show your love to your own kids." Betty knew she had been slammed with so much over the years that she hardly got by. Betty certainly wouldn't want to do it all over again.

After all, she was becoming frail herself. Betty couldn't pick up the slack like she used too. Even her heartbeat wasn't as steady as she was used too. Her joints ached. Some days, she wasn't sure she could get out of bed.

Didn't Tiffany know? Time waited for no one.

Omaha & Sheena

Someone told Omaha at work that the holidays were only for the kids in the family. He didn't quite believe them but would hate for that to be so. Would it be lonely in the future if he and Sheena didn't have children?

At least there was Minnie and Josh and their clan to help celebrate Thanksgiving and to get a good start on Christmas, decorating the house and making gingerbread cookies. Perhaps they weren't like other families, but he was glad Minnie hadn't stayed with his cousin. He liked Josh and learned a lot from him, just from watching him with the girls.

The next day he even stayed with Josh and the girls while Minnie and Sheena went thrifting. Yes, Minnie wasn't one who was out to consume too much. Still, it gave Sheena a chance to catch up with her friend who was busy with college courses and her family.

He hated to think it, but Josh was probably his best friend these days. He'd lost touch with Taylor. Even so, Taylor did call him Thanksgiving night and they had a good heart to heart which did make Omaha feel better about his friendships, after all.

There were Ed and Betty who were like an extended family, and he'd gotten to know more of the neighborhood these days. It was good to feel tight with those around him. Honestly, he'd never expected to have this feeling. It was then he truly knew the meaning of a tribe. Looking out for each other and celebrating each other's happiness helped him know he truly had loved ones around him.

a heart like this

"Were you thinking you would always fall for an older woman?" Brick found himself asking Matty. He smiled thinking of his Gran Betty with Ed. They were nowhere the same age and yet it worked. They were fun to be with, even if they argued half the time.

He looked back at Matty, giving him a shrug about Dakota. Sure, he knew her. She was just a kid, after all. He and Matty were middle schoolers. "Look, you don't have to be alone with her." He told him they could hang out with him and Lily for Halloween. They always found plenty of candy on Halloween night.

Matty only gritted a stressed smile as he got his books for the next class at his locker.

"Girls." Brick shook his head, thinking his mom had to be the worst when it came to immaturity. Lily was a lot more level-headed, but she still like singing and dancing even outdoors. If only, his mom had that kind of immaturity. Instead, she was like a still painting. Just letting the new baby cry.

Of course, he nor his new dad Gordy could let that happen. Both were used to staying up late nights with Baby Beth. His mom didn't even work, and they still did most of the midnight stuff. It was as if she wanted them to suffer, just as much.

But he liked being a big brother. Still, in the back of his mind, he worried his mother might leave them. He was used to these notions. This time, it would be devastating. He wasn't sure he would be able to keep it together.

Yes, he could understand that Matty had his troubles with an annoying preteen girl. Yet Brick knew he needed to keep it together. He wanted an honest to God family, too. Still, there was no magic to mend these sort of things. It would take work, maybe even sour words to keep his mom from going off the deep end. It was something he couldn't figure out, but if he could be a friend Matty needed he would be there and so would Lily.

Let's pretend

Omaha felt he was definitely in a new chapter of his life. Still, being Ed's best man was the last thing he thought would be happening. Reluctantly, he took his place. Honestly, he had Sheena to thank for that. She reminded him what all Ed and Betty had done for them, from moving into the neighborhood and more.

Still, he wasn't so sure he was that excited about it, especially with thunderstorms lurking. But all went well and he got to see most of the folks on his block and then some.

Yet, he was hoping Taylor and his family might show up. But they didn't. Of course, Taylor was too busy to be at Omaha's wedding. Omaha tried his best not to be moody about it. But he hated to lose his old friend.

"You haven't lost him." Sheena reminded him that they still text each other. Taylor did call occasionally. But getting together seemed impossible this summer. Omaha felt he needed Taylor like family. After all, they'd been roommates, not that long ago.

As life is, it evolves when least expected.

if you see the wonder

"I had a dream," Ed started to tell Omaha it turned into a nightmare. Perhaps, it was Omaha getting married that started the whole thing. Still, he awoke in a sweat thinking what would really happen if something did happen to Betty.

Now he felt, Omaha would think he was crazy. "I-I have always wanted a family." He didn't mean to sound pitiful about it. "When Ollie was born, I didn't know what to do. I was young and..and his mother was." He hated to think of the ugly thought of what happened to her after he was born. "Anyway, I was left with him and I knew he wouldn't have a very good life with me. I was hoping, he would find a family, but he never did."

Ed pressed his lips tight, wondering if he'd envied Ollie after all when he found Betty. But then he reminded himself, he was the one who found Betty for him, to take Ollie in.

He shook his head, thinking that wasn't even what he was after at the time. Evidently, Betty never met a stranger she didn't like. She'd been kind to Ed. And he couldn't look back now. It was time to go forward and be the man he should be. After all, Omaha was his best man at this small affair, down at the park by the river.

Betty's children were here and so was Ollie and his girlfriend.  It might have been a potluck to others, maybe a family picnic, but he was marrying Betty today.

always family

It was good to feel home. Betty was happy for Ollie to call her place home. Of course, she'd never expected to be a new mother again.

Finally, her youngest son Dewey was coming around to accept his adopted brother which came along Ollie's father too, Ed.

"Are you ever gonna get married?" Dewey asked.

Of course, Betty told him he might jinx it. She was OK, being a single mom. Naturally, she reminded him she'd always intended to be married, yet it seems those were very long engagements that never went anywhere.

But it was different this time. She wasn't waiting, all alone for some destination in the name of marriage.

Ed was right here in her life. And he was her best friend. Even if she never spoke of it.

"Well, if you're Ollie's guardian, then I want to be your guardian," Ed spoke about their situation with  Dewey in earshot. "Maybe the time is now for us to get married."

Possibly, it wasn't the most romantic proposal Betty ever got (and she did remember the romantic ones, but it never amounted to anything.) Betty only smiled. She was afraid to ask him if he was serious. But he wanted to apply for a marriage license the next day.

Maybe her streak of bad luck was over. Maybe she'd be married before Labor Day.

those were the days

As always, Linda was right and Betty was wrong. It must have been written in a book somewhere that neither could erase. It felt like a curse somehow.

Actually, it had been years since Betty had seen her cousin. The perfect cousin. The one who was a cheerleader all four years of high school. The one who dated the quarterback. The one who managed to marry into a rich family and never went to college.

"You mean, you're broke now?" Betty didn't want to be any help to her. So Linda's perfect marriage was loveless now. Her son was a lawyer and had moved to New York City. He wouldn't have anything to do with her.

Sure, Linda told her first thing all the things Betty was doing wrong. It was the same old thing. Oh, she could do better. Why wasn't she?

But Betty's home was paid for. She had the same job over thirty years. Something had to be going right. Evidently. Betty kept her mouth tight. It was so hard not letting her cousin get the best of her. She'd always been in Linda's shadow. Now it was different. And Linda didn't like it. She didn't like Ed. She thought Betty was crazy for wanting to adopt Ollie.

Betty could barely hear herself think, but she went on with her daily chores. She slept with Ed. Suddenly, she realized she was smiling like he was. And it felt good to be happy, after all this time.

"Well, maybe you need to just down-size." Really, Betty couldn't help Linda with her problems. Not once had Linda helped her with any of her struggles in the past. Not that she'd asked anything of the relative she grew up with. Linda could always go home to her mother.

Still, she could see Linda hated to return to the place she grew up. Still, Betty didn't let her stay. After all, Betty had a full house. Linda wasn't fond of the noise and no one to wait on her. At least, she left on her own.

It's like this

"You are in over your head." Omaha couldn't help but smirk when Ed told him about Betty and their unwanted guest. Funny, how Betty's man was becoming his best friend. Taylor was too busy with work and with his son.

"It doesn't matter." Ed shrugged. "Can't think anywhere else I'd rather be."

They'd hung out a good part of the afternoon buying ribs to smoke and a brisket too. It seemed everyone was coming to this party of his. Except, Taylor, of course.

But Mini and her bunch would be there, it felt a bit like family. Of course, Sheena invited Kevin and Xander's family. He knew he could make enough to feed everybody. There would be a pot of beans and Betty said she'd make the potato salad.

"So I guess you must really love her." Omaha nodded, remembering she'd always been alone. Sure she talked up a storm when she was with the fellow or that police officer. "I always thought she had a thing for men in uniform." He couldn't help but try to hold in a laugh. "But you better be good to her." He looked Ed in the eye.

"Well, you do the same," Ed told him he better do whatever Sheen asked of him.

Omaha sighed. "We, I think she's thinking of September to get married. I want to do it August." Of course, he wanted to go to the beach and get married in his swimming trunks. "But she's not happy about that." He shrugged. "I don't know if I'd go for a church, either. Maybe, we'll get married in Betty's backyard." He grinned. He guessed Ed didn't know that Betty was certified to perform weddings.

all in the family

Ed could tell this was not going to be an easy 4th. There was the arrival of Betty's so-called sister that threw everything off.

"You didn't even know she was coming?" He looked at her blankly, but he'd figured out as much that it was a low blow to her emotions. She shook her head no.

"How long has it been since you've seen her?" Here he was thinking about ribs and steaks and going to the meat market with Omaha. Honestly, he didn't even know there was a meat market in this area. They planned to take a trip to Missouri too. Just to look at the fireworks. He hated to leave Betty now.

"Decades." She finally managed to say. She told him Linda was married to wealth and she hadn't seen her since her wedding back in the late 70's.

"Well? Did-Did you say anything about me?" He didn't mean to be selfish, but he really didn't want to be the butt of rude jokes either. He'd seen the woman's snooty looks. But she didn't look all that up scale. He thought on it for a moment. Not even wanting to hear Betty's answer. "Maybe -maybe she's changed."

Ed remained even lipped, wishing she was going on this shopping trip with him in Omaha. He was certain Betty would fall apart.

"Call the girls." He knew her daughters need to buffer the situation if they got in a heated argument about the past. Betty's bestie Doris was off in Iowa spending the 4th with her older son and his family. "I don't want you being alone with her."

He gave her a hug and then he kissed her as if it were the right thing to do. Of course, Linda showed up in the kitchen then.

He tucked Betty under his shoulder and could see clearly what the woman thought. He was just the help, wasn't he?

"I'll be back, shortly." He informed her. "Try to be nice to each other." His smile was open, but he left it at that after giving Betty one more kiss.

and then

Ed thought about what Omaha had said about wanting a family. It was true, he felt as if he'd finally found a family with Betty. He was now part of his son's life. He was working and he had a place to come home too. He still wondered how he got so lucky. And it was on the tip of his tongue, the question he wanted to ask Betty when she told him she'd made a decision.

"I want to adopt Ollie." She announced while she was pouring him a cup of decaf coffee.

He didn't know what to say. He was shocked, but he didn't want her to know, or did he?

At first, he said nothing. He wasn't even sure he could talk. He knew she was serious. Actually, he liked the idea of Ollie being adopted. He'd always wanted that for him.

Funny, how he'd hoped all those years ago that his son would be an adopted heir and have everything given to him. Honestly, he could now see he was glad that didn't happen. It was a silly wish. Still, he wanted Ollie to have a better life than he did. Yet, he felt a little jealous now.

"What about me?" He finally asked.

Her smile was sly and she laughed softly.

"I knew you would ask that." She told him he could stay as long as he liked. Nothing had really changed.

"But, what if it's indefinitely?" He asked.

"Are you sure you know the definition of that?" Betty crossed her arms and looked at him out of the corner of her sharp eyes. She reminded him of how he liked to travel. Didn't he have places he wanted to go?

"When did I say I wanted to go anywhere?" It was hard to look her in the eye.

"Oh, I dunno. When it's too cold or the humidity is too high." She shrugged.

"No place is perfect." He told her he couldn't think of anywhere else he really wanted to be. He wanted to be wherever she and Ollie were.

the long hot summer

Omaha really didn't want to admit it, but he might be the most selfish person on earth. And a wee bit jealous to anyone Sheena might know.

"Why am I like this?" He finally confessed to his neighbor Ed who had come down to see how bad his roof looked, after the storm.

"Because you're human." Ed shrugged.

"But I should be married and..and I don't know, why..why haven't we gotten married?" It pained Omaha to even talk about it. "I just wish I could get it done."

"That's something for you and Sheena to decide." Ed shrugged helping himself to a beer in Omaha's fridge. "Marriage, isn't for everybody," Ed admitted he'd never tied the knot and he didn't think Betty had ever married, either, even if she'd been engaged several times.

"You know, its kind of like dying." He told Omaha.

Omaha squinted hard, thinking that was the worst thing he'd ever heard.

"You know, the single life coming to an end," Ed said he still had time to make up his mind. But Omaha wasn't so sure of that.

"I..I think it's that..I don't want to spend the money, you know." Omaha winced. "I wish I could, but I just don't see why we have to spend so much money on a wedding."

"But, it would be nice to celebrate it." Ed looked at him as if he needed to spend a little money.

Omaha was beginning to think this was making him sick, but he would hate to wake up and find that Sheena had given up on him. He really wanted her to be his family because he didn't have one.

trying to keep cool

How had it come to this? June was no ordinary month, to begin with as hot summer days grew longer. But the storm had been so unexpected. Especially, to happen right after getting home from the weekend trip to Adventureland.

"See, this is what happens when you leave them in the basement," Ed told her the night they walked in on Angie and Dewey in the dark. Those two had no idea there was even a storm.

She knew her son wasn't a little boy anymore, but Betty didn't want to know everything going on with those two. Naturally, she'd played dumb. Now, she wanted to avoid Angie at all cost.

"Look, it wasn't like you were exactly a monster," Ed said they were all scared, at the time. No one knew they'd have to stay all together, hours on end in the basement.

Betty still thought she could be. It was all so sad. Things were not like they used to be. Of course, she was sure Dewey was happy to be with Angie. Since Angie didn't have a family now, they were her family and she so wanted to include her, yet she wasn't certain if she could. Besides, the aftermath of the storm kept Betty busy and in a sweat.

Thankfully, Ed and even Omaha helped get the trees out of the backyard. It was amazing she hadn't had a monster of a bill to deal with.

She hope July would be better, and she would be used to Angie and Dewey together. And she hoped she would never walk in on those two while having an intimate moment.