Angel Falls (Angel Falls Series, #1), Babette Jongh [books for 6 year olds to read themselves .TXT] 📗

He shrugged and picked up a chicken leg, studying it without enthusiasm. “Okay.”

As I threaded through the crowded rooms, sad, subdued voices hummed around me like clouds of invisible smoke. I found Ben in the kitchen, leaning against the counter nursing a cup of iced tea while his mother and mother-in-law bustled around him. He seemed to be hiding out, and my hopes rose that he might take pity on Jake.

“Ben, can I talk to you for a minute?”

He looked up. “Yeah, sure.”

“Casey, hi.” Ben’s mom, Irene, put gentle arms around me. “I didn’t realize you were here.”

“I’ve been in the living room.”

“Thank you for coming.” She hugged me for a long time. “I was so glad when Ben told me that you’re staying in Angel Falls. It makes me feel a little better about John and me being all the way up in Birmingham.”

Mel’s mom, Lois, came up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. “We’re all so thankful you’re here for this family in their time of need.” Lois always sounded like an itinerant preacher, the way she worded things.

“Mom, Lois,” Ben interrupted, “I think Casey wants to talk to me about something.” The kitchen door stood open, and he reached past his mom to open the screen door. “Let’s go outside.”

Irene kissed my cheek and turned away. Lois patted my shoulder. “You kids go on.”

As we stepped out into the back yard’s humid September air, I hugged myself against a sudden chill that had nothing to do with the weather.

Here I was, doing exactly what Melody had wanted me to, and it seemed everyone expected it. “Ben.” I cleared my throat and looked away, focusing on the clutch of men who stood near the metal swing set, smoking cigarettes. “Jake wanted me to talk to you. I think he’s had about all he can take of... of...”

“Yeah?” Ben, too, looked toward the circle of men and the cloud of smoke that wreathed their heads. “I can relate.”

“He wants to go to my house. Stay there until everybody goes home.”

“Can I go, too?” He was trying to make a joke, but it fell to the trampled grass beneath our feet. He watched it fall and kept his eyes on the ground. “It’s probably best that he isn’t alone right now.” The sounds of family and friends talking tumbled through the open kitchen door. “Isn’t that why they do this when someone...” He swallowed audibly, “when someone dies?”

“I want to come through for Jake.” I wanted to feel I’d been able to help at least one of them make it through this horrible day. Not because of my guilt, or my sadness, or because of the promise I’d made to Melody, but because I loved Ben’s kids. In a different world, they would have been mine, too. “What if we take him to my parent’s house when we leave? Lizzie will be there. You know how much Jake loves Lizzie.”

Ben’s head came up, and his shoulders relaxed, just a fraction. I pressed my advantage.

“He could hang out by the pool, talk to me or my parents... Maybe he needs a little quiet time, a dog to cuddle, somebody to talk to without the crowd around. I’ll bring him back after dinner, on my way home.”

Ben met my eyes long enough for me to watch him make his decision, then gave a brief nod of agreement. “Okay.”

“Thanks.” I wanted to hug him, but held myself back. We were both holding it together by the skin of our teeth, and the slightest amount of comfort given or received could tear into our hard-won composure.

And then there was the ambiguity of our relationship to each other. Without Melody standing between us, without the jealousy and guilt—and let’s face it, bitterness and resentment—that I had used to build the wall between Ben and me, what were we? Friends? Ex’s? Or something new?

I spoke to my parents, quietly told Jake to get a swimsuit and a change of clothes, then went to find Maryann and Amy to tell them goodbye. Maryann hugged me, sniffing back tears. I stroked her dark hair. “I’ll see you soon, sweet girl,” I whispered. “Call me if you need me. Anytime, day or night. Promise?”

“Promise.” Her voice sounded muffled because her face was pressed against me. Poor girl. I’d have to make a point of taking her out with me to get pedicures, haircuts, and all the other girlie things Melody had done with her. I wasn’t big on girlie things myself, but I could learn.

I found Amy in her room. Ben’s dad was rocking her to sleep. He looked up and put a finger to his lips to signal me to silence. I turned to leave, but in the uncanny way of sleepy three-year-olds, she sensed my presence and turned in her grandpa’s lap so she could see.

She wiggled down and ran to me. “Rock me, Aunt Casey.”

I knelt down in front of her. “Oh, baby, I was just about to leave.”

She clutched the shoulders of my black dress. “You have to stay. Stay with me until my mommy gets back.”

Amy needed me to stay as badly as Jake needed to leave. I looked up at Ben’s dad, who had stood so I could take over rocking-chair-duty. He shrugged an I-can’t-help-you shrug.

“Okay, Amy. I’ll stay.”

“Good.” Amy took my hand and pulled me toward the rocker. “You rock me now.”

Ben’s dad turned to leave; I caught his eye. “Tell my folks and Jake to go on without me. Daddy can come pick me up later.”

He nodded then closed the door softly behind him.

I cradled Amy in my good arm and rocked until she fell asleep, then kept on rocking until my arm fell asleep, too. My bruised-not-broken bone wasn’t up to lifting Amy. Even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to transfer her to her toddler bed. If I called out for help, she’d wake up, so I held her