“Well, Ronnie liked it too.” The young woman’s disarming smile caused Susan to return one in kind. “Maria makes absolutely the best stuffing.”
“Yes she does,” the eldest Cartwright agreed. Rose smiled to herself remembering the red box that said ‘Stove Top’ sitting on the counter one evening. She decided to keep the housekeeper’s secret. Besides, she had tried making Stove Top before, when she lived alone, and it never turned out as well as Maria’s.
With the subject off the physical gesture and on to a more familiar topic, Susan visibly relaxed.
“That’s why Ronnie got to keep Maria. She cooks so well, if she worked for me I’d be as big as a house.”
“Sometimes I feel that way too,” Rose said, patting her stomach. Just then John came scampering out into the kitchen.
“Mommy, I want some soda.”
“You need to say please and you have to ask your Aunt Ronnie,” his mother said. He looked over at his tall aunt and repeated his question properly.
“Of course.”
“Aunt Rose, can I sit on your lap?” Startled eyes met his innocent question. “Please?” he added, thinking that was the problem.
“Um well…”
“If Aunt Rose wants to let you sit on her lap, that’s up to her,” Susan said. She looked at Ronnie and nodded.
“Sure, if you want to, that’s fine.” Rose pushed her chair back a bit to give him some room. He quickly climbed up and pulled her arm around his middle to keep from sliding off. “Are your brothers letting you play with them?” she asked in his ear.
“No, they’re no fun to play with,” John pouted.
“Jack’s no better,” Susan said. “I swear the instant that controller gets in his hand his age drops thirty years.” The sounds of boys arguing drew their attention. “I’d better go see what they’re up to before one of them kills the other.” She stood up and held her hand out to her youngest son.
“Come on, John.”
“We’ll be there in a minute,” Ronnie said, standing close to Rose’s chair. Once they were alone, she leaned down for a kiss. “I think Susan’s warming up to you.”
“I don’t know. When you touched me, she looked like she swallowed a bug.”
“But even after that she let John sit on your lap and call you Aunt Rose.”
“Mmm, that’s true.” She allowed Ronnie one more kiss before reaching for her crutches. “Did you call for the pizzas yet?”
“Damn, I knew I forgot something. What did everyone want?”
“Two large mushroom, two supreme, and you wanted your pepperoni and mushroom,” Rose said. Susan’s shrill voice came from the living room. Apparently there was a battle of wills going on between her and her twelve-year-old son, Ricky.
Ronnie shook her head. “I had better get out there Can you call it in for me? It’s three on the speed dial.”
“Sure.” Rose picked up the phone and pressed the button while Ronnie went to prevent World War Three. She got through on the first try and placed the order. She hung up and had just positioned her crutches under her arms when the phone rang. Thinking it was the pizza place calling back, Rose picked it up. “Hello?”
“R-Ronnie?” She did not recognize the voice but she certainly understood the tone. The woman on the other end of the phone was crying.
“No, this is Rose.”
“Would you please tell Ronnie that her mother is on the phone? I-it’s very important,” Beatrice sniffed.
“Hold on just a second.” Realizing she couldn’t hold the phone in one hand and use her crutches, Rose set it down on the counter and worked her way into the living room.
Susan had hold of Timmy and Jack was holding Ricky as the two boys hurled insults at each other. “You cheated.”
“Did not!”
“Did so!”
“Did not!”
“Enough!” Ronnie’s voice boomed over the squawking. “I don’t care who cheated or who’s turn it was. If you two can’t play nice I’m going to shut it off.” The threat had not stopped the two brothers from bickering again and again.
“But he started it.”
“Timothy!” Both his parents yelled.
“Ronnie.” Rose leaned on her crutches. “Your mother is on the phone.” As the tall woman passed her, she spoke in a lower voice. “She sounds like she’s been crying.” That caused the dark-haired woman to hesitate for a second before picking up the phone. A crying parent never meant anything good.
“Mother? Mo-…Mother…Mother, stop crying. I can’t understand you.” She silently motioned for Rose to get Susan. “Okay, tell me again, slowly.” The redhead entered the kitchen just as Ronnie was piecing together what her hysterical mother was trying to tell her. “Are they sure? Okay, okay Mother, slow down…what did he say?” She turned her back to the other woman and leaned against the island. “Mother, listen carefully to me. Did he say for sure that it was Tommy?” At the mention of her brother’s name, Susan’s hand went to her mouth.
“Did something happen?”
“Who called you?” Ronnie asked as she waved her sister away. She had enough to do trying to understand what Beatrice was telling her. “No, Susan’s here. We’ll stop by and pick you up. Yes Mother, we’ll be there in fifteen minutes. No. Don’t call anyone else. If they need to be called, I’ll do it later. No, don’t call a cab. We’ll be right there. Yes, I promise…bye.” She pressed the off button and set the phone down on the counter.
“Ronnie?” Susan took a step forward. “Did something happen to Tommy?” There was no response. “Ronnie?”
“Tommy…” Her back to them, she gripped the edge of the island. “He was going eastbound in the westbound lane of the Thruway.”
“Oh my God,” Rose whispered. Ronnie pushed herself to a standing position and faced them.
“Rose, I need you to watch the boys until we get back. I’m sure they’ll just eat pizza and play video games.”
“Of course,” the young woman replied. “Anything. You know that.”
“I’ll get Jack and our coats,” Susan said, her voice shaky. She left the room to get her husband. Rose hobbled over to her tall companion. For several seconds, neither spoke. Finally Ronnie broke the silence.
“I don’t know how late we’ll be. Try to put them to bed by ten. There are plenty of rooms for them to choose from.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Rose promised. She reached up and cupped the older woman’s cheek. “I love you.”
Ronnie gave a shiny-eyed smile. “How do you know just what to say?” She pulled her love close and kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, Rose. Don’t kill the kids or play any game that involves tying you up, okay?”
“I think I can handle them. You have more important things to worry about.” She felt Ronnie step back and realized Jack and Susan had entered the room.
“I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
“They can’t have any caffeine or sugar after seven. John has to be in bed by eight and the other boys can stay up until ten.” Susan said as she rifled through her pocketbook. “I can’t find the keys. Jack, where are the keys?” Her lower lip quivered and her hands began to shake.