never talked to us like she does,” Hunter said, as though he was reading my mind.
“I know she didn’t,” I said. “But your momma was a very, very sweet lady and she loved you with all her heart. And she was truly your momma. She carried you both in her tummy for nine months and then brought you into the world, which I am pretty sure wasn’t an easy thing to do.”
“How did we get out?” Hunter asked with all the wide-eyed innocence of a little boy.
“Magic,” I said, sincerely. “Babies are magic and miracles!”
“Huh,” Hunter said, thinking about what I’d said.
“Sharon’s not sweet one bit,” Tyler said. “Now do you see what we meant about some people just don’t like kids?”
“Listen, do you want to know what I think? I mean, what I really, really, really think?”
“Yeah!” they both said.
“Let’s go clean up the kitchen together and I’ll tell you.”
Hunter made himself busy returning the milk, butter, syrup, and eggs to the refrigerator while Tyler cleared the table, handing me plates and mugs to rinse and put in the dishwasher.
“So what do you think, Miss Holly?” Tyler said.
His top and bottom front teeth were growing in fast and his lisp was all but gone.
“I think I miss the way you used to talk before your teeth started coming in.”
“They had a growth spurt. Now, come on. You promised!”
“I think you two are the greatest little boys I have ever known, and I’ll bet you that when Sharon gets to know you, she’ll think so, too.”
“No way,” Tyler said.
“But! I think she’s super nervous, and that’s why she says things that sound a little bit mean. They just pop out of her mouth before she realizes how they’re going to sound to you.”
“What’s nervous got to do with it? We’re just kids,” Hunter said.
“Yeah, it’s not like we’re going to bite her or something.”
“Well, as I said, she doesn’t really know you yet, does she?”
Tyler said, “Why does Dad act so silly around her?”
“That’s a harder question to answer,” I said. “I don’t really know a reason why he does, but you’re right, men can get pretty silly around women.”
“What are we going to do today?” Tyler said.
I assumed then that my answers had satisfied them.
“Well, we’ve got to wait for the rental company to take away all the tables and chairs. Then I thought we’d maybe go down to the playground and see what’s happening. Maybe get some ice cream. Then we’ve got to be sure all your homework is done for tomorrow, get some supper, get a bath, and get some z’s.”
“Where are you sleeping?” Hunter said.
“I don’t know,” I said. “We never talked about it.”
“You could sleep in Daddy’s bed,” Hunter said.
“Oh, no,” I said. “No, no, no. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Hunter said.
“You’ll understand someday, but no, I can’t do that,” I said.
Tyler gave me a sly look that said he had an inkling of why it might be weird for me to sleep there and said, “Well, I’ve got bunk beds. Hunter, why don’t you sleep in my room and let’s give Miss Holly your room? How’s that?”
“Perfect! That’s a very good compromise!” I said. “Now, let’s go check your backpacks to make sure you’re ready for school tomorrow.”
“I might have been supposed to do a math worksheet,” Tyler said.
“Piece of cake,” I said. “Let’s get on it so it’s done.”
It didn’t take long for the few chores we had to be completed, and the rental company actually came earlier than expected.
“Y’all ready to go for a walk?” I asked.
“Definitely!” Hunter said. “But I want to ride my bike.”
“But there’s no bike for me!” I said.
“Miss Holly’s right. Let’s walk!” Tyler said.
There we were, the three of us, strolling down Middle Street toward the playground. Sometimes the boys seemed like they were so very young, and on other occasions, they possessed a depth of wisdom that belied their years. I imagined losing their mother had a lot to do with that.
As soon as the playground was in sight, the boys took off running, hell bent for leather, as Momma said from time to time. I didn’t stop them. I intended to let them run and jump and play and get any and all of their anxiety completely out of their system. The great feature that set the Sullivan’s Island playground apart from most of the others across the country was the mound that sat smack in the middle of it. It was actually Fort