is taking the casserole out of the oven.
“It just needs a few minutes to cool.” She lifts the lid of a pot steaming on the stove. “I’m also making you my most excellent Italian green beans, seasoned with garlic and balsamic vinegar.”
“You really don’t have to go to the trouble.”
“I want to.” She stirs the pot and smiles at me. “Being well-fed is part of feeling good, you know? Besides, these are almost done.”
Nicholas comes in to show me a Lego spaceship he’s constructed with spare parts, then starts complaining that he’s hungry.
“Go on and sit down,” Claire tells him. “We’re ready to eat.”
Much as I appreciate her help, I don’t like having a family dinner without Liv. Hell, I don’t even like being in the house without my wife. But Claire keeps the kids entertained with stories about the pranks she used to pull on her younger brother, which at least keeps them distracted from their mother’s absence.
After dinner, she and I clean the kitchen. She comes up beside me, leaning over to put empty plates in the sink.
“I thought I’d take the kids out for dessert,” she says. “Would that be okay?”
“Sure.”
“You should come with us,” she suggests. “I know it’s been a rough day for you.”
“I have a few papers I need to finish grading.” I toss the dishtowel on the counter. “Hold on, I’ll get you some cash.”
I get my wallet from my suit jacket and give her a twenty. She goes to announce the outing to the kids.
“Dad, come on,” Nicholas says, tugging at my hand. “Please come with us.”
The request coming from my son isn’t one I can refuse. We get the kids bundled into their coats before heading out to the car. I drive to the Boxcar Deli, an old favorite with its many varieties of homemade pie.
“Can I have extra ice cream with mine?” Nicholas asks the teenaged waitress, who responds with a smile.
“If your mom says it’s okay, then yes.” She looks expectantly at Claire, whose mouth opens in surprise.
“She’s not my mom,” Nicholas says, rolling his eyes as if that fact should be obvious.
“Mommy has owie,” Bella announces.
“Oh, sorry.” The waitress blushes and looks at me with apology. “I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay.” I shake my head dismissively. “He can have extra ice cream.”
“Yay!” Nicholas cheers and pumps his fists in the air.
“Me too,” Bella says.
“You too, Snowbell,” I agree.
The waitress scribbles down the request and mumbles that she’ll be back soon with our orders. After she’s gone, Claire looks at me and laughs.
“That was weird,” she remarks.
I shrug and turn my attention to helping Bella take the wrapping off her straw.
“So how long have you and Liv been married?” Claire asks.
“Ten years this July. Staying together for life.”
“Nice. That’s not something you hear very often. Where did you meet?”
“The University of Wisconsin.” I’m not sure why I don’t want to discuss Liv with this young woman who is helping take care of my children.
But I don’t.
“Were you both working there?” Claire asks.
“I was a visiting professor,” I explain. “She was a student.”
“Oh.” Claire looks somewhat surprised. “Well, that sounds romantic.”
It was. Always will be.
“Uncle Archer!” Nicholas suddenly knocks on the window and waves.
I follow his gaze to where Archer and Kelsey are crossing the street, both carrying shopping bags and holding hands. Relieved, I gesture for them to come in.
Archer makes a face at Nicholas as they approach the front door. I get up to give Kelsey my seat and pull a couple of chairs over to the booth.
“Where are you guys headed?” I ask.
“Just out Christmas shopping.” Kelsey unwinds her scarf and sits down, squeezing my arm in silent commiseration. “I went to see Liv earlier. She looks good and says she feels pretty good too. Hopefully the recovery won’t be too bad.”
Though her tone is casual—for Nicholas and Bella’s sake, I know—I see the concern in her eyes, the dismay over the news that the cancer has spread to Liv’s lymph nodes.
“She’ll be home tomorrow,” I say.
I can’t wait. I want her home now.
“The waitress thought Claire was our mom,” Nicholas tells Archer with a snort of derision.
“That’s just silly,” Archer remarks, then glances at Claire. “Uh, no offense.”
“None taken,” she replies. “I guess it was an easy mistake to make. Dean was just telling me about how he and Liv met. Ten years of marriage is an amazing thing.”
“And they got married at a villa in the south of France,” Kelsey says.
“We could do that,” Archer