Cadence of Cranberries - Valerie Comer Page 0,54

Michael.”

Dominic’s eyebrows pulled together. “He’s a pubescent teen. You can’t let him run everything.”

“I can’t purposefully wreck his life, either.”

“I guess.” Dominic traced a thread in the quilt his nonna had made years ago. “Sometimes I hate being an adult, you know? Some decisions are hard.”

Someday Dominic would have to tell a distraught wife that there was nothing he could do for her badly injured husband. He’d have to advise removing life support, like the young doctor who’d come to Winnie in the ICU waiting room. Compared to that, dealing with a guy’s mom’s romance and his kid brother’s teen turmoil seemed insignificant.

“You’re telling me. Thanks, Dominic. I honestly don’t know what to do, but I appreciate your support. All I can do is keep praying and see what doors God opens and closes.”

“Like going to Florida?”

Winnie closed her eyes. “I didn’t think that through.”

Dominic reached over and patted her foot through the duvet. “It’ll be okay, Mom. Katri and I are praying for you guys, too. I wish we didn’t have to drive back to Seattle tomorrow, but we do. Katri works at seven.”

Winnie hadn’t phoned him back. What was the protocol these days? Twenty-eight years ago, Charlie would have made a nuisance out of himself, but things were different in the twenty-first century. Still, Winnie was from his generation, so what did she expect?

More to the point, had she written him off?

But she couldn’t have. Wouldn’t have. That’s not what their kisses only a week ago told him. Michael might have ignored Charlie as much as possible the day of the Christmas baking spree, but he’d been civil.

And now Katri and Dominic had driven back to their busy life in Seattle, where they planned to work until late on New Year’s Eve and then spend the evening with Julia and her boy-toy. Charlie’s skin crawled at the thought of the guy, and it wasn’t from jealousy.

Really. He’d ceased to be bothered by his ex’s choices years ago, but a kid just barely older than Evie living off what Charlie had provided for his family? That was ridiculous.

Her choice. Set it aside, man.

See, it wouldn’t even bug him if things hadn’t gotten awkward with Winnie. That’s what he needed to fix. Winnie, not Julia.

Dominic had mentioned it was nearly Michael’s birthday. What did the boy like to do? Basketball... but the nearest NBA team was in Portland. Hmm. Charlie did a quick search on his phone. Well, look at that. The Portland Trail Blazers had a home game next weekend against the Boston Celtics. What basketball-loving kid wouldn’t appreciate a seat at that match?

Charlie’d win Michael over. He’d make it a guy trip. Fly down, go for dinner, see the game, meet a few players, spend the night in a hotel, and fly back.

Yes. This was the route to winning Michael over.

He tapped to buy two tickets near center court, just a few rows up. Then flights, and then a room — no, a suite would be better — at the Eastlund located close by. With the printouts in hand, he headed out the door, whistling.

He’d nailed this, no question. He’d show Winnie he could step up to the plate — wait, now he was mixing sports. Whatever. She’d see he could meet the challenge of her son proactively.

Winnie turned into her carport as her eyes focused on Charlie’s red sportscar at the curb. Three days later, and now he’d just turned up without a text or call? Maybe because she hadn’t responded, but honestly, she didn’t know how to handle things. She’d been praying for wisdom, but that hadn’t unlocked a genius thought inside her head.

It’d occurred to her the past few weeks she didn’t really have an unbiased friend to talk to. She was close with some of Al’s sisters-in-law, but they could hardly be counted as neutral, nor could Marietta. Tony’s girlfriend, Kenna, who’d been Marietta’s nurse, was such a new believer that Winnie didn’t feel she could be counted on for advice. Dominic and Katri had gotten to Pastor Tomas and Juanita before Winnie had, and Rebekah was firstly Michael’s counselor.

Who was in her court? Who could help her look at things clearly?

Time had run out. Charlie was here.

Her gut clamped as she rested her forehead against the steering wheel. “Lord, help me,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”

But she couldn’t stay sitting in her van. Not with lettuce and celery and peppers in the back, ready to freeze in the cold winter