her son, and it made Mrs. Tucker nervous.
“I don’t know what the custom is for breakfast—that is, I’ve forgotten. I’ve been getting my breakfast delivered on a tray, but now that I’m back on my feet I can go to breakfast instead of breakfast coming to me,” she said, smiling at Jonathan, who gave a giggle at the lame joke.
“We usually have our meal in the kitchen,” Mrs. Tucker said. “The elder Mrs. Barrett eats in her room, and Mr. Barrett’s schedule varies. Sometimes he eats with us. Other times he has already left for work by the time we go downstairs.”
The trio descended the staircase and passed through the dining room and into the large kitchen. There were two places set at the island, where brightly striped pottery plates were set on cheerful yellow placemats.
“Here now, Mrs. Gravy has to put out another place at the table,” the cook said in a jolly voice. “We have a new one this morning, we do.” She winked at Jonathan. “Yer mother’s joining us today, is she?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, politely.
“Well, it’s oatmeal this morning. Will that be suitin’ ye this mornin’, Miss Marnie?”
“Yes indeed. As far as I know, I like oatmeal.”
The rotund cook placed bowls of steaming oatmeal in front of each person and started pouring orange juice into their glasses when the swinging door opened and David joined the group.
“Ah, now we have everyone here, we do. Oatmeal this mornin’, Mr. David?”
David lifted his eyebrows as he observed the three people at the breakfast bar.
“Er, OK, Mrs. Gravy, uh, Grady.”
Marnie was looking into her oats as she stirred them. “Mrs. Grady, would you happen to have any brown sugar handy? And some butter? I think I’d like some on my oatmeal.”
“Lord love ye’, o’ course I do. Not that you’ve been eatin’ breakfast much lately, but I remember what people like, I do, and I have it all ready for ye’.” She reached over to the counter and put two small covered bowls in front of Marnie.
“There ye’ go. Had the butter out softenin’ and here’s yer brown sugar, just like you like it,” she said as she pushed the bowls forward.
“That’s what you like on your oats?” Jonathan asked.
“I think so. That’s what my appetite is telling me. Isn’t it funny I can’t remember much, but I know what I like on oatmeal?” She smiled at her son.
“I like raisins in mine,” he said, reaching for the bowl sitting in front of his place.
“And here’s some sausage that goes well with it,” Mrs. Grady said as she put a plate of links in front of David, who immediately forked several onto his plate.
“Mrs. Gravy knows what I like, too,” he said.
Mrs. Tucker had taken a few spoons of the porridge when she pushed it away. “Mr. Barrett, I hate to ask, I really do, but could someone watch Jonathan for a while this morning? I have a toothache. It’s very bad or else I would put it off until my day off, but I really need to see my dentist about it. I have been taking more pain reliever than is safe. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary.”
Marnie spoke up immediately, before David had a chance to answer.
“I was going to ask him to spend the morning with me anyway, to show me around the house, and perhaps help me remember things. And I thought we could read or watch a movie on TV.”
David looked from one woman to the other. “Mrs. Tucker, of course you can take as much time as is necessary. Marnie, are you sure you’re up to caring for Jonathan for several hours?”
“I’m sure,” she answered as she looked at him expectantly.
“OK then. Mrs. Tucker, do you need me to drive you to the dentist’s office?”
“No, thank you, Mr. Barrett. I can make it. I’ll leave right now.” She placed her napkin neatly by her plate and left the room.
“Poor woman,” Mrs. Grady said as she gathered the uneaten breakfast and carried the dishes to the sink. “A sore tooth can give a body a right lot of trouble, all right.”
“I noticed her touching her cheek when I stopped in the nursery this morning, but I thought it was nerves.”
“And you’re sure you’re OK caring for Jonathan for the morning?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s just that you’ve never done it before. You’ve said he—that it made you uneasy to be in charge of a child.”
“Nonsense! We’ll do just fine. Won’t we, Jonathan?”
Jonathan