Page 32 of Feels Like Home

“Boys? Did you happen to put on somecologne?”

Aidan nods, but Reece shakes his head. “It’s not cologne. It’s bodyspray.”

“Is there any left?” I dareask.

He shrugs. “I thinkso.”

Not reassuring atall.

“You know that you don’t need to use a lot, right? A little bit goes a longway.”

“Right. But we figured we didn’t want to stink for Christine andBri.”

Mission not accomplishedthere.

“Just to say, boys, you may have overdone it. And the gel” —I lift my chin in Reece’s direction— “is a littlemuch.”

“Wesmell?”

“Not in the B.O. kind of waybut…”

Reece punches Aidan in the shoulder. “Itoldyou it was too much! Ugh! Why do I always listen toyou?”

“It’s not my fault! It’sbodyspray. It’s meant to go over your body.Duh!”

“But with just a small amount,” I remindthem.

“And the hair gel thing wasallon you.” Aidan glares at hisbrother.

“What are we supposed to do now? They’re gonna be here any minute, and they’re gonna think we look stupid, and smell stupid, and actstupid…”

I cut off Reece’s rant and ensuing panic attack moment with a hand in theair.

“Boys. Calm yourselves. Go throw your clothes in the laundry room, take a quick shower and scrub down. One of you take your bathroom, the other take mine so you get it over with quickly. Then get into somenormalclothes. T-shirt. Joggers. Jeans. Hoodie. Whatever. They’ll love you more if you’re yourselves, gotme?”

They nod eagerly and both jet off to do as told, leaving a cloud of body spray in their wake. I have half a mind to open a window to air the house out but decide to check on supperinstead.

I’m admittedly not the best cook but being a single dad of two growing boys, boys who are active and can’t live off frozen food and boxed meals, I’m learning. Slowly but surely getting this whole cooking thingdown.

I check the chili, one of the few things I make that I’m proud of, and double check the cornbread in the oven isn’tburning.

I had the boys help me set the table before their run-in with a gallon of body spray and hair gel. I place the bowls of shredded cheese, diced onion, and crackers on the table while I wait, impatiently, for the doorbell toring.

“Better?” I glance over at the sound of the Aidan’s voice, who looks like himself again, and over to Reece andsmile.

“Much.”

And then the doorbell rings. Their eyes widen, and they both take off to answer the door at the sametime.

“Welcome!” Aidan shouts, and Ichuckle.

Five minutes ago, they were in panic mode over what they looked like for Christine and Bri, and now they’re welcoming them with openarms.

Not that I mind thechange.

“Boys!” I hear Bri’s voice cryout.

“Hey, Bri,” they say inunison.

---