Page 125 of Resilience on Canvas

“Thanks, Clara,” Henry said, handing her the spatula.

He started over toward Robert as his husband took May off of his shoulders.

“Henry? Maybe you can, uhm, brush the sand out of his hair, too?” Clara said. “Before it ends up in the food?”

Still smiling, Henry gave her a quick nod. When he reached Robert, he ran a hand through Robert’s hair and moved it back and forth, shaking his waves and curls and causing some of the sand to fall to the floor.

“I see you let the kids bury you,” Henry teased.

“Yeah, well, I can’t let you keep bein’ their favorite,” Robert retorted. He placed his hands on Henry’s waist and tugged him closer to place a soft kiss on Henry’s lips. “Missed you.”

“Missed you too,” Henry said, running his hand through Robert’s hair once more, this time only for the feel of it, not to rid Robert of the stowaway sand.

“Are you two finished being lovey? I’d like to tell you my news now,” Rose said, a playful hitch in her voice.

Robert’s brows creased.

“What news?” he asked.

Rose looked up at her husband, who had come up behind her in the kitchen. “You didn’t tell Robert yet?”

“Nah, I thought you would want to be the one to share, Rosie,” he said, bending to kiss her forehead. “It’syournews!”

Rosie beamed up at him, her cheeks turning the color of her name. After a moment, she looked back at Robert and Henry.

“Our theater company is now part of that Federal Art Project,” she said. “So, starting later this month, I’ll be paid twenty-three bucks a week like you, Henry. It’ll be a lot more work for me since we’ll be required to have more shows, but—”

“Holy Jesus,” Henry blurted out. “Gosh, that’s incredible, Rose!”

Shrugging modestly, she said, “I know. I can hardly even believe it.”

“I’m so happy for you! And for you, Joe,” Henry said.

“Be happy for yourselves, too. It’ll be helpful for every one of us to have the extra money,” she said. “How much should I contribute to the Sherwoods, you think?”

Robert shook his head, wide-eyed. “Contribute? But—”

“Well, we’re kind of one big family now.” She paused and crooked an eyebrow. “Aren’t we?” Robert continued to look wonderstruck, his mouth hanging open slightly. Rose rolled her eyes. “We wouldn’t be here if not for you two. And we love your siblings, Robert. It would be our pleasure to help make sure they have everything they need for school and—”

“Oh, Rose, that’s sweet of you.” Clara shut off the stove and set the spatula on the counter. She turned, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “But I’m makin’ money now too. We’ll have enough for a while.”

“Well, then, what if we help ’em save for college?” Joe asked. “Seems like there are more people goin’ these days.”

Clara’s eyebrows shot up. “College?!”

Beside Henry, Robert let out a snort. “No one in my family haseverbeen to college.”

“No one in yer family had ever up and moved to California before, neither, and yet, here you are livin’ in San Francisco,” Joe reasoned with a teasing smirk.

“Yeah, that’s true,” Robert said before letting out a long breath. “But, I mean... I still haven’t found real work for myself yet. Nothin’ that pays enough to matter much.”

“Every penny you bring home matters,” Henry said into Robert’s ear. He kissed Robert hard on the cheek. “Don’t let yerself think otherwise.” One more kiss. “If Rose and Joe want to put some of their earnings in a little safe for your siblings, let ’em.”

“Dammit, Hen,” Robert whined, sounding irritated and exasperated and embarrassed all at once. His cheeks flushed crimson.

“I’ll put some away myself, too, if you let me.” One more kiss, even bigger and more ridiculous than the others. “Pleaselet me.”

“Of course I’ll let you,but Joe and Rose—”

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