Page 27 of Cowboy's Last Stand
To his surprise, Marcus showed no reluctance to help with chores.They cleared the table and put the dishes in the sink.Marcus pulled up a stepstool beside Jason.He rinsed the plates after Jason washed them.
When Natalie came in, her face softened at the sight of them.
Take that, Wade.
Marcus jumped down from the stepstool and gave her a hug.She embraced him with open arms and held him tight, like she needed this contact, this comfort.“What a good helper you are.”
He told her about his plan to fight firecrackers with firecrackers.She ruffled his hair.“Are you ready for dessert?”
“Can I have ice cream with chocolate syrup?”
“You don’t want apple pie?”
“I don’t like apple pie.”
“You’ve never tried it.”
“It looks yucky.”
Natalie chuckled at his comment, unoffended.She took out the ice cream and syrup, arching a brow at Jason.“Do you like apple pie?”
“I like any kind of pie,” he said.
“À la mode?”
“Load it up.”
She did, and they sat down at the kitchen table.Jason dug into the pie with relish, glad that Wade hadn’t been invited in for a slice.Marcus returned to his video game afterward, and Natalie made herself a cup of tea.A soft rain began to fall outside.
“He’s a nice kid,” Jason said.
“You think so?”
“I do.”
“He’s been giving his teacher fits.”
“Really?”
“She says he never stops asking questions.”
“Isn’t that a sign of intelligence?”
“She calls it ‘off-task behavior.’”
Jason didn’t know much about kids, but he thought the criticism was a shame.“He’s in kindergarten?”
“Yes.He just started in the fall.”
“Are kindergartners supposed to be on task?”
She smiled ruefully.“I guess they are.”
“Does he like school?”
“He loves it.”
“That’s good.”
