I'll Stand by You (12 page)

* * *

Dori heard a squeal and then felt little hands pulling at her nose and woke with a jerk. Why was Luther in bed with her? The moment she opened her eyes and saw where she was, she remembered the fire and watching Granddaddy die.

Except for the ache in her chest, she felt hollow. Luther rolled over onto his belly and began rocking back and forth on his hands and knees, drool dripping as he chortled with glee.

Dori sat up. “You think you’re something, don’t you, little man? And I guess you are. I know you’re wet, which I can fix, but I’m guessing you’re also hungry, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do about all that.”

She glanced toward the window as she turned on the lamp. It must be getting on toward morning. It was then she remembered she needed to call Lovey Cooper. She wouldn’t be going to work, and they needed to know.

She looked around for her grandpa’s phone and saw that Johnny had put it on the charger for her. She knew Lovey would be up getting ready to go down to the restaurant, so she called her at home.

Her boss answered on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Lovey, this is Dori. I’m sorry for calling so early, but I wanted you to know I can’t come to work anymore.”

Lovey gasped. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

She started to cry.

“Our house burned down last night and Granddaddy had a heart attack and died while they were fighting the fire.”

Lovey Cooper moaned. “Oh, honey. Oh, Dori. I am so sorry. What can I do? What do you need? Where are you? Is the baby okay?”

“Luther is fine. I’m still in shock, but I guess I found out what people really think of me last night.”

“What do you mean?” Lovey asked.

“There were plenty of gawkers who came to watch the house burn. They saw Granddaddy die and heard Luther screaming. I didn’t think he’d ever stop. Some said they’d pray for us, and then they were gone. Luther and I were standing at the end of the driveway by ourselves when Johnny Pine and his little brothers came to see what was burning. They offered us a place to sleep. He and the boys have been very kind to Luther and me, but with no place to stay and no one to watch Luther, there’s no way I can work for you anymore. I’m sorry. I just wanted you to know early on so you can get someone in for the day.”

“Bless you for worrying about us when you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. Anytime you want your job back, you can have it. In the meantime, tell me what sizes of clothes and shoes you and Luther wear. We’ll get you some things gathered up in nothing flat.”

Dori wiped tears and snot, then exhaled on a long shaky sigh.

“I’m not too proud to take the help. I appreciate that. Dress size is a six. I wear a size six jeans and a size six or a small top. My shoe size is a seven. Luther wears a twelve-month-size clothes and socks for a one-year-old baby. I need diapers, new baby bottles, and any kind of baby stuff someone wants to part with.”

“Got it,” Lovey said. “Now, you have to promise to call me if you need something, anything. Will you?”

“I promise,” Dori said. “And thank you so much.”

“You are welcome, honey, and God bless. You’ll get through this because you have to, understand?”

“Yes,” Dori said and disconnected.

She looked back at Luther, who was chewing on his fist. He was hungry. She had to get busy before he started to cry. She looked around for the diaper bag and dug through it until she found baby wipes and a diaper and quickly got him changed. There was a baby bottle with water in it inside the bag, which was a blessing because she’d need that bottle for milk and hoped Johnny Pine had some to spare.

She picked Luther up and settled him on her hip as she went to look for the kitchen. To her surprise, there was a light on under the door to Johnny’s room and one under the boys’ room, as well. She didn’t know their routine, but he obviously started early to get the boys to school and him to his job. Her estimation of his diligence to do right rose even higher.

She paused and knocked on his door, then stepped back.

* * *

Johnny woke before daylight and shut off the alarm, then sat up on the edge of the bed in the dark, thinking about the day ahead. He grabbed his cell phone and sent his boss a text, telling him he would be a few minutes late getting to the job site, but that he’d cover it by working through his lunch hour, and then he grabbed a pair of jeans and headed to the bathroom.

After a quick shower and shave, he headed to the kitchen to make coffee then went to wake up the boys.

Sometime during the night, Beep must have had a nightmare, because he was sound asleep in Marshall’s arms. The poignancy of the moment was not lost on him as he reluctantly woke them up.

“Hey, guys…time to get up,” he said gently as he turned the light on by their bed.

Marshall sighed as he opened his eyes and then shook Beep. “Get up, Beep.”

Beep groaned.

Marshall pushed him aside and headed for the bathroom while Johnny sat down on the side of the bed to talk to Beep. The bruises were fading, but he still had to be careful of his ribs and even still wore the protective mask for his nose to school.

“Hey, buddy, come sit in my lap,” Johnny said and pulled him out of the bed for a quick hug.

Beep was rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he leaned against his big brother’s chest.

“I had a bad dream,” he said.

Johnny pulled him a little closer. “Tell me.”

“I dreamed our house was on fire.”

Johnny sighed. He couldn’t regret taking them to the fire last night because of Dori, but he wasn’t surprised this had happened.

“Do you remember about the house that did burn last night?” Johnny asked.

Beep nodded. “The woman and the baby are in Mama’s room.”

“Yes. Wasn’t it lucky we had a place for them to stay?”

Beep looked up at Johnny and frowned. “Is she gonna stay here?”

“Not forever, Beep. Just until she figures out what to do next. You saw her crying, right?”

“Yeah. Her house burned up.”

Johnny nodded. “Yes, but she was crying because her grandfather died last night too.”

Beep’s eyes widened. “Like Mama died?”

“Yes, dead like Mama.”

“I’m sad for her,” Beep said.

“So am I, buddy. So we need to be patient and nice to her, okay?”

“Yes.”

Johnny scooted him off his lap. “Thank you,” he said. “Now get in the bathroom and get washed, but remind Marshall to be quiet. We don’t want to wake up the baby. I’ll make breakfast in a few minutes.”

Beep nodded and went to join his brother in the bathroom while Johnny made their bed and then laid out clean clothes for them to put on. Then Johnny headed back to the kitchen to make oatmeal and make sure there was milk for the baby.

As soon as he had the oatmeal cooked, he put a lid on it to keep it warm and had just returned to his room to finish getting ready. He had a T-shirt in his hand when he heard a knock on his door, and he pulled it over his head on the way to answer the door.

It was Dori.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you had some milk for Luther’s bottle.”

Johnny smiled as he reached out and rubbed his hand over Luther’s soft curls.

“Yes, ma’am, we sure do,” he said. “We also have oatmeal, if he can eat it.”

Dori breathed a quick sigh of relief. She’d been worrying about food for Luther, and this would work until she could get to a store.

“Yes, it will be perfect. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. Give me a second to put on my boots, and then I’ll walk you to the kitchen and show you where everything is at.”

Then he looked down at her feet and saw that she was barefoot.

“We need to get something on your feet,” he said and dug a pair of socks out of a drawer. “Here, these will be too big, but they’ll feel better than walking barefoot on these old floors.”

Dori held the socks and waited while he put on his boots, then he took the baby so she could put them on.

“They feel good. I keep saying thank you, but the truth is there are no words for how much this means to us,” she said.

Johnny handed her the baby and then resisted the urge to brush a stray lock of hair from Dori’s forehead.

“So, you’ve thanked me, and I’ve said you’re welcome and I am happy we could help. Now let’s go see about the milk and oatmeal.”

Dori followed him into the kitchen in her sock feet while Luther kept trying to chew on her hair. Everything went in his mouth these days, but she drew the line at hair.

“The milk is whole milk. Is that a problem?” Johnny asked.

“No, that’s what the pediatrician has him on.”

“Does it need to be heated?”

“As long as it’s not ice cold, it’s okay,” she said.

Johnny filled the bottle and put it in the microwave without putting on the top.

“About fifteen seconds will take the chill off,” Dori said.

When Johnny set the timer, Luther squealed. Johnny looked back at the baby and laughed.

“He knows what that means, doesn’t he?”

Dori’s eyes welled with tears. “Granddaddy always did that. He’s used to being taken care of by a man.”

Johnny sighed. He hadn’t meant to remind her of what she’d lost.

The microwave dinged.

Johnny took out the bottle and handed it to Dori.

“Check it and make sure it’s okay.”

She tested it with her finger and nodded.

“It’s perfect,” she said, screwing on the lid and cradling Luther before poking the bottle in his mouth.

He grasped it with both hands, the look on his face so intent it made her smile.

Johnny saw the love on her face and his heart skipped a beat. Despite her sleep-tousled hair and borrowed clothes, she looked beautiful.

Before he could let that thought take wing, he heard footsteps in the hall and knew the boys were on the way.

“Brace yourself,” he said. “Here comes the hungry horde.”

Chapter 8

When the boys saw Dori sitting at the table with the baby, they stopped in the doorway and glanced at Johnny, as if waiting for permission to enter.

“Oatmeal is ready,” he said. “Sit down.”

They bolted toward the table, pushing and shoving to get to their chairs, which was their usual morning routine.

“Can I have raisins?” Marshall asked.

“May I, and yes,” Johnny said, tossing a handful of raisins into Marshall’s bowl and ladling some oatmeal over them, just like he did every morning.

“I don’t want no raisins,” Beep announced, just as he did every morning.

“You don’t want any raisins, and I already know that,” Johnny said, then glanced at Dori and grinned. “Do you have any particular requests for your oatmeal?”

“Sugar and milk?”

Johnny grinned. “I can handle that,” he said as he gave the boys their oatmeal.

Witnessing a bit of their regular morning routine was delightful. Not only had he been the knight in shining armor she needed last night, but he also seemed to be a good father figure too. Then she realized he was dipping the same amount of oatmeal into each bowl, one spoonful at a time, and she didn’t want to think she would be taking food they needed to eat.

“Do you have enough?” Dori asked. “You guys are going to school and to work, and I don’t mind skipping.”

Johnny paused, struck by her gentle spirit.

“We have enough oatmeal,” he said and dipped the rest of the oatmeal into two bowls, one for her and one for him.

“So, here’s the routine,” Johnny said. “I drop the boys off at Before and After. Miss Jane takes them to school and then picks them up afterward and keeps them until I get off work. We’ll all be home just after five. However, after I drop them off this morning, I’m going by the supermarket to pick up some stuff for squirt. Make me a list of what he needs and—”

“I have some money in my purse. I’m not sure how much, but I’ll give it to you, and there’s more in the bank.”

“Dori. It’s okay. We’ll work all this out. But right now we’re dealing with immediate needs, and that little guy in your arms doesn’t care who pays for what. He just wants a dry diaper and food in his belly, right?”

Dori sighed.

“Yes, you’re right. If you have paper and a pen, I’ll write down just the necessities.”

Johnny brought the pad and pen from beside the telephone and slid it across the table.

Beep watched her writing and then glanced up at Johnny.

“Can we add cookies to the list?” he asked.

Johnny knew if he bought all of the other stuff for the baby, there wouldn’t be any money left for cookies but didn’t want to say so in front of Dori.

“We’ll see,” he said.

Beep caught the look and hushed. He knew what that meant—no money. He glanced at the baby and went back to eating.

Dori might have seen the exchange but for the fact that Luther had finished his bottle and had become very interested in the spoon going into his mother’s mouth. She’d given him baby oatmeal, but he’d never had the real thing. When he grabbed her spoon on the way to her mouth, the boys giggled.

Dori smiled. “He’s a pig,” she said.

The boys giggled again, watching as she pried the spoon out of Luther’s fingers.

“Bite?” Dori asked as she put the spoon at Luther’s mouth.

He opened wide. She gave him the oatmeal and grinned when his eyes widened in surprise. His lips literally smacked when she pulled out the spoon.

“Well, that was a success,” Dori said. “I’m guessing it was the sugar.”

“I like sugar too,” Beep said, watching curiously as Dori spooned another bite into the baby’s mouth.

Johnny got up to fill his coffee cup to hide a smile. Beep was seriously interested in their new guests, which was good. He hadn’t had much to smile about since the recess incident.

“Hurry up and finish, guys. We need to hustle.”

The boys cleaned up the last of the oatmeal and carried them to the sink, washed and rinsed the bowls, and put them in the drainer, then ran to get their backpacks.

Dori was impressed again by their willingness to help.

“Do you want coffee?” Johnny asked.

“Maybe half a cup,” Dori said as she gave Luther another bite.