“Can’t catch me!” yelled Billy, giggling and smiling as he raced across the backyard trying not to get caught by Jeff Sanders, his best buddy. Kids are so full of energy, I thought looking out the kitchen window with a faint smile, admiring the youthfulness of my son as he dipped and dodged the other children. It was a hot sunny day; temperature must’ve been around 95 degrees. Beads of sweat laid on my chest. I don’t know how those kids could be running around in that heat. The dozen or so kids including Billy and Jeff just finished Kindergarten together at Winbrook, and now they were all gathered in my backyard celebrating Billy’s birthday.
I could see Harry, Jeff’s dad, running after the kids as well, laughing, having fun working up a sweat. The guy was in his late thirties, but he was young at heart and certainly kept himself in shape. Harry was a single parent like myself; he knew how hard it was to raise a boy while juggling a full-time job. You never have any real time for yourself.
I walked outside carrying a tray with chips, salsa, and a pitcher of lemonade and placed it on the patio table. Upon seeing the food, the kids broke off from whatever game they were playing and made a beeline straight for the table.
“Whoa there guys, you’re gonna crash right into the table and knock over the food like a pack of rhinoceros,” I laughed.
Harry smiled. It was a warm smile, one that showed he knew how to enjoy the little things in life, like the excitement in children’s eyes when they were having a good time. Harry and I certainly knew not to take our loved ones for granted. We both lost our spouses three years ago in separate automobile accidents. Our similar experiences gave us a special bond.
“Hey Harry, I’m going to need a hand with the sandwiches, wanna help me out inside?” I said.
“Yeah sure Molly,” said Harry putting on that familiar mischievous grin of his.
I looked over at Daisy’s mother. “Hey Rita, do you want to watch the kids while Harry helps me out?”
“Watch these rascals? I don’t know if I can keep up with these little energizer bunnies. But sure, no problem,” said Rita.
Harry followed me inside the house. It was the idyllic white house with white picket fence, lush green lawn, and blue roof that I dreamed about since I was a little girl.
“It’s quite a scorcher out there today isn’t it?” I said.
Harry wiped the beads of sweat trickling from his forehead. “It sure is. I tell ya, running around with these little guys reminds me that I’m not in my twenties anymore,” he laughed.
I smiled and poked his gut through the white v-neck t-shirt, feeling his tight abs give only slightly through the damp fabric. “But you’ve still got the body of a twenty year old,” I teased. I fluttered my eyes a little at him.
He grinned and lightly pinched my waist through the thin fabric of my white sun dress. “That goes twice over for you Molly. A twenty year old would be jealous to have your body.”
I turned my face back to the array of ingredients sitting on the kitchen counter to hide a blush rising in my cheeks. I began to fumble at the mayonnaise jar to refocus our efforts back on making sandwiches for the kids. I struggled with it; it was tightly wound, too much for my delicate hands to handle.
“Here let me loosen that up for you,” he said, placing his hand on mine atop the jar. A tingle shot through my body as his rough hand pressed against my creamy skin. He took the jar into his hands and with a quick turn, opened it up, and handed it back to me.
“Thanks Mr. Muscles. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“What can I say? I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I’m known to be pretty good with my hands.”
