Karen went into the kitchen and stared at Brad. "What?" he shrugged.
"Nothing," she sighed.
Brad dropped his pencil on his notebook. "Mom," he shook his head, "you know I hate that." He leaned his chin on his hand, "Well?"
"Well," she winced, "Gary and I want to camp up at the lake."
"Okay," Brad raised one shoulder, "What does that have to do with me?"
"You'd have to go," she smiled nervously.
"Go with you?" he gasped, "Like a third wheel?" he shook his head, "No way!"
"It's only two nights," she started, "Johnny would be there too."
"Who's Johnny?" Brad frowned.
"Gary's step son," she sat down at the kitchen table with him, "He adopted him just before his wife was killed."
"So I'm baby sitting?" he sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.
"No," she laughed, "He's close to the same age as you."
"I'm seventeen," he said.
"Johnny is pretty close to that," she nodded. He sighed heavily and looked out the back door. "Please Bradley," she said softly and reached across the counter, taking his hand. "Please come and get to know Gary and Johnny."
He looked at her, "Why is this so important to you?"
"I don't know," she mumbled and looked down at his hand.
"He's the one; huh?" Brad smiled.
She looked up at him for a minute, a slow smile spreading across her face. "I think so," she said softly, then bit her lip.
"What?" he frowned.
"I'm nervous," she winced.
"Why?" Brad laughed.
"If he IS the one...." her eyes raised, "I don't know what I'll do. What will our lives be like then?"
"We can figure that out when it gets here," he sat forward and kissed her fingers, "Don't start worrying about stuff that ain't happened yet."
"You're right!" she held her hands up in surrender. She crossed her heart with her finger and held up her hand to swear, "I'm not doing that with Gary. I won't scare this one off."
"Me either," Brad laughed.
She gave him a thumbs up, "Good plan." Brad nodded and laughed at her nervous sigh.
"Mom?" he looked down at his math homework, but couldn't form the next sentence.
Karen watched him for a minute, then whispered, "Honey?"
"I...I think there's a girl in trouble at school," he turned his pencil in his hand, rolling the eraser between his thumb and finger.
"She's pregnant?" Karen gasped.
"No," he looked up at her, "I saw her Dad hit her."
"Well, that IS trouble," she said softly. "How well do you know her?"
"Not well enough to accuse her Dad of anything," he shook his head.
"Just be her friend right now. Maybe you could talk her into going to her councilor at school?" she smiled.
"Maybe," he smiled up at her.
She caught his chin in her hand and squeezed his cheeks, "You're such a cutie. You can talk a girl into anything," she puckered her lips.
"Mom!" he laughed and pulled his face free before she could kiss him.
"I'm sure that will be trouble one day," she sighed to herself.
"Mom!" Brad gasped.
"Hello-oh!" Gary called from the front room.
"That's Gary!" she said excitedly.
"Ya didn't say he was coming over," Brad frowned.
"Surprise!" she laughed and walked around the counter.
"Are you cooking?" Gary accused as he met her at the kitchen doorway.
"No," she laughed, grabbed his head in her hands and kissed him.
"Good," he laughed, put the grocery bag in one arm and pulled Karen close with his other arm. "I'm cooking tonight," he smiled as she put her arms around his neck.
"I missed you," she said softly and kissed him.
"Missed you too," he spoke low and his eyes soaked in her face. He slowly kissed her again.
"Get a room!" Brad wailed when he saw Gary open her mouth with his tongue. "Gross!" he moaned and covered his eyes with his math book.
"Where you want this?" a boy asked and held out a cake pan.
"Oh," Karen went to the counter and patted it, "Right here, Johnny."
"Hi," Brad put down his book and smiled up at the black haired boy. Johnny didn't speak; he only smiled back. "You're the new kid in school," he shook his finger at him and Johnny nodded.
"Johnny just transferred in," Gary answered for him and sat the grocery bag down.
"They don't live to far from us," Karen said and looked in the brown bag.
"Nosey!" Gary nudged her away gently.
"We could walk to school together!" Brad laughed.
"I can pick you up, Brad," Gary smiled as he took tomatoes and parsley from the bag.
"Mom?" Brad looked at her.
"Sure," she looked at Gary, "if it's not to much trouble."
"It's practically on my way," he nodded.
"Why don't you guys watch tv?" Karen looked at Brad.
"Sure. I can do this in the living room," he picked up his books and led the way down the hallway.
Brad turned on the tv and opened his math book. "Here!" he tossed the remote at Johnny and sighed heavily. "Watch whatever," he shrugged.
"Math huh?" Johnny asked on a whisper.
"Algebra," he winced, "Making a C doesn't look good on a college application."
"Need help?" he put down the remote and moved closer to Brad.
"You good at this shit?" he laughed.
"Easy," Johnny laughed and took Brad's book from him.
"Awesome!" Brad gasped, "I could use some help."
