After Luke hung up the phone, he found Jess still sitting on the couch in his wet pajamas, unbothered, reading the nature book. Luke was developing a picture of Jess: he was very timid, quiet, sensitive, intelligent, and well behaved. He wasn't a typical rambunctious toddler.
"Against all odds," he thought to himself.
"You like that book Jess? That was your grandpa's. He loved fishing."
"I read?" He asked sweetly.
"Sure Jess. You can read while we wait for Aunt Babette to come over and give you a bath."
Jess continue to peruse the book. What happened next threw Luke for a loop.
"The. Fish. is. In. the. Pond." He sounded out the words on the page slowly but clearly. Jess beamed and looked up from his book to Luke for approval. Luke was completely floored.
"Jess, how the heck did you read that? That's incredible! You're not even 3! Great job kid." Little Jess beamed with happiness.
"Amazing. Your mother sure didn't teach you that, " he thought to himself.
"Jess, you have to show your Aunt Babette how you can already read."
And like God himself sending a messenger down from heaven at that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Let me in Sugar. I wanna meet the little tyke!"
Luke flung open the door and hugged Babette like he didn't want to let her go.
"Okay Luke! You're gonna pop me like a balloon!" She laughed.
"I bought some stuff for the little cutie. I'm going to call the ladies at the church and the knitting club and see what else we can collect for ya. You're lucky ya know me Luke, I got connections all over town!"
"That's so generous of you Babette. I uh...thank you. I don't know what to say. I owe you."
"Oh it's nothin. You call me any time sugar. Now where is that little cutie? Let me at em!" She looked over Luke's shoulder and Jess was gazing at her from the couch. It seemed like he was always quietly and silently drinking in the world around him. You could hear the gears turning in his little brain.
"Oh, Luke, he is just a DOLL. What's your name sweetheart?"
"Jess," he replied shyly. "J-E-S.S."
"Babette, this kid can already read and spell. Isn't that amazing? He's kind of shy though."
"So you ain't a yapper huh, that's okay Jess, you just let me do all the yappin. I'm gonna tell you the story about my old boyfriend Murray, the one who got swallowed by a shark!"
"Aunt Babette'll give you a bath and I'll make you some pancakes Jess."
Luke went to his bedroom to change his wet sheets and then to the kitchen to make breakfast. He could overhear Babette in the bathroom assuring Jess that the shark spit Murray out after Babette swam after him and punched him in the nose, and the mayor gave her an award for bravery. He could have swore that the last time he heard this tale, it was an alligator, not a shark. He plated two pancakes for Jess and poured him a glass of milk. He fancied himself a pretty decent cook. Maybe one day he'd open his own restaurant.
Luke tried to help himself to a pancake, but he was too stressed to eat and had no appetite. He picked a few pieces off while he waited. His thoughts wandered again to his sister.
What the hell am I going to say if he asks me again where his Mom is?
I have to to do everything I can to distract him today.
Babette emerged with Jess, his dark hair wet and tousled, wearing clean shorts and a Ninja Turtles tshirt.
"Thank you again for the clothes... for everything Babette. Can I uh, ask you one more big favor?"
"Anything doll."
"Could you please house sit while I take Jess out for the day. I don't want to miss Liz if she calls or shows up. Could you answer the phone if it rings? You can invite some friends over if you want. Invite Patty. Play cards. Whatever you want."
"Sure, I got no plans today on account of my Saturday bocce ball club canceling their meeting. Our president Lucille is in a dispute with Taylor over the size of the bocce ball court, he says it's two inches over regulation, she threatened to beam him in the forehead with a bocce ball, it's gettin political!”
"Nothing new under the sun with Taylor huh," Luke chuckled.
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