Next Door Neighbors (6 page)

              Jill kept eating, listening intently to everything he said.

              Brian took a sip of water and continued. “But life had other plans. A friend of mine was stationed down where I live. One time when I went to go visit him, I helped him and his squad fix something. One of them noticed my skills and offered me a job right on the spot. Having no such luck here, and not wanting to free load off my parents anymore, I took it. At that time it was temporary, but over time one thing led to another and I opened my own business. Life was treating me good down there.”

              “Your mom’s probably told me already, but what type of business is it again?” Jill wanted to know.

              “I own a hardware store. Well, it’s mostly a hardware store, but we also do jobs for people. Basically anything that can be done or needs to be done in or to a home, we can do.”

              “I take it that it’s successful?”             

              “Brian is doing a wonderful job down there,” Elena chimed in. “He has such skill, and he’s really flourishing.”

              “Yeah, business is good. I still miss being here some days though,” Brian confessed.

              He reached over to where the last piece of bread laid, his fingers bumping into Jill’s. The two of them looked at each other and smiled.

              “You can go ahead and have it,” Brian offered.

              “Are you sure? It’s so good, but you are the cook!”

              “I’m sure. I’ll just have more of this fabulous lasagna.”

              He scooped out another piece and placed it on his plate. He made sure his mom was truly done eating before taking another bite. A small moan escaped Brian’s mouth as his taste buds enjoyed what was just placed inside.

              “So did you leave me any peanut butter?” Jill teased.

              “Yes! Don’t let me forget to give it back to you either.”

              “What did you need peanut butter for, Brian?” Elena asked.

              “For the dessert I made!”

              “You made dessert? You spoil me too much.”

              “Everyone deserves to be spoiled on their birthday, Elena,” Jill replied.

              Brian took his last bite, scraping every last bit off the plate that he could. “Speaking of dessert, do you guys want some now?”

              “I do!” Elena burst out.

              Seeing Elena so happy and excited made Jill feel good.

              Brian is so sweet to do this for her!

              “I’ll have a piece now too, if you don’t mind,” Jill said.

              “Coming right up.”

              Brian grabbed some of the dirty dishes to bring them to the sink. He also cleared up as much of the table that he could. Walking back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room, he overheard small talk coming from both of the women. Thinking about how well they got along pleased him, and as long as they weren’t talking about him anymore, he was glad they had this time together.

              Three plates out, silverware in hand and dessert ready, he entered the dining room ready to serve. Elena and Jill were giggling about something, which again put a smile on Brian’s face. “So what are you ladies discussing?”

              Elena put her right hand on Brian and shared, “Oh, I was just telling Jill about the first time you tried eating spaghetti.” After giving another quick chuckle at the memory, she added, “You had sauce all over your face. It was so cute. I wish I knew where the picture was.”

              “Mom, let’s talk about something other than me, okay?” Brian pleaded.

              “I’m sure he was cute,” Jill agreed.

              Cute?

              Brian liked the idea of Jill thinking he was cute. He started thinking that perhaps she was warming up to him; that maybe these stories were helping him.

              “Okay. Let’s have some dessert,” Elena finally conceded.

              Brian cut a few pieces and dished them out, serving Elena first. Right away she noticed it was one of her favorites.

              “How did you find this recipe?” Elena questioned.

              “It was in one of your cookbooks. There were the words ‘very yummy’, a smiley face and, I believe, three stars next to the recipe so I figured it must be good.”

              “It is. I love chocolate and peanut butter!” Elena shared.

              The three of them took a bite and they all fell in love with it. Elena ate slowly so that she could enjoy every last bit of it.

              “This is really good!” Jill told Brian, adding, “I’d say tonight was a success.”

              “Why, thank you,” Brian said humbly.

              “Oh, Jill, there’s another story I wanted to share,” Elena brought up.

              “Not about me again is it?” Brian complained.

              “Last one. I promise, dear.”

              Brian let out an exasperated sigh.

              “It’s okay, Brian. I promise I’ll try not to laugh this time,” Jill assured him.

              “Okay. Fine. One more. But that’s it!”

              With a twinkle of satisfaction in her eye, Elena began telling her story of the things she remembered long ago. “It was when Brian was ten so that makes it, what, twenty years ago now? Wow, seems like yesterday.” She shook her head, not believing it had been that long, then continued. “Anyway, Brian occasionally had an issue with sleepwalking. Something that scared us every time he did it.”
              “I bet!” Jill agreed.

              “Well, one time he came running down the stairs so fast that I rushed out of my bedroom to see what the hurry was. Thank goodness I was at least wearing something!”

              “Mom, please,” Brian said, looking down and shaking his head.

              Jill chuckled.

              Without skipping a beat, Elena went on. “Come to find out he was all dressed for school. He had his backpack ready and everything! The funny thing was that it was a Saturday!” Elena began laughing as she remembered her treasured memory.

              Jill didn’t find it funny, but was at least politely amused. “Wow, that’s quite a story there,” she said.

              Embarrassed, Brian put his hand over his face and took a deep breath.

              “Do you still sleepwalk, Brian?” Jill wanted to know.

              “Not that I’m aware of.” His tone indicated his limit had been reached.

              Elena and Jill worked on finishing their piece of dessert as Brian went to reach for his second. The three of them didn’t say anything for almost an uncomfortable amount of time. Jill decided to lighten the mood.

              “So, Brian, you really made everything all by yourself?”

              “Yes, ma’am.”

              “You better believe it. I didn’t raise no incompetent man,” Elena bragged.

              That was the last thing Jill thought about Brian. “No, Elena. No, you didn’t.”

---------------

              Dinner and dessert out of the way, Elena was encouraged to rest a little in the living room. One of her favorite shows was about to come on anyway so she didn’t argue with Brian’s and Jill’s suggestion.

              Wanting to make herself useful, Jill started taking the dirty dessert plates to the kitchen.

              “You don’t have to help,” Brian mentioned.

              “Oh, I know, but I’d like to.”

              The two of them worked as a team to get the dining room back to its normal, clean self. Jill felt like the task was so effortless, as if they read each other’s cues so well; each one picking up where the other left off. She couldn’t believe how close she felt to this family after tonight. It was if she fit right in; a missing puzzle piece to the complete picture. The experience was almost surreal to her.

              As Brian poured dish soap in the sink to begin washing the dishes, he thought that would be the perfect opportunity to ask Jill about what she was so deep in thought on.

              “Oh, I don’t know. I’m just rehashing the events of tonight. I really enjoyed myself!”

              “I’m glad to hear that,” Brian stated, moving a clean plate to the drying rack.

              Jill grabbed a clean dish towel so that she could begin drying. “Your mom seemed so happy tonight.”

              “She had a really good day. And I’m sure the good food helped,” Brian joked.

              Jill chuckled, and then commented, “I guess I know who’s going to make my birthday dinner.”

              “If you say it, I’ll do it,” Brian quickly replied, smiling and washing the next dish. He noticed a smile spread across Jill’s face from the corner of his eyes. He thought he might have seen her blush a little too, but it could all very well be just the lighting in the kitchen.

              “That’s sweet of you.”

              The two of them kept going on with their chore, enjoying each other’s company. Brian imagined them doing this for years to come. She felt right to him, and the way they worked together was impeccable. How could he show her he wanted her? How would he let her know that what he wanted was her to be by his side forever?

              Brian was brought back to reality when Jill asked further on his mom and how things were going around here. “Thankfully she’s had a lot of good days lately. I hate seeing her with the pain she’s experiencing, and what makes me so mad is that there are many people out there, some doctors included, that don’t believe her!”
              “Really? I didn’t know that, although I can see why I suppose.”

              “Yeah, but I can tell she’s not like she used to be. It boggles my mind the things she’s going through and what other’s think about it.”

              “Wow,” was all Jill could think to say. Then a question hit her. “So what are her plans or your plans for her? I mean, does she want to be living on her own for a while yet?”

              “I really don’t know, Jill. I’d hate to see her leave this home, but some days I’m not sure she should be alone either. I certainly can’t stay forever with her, though.”

              It surprised Jill that Brian’s words bothered her. Maybe it was because he had been here long enough that to see him leave would be a bit sad, especially for Elena.

              “When do you plan on going back?” Jill questioned.

              “Permanently? I don’t know. But I do have to head back in a couple of days to take care of a few things and get some more of my belongings.” After a small pause, he added, “I have a feeling this is what it’ll be like for a while.”

              “What do you mean?”

              “It means I’ll probably be going back and forth from time to time.”

              Brian rinsed off the bowl that held the Caesar salad, turned the water off and dried his hands. Then, turning to Jill, he put a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes.

              Jill had just grabbed the bowl Brian rinsed off when he touched her. Immediately she stiffened up, not sure what he was about to do, but, nevertheless, she gave him her attention. There was a pleading seriousness in his eyes; whatever he was going to say was important.

              “I have a favor to ask of you.”

              “What is it?” Jill asked, confused.

              “When I go back in a couple of days, would you be willing to watch over my mom a bit closer for me? Make sure she’s okay?”
             
That’s it?
Jill thought.

              “Well, yes. Of course!”

              A big sigh of relief escaped Brian’s mouth, and he felt the tension leave his body. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much it means to me knowing she’ll have someone here that she trusts – that I trust – when I’m gone.”

              The moment started to get a little uncomfortable for Jill. The spark Brian had kindled in her by gazing into her eyes was something she had to stomp out fast before it grew into an unquenchable fire. She stepped away from Brian’s touch to put the salad bowl away, and was grateful that Brian took the hint as he started washing again. They both then worked in unison until the job was complete.

              “Is there anything else I can help with?” Jill asked.

              Brian looked around and couldn’t come up with anything. He did notice the gift that Jill brought over, though, and suggested giving it to his mom.

              “That’s a good idea!”

              Jill went to the living room to hand Elena the gift. When she came back quicker than he thought she should have, he gave her a puzzled look.

              “She was sleeping,” Jill giggled softly. “I just left it on the table closest to her.”

              “Too much excitement I guess.” Brian shrugged his shoulders, not surprised.