Chapter 9: Around the Same Table
1301 Words
The first cool breeze of September blew through the open kitchen window. It smelled of freshly cut grass and charcoal from somewhere down the street.
Becca stirred homemade potato salad at the counter.
The kitchen bustled around her.
Oldest was chopping tomatoes.
Middle child was putting chairs at the picnic table outside.
Youngest was supposed to be rinsing strawberries.
Instead, half the container was gone. Bruised from youngest’s mouth.
Becca swiveled at the counter.
“How much are those strawberries going into the bowl?”
Youngest paused, strawberry still halfway in her mouth.
“…eventually.”
Becca laughed.
“I should have gotten two containers.”
“You definitely should’ve.”
Today was no normal Sunday. Today Craig would meet some of her family.
Her sister Melissa would be bringing her husband and kids.
One of her aunts she hadn’t seen in months would be there.
A couple of cousins.
Nothing fancy. Just burgers, hot dogs, homemade sides, and some laughs together.
Yet…
Becca felt butterflies.
It wasn’t because she was worried about Craig.
She knew him.
Knew the gentleness that colored most everything he did.
She was worried about herself.
What people thought.
If she was moving too fast.
If someone leaned over and whispered,
“Already?”
They’ve known each other for years now, but…
A Quiet Conversation
Someone knocked on the back door.
Craig came inside holding two bags of ice and a bouquet of sunflowers.
“You already brought flowers this week,” Becca said.
He grinned.
“These are for the table.”
She laughed.
“You think of everything.”
“I try.” Craig winked. He noticed her looking at him. Saw the butterfly’s moment from before.
“You nervous?”
Becca sighed.
“A little.”
He placed the sunflowers on the counter.
“About today?” He asked softly.
She nodded.
“I don’t know why.”
Craig leaned on the counter next to her.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“If someone loves you…”
He smiled gently.
“They’ll probably be happy that someone else loves you well.”
Her eyes met him.
“And if they’re not?”
He shrugged softly.
“Well then. We’ll still eat burgers.”
She laughed softly.
“I love your backup plan.”
Guests Arrive
It was noon before the driveway filled with cars.
Kids were sprinting through the yard before adults could take off their coats.
Melissa hugged Becca tightly.
“You look happy.”
Becca smiled.
“I am.”
Melissa stepped back.
“I can tell.”
She looked towards Craig, who was stacking folding chairs from the garage.
“So…”
“So?” Becca echoed him.
“That’s Craig.”
Becca nodded.
“He’s-”
“That’s Craig.” Melissa cut her off, grinning.
“I like him already.”
“You’ve spoken exactly zero words to him.”
“I know. Don’t mind me.”
“But he carried those chairs before anyone asked.”
Becca laughed.
“That definitely tracks.”
Craig approached them both. “You must be Melissa.”
She smiled.
“And you must be the man who finally got my sister to stop apologizing every five minutes.”
Craig blinked up at her.
“I can’t take credit for that.”
“You should take some.”
Craig shook his head.
“She did the hard part.”
Becca stared at him again. He always did that.
When people told him she was healing…
He would quietly take the credit away from himself and give it right back to her.
The Backyard
The backyard was bustling by late afternoon.
Someone had kicked off a game of horseshoes.
The smell of burgers sizzled through the warm air.
Craig hovered near the grill alongside Melissa’s husband Mark.
“You flip those too early,” Mark grumbled.
Craig grinned sheepishly.
“I’ve been told I have commitment issues with burgers.”
Mark chuckled.
“No, you don’t. Let them cook.”
“I’m learning.”
Becca watched them from the back porch.
Sarah elbowed her softly.
“You’ve been smiling at him for five minutes straight.”
“I have not.”
“You really have.” Sarah snickered.
Becca rolled her eyes.
“I can’t help it.”
Sarah smiled warmly.
“No, you can’t.”
An Honest Moment
Eventually, the afternoon turned to evening, and Becca’s aunt cornered her, refilling the lemonade pitcher.
“You’ve changed.”
Becca peered up over the pitcher.
“In a good way?” she asked.
“Nope.” Aunt scooted close and squeezed Becca’s hand. “In the best way.”
“I used to worry about you.”
Becca paused.
“I know.”
“You were always…” Aunt searched for the word.
Tired. Exhausted.
Becca finally nodded.
“I was.”
Her aunt smiled kindly.
“You don’t seem that way anymore.”
Becca looked up towards the back porch. Craig was outside fixing the youngest girl’s kite that had gotten tangled up in the fence.
He wasn’t trying to steal the spotlight.
He wasn’t making a production of himself.
He was just helping.
“I don’t feel that way anymore.”
Her aunt followed her gaze to see Craig heartily laughing with one of her daughters.
“I think peace suits you.”
A Simple Blessing
Night fell, and everyone found their seats at the long picnic table.
Paper plates. Sweet tea poured into mason jars. Kids laughing across the yard.
Before they began eating, Melissa’s husband cleared his throat.
“Y’all mind if I say a prayer?”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Heads bowed together.
“How blessed we are to not just have food and family, but for new families. And for you showing me what it means to love someone the way you love her, Craig.” Thank You for second chances and for the people You place in our lives exactly when we need them.”
Tears pricked Becca’s eyes. She opened them for a moment to see Craig looking right back at her across the table.
He smiled at her, not because anyone was watching or because it was romantic.
He smiled because she was there.
Smiling back at him.
After Everyone Left
The driveway was empty again by sunset.
Kids inside wiping sticky hands on old t-shirts. Backyard littered with chairs to put away.
Craig picked up the last cooler.
“I’ll take this.”
“You cooked all day. You’ve done enough.”
Craig just smiled at her.
“Promise I had a good day?”
She smiled and nodded. “So did I.”
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment.
Craig’s chicken coop sat next to the garage, finally finished except for paint touch-ups.
They’d hung flower boxes beneath the little red door, and they were overflowing with blooms.
Becca looked around at their yard.
“It feels… different.”
Craig placed the cooler next to the garage.
“What?”
She took a second, considering. Then smiled at him.
“For the first time…” She glanced back towards the house where she could hear her kids laughing inside. “…my past and future sat at the same table.”
Craig crossed the grass towards her. He didn’t say anything. He just slipped his hand into hers.
This time, she didn’t pull away.
She laced their fingers together like it was the easiest thing in the world.
Cool air blew in from outside as the porch light turned on automatically.
And just like that… standing there beneath it with Craig’s hand in hers, Becca realized something she hadn’t thought she’d ever say:
She wasn’t trying to replace her past.
She was building a future with him.
- Writer
