“Mom,” said Ty, “throw it under. Under. Like this.” He moved his hand very patiently, trying to show her how to do it. It didn’t work. Leigh’s aim was actually worse than a four-year-old’s. She grouped them closer together. With them standing just a few feet apart, she could get the ball to the right person.

“Mom, let’s not play,” Mitch said. “We’ll practice a while and maybe you can play later. ’Kay?”

“That bad, huh?”

“This is for babies,” Ty said. “When’s John coming?”

“I don’t know, guys. Pretty soon, I suppose.”

“Did he say anything to you about being away for a while, Leigh? If I didn’t know better I’d think he was avoiding us,” Jess called.

“I don’t know, Mother.”

“Why don’t you call him for me? Ask him to dinner. I really think that young man has a thing for you. I know he gets a kick out of the boys. Something must have happened to—”

“Mother! For Pete’s sake!”

“Well, what the heck?” Jess defended herself. “He’s a nice young man. I’ve known him for years, and I can tell the two of you like each other. Maybe if you—”

“Mother! Stop it!”

“I am only suggesting,” Jess said, in her most patient, long suffering voice, “that I could turn this garden party into a wedding in a snap. Then I could have you and the boys settled and taken care of before I die.”

“You know something, Mom? I thought this was humorous for a couple of weeks, but it’s quickly losing its appeal. Now, do me a favor, don’t bring up John, marriage or death—in a humorous or serious vein—again. Understand?”

“Oh, Leigh,” Jess sighed. “You’re too young to be so old and crotchety.”

“Sometimes I actually think you’re serious.”

“If you’d get serious, we’d be in business.”

“I give up!” Leigh shouted. “I can’t take this anymore!”

“Heavens,” Jess muttered. “Testy.”

* * *

It was Wednesday. The brigade was seated in the front room when Leigh came in.

“Mom, Mitch and Ty are in front of the TV in the loft. I want to run to the bookstore, but I won’t be gone long. Can you keep an eye on them?”

“Sure,” Abby answered for her.

“Yes,” Jess said, glaring at her friend. “Buttinsky,” she muttered.

“Thanks,” Leigh said, fishing in her shoulder bag for her car keys. She went out the back door. When she got to the car, she realized she hadn’t remembered her checkbook and went back.

“So I’m stuck with a stupid garden party when what I wanted was a wedding,” Jess was saying in the next room.

“Well, at least you tried,” Abby consoled. “Do you have any idea what happened?”