“Sure, as long as you do exactly what Mr. Alex tells you to do and don’t get in the way.”

“He won’t be in the way,” Alex said as he came into the kitchen, dressed for work. “Will you, Ethan?”

“No way. I’ll be such a big help.”

“I have no doubt,” Alex said, smiling.

“Run over and brush your teeth and grab your backpack,” Paul said. “I’ll walk you up to the bus if it’s okay with your mom.”

“It’s fine with her,” Ethan said as he tore out the door at top speed.

“Wow, nice save,” Hope said with a warm smile for Paul. “He was winding up to a full-blown meltdown over me leaving.”

“Pumpkins to the rescue,” Paul said. To Alex, he added, “And thanks for letting him help. He’s been watching them for weeks now.”

“Happy to have him,” Alex said as he downed his first cup of coffee standing up, like he did every day. “Don’t worry about a thing while you’re gone. Jenny and I will take good care of him.”

“Yes, we will,” Jenny said when she joined them, her hair wet from the shower. “We’re looking forward to it.”

“You guys are so nice to do this when you have so much else going on,” Hope said.

“You do us a huge favor every day just by showing up,” Alex said.

“Well, you do pay me to show up,” Hope said, making them all laugh.

“Still,” Alex said, “it’s no small thing you do around here, and we appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the break from the routine and relax.”

“I will, thank you.”

Ethan came barreling back into the house at full speed as usual. He took his lunch from his mother and paused to endure the hug and kiss she bestowed upon him before going to kiss Marion.

“Be a good boy,” Marion said, fixing his hair the way she used to do for her own boys.

“I’m always a good boy.”

Amused by his witty reply, Paul followed him out the door and up the lane to the bus stop.

They were halfway to the road when Ethan looked up at him. “Could I ask you something?”

“Sure you can.”

“You’ll take good care of my mom while you’re gone, right?”

Stunned by the heartfelt question, Paul nodded. “You can count on it.”

“My friends Kyle and Jackson… Their mom died.”

“I know, buddy.”

“I don’t want that to happen to my mom.”

They arrived at the bus stop, and Paul squatted to bring himself to Ethan’s eye level. “Nothing is going to happen to her,” Paul said, his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “I’ll take very good care of her. You have my word on that. And a man’s word is a solemn promise.”