The Eight Year Ledger novel · Chapter 16 of 32

Chapter 16: Todd's Mother

Gabe woke up when the engine stopped.

He saw her through the windshield and was out of the car before I had it in park.

"Grandma! I had Ohio for breakfast!"

"Did you," she said, and hugged him with the cookie tin held out to one side.

Over his head, her eyes found mine.

She'd been a nurse for thirty-five years.

She had a way of looking at you.

"I made the sugar cookies," she said. "The bells and the trees. I thought you two might want some."

"Come in," I said. "I'll make coffee."

Gabe took the tin and ran inside to count the bells.

She followed me into the kitchen and sat at my table in her church coat.

"Todd has my car," she said.

"I know."

"He's had it since October. He says his Tahoe's in the shop."

I put the coffee on and didn't answer.

"He's living above the office. He told me that's because of a mold problem at the house."

She looked around my kitchen.

"I don't smell any mold, Kristen."

"No."

"He told me you had some kind of episode. Over a spam text at a school meeting."

She folded her hands on the table.

"He said I should give you space. That you weren't well."

"What did you think?"

"I thought my son has never once in his life told me to give anyone space." She tilted her head. "So I came."

The coffee maker gurgled.

I could hear Gabe in the living room, counting out loud. Bell, bell, tree, bell.

I sat down across from her.

"I don't want to tell you about your son," I said. "He should tell you."

"He won't."

"I know."

"Then you'll have to."

I got up and went to the den and came back with last year's ledger, and this year's.

I opened this year's to May.

I turned it around so she could read it.

She took her glasses out of her purse and put them on.

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