Author Note:

The song at the end of the story inspired this story. It doesn't quite follow it like the last one, but it has the same spirit. Enjoy.

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RosesBy Enelya 2 in the Family Series

It was a warm April afternoon as Chris drove into town. His mind was miles away. It was an important day and he couldn't be late. He stopped in front of the small building in town. It was white brick, the door way and window was trimmed in pale green and the door itself was a pale blue. He walked in and the little bell jingled above the door.

A petite, plump woman came from the back. Her white hair having been curled just so and the small, gold rimmed glasses sat near the end of the woman's nose, then were pushed up by a delicate finger. "Chris, don't see you much around here anymore. How's the boys?" She asked, wiping her hands on the apron around her waist.

Chris chuckled at her description of JD and Buck. They both knew that all though there were no longer small, they both acted like overgrown kids most of the time. "They're good and still acting like over grown kids. How about you Mrs. Perkins?" Chris asked as he smiled at the woman.

"I'm good dear. Muffin and Molly are doing well too, though Muffin keeps trying to go outside and get the birds in my garden. Poor dear forgets that she's declawed. I think poor Molly is going blind. She keeps bumping into things. I have a vet appointment on Monday. Oh goodness listen to me go on and on. Now dear, what brings you here today?" Mrs. Perkins asked, after she realized she'd been rambling.

"I need a dozen roses." Chris said his voice softening.

"Oh it's today isn't it dear? How could I forget? Let me get those for you." She turned to get the requested item when the door chimed. Chris looked and his eyes widened slightly at the customer. It was the same little boy that he had seen Christmas eve in the store.

"Well hi there." Chris said as the boy looked at him.

"Hi. My Momma loved the shoes. I came to buy her some roses today. It's her birthday." The little boy said proudly. He held up the little handkerchief of change once again and Chris grinned.

Mrs. Perkins came over and smiled at the child. "Hello little one. I'll be with you in just a minute." She said as she looked at Chris.

"Nah go ahead. Help him first." Chris said as he motioned for the boy to go ahead.

The little boy plunked the kerchief of change down. "I want to get eight roses for my Momma."

"Just eight dear? Why only eight?" Mrs. Perkins asked.

"Well that's how old I am." He said his cheeks coloring as he looked down a little in embarrassment. He didn't see the two adults give a smile at each other over the top of his head.

"I think that's a wonderful idea my dear." Mrs. Perkins said and chuckled a little as the child's head shot up with surprise. "Now let's see what we have here." She said as she began to count the change in the handkerchief. A frown marred her face a moment later. "Sweetie I'm sorry but there's only a dollar here and that's not enough for eight roses." She said sadly.

"Oh, is it enough for one rose?" He inquired as he looked at the woman hopefully.

Mrs. Perkins shook her head. "No baby it's not."

The little boy sighed then took up his handkerchief of money and looked at the older woman again. "Are - are you sure I can't buy a rose with a dollar? It's Momma's birthday and I-I haven't gotten to see her since Christmas Eve. I talk to her all the time though, and I promised her roses today for her birthday." He said tearfully.

Chris shook his head a little and dug out his wallet. "Mrs. Perkins give him the eight roses. We can't have him breaking promises to his Momma now can we?" He asked giving the little boy a smile. Then grinned bigger when he saw the little boy's eyes light up.

Mrs. Perkins smiled at Chris and got the roses for the child. She wrapped them in green florist paper and handed them over.

Chris counted out the bills to order his flowers as well, then looked up and noticed the child was gone. He looked up at Mrs. Perkins puzzled.

"He shot out of here already. I'll get your roses now Chris. You want them in the usual way?" She asked ,then they both turned as the door jingled again.

The little boy came running back in and looked up shyly at Chris. "I-I wanted to thank you sir for my Momma's roses." He said and stuck his hand out to Chris.

Chris smiled and shook the child's hand. "You're welcome son. I hope she likes them."

The little boy left out of the store again, leaving Chris and Mrs. Perkins laughing at his antics.

*******

Once Chris had his roses, he went out to his vehicle and sat the roses in the seat next to him. He sighed a moment, then started the car and headed to the one part of town that always caused him sadness. He pulled through the gates of the old cemetery and parked the black suburban. He got out and headed for the two graves just a few feet in front of him. Suddenly something to his right caught his eye. He looked and he felt his heart jump into his throat. It was the little boy from the florist shop. Chris walked over to him.

Bright blue eyes looked up when Chris approached. "Hi, this is where Momma stays now. She says she sure does thank you for the pretty roses." The little boy told him.

Chris nodded, then turned and walked over to the two graves he had been there to visit. He took the roses and put them in the little holder. As usual he took the ones that wouldn't fit and put them in the other holder next to the other gravestone. Chris knelt there and began to have a silent conversation with his wife and son. Tears filled his eyes and slipped quietly down his cheeks as he did so, then after a few minutes, he felt as if he were being watched. He looked up and saw the little boy watching him a couple of steps away. Chris motioned the boy over.

The little boy walked over and knelt next to Chris. "Is this where your Momma lives, too?" He asked quietly.

"No this is where my wife and little boy live." Chris said swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Oh. Well maybe my Momma can keep them company. I'm sure she and your wife would like to talk to each other about their little boys." The child said as he peered up at Chris unsure of how what he said would be taken.

Chris smiled and nodded. "I'm sure they would cowboy. By the way what's your name? Mine's Chris." He said feeling bad he hadn't asked before.

"Vin Tanner and my Momma's name is Jean. I live with Grandma now. Daddy couldn't take care of me anymore and he left me with grandma. My cousin Casey lives there too. She's a lot older than me. I-I gotta go now. My Grandma Nettie'll be worried about me." Vin said finally.

Chris nodded and watched the little boy run back, pausing by his mother's grave once more, then heading towards the gate. He mentally cursed himself then wondering why he hadn't offered the kid a ride home. "I know you understand Sarah." He said softly as he got up brushed himself off and began to run after the kid. "Vin! Hey Vin wait up!" He shouted and was glad to see the kid slow down. When he reached the boy he asked. "Hey cowboy, you want a ride home?"

"Really? Yes sir…but," He said suddenly becoming uneasy.

"But what Vin?" Chris probed.

"I ain't supposed to take rides from strangers." Vin said softly.

"Yeah alright then, I'll see ya later then Cowboy." Chris said understanding the reason. He headed for his suburban, then stopped when he heard something behind him. He turned, spotted Vin and quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Well we know each other's names and you did buy Momma's shoes and roses for me. I don't think my grandma would mind." Vin said as he looked hopefully at Chris.

Chris smiled and nodded. He opened the door to his vehicle and helped Vin into the back. He closed the door, then walked around to the other side, climbed in the driver's side and started the car.

*******

When they got to Vin's grandma's house. It was a white little house with white trim a couple of rose bushes sat on either side of the front porch. The lawn was neatly trimmed and from the outside the little house looked tidy. Chris stopped the car in the driveway. Vin opened the door after unbuckling himself and got out. "Thanks for the ride Chris."

"Vincent Michael Tanner! Who's car is that you just got out of?!" Came the shout from the young girl standing at the door.

"It's my friend Chris, Casey."

"Grandma Nettie! You better get out here!" Casey called.

An older woman appeared behind the girl. She was a little taller than the young girl, with gray hair cut short and curling near her face. She plumped around the middle a little and quirked an eyebrow at Chris then looked at Vin. "Vin Tanner what have you been told about accepting rides from strangers? You get your butt over here right now!" Nettie ordered.

Chris watched as the little boy bowed his head and walked dejectedly over to the woman. He got out and was about to walk over when the younger girl pointed a rifle at him. "Hey whoa hold on! I'm not here to hurt anyone." Chris said putting his hands up.

"Casey put the gun down. If he tries anything funny then you can shoot him." The older woman said calmly. She looked down at Vin and regarded him carefully, then looked up as she heard Chris approaching.

"I-I'm sorry Grandma Nettie. I-I thought it'd be okay. He's the man that bought Momma's shoes for me and he bought me her birthday roses today too." Vin said softly looking up with tears bright in his eyes.

Nettie looked up at Chris. "You're the one?" She smiled then looked at her granddaughter. "Casey put the rifle up. You won't need it."

Casey hesitated at the command. She still wasn't sure of the stranger. Sure he had bought the shoes and now the roses for her cousin, but he could still want something from them for it, and kept the rifle where it was.

"Casey, I said put it down. Now young lady." Nettie ordered more sternly.

The teen sighed and lowered the rifle. She still didn't trust the man and watched him warily as Nettie ushered him in. Casey followed behind everyone, and put the rifle up after closing the front door. She made sure though that she always kept an eye on Chris and made sure she had access to a door just in case she had to grab Vin and run. She knew that's what her Grandma would want.

Chris stayed and chatted with Nettie and her grandchildren for about an hour, then got up. "Well Ma'am I hate to leave, but I have to get home I got my brother and nephew at home waiting on me and there's no telling what those two will get into if I'm not there." Chris said and chuckling. When he looked up though he was looking into the angry eyes of the elderly woman.

"Just how old are those two boys that you left by themselves?" She asked sharply.

"Ma'am, Buck is twenty-one and JD is seventeen. They're both old enough to stay by themselves, but those two can get into a lot of mischief if left by themselves too long." Chris said placating the older woman once he realized what she was all fired up about.

Nettie calmed the minute she heard the ages of the boys and started chuckling as Chris continued. "Well then I'll let you get home to them. You call me Nettie too. I don't need none of this ma'am stuff. Thank you again for watching out for my little Vin, and don't you worry none about him either."

A glance at the boy and Chris could tell the boy was nervous about something. He knelt down and lifted the boy's lowered head. "What's the matter Cowboy?" He asked as he stared into the eight-year-old's watery blue eyes.

Vin immediately lowered his eyes as he could feel the heat flush his cheeks. He couldn't let Chris know what was going to happen to him. "N-nothin'" he stated as he tried to move his head away from Chris's hand.

"He'll be fine. You'd best be getting' home to your boys" Nettie's said trying to get Chris to leave as she knew the reason for Vin's distressed actions.

Chris looked up, then studied the boy again and nodded. "You're right ma'am. I mean Nettie." He looked at Casey and nodded at her and just shook his head, when she gave a very undignified snort, crossed her arms and turned her head away from him.

Chris left he house and got into his suburban and drove towards home.

When he arrived home he surveyed the yard and wondered what Buck and JD were up to. It was too quiet and Chris had a feeling they were planning something, or had already planned it and were waiting on him. He got out of the vehicle and called to his assailants before they ambushed him. "Buck! JD! I'm in no mood!" He strode to the house and upon entering was a little surprised to see Buck and JD watching the television. Buck was in the armchair one leg over the arm of the chair as he held the remote in his hand. JD was sprawled on the floor his head propped up on his hands.

"What were you hollerin' about outside?" Buck asked not taking his eyes from the television.

"Nothin'" Chris said as he flopped down on the couch. "What are you two watching?" He asked after a minute.

JD shrugged and answered, "We're just kinda flippin'."

The room was quiet for a few minutes till Chris finally spoke. "I ran into that kid again today."

"What kid?" Buck asked switching the channel. He watched the show a couple of minutes, then switched the channel again.

"You mean that one at Christmas?" JD asked turning his head to look at Chris.

"Yeah JD. He came into Mrs. Perkins to get some roses." Chris said, his voice becoming soft.

He watched as JD turned, sat up and stared at him as Buck put the television on mute and looked over at him. He told them both about what had happened that day and concluded the story by saying, "Poor kid, I feel bad for getting him in trouble. Hopefully she won't be too hard on him."

"What do you mean Chris? You said she was glad it was you." JD asked not understanding why the older woman would still be angry with the small boy. Her granddaughter on the other hand sounded like a little spitfire and JD hoped to meet her one of these days.

Chris opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by his younger brother. "You two act like you know what's gonna happen to the little fella." Buck said not quite understanding.

"She's gonna spank him Buck, for acceptin' a ride home with someone he didn't know." JD answered for Chris.

Chris nodded. "Yeah that's what I figured too JD. She was not happy when we first got there and the look on the boy's face when I was leaving confirmed what I had figured would happen. Still, I see her side of it and would do the same if he were mine." He said as he nodded his head in silent agreement with what he had just said.

A soft sigh came from the other man in the chair as the room descended into a uneasy silence. JD scooted closer to Chris and laid his head in the man's lap. A moment later he felt Chris's hand on his head.

*******

"Vin, what were you told about accepting rides from strangers." Nettie admonished the boy.

"N-not to Grandma Nettie, but he…" Vin started, but was cut off.

"I know he was nice to you baby, but sometimes people who are nice to little boys are only nice to them because they want something. He could've easily driven off with you today when you got into his car and we would've never known what happened to you. You are very lucky that he is a nice man." Nettie scolded as all sorts of awful things that could've happened to her grandchild flooded her mind. " Casey, I need you to go outside and check on the animals." Nettie said quietly.

Casey looked up with a look of confusion on her face. "But Grandma Nettie…" She stopped suddenly and realized the reason for the odd request. "Sure Grandma. I-I'll be back in a little bit." She said and went outside to the barn to take her horse, Whisper, for a ride.

Nettie watched from the window as he granddaughter rode off on her horse, then turned back to the dejected looking little boy sitting in the arm chair head down and fiddling with the seat cushion. She walked over and put her hand on his head and stroked his hair which was quite long. Nettie knew the boy should get a haircut, but any mention of it and Vin holed up in one of his special spots that he could be seen in but not reached, until Nettie promised she wouldn't cut his hair or let anyone else do it.

Vin looked up, blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears. He stood up from his chair and sighed sadly. He knew it was wrong, but he had felt in his heart that Chris wouldn't hurt him. He had talked to his Mama today and she had told him that Chris was a good man. He couldn't explain this to his grandma. She would still say he was in the wrong for accepting the ride.

The look on the boy's face before he got up, told Nettie what the child was expecting. She knew he still felt that he was in the right and decided that maybe she could listen to him and see what he had to say. Listening to another never hurt anyone. She sat down in the chair Vin had vacated and pulled him onto her lap. "Vin, why don't you tell me why you feel Chris is nice, besides the fact that he bought those things for you."

"He didn't buy 'em for me Grandma Nettie, he bought 'em for Mama. She told me today that Chris is a good man and that he would be good to me," Vin told her.

She looked down into those questioning blue eyes and knew that somehow her grandson could hear his mother's voice. She hugged the boy close to her and then stared down into the little boy's gaze. "You still shouldn't have gotten in the car with him," she told him.

Vin lay quietly against Nettie as he listed to her speak. He just laid there thinking on what she said and nodded. He sat up, sighed sadly, then got up and stood next to his grandma knowing she would know what he was expecting.

Sadness filled Nettie's eyes as she realized what Vin was doing. She shook her head at the boy. "No baby, I understand why you did it. There's no need for that. Come here." She said holding her arms open and encouraged the boy to resume his spot on her lap.

The little boy did as he was bid and snuggled against the older woman. Part of him was relieved that he wasn't being punished, but there was another part of him that was confused and sad. He had done something his grandma had told him not to do, yet he still did it. She had always said that he should never ever accept a ride from a stranger no matter the reason, and now here she was saying it had been alright. He sighed and snuggled closer.

Roses For Mama

By

C.W. McCall

Well, I had two weeks vacation comin', so I thought I'd drive down to Florida: spend some time with an old friend, date a few girls, make a few parties, and just kinda live it up againSo I packed up my car, and then I called my mom in Tennessee, and told her what I planned to do. she said, "son, are you comin' by?" and I said, "mom, I'm really pushed for time, but I'll see you in a week or two."And I was drivin' through this little town in Georgia when I remembered: today's mama's birthday. well, I thought I'll just stop and wire some flowers. shouldn't take too long; then I'll be on my waySo I walked in a flower shop and the first thing I saw was this little boy, with his eyes full a' tears. I said, "what's wrong, son?" he said, "mama loves roses. and today's her birthday, and I haven't seen her in almost a year."[Chorus]Roses for mamaToday's her birthdayRoses for mamaToday's her birthdayHe said, "I live with grandma now. but I promised mama some roses, 'cause I talk to her all the time. I wanted to give her five, 'cause that's how old I am. but the lady said I couldn't buy 'em with just a dime."Well, the little fella's story kind a' touched my heart, so I told the lady to give him what he wanted and charge it to me. then I told her I needed to wire a dozen roses to my mama, up in chapel hill, TennesseeI looked around, and the little boy was gone. but all of a sudden the door flew open and he come runnin' back in and he said, "mister, I forgot to thank you for the roses." he smiled, he shook my hand, and ran back out againWell, I started on out of town. and I was feelin' real proud of myself for thinkin' of my mama and really carin', when I looked out the window and I saw that same little boy, kneelin', by a grave in an old cemeteryI stopped my car and walked over to where the little boy was kneelin' down. and he smiled up at me and said, "this is where my mama stays. she says she sure does thank you for these pretty roses." well that's when I had to walk awayAnd I drove straight back to that flower shop and I said, "lady, have you sent those flowers to Tennessee?" she said, "no, not yet." I said, "well, nevermind. I'll just take them back with me."[Chorus]Roses for mamaToday's her birthdayRoses for mamaToday's her birthday