While he was waiting for Howard and Heath he picked up the wedding photofrom the mantle. He still couldn'tbelieve that he had been married for almost eighteen years. He marveled on how young Victoria was, full of life not scared of the long trip that would take her from Boston to California, she was a strong woman sometimes his rock during difficult times. He was amazed by the resemblance between Heath and his little brother Nicky, he fondly remembered him as a prankster who loved to play jokes on his much older brother. Right now Nicky, as he still called him, was a renowned doctor in San Francisco, he wondered how he would react when he would learn about Heath. He didn't realized on the time he spent thinking, when he heard some noises coming from the staircase: Howard was descending alongside Heath who clutched his bag as he was afraid that someone would steal it. It was amazing on how much a bath and clean clothes couldchange a person, his light blond hair kept on banging in his eyes and he looked like more Nicky.
"Thank you, sir for the nice clothes and for the boots, I will work hard to repay for them"
'How hard your life was that you have to thank you for some hand me downs,' he sadly thought. "There's no need." He said.
"But I take no charity."
"Heath as your Papa, it's my duty is to care about and to look out after you, that means clothes, food and more important love." He said trying to make Heath understand.
Heath was is turmoil: he was different, his uncle had never given him anything for free, he had had to work hard for his keep, for any single scrape of food and tattered clothes he had received.
Tom wanted to asked Howard something more about Heath's health but his good friend had prevented him mouthing silently later.
"Heath you can leave your bag here, none will take it away"
Heath was unsure, inside his bag were everything he held dear in his life. He was afraid that someone would take it away. The look on Mr. Barkley's face, he didn't even dare to think as his papa, told him that it was safe, that he could trust him so he unclutched it and put on the floor but near him.
After awhile Silas came announcing that supper was ready. The two men had began to move in direction of the dining room, when Tom realized that Heathhad remained in the parlor.
"Heath, supper will get cold." Tom said.
Heath was stunned, Mr. Barkley asked him to join to his table, last week Mr. Silver on the way to Stockton shared his food with him and now he was invited to have dinner at the table.
"But sir, are you sure you want me..."
"I don't want to hear such nonsense, you are my son, where do you think you would eat?" He softly asked.
"In the kitchen with Mr. Silas. My uncle and aunt never wanted me to have dinner with them." He said, matter-of-factly.
"Son, here it's different. You will eat at the table with me." Tom said barely masking his sorrow on hearing Heath's words. The picture of Heath's life was getting grimmer witheach passing moment, he was aware that it would be an uphill battle to make his son understand that he was welcomed and loved not only someone to used a servant.
He took Heath's little hand in his and led him to the dining room. The table was laden with food. In his whole life, Heath had never seem so much food in one place, he recognized most of it, but he was afraid to ask about the food he wasn't familiar with. Tom sat at the head of the table on his right was Howard and he made Heath sit on his left, after a brief grace Tom began to load Heath's plate with food.
"Sir, that's enough...I've already eaten a slice of pie before." Said Heath unsure of the reaction.
"Tom, Heath is right. You have given more thanenough food." Said Howard.
"But he's skin and bones he needs to eat more!" Tom argued confused by Howard's words.
"I will explain later."
In front of Heath there were two glasses, one filled with milk and another one with an orange liquid he didn't recognized.
"It's orange juice," Tom said softly predicting Heath's question. "I reckon you have never tasted it, it's pretty good." Tom tried to sound normal, but deep inside he was crying at Heath's unfamiliarity at some common thing as orange juice.
Heath tentatively grabbed the glass and sipped a little bit, it was the best tastiest thing he had ever drank, the flavor reminded him of a sunny day.
"You can have more if you want." Tom said
"No thanks, I's got the milk to drink too." Heath stared at his plate, there were mashed potatoes with gravy, peas with carrots and a big juicy steak and they were hot, a big difference from the cold leftovers he was used to eat back in Strawberry. He wasn't sure how he would manage to eat the steak one armed, he tried to hold the fork with his right arm but with no avail.
"Sorry Heath...I didn't think about you broken arm, let me help you." Tom said.
Heath stared at Tom open-mouthed, 'he said he was sorry and for what?' he silently asked himself and his marvel increased when Mr. Barkley cut his steak in tiny little pieces, so he would be able to eat without problems. At first he tried to eat slowly but after awhile the hunger made him eat faster and faster.
"Heath slow down you will get sick if you eat so fast." Howard said.
It took a little bit but at last the words of the doctor penetrated in Heath's head and he slowed down.
Heath was unaware of the silent conversation between the two adults, they booth looked at the hungry boy, Tom had so many question to ask but he refrained himself, at last for the moment, as soon as Heath would be safe and sound in bed, he would storm Howard with questions.
Heath's eyes opened like saucers when Silas entered with the dessert, he couldn't believe another piece of pie; the one he had eaten before he had simply loved it, it was a rare treat and usually he had eaten cold pies. Silas deposited the three dishes of still fuming pies and left smiling in Heath's direction. With the pie there was something Heath had never seen, there was asmall amount of a whitish food.
He reckoned it was something cold since it was melting, he touched with a finger and found out it was pretty cold, then he looked at Tom with unspoken question.
"It's ice cream, usually you eat it during summertime but there's no law against eating during cold season," he said trying to mask his sadness 'oh my God he doesn't know what is an ice cream,' he thought, "you pick a spoon of it and mix it with a little bit of the pie." He said while he was demonstrating.
Heath looked suspiciously at the new food and tried to mix it with the pie. As soon as he placed the spoon in his mouth, his eyes sparkled, it was delicious. He ate as slowly as possible because he wanted to last it forever, when he finished he was a little sad because it was finished.
"I reckon you liked, if you want you can have more"
"Really?" Heath said and Tom was happy to notice that for the first time since his arrival Heath was acting like a normal kid.
He called out for Silas and he was astonished to find out that Silas was already coming with another portion of pie.
"I've never eaten something so good, sometimes during summertime my uncle told my aunt to prepare ice cream butI didn't know what it could be...I thought it was something good since they never left any leftovers." He said before attacking his second portion.
Tom didn't know if he would cry or smile at those innocent words that his little boy couldn't realize that it was impossible to leave any leftovers of an ice cream.
The day was taking its toll on Heath, and after awhile Tom realized that his blond son had laid his head on the table and fallen sound asleep, but not before finishing the pie, his hand still clutchedthe spoon. He gently scooped him in his arms and headed toward a guest room which would now be Heath's room, after removing the boots, he parted bangs of hair and gently kissed his son's forehead.
"Sweet dreams...I love you," he whispered in his ear. He planned to change Heath in a nightgown only after he had spoken with Howard he wanted to be prepared. He softly closed the door behind him and joined Howard in the parlor.