After filling up his bucket with lots of shells and sand dollars, three year old Logan was ready for breakfast. "Mommy, I am hungry," he yelled.
"Okay, I guess we could go back up for breakfast. I am sure that Joyce is ready with it," she said. "I wonder if Mom got up as yet. Come on, guys, let's go back." She picked up Logan's bucket, which was now too heavy with shells for him to lift. Logan ran ahead, while Cristina held on to Owen's hand, as they walked back to the house.
"Logan, wait for me on the porch," she yelled at her son. She hoped he had heard her. There was one thing that Joyce did not like and that was sandy shoes in the house.
"He is a great boy, Cristina," Owen said. "Very lively."
"Sometimes a little too lively," Cristina admitted. "Sometimes at night, when he can't go to sleep, neither can I. But he is terrific, I must say."
"It must be hard as a single, young mom to be raising a little boy by yourself," Owen said.
"Yeah, that's why I don't have much of a social life," she said. "If someone asks me out, I need to get advanced notice so I could get a babysitter. Sometimes, I can't get a babysitter and I can't go out. So, I barely date."
"What about your mom?" he asked. "Maybe she can see about Logan so you can go out."
"Well, the thing is my mom doesn't live with us. She lives in Westchester in our house. I live in Brooklyn in an apartment, when I am at work in New York City. Since I am up here, he is staying with my mom in Westchester," Cristina said. "He is going to start pre-school in the fall and that's good. My assignment here should be over by then."
Owen's heart sank. He couldn't stand it whenever she spoke about leaving and going back to New York. They arrived back to the house where Logan was waiting on the back patio. "Good boy," Cristina said, as she took off his shoes. She kicked off her sandy shoes, as did Owen. They walked in to the kitchen to find Helen already down there, having a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, did you all have a great walk on the beach?" Helen asked. Logan went and took a seat at the kitchen table.
"Yes, we did," Cristina answered. "Owen, I want you to meet my mom, Helen." She guided him to where Helen was sitting at the table. The two politely shook hands. "Good to meet you, Helen," Owen said.
"Likewise, Owen. I have heard so much about you," Helen said. Owen was surprised. "What has she been telling you about me? I hope it's good things," Owen said.
"Oh, lots of good things," Helen said. "She said you were a brilliant writer and an even better friend." Owen smiled. It was good that she thought those things about him.
"And it is all true," Cristina said. "But she didn't mention how handsome you were," Helen said, laughing.
"Oh, mom, you're going to inflate his ego more than what it already is," Cristina said.
"Helen, I can see that we are going to be friends," Owen said, grinning. "Flattery will get you everywhere."
"Okay, folks, here we go, breakfast is ready," Joyce said, as she placed a plate in front of each of them. "I wasn't sure what to do for Logan, here."
"He will have cereal," Cristina said. "He loves cereal." She got up and got a bowl of cocoa puffs and milk for her boy. As Logan ate his cereal, he was content and quiet while all of the adults chatted.
Joyce announced that she was planning a seafood boil for the afternoon. She had got shrimp, crabs and lobster from the market to do it. She said she would set up in the backyard, since the weather was good.
"That sounds terrific, Joyce," Owen said. "Yeah, I planned it because I know we were having guests. I am so pleased to meet Helen and Logan," Joyce answered.
"And we are very pleased to meet you," Helen said. "From this breakfast, I know you are a magnificent cook. I just wish you would pass on some of your cooking skills to my daughter. She is the most dreadful cook ever."
"Mom!" Cristina said. "Stop telling everyone my secrets." Owen laughed. "Oh, I would like to hear a lot more of Cristina's secrets."
"Pshaw, Cristina," Helen said. "Everyone knows you are a terrible cook. But you know what would really embarrass her?"
"What? What?" Owen said, eagerly. He wanted to hear more about Cristina from the person who probably knew her best.
"It was in high school when she had this crush on this boy, Robert and she wanted to ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance. She got everything beforehand – the dress and the shoes. The only thing she didn't have was the boy. Every day, she chickened out and couldn't speak to him to ask him. She never did ask him and she stayed home the night of the dance. She never got to wear that dress that she made me buy," Helen said. Cristina groaned.
"Awww," Owen said. "That is one sad story, Cristina. If you had asked me to the Sadie Hawkins dance, I would have gone with you."
"Thank you, Owen. I was so shy in high school," she said. "Actually, that is only one example of my very sad existence in high school. So, Mom, no more." Helen laughed at her daughter's discomfort.
"Okay, so what are we going to do now?" Owen asked.
"I was thinking that I would take Mom and Logan into town to see the shops. Maybe we can have lobster rolls at Mrs. Gerrity's," Cristina said. "I don't know if you would be interested in coming."
"Yes, I would," he said. "Any chance to have a lobster roll at Mrs. Gerrity's."
"Good," Cristina said. "So we will meet in about an hour in the foyer. It will give us enough time to shower and change our clothes. Come on, Logan. Let's go get changed."
An hour later, they found themselves on the way to town. Helen found herself admiring the scenic route, while Logan talked non-stop to Owen about his favorite toys. Cristina realized that Logan was attracted to Owen since it was a male figure to which he could relate. She knew that her son missed having a daddy. It was sad that Logan and Marcus never met. But that was the way that life was sometimes. She looked across at Owen in the passenger seat. He looked so animated, conversing with Logan.
When they got to town, they checked out the souvenir shop where Cristina bought a t-shirt for Logan, then the chocolate store where chocolate and fudge were eagerly consumed, then they went to the clothing store and finally, the toy store. It was at the toy store that Logan had a meltdown. There was a toy train set on display and Logan was completely fascinated by it. He stood there, watching the trains go around and around the tracks.
"I want it, Mommy," he said. "Let's check the price, Logan," Cristina said. "Oh, my God, it's $300 for that train set. I cannot afford that, Logan. It's too much money for my budget." Logan's face set up to cry and Cristina knew he was going to create a scene. "But I want it, Mommy," he wept.
"Logan, if I could afford it, I would get it for you," Cristina told him. She tried to drag him away from the train set but he threw himself on the ground and started to roll around.
"Logan, get up," she said. "You're embarrassing me." She tried to pick him off the floor but the little boy stiffened himself to make it more difficult for her to pick him up.
"I will get it for him, Cristina," Owen said, digging into his pocket for his wallet. He hated hearing the little boy cry. It was so heart wrenching.
"You don't have to do that, Owen," Cristina said. "If I can't afford it, then he has to understand that." Logan suddenly got up from the floor and ran to Owen and hugged his leg. Owen picked him up and let the boy cry on his shoulder.
"Let's go," Cristina said. As Owen was carrying Logan, she held on to his arm to guide him down the street. "I think it is time to go to Mrs. Gerrity's for lunch. Maybe that will cheer him up."
When they got to Mrs. Gerrity's place, they were led to Owen's favorite table. "This is a lovely table," Helen said. "It has a fabulous view." Logan was sitting on Owen's lap. He was still mad at his mother for not getting him the train set. He glared at her from across the table.
"Logan doesn't love mommy right now, but that's okay," Cristina said. "He has to learn that he can't get everything." Mrs. Gerrity came across, with a beaming smile. "Well, hello folks, we have guests today, it seems."
"Yes, Mrs. Gerrity," Cristina said. "This is my mom, Helen and the little boy on Owen's lap is my son, Logan."
"Oh, my, he is a handsome young man and look at all of those golden brown curls. He looks like a cherub," Mrs. Gerrity said.
"Well, he is certainly not acting like a cherub right now," Cristina said.
"You know what? I am sure he would like a mini-lobster roll, made for someone just his size," Mrs. Gerrity. "I am going to guess that everyone else is ordering lobster rolls." They all nodded. "Okay, lobster rolls and potato wedges for everyone plus iced tea to wash it all down." She disappeared with their order.
"Mom, these are the best lobster rolls I have ever eaten," Cristina said. She looked across at Owen. Logan's tears had long been dried up and he and Owen were playing with each other. She was glad that they were getting along because Logan needed a male influence in his life.
When Mrs. Gerrity came with the food, Logan immediately slipped off Owen's lap and went and sat in the chair next to his mother. "So you're only coming to me when I have the food," Cristina said, shaking her head. She gave him a potato wedge to chew on. Logan hungrily ate it. He finished off his potato wedges. He couldn't hold his mini-lobster roll, properly, so Cristina held it for him, while he took a bite. "Good," he said, happily, after he finished his first bite.
"Logan knows when things taste good," Owen said. "Yup," the little boy said, as he continued to enjoy his roll. At the end of the lunch, Owen paid the bill and they got back into the car and drove back to the house.
Later that day, Joyce was working on her seafood boil in the backyard. Joyce enjoyed cooking in the backyard, since it really comprised the beach and the ocean. Cristina was helping her with it. "Now, they say you are a terrible cook but I don't believe that. I think all you need is someone with a little bit of patience and I have lots of it. This is going to be a most delicious seafood boil and you are going to help."
"Thank you for your confidence in me, Joyce," Cristina said.
"Where is your little boy?" Joyce asked. "He is such a beautiful boy, Cristina. You must be proud."
"I am but he is a little boy so sometimes, he can be naughty. He is with Owen, right now, playing," Cristina said.
"Ah, they are getting along very well, aren't they?" Joyce said. Cristina nodded. "I know. I think Logan craves male companionship. Mom and I do the best that we can but we are not guys and sometimes, he wants to play rough-and-tumble and we don't do that very well."
"He is good for Mr. Hunt, too," Joyce said. "Actually, so are you. Since you have been here, I have never seen him smile so much. He has always been a loner but it got worse after the accident. He was terribly bitter but with you here, he just positively lights up."
"He is a great friend, and I would like to think that I am a great friend to him, too," Cristina said. Joyce smiled, wondering if Mr. Hunt and Cristina could be more than friends.
About two hours later, the seafood boil was ready and everyone came out to have a nice outdoor dinner at the picnic table. As everyone sat down, Joyce made the point to note that Cristina had played an integral part in the preparation and cooking of the seafood boil.
"I am almost afraid, now," Helen said. She took her first bite. "Oh, my God, this is heaven."
"See, I am not so bad," Cristina said. "You never had the patience to teach me, mom. Joyce is a better teacher."
"That she is, I have to admit," Helen said. "Keep it up, Joyce. Anything we can do to improve Cristina's culinary skills."
"It's really good. Compliments to the two chefs," Owen said. Cristina and Logan sat down on the bench, right next to Owen, while Joyce and Helen were on the opposite bench. As usual, Cristina fed Logan first before she could have her own share of the seafood boil. When he was done, he hopped off and started running around the backyard. Everyone else had finished eating, except for Cristina, so Owen sat with her, while she ate. They didn't say anything, as they just sat in companionable silence, just enjoying being with each other.
After dinner, Cristina and Joyce cleared up the table while Owen had taken charge of Logan. They were sitting on the back porch, with Logan in Owen's lap. Soon enough, both of them fell asleep with Logan resting his head on Owen's chest. As Joyce passed them on the way to the kitchen, she remarked, "Isn't that the cutest thing ever, Cristina?" Cristina had to admit that it was.
The next day, everyone spent it on the beach, collecting shells, building sandcastles and enjoying the water. It was a good day but it had to end because that very evening, a taxi was coming to pick up Helen and Logan to take them to the airport. When the taxi arrived, Cristina hugged her little boy and told him to be a good boy for Grandma. It was then that Logan realized he was leaving and his mother was staying behind. He started to cry, uncontrollably and clung to his mother. His little heart was breaking. "I want to stay, mommy," he said over and over again.
"Mommy has to work, Logan," she told him, as she tried to get his arms from around her neck. But he clung even tighter and cried even louder. Owen could hear how Cristina's voice broke as she spoke to her son. He felt so bad for the both of them. He, too, knew he was going to miss the little boy.
"Let him stay," Owen said. Cristina looked at him in surprise.
A/N Please leave your thoughts and comments. I do appreciate them.