'Well, that’s a long story to be told another time.' I smiled, handing my money to the cashier at the end of the line. 'I’ll see you later, Haley.'
'Yeah. Bye, Andi.'
I quickly headed back to the table where Erin waited for me. With a smile, she grabbed the salad from my hands.
'Thanks. Who was that?' She indicated the food line with her plastic fork.
'Oh, an old friend from school.'
'Oh, one of those college buddies?' I shook my head, tearing open the packet of mayonnaise to squirt onto my sandwich.
'No. I knew her in Winston.'
'She’s attractive,' Erin said absently, watching Haley as she walked over to a table, sitting with people I recognized from the psychology department.
'Yup. That she is.'
'You better hurry up and lick that.' I smiled, watching Kendall attempt to eat an ice cream cone that was melting faster than her tongue could work. She licked the strawberry from her fingers, and continued eating. 'So, what’s this I hear about you and Jenna being caught smoking?' She looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise and fear.
'How do you know?'
'Your mom told me, Kendall.' Narrow shoulders slumping, she sighed, tossing what was left of her ice cream into a nearby trash can.
'She promised,' she mumbled.
'Honey, your mom didn’t tell me to betray you, or go back on her word. She’s worried about you.' The girl shrugged.
'It only happened once, and it was gross. I won’t do it again, Andi.' I looked at her, staring into green eyes.
'You know, when I was your age, I once found a bottle of tequila that belonged to my mother.'
'What’s tequila?'
'Really strong, nasty alcohol.'
'Drunk kind?'
'Yup. Drunk kind. So, I was curious, and took a huge drink of it. I got so sick.' I smiled at her, she smiled back, a hole where her right canine should be. She had been so proud of that hole, telling me she was getting 'grown up' teeth.
'Did your mom find out?' I nodded.
'Oh, yeah. She had to take me to the hospital.' Her eyes opened wide.
'Uh oh!' I smiled, wrapping my arm around her.
'Yeah, uh oh. I got into so much trouble for that. Kendall, you’re only ten years old. I don’t want to see anything like that happen to you. You’re smart, beautiful, so talented the way you can already dance and sing. Stay the way you are, okay?' She nodded slowly, exaggerated. 'Don’t let other kids who act stupid make you act stupid, too. Okay?' We stared at each other, and in that moment I felt a huge wave of pride and love wash through me for this little girl who had added so much to my life.
'I’m sorry, Andi. I didn’t mean to make you mad.' I hugged the little girl to me as we sat on the bench at the Rochester Mall.
'I’m not mad at you, honey. Just want to make sure you’re happy. That’s my job, okay?' She looked up at me, nodding with a wide grin. I smiled back, hugging her again.
'So I see you have a new shopping buddy.' I looked up to see Haley smiling down at us.
'Hey.' I smiled at her. 'Are you here alone?' I looked around, but saw no one familiar.
'No. Mom’s in the Wooden Spoon over there.' She pointed to the shop across the hall that sold different coffees and things for the kitchen. 'I finally managed to get her out of the house today, and out of town.'
'How’s your dad?' She shrugged.
'Alright, I guess. I’ve hired a nurse to help them out. Mom just really needed a break.'
'I imagine so.'
'So,' She clapped her hands together, smiling at Kendall. 'Who’s this?'
'Oh, Haley, this is Kendal Torrini, Kendall, Haley Corregan.'
'Nice to meet you, ma’am.' Kendall extended a small hand to my old friend. Haley smiled, completely charmed, as most were by Kendall.
'Well, hello, Kendall. And I’ll tell you what, you can just call me Haley, okay?' The girl nodded.
'And as far as shopping buddies, Kendall here was craving ice cream, so we stopped to get her some.'
'Na unh, you wanted ice cream, Andi.' I looked down into narrowed eyes, and heard a bout of laughter. I glared up at Haley.
'Okay, okay. So I’m the one with the sweet tooth.' Kendall smiled triumphantly.
'Well, I see nothing’s changed there.' Haley grinned.
'Ha ha. So is your mom still teaching?' Haley nodded.
'Yes, but only part time over the past year, so she could be with dad. Her school has been wonderful about it.'
'That’s great.'
'How’s your mom, Andi? I haven’t seen her in years. Does she still make those wonderful brownies?' Kendall giggled.
'I had some last weekend.'
'Well, you’re one lucky little girl, then.'
'Care to sit?' I patted the bench next to me.
'Sure.'
'Anyway, so yes she does, and she’s doing great. She’s finally made it to head nurse at the hospital.'
'Oh, how wonderful.' Haley crossed her legs, setting the package she’d been holding down next to her.
'She got married recently.'
'Married? Your mom? Wow. To who?'
'To a guy she had been seeing for a while. I don’t know if you remember Clive?'
'Of course I do. He was great on the barbeque grill.'
'Still is.' We both chuckled. 'They split up for about five years or so, then ran into each other again, and the rest is history.'
'That’s really neat. Your mom is such a wonderful woman. How about your brother?' I was amazed and impressed with how much she remembered of my life and family. So maybe I was the only schmuck who couldn’t remember my own name.
'Chris is doing great. He and his wife are expecting any day now.' A soft smile spread across Haley’s lips, and into her eyes.
'Ah. So sweet. You’ll be an aunt. Is this their first?' I nodded.
'He and his friend, Brian opened up a garage a few years back, and I have never had to pay for an oil change since.' She threw her head back as laughter came out. I smiled, looking at her. She was such a nice person. I had forgotten that. Just one smile could brighten up the room.
'Does he work on foreign cars, too?' I nodded. 'Wow. I may have to try this out.' She smiled. 'Good for him.'
'Yes, we’re very proud of him. You have a brother, right?'
'I sure do.' Score for Andi! 'He lives in New York and works as an architect.'
'Wow. Knock me over with a feather.'
'I know. Holden isn’t quite the little heathen I always figured he’d be. Actually, he was trying to get picked up by the Minnesota Twins in college, but unfortunately he got picked over. So, off he went. He’s engaged to be married to a wonderful girl named Stacey. Very nice girl, also an architect.'
'Very smart girl.'
'That she is.'
