Dave glanced over at Mary and saw that she was trying not to laugh. He supposed his family did make things interesting. It was nothing like the formal and stiff meals her family had when they were together. He’d rather listen to his family get into petty squabbles any day of the week.
“You know,” Sally began after everyone grew silent, “Maureen and Connie paid Mary a high compliment. They offered to buy her recipe for her apple pie while we were talking about Richard. They’re very picky. The fact that they want her recipe is a big deal.”
“Did you sell it to them?” Richard asked.
“No,” Mary said. “I can’t sell my apple pie recipe. That would give them full rights to it, and I wouldn’t be able to make any more in the future.”
“Why did they want to buy your recipe?” Dave asked in surprise.
“They’re selling foods now,” Mary told him. “Anything on their menu has to be only theirs. Otherwise, they can’t say they own it.”
“I’m glad you told them no.” She loved making those pies. He couldn’t imagine her without an apple pie in hand. Ever since he knew her, she’d prided herself on her ability to make the best apple pies anywhere, and after having eaten other women’s apple pies, he would have to agree with her.
“I’m glad you told them no, too,” Joel said. “These meals wouldn’t be the same without one of your pies. Speaking of which, did you save me a slice since I’m mending your husband’s leg?” He offered her a hopeful smile.
Mary smiled. “I made enough so everyone at this table can have a slice.”
Tom grinned. “That’s why you’re so great, Mary. You think of everyone.”
“I cut up the apples,” Sally said.
Joel glanced at April and rolled his eyes. All about herself, he mouthed to April.
“This is a slow day for you, Joel,” Dave said, deciding to get involved for once. “Usually, you’re picking on Tom.”
Joel’s attention went to Tom then he looked back at Dave. “I keep forgetting he’s there. Tom, you’re being too quiet.”
Tom’s eyebrows furrowed. “Quiet? I’ve been talking during the meal. Amanda, Jessica, and Owen have been quiet this entire time.”
“Really?” Joel scanned the table. “I guess it’s because I’m so used to you saying something stupid that it’s hard to notice when you don’t.”
Tom put his fork down and grabbed a dinner roll when Joel jumped up.
“Before Pa says it, I know. I’m not getting dessert.” Then Joel hurried out of the room.
Tom threw the roll, but he missed Joel.
From the children’s table, the kids started laughing.
“Tom, did you really have to do that?” Dave’s mother asked.
“He started it,” Tom argued.
Sally groaned. “I swear, you two haven’t grown up at all.” Before her parents could say anything, she shot them both a pointed look. “You have to admit that since they have children of their own, they should behave better.”
“Well,” Dave’s pa began, “one would hope so.”
“They almost got through an entire meal without acting up,” Rick told Sally. “That’s progress.”
“Progress?” Sally rolled her eyes. “At this rate, they won’t behave through an entire meal until they’re old enough to have great-grandchildren.”
“Just be glad you don’t live with them anymore,” Richard said.
Since that seemed to put Sally at ease, Dave’s ma stood up. “Mary and Jenny, would you like to help me bring in the pies?”
Mary and Jenny jumped up to do so, and the mood instantly changed to one of anticipation. Dave couldn’t imagine one of the family get-togethers without Mary’s apple pies. Most of the time, he liked Maureen and Connie, but at other times, they found a way to irk him. He hoped they had better sense than to bother Mary about her recipe again.
“Is something bothering you, Dave?” Tom asked.
“I’m fine,” Dave replied.
“You’re not upset Joel showed the children your injured leg, are you?” Richard asked. “You know Joel didn’t mean to embarrass you. He figured now was a good time to check it since we were all together.”
“I’m fine,” Dave replied a second time. “I know the children couldn’t resist coming around to see what was going on.”
“I’m glad I didn’t see it,” Sally said with a shiver. “It was probably disgusting.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Dave told her, “but it’s not something I want to look at for the rest of my life.” Thankfully, he would be fully healed soon. He was looking forward to getting back to doing what he loved, even though he couldn’t get back into the full swing of things as soon as he’d hoped.
His mother, Mary, and Jenny returned with the pies, and soon, everyone’s attention was on dessert.
***
“Can you read me the article again?” Isaac asked three days later.
Dave opened his eyes, unaware he’d drifted off to sleep. With a grimace, he straightened up in the chair. What was it about sitting on the porch for hours at a time that put him to sleep? He blinked and turned his attention to his son who stood beside him with a newspaper in his hands.
Dave’s eyebrows furrowed. “Is that the same article I already read to you five times?”
Isaac nodded and put it on Dave’s lap. He sat in the chair next to him and smiled expectantly. “I’m done with my chores. Ma said I could do whatever I wanted.”
“And you want to hear the same thing you’ve heard a lot of times before?”
“It wasn’t a lot of times. It was only five.”
To Dave, it seemed like reading the same article five times was more than enough for anyone, but as he looked at his son, he realized how much it would mean to him if he did it. Dave picked up the paper and turned the newspaper to the page
