Can you show me how you look for paw prints? Scotty asked as he took another piece of pizza.
I can show you how to recognize Mr. Boness prints, and how they differ from a rabbit, a horse or other creatures that may hunt mice around your barn. Uh, if its okay with your mom, he added.
Im fine with it as long as you dont follow them into the woods, Scotty. Its too easy to get turned around and lost in there.
Definitely, Wyatt stressed. I carry a GPS and I have a regular old-style compass if my electronics stop working.
Im full, Scotty said. Can I see the wolf book now?
Maybe Wyatt hasnt finished eating, Tandy chided. Wrap the rest of your pizza and stick it in the fridge to eat tomorrow.
Yay. Pizza two times in a row. The boy hopped up and ran to get foil.
While he was rummaging in a drawer, Wyatt leaned toward Tandy. As well as a book, I ran across a poster of a wolf family. I bought it, but if you think Scottys too curious about wolves, I wont give it to him.
Oh, hell love it. His cousin in Hawaii had surfing posters on his wall. Scotty was always envious. He didnt have his own room at my sister-in-laws.
Wyatt ate the last of his salad and excused himself from the table. He retrieved the sack from the bookstore and unrolled the poster for Scotty and his mom to see.
Wow, wow! I love it. Mama, can we hang it across from my bed so when I wake up I see it? Like where Mark tacked up his surfer dudes? Not waiting for his mother to say yes or no, Scotty flung his arms around Wyatt. My daddy never bought me nothing. Hes not dead, Mama said. But hes gone. I wont see him anymore and I dont care. This is the best present I ever got. Can you stay here always, Wyatt? I know Mama said youre only here til you find the wolves. Why do you gotta go away?
Seeing the shocked expression on Tandys face, Wyatt unwound Scottys arms. Im glad you like the poster. Lets sit and Ill read you part of the book.
The boy plopped down immediately, and Wyatt thought hed smoothed over an awkward situation. At least he did until he noticed the pleat between Tandys eyebrows as she jumped up and hurriedly began to clear the table. Wyatt wondered if he should have said more to extricate himself. Surely she didnt think he was trying to usurp the place of Scottys father. Hed have to find a minute alone to assure her that wasnt so.
Chapter Three
Tandy suddenly felt angry all over again at Dan. She had bought Scotty birthday and Christmas gifts and marked them from her and Dan. How could their son be aware his father had never contributed anything? Had she accidentally sounded negative when explaining their divorce? Shed tried to be evenhanded. No matter how it hurt her, she hoped someday Dan would regret turning his back on his son.
While loading the dishwasher, she listened to Wyatt reading and explaining the pictures that went along with the story. There was no mistaking Scottys delight. She had to smile over his rapid-fire questions. And yet the man kept up.
Soon done in the kitchen, Tandy still lingered. She didnt want to interrupt them so she assembled ingredients for chocolate chip cookies and got busy mixing. It didnt take long.
The timer sounded when the first sheet was done. Suddenly Scotty appeared beside her as she took the pan from the oven. He clutched the book and poster and literally bounced up and down with excitement, almost tripping over Mr. Bones.
Mama, those smell so good. Can Wyatt and I have some? And will you take a picture on your phone of me with my book and poster? I wanna send it to Mark. Then can I call him? I bet he doesnt know mama and daddy wolves stay together their whole lives. And their pups go off like people kids do. Wyatt said if either the mama wolf or daddy die, they live with the pack but dont get married again. Did you know that? He moved closer to the stove, turning serious when she eyed him with a slight frown. Okay, wolves dont really get married cause they dont got churches like us, but its com...com...whats that word you used, Wolf Man? Uh, Wyatt, he rushed to say, no doubt because Tandy set the pan of cookies down really hard.
I said they have a committed relationship, Wyatt whispered to Tandy, walking into the kitchen. I couldve said studies suggest wolves mate for life, but then Id have to explain what that means. He wrinkled his nose and scratched the side of his neck, all while offering Tandy a self-conscious shrug. I was explaining how wolf packs resemble a town in how often families band together.
Finding his discomfort endearing, Tandy slanted him a smile. Raising curious, precocious kids can be a challenge. Scotty, let me unload these cookies to the cooling rack and put the next pan in to bake before you take any.
As she worked, she eyed her son. With her having been away, she worried that he hadnt received many gifts for no reason. Thanks to Wyatt, right now Scotty was dancing on air. It buoyed her spirits to see him so exuberant.
I suppose you can call Mark. Lets see, its still early enough in Honolulu so you wont interrupt their dinner. She checked her watch as she deftly set the timer again.
I can take his picture if youd like, Wyatt said. Ill set up his call if you need to refill that pan. Id hate for you to burn those great-smelling cookies.
That would be helpful, thanks. She wedged her phone out of her pocket.
Wyatt reached for it and their hands tangled. Tandy almost dropped the phone. He caught it, and she mumbled, Marks number is under Lucinda, his moms name.
Touching her arm briefly as he slipped by her, Wyatt glanced around the small kitchen. How about you go back and sit on the couch, Scotty? You can unroll the poster, hold it to one side and have the book on your lap. That way well get everything in one photograph.
Yay, yay, hurray! Mark will be so jealous. Thats the right word, isnt it, Mama? Stopping at the door, Scotty flung the question back over his shoulder. Thats what Mark used to say about me when he pinned up new surfing posters.