Free Tea and Destiny by Sherryl Woods

thing.
    “Hi, sweetheart,” Ann said.
    “Hi.” Melissa whispered the response so softly Ann could barely hear her.
    “Honey, is Tracy there?”
    That was greeted by a long silence, then finally a hesitant, “No.”
    So much for that idea. “How about Jason?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Can you get him for me?”
    “Okay.”
    Melissa hung up the phone. Ann gritted her teeth and called back.
    “Hi,” Melissa said cheerfully.
    Ann used her sternest tone, the one that always got results. “Melissa, I want you to get Jason at once.”
    This time the phone clattered to the floor. She heard Melissa’s footsteps receding, accompanied by choking sobs.
    “Oh, Lord. Now what?” Tapping her fingers against the desktop, she waited on the off chance that Melissa would actually get Jason. She could hear the shouts of various children in the background.
    “Hey,” Paul yelled. “Who left the phone off the hook?”
    “Paul!” she yelled back, just as the phone clicked off.
    She dialed again. This time Paul answered.
    “Paul, it’s Mom.”
    “Oh, hi, Mom. Have you been trying to call? The phone’s been off the hook.”
    “I know,” she said with rapidly ebbing patience. “Would you please get Jason for me?”
    “Sure thing. Hey, Jason, Mom wants to talk to you. Are you coming home soon? Melissa’s crying something fierce.”
    “She’ll be okay,” Ann promised just as she heard Tom’s horn blow. “Is Jason coming?”
    “Yeah, he’s right here, but I gotta ask you something first. Is it okay if Hank takes Tommy and me to the construction site tonight?”
    She couldn’t imagine Hank volunteering to do that. “Is that your idea or his?”
    “He said it would be okay.”
    She sighed. “I’m not sure that’s an answer, but if he’s willing, fine. Be careful, though, and do exactly what he tells you to do.”
    “Okay,” he said quickly. “Here’s Jason.”
    Visions of Tommy tumbling off a girder twenty feet in the sky suddenly made her shake. “Wait, Paul… Paul!”
    “It’s me, Jason. What’s up, Mom?”
    “Tell Paul to be sure to hold Tommy’s hand the whole time they’re at that construction site.”
    “I’ll tell him, but how come you didn’t tell him yourself?”
    Ann very nearly groaned. “Just tell him, Jason. And tell him to do exactly what Hank says.”
    “Is that all you wanted?”
    “No, it is not all I wanted!” She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. “I have to go down to Key West for a meeting. Can you make sure the kids all get their dinner? Tracy should be home soon.”
    “Wrong. She’s staying in Key West tonight. She called a while ago.”
    That gave her second thoughts. Maybe she shouldn’t be taking off like this. Jason was old enough to babysit, but he didn’t have a lot of experience at it and he didn’t get along with the little ones the way Tracy did. Withhim in charge, she was likely to find all of the kids still up when she got home. A thought occurred to her.
    “When is Hank taking Paul and Tommy to the site?”
    “I don’t know.” Jason’s voice immediately turned surly as he sensed her lack of faith. “Besides, I don’t need him. I can watch the kids.”
    She decided to risk it. Hank would have Paul and Tommy with him. Maybe it would be good for Jason to develop a sense of responsibility. Surely he could keep an eye on David and Melissa for a couple of hours. “Okay. Make sure they get to bed on time.”
    “Yeah.”
    She’d hung up the phone and was halfway to the door when she began reconsidering. She picked up her phone again and scrolled through the numbers, searching for Hank’s cell. She found it and, after an instant’s hesitation, she dialed. It rang and rang before finally his voice mail kicked in. That reassured her. It must mean that he was already on his way to the construction site. Jason would tell him where she was when he came home. There was no need to leave a message.
    Relieved on all counts, including the fact that she was being