Free Mixed Blessings by Cathy Marie Hake

I want to race!” Luke yanked on Peter’s arm.
    â€œMe, too!” Ricky zoomed his fire truck across a dirt path.
    â€œHang on, boys.” He stood up and dusted his knees. “Did you have plans, Marie?”
    She watched the uncertain look in Peter’s eye and she felt a surge of generosity. If she and Peter were ever going to work out this mess and get along, she would have to allow him to get to know Ricky. “Go ahead and have fun. I’ve got a few things to do inside. You boys behave yourselves and have a good time.”
    Peter’s face split into a beaming smile. “We’ll do our best.”
    Marie went back inside and searched for the grocery list. “Sandy, have you seen—”
    â€œPeter went to the grocery store while you and the boysnapped. The man’s hopeless. I haven’t seen more junk food in a month of Sundays. Want a cookie?”
    â€œNo, thanks.” She snooped in the pantry and tilted her head. The cans and boxes were all ones she would have chosen. “How did he know what to buy?”
    â€œHe asked me about brands and stuff. He’s pretty nice when he calms down.”
    â€œThere’s dim praise.”
    â€œRaffy dropped by and took care of the bathtub drain. He used some pretty colorful language in front of Ricky, so don’t be surprised if he suddenly spouts off a few choice phrases.”
    Marie sighed. “Thanks for the warning.” A tiny surge of relief washed over her. The Blue Wall still stood strong, and Jack’s friends on the force hadn’t stopped watching over her and Ricky. Though she appreciated their help and knew they’d bailed her out of several costly repairs by doing the work as a favor, Marie still struggled when they dropped by. Often they came right after work, but if they were assigned to the beat with her tract, they knew she had an open-door policy. Two of the guys showed up and built the ramp for Sandy the day she arrived, just so she wouldn’t have to come and go out the back door. A week later, during the first rain of the season, one of them had been on duty and stopped off to be sure the ramp wouldn’t be too slick. The sight of a man in the same uniform Jack had worn made her miss him that much more.
    Sandy broke through her sad thoughts. “Are you going to ask Peter to stay for supper?”
    â€œI don’t have much of a choice, Sandy. He’s got a right to see Ricky. If I get prickly, then he won’t let me see Luke.”
    â€œHe and Luke are a package deal.” Sandy glanced toward the backyard where the boys both cheered about something. “But it looks like he’s a good dad, Marie. Not many men are that clever with kids.”
    Marie dug through her freezer and took out another package of pork chops. She’d already started thawing a package this morning, before he and Luke pulled their surprise arrival. And it’s turned out to be a pleasant surprise so far. Lord, I asked You to keep Your hand over this. Please don’t let go.
    A little while later, Marie returned to the backyard. She couldn’t stay away. As she walked toward the dirt pile, Peter held his hand up and pushed his palm toward her. “Better keep your distance, ma’am. Men at work here. Grubby, filthy men.”
    â€œMommy, I’m dirty!” Ricky brushed off the firefighter emblem on his shirt and smeared the dirt more. He didn’t look repentant in the least; he looked downright proud of his grimy hands.
    â€œMe, too!” Luke held out his hands for inspection.
    â€œI can see that. Your boss is almost as big of a mess as you are.”
    Marie let Peter continue to play with them as she weeded and pruned. He’d come over, swipe some of her clippings and go “plant” them in the dirt pile to provide landscape for the city and racetrack he and they boys were making. Marie mentally corrected herself. He was constructing; the boys were