I Gave My Coat to a Cold, Hungry Mother and Her Baby – a Week Later, Two Men in Suits Knocked on My Door and Said, ‘You’re Not Getting Away with This’
“I’m alright,” I said. “I live small. Don’t need much.”
Penny leaned forward.
“Please,” she said. “Let us do something.”
“I wouldn’t say no to an apple pie.”
I scratched my jaw, thinking.
“Well,” I said finally, “I wouldn’t say no to an apple pie. Been a long time since I had a homemade one.”
Penny’s whole face brightened.
“I can do that,” she said. “I used to bake with my mom all the time.”
Her eyes flicked to a framed photo of Ellen on the mantel.
“Is that your wife?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “That’s Ellen.”
“I’ll bring the pie in two days.”
“She looks kind.”
“She was,” I said. “She’d have liked you showing up here with a baby and trouble.”
Penny smiled, cheeks pink.
“I’ll bring the pie in two days,” she said, standing. “If that’s okay.”
“It’s more than okay,” I replied. “Just knock before Stephan gives me a heart attack again.”
Stephan winced.
“Yes, sir,” he said. “Fair enough.”
I caught myself humming while I washed the dishes.
They left with promises and handshakes and a sleepy little fist wave from Lucas.
The house felt different after they left. Not louder. Just less empty.
I caught myself humming while I washed the dishes. It startled me.
Two days later, the doorbell rang right as I was debating whether cold cereal counted as dinner.
When I opened the door, the smell of cinnamon and butter floated in before Penny did.
She stood there with a pie wrapped in a dish towel. Lucas slept in a carrier on her chest, his tiny mouth open.
“I hope you like apple,” she said. “I used my mom’s recipe.”
I took one bite and had to close my eyes.
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