Real Men Knit(70)

Jesse’s eye was terrific, as was the natural way his mind worked. As she watched him sitting casually between Errol and Sylvie Bowls, she wondered why he had taken so long to come around to this side of the business. He was showing them an easier way to hold their yarn, and the kids were laughing and chatting happily. The relaxed atmosphere reminded her of how it used to be with Mama Joy when she’d taught the kids in the shop, and in that moment, Kerry had such an intense feeling of hope that it was almost palpable. It also low-key scared the hell out of her.

Imara tapped her, pulling her attention away from staring at Jesse.

“Are my stitches okay, Miss Kerry?” she asked. “I think I messed up,” she added with frustration.

Kerry looked down at her and smiled, seeing the dropped stitch that ran down three rows. “It’s just a dropped stitch. Nothing that can’t be fixed. Don’t worry.”

She reached for a crochet hook and sat next to Imara to show her how to pull up the stitch. Just then the chime on the door sounded, and all eyes turned that way. Jesse stood. “Can I help you?” he said, partially blocking the view of the kids from the tall man’s view. “I’m sorry, but we’re having a private class this afternoon. You’re welcome to come back when we reopen.”

“Daddy!”

Jesse turned and looked from Imara to Kerry, who nodded, then watched his stance relax. It was amazing how quickly he went from the Tooth Fairy to the Rock, then back to the Tooth Fairy again. She stood. “Jesse, this is Gabriel Webb, Imara’s dad.”

Jesse shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Gabriel looked around the shop. “Nice place you have here.” His tone seemed to have the slightest bit of judgment, but no, she had to be imagining that.

Jesse nodded. “Thanks.” He looked toward the kids, who were smiling with delight. “We like it.”

“We sure do, Daddy,” Imara said. “And look.” She held up the piece of knitting Kerry had handed back to her. “Look at my scarf. I made a mistake, but Miss Kerry fixed it. Isn’t she great? She can do anything. Just like Grandma. Maybe even more than Grandma.”

Kerry didn’t fail to catch the raised brows that were exchanged between Jesse and Val at that point.

Gabriel walked over and looked at his daughter’s knitting. He smiled and looked over at Kerry. “It’s beautiful, baby, and you’re right. Miss Kerry can do anything.”

Val walked by just then and nudged Kerry in her side, mumbling in her ear, “And there I was thinking my hair braiding was some big whoop.”

Kerry fought to hold back her laugh, and they finished off the outing without too much further incident. Jesse wasn’t quite as relaxed as he had been before Gabriel Webb had arrived, but he didn’t show his tension to the kids, and they all had a great time, leaving with their projects in fresh ziplock bags ready to be continued at home.

The only snag came when they were walking the kids back to the center for the official dismissal. They were just leaving the shop and out on the street in front when a couple of the neighborhood boys decided to go in on Errol.

Kerry knew these boys. They were sometimers who dropped by the center but didn’t participate in the formal everyday program. Still, the center didn’t turn anyone away. If they wanted to come as drop-ins, they could. Though in her opinion, stricter regulations were in order.

When her class left the sanctuary of the shop, the other boys, who, if they had been at the center, would have currently been in music or math class, were walking by, each holding either a juice or an ice pop. They zeroed in on Errol. “How’d your knitting go, Errol?” one of them said.

“You make a tea towel or maybe a bib or something?”

Errol immediately looked embarrassed but just kept walking, looking straight ahead.

The fact that they zeroed in on him and not the other boys was odd. But then she noticed how the other boys huddled together and walked over to the side, making themselves small and out of the way, almost invisible.

Kerry saw how tightly Errol held on to his little knitting bag, how he still tried to hold his head high, but she could also see the fear in his eyes.

Gabriel was just about to say something when Kerry heard Jesse’s voice over the boy’s laughter. “You boys interested in a lesson?”

Their laughter died as they caught sight of Jesse in the doorway of Strong Knits. He was twirling a knitting needle between his fingers like a drumstick while staring at the boys in a no-nonsense manner.

He gave them a nod. “How’s your grandmama, Troy? Tell her I said thanks for the pie. Better yet, I’ll tell her myself the next time she stops in. Did you like the jumper she made for you?”

“Jumper?” the boy next to Troy yelled.

“He means a sweater!” he tried to quickly explain. “It’s British.”

Troy looked back at Jesse then and Jesse stared back. The kid quickly sized up the situation and shook his head no, saying his grandmother was fine. He tapped his friend twice on the shoulder and they made tracks across the avenue.

Kerry gave Jesse a smile but could feel the change in energy from poor Errol.

“Don’t worry about those boys,” she said.

He smiled bravely. “Oh, I don’t, Miss Kerry. It’s not a big deal.” But still, he took his knitting and shifted it tightly into a smaller fist, making it practically invisible for the rest of the walk back to the center.