Protecting Her(70)

“I want to do it,” Garret says as I open the container of black Halloween makeup I bought to go under his eyes.

“Okay, but don’t use too much.” I hold it out for him.

He dips his finger in the container and makes a black line under each eye. He looks in the mirror. “Cool! I look just like a real football player.”

He’s in his costume and looks adorable. I hope he doesn’t actually play football for real someday. It’s too dangerous. I’d much rather have him on the swim team.

“Let me get your picture.” I hold my camera up.

“Not in the bathroom, Mom.” He runs out into the hall before I can snap the photo. “We have to go outside and I have to get my football.”

The doorbell rings. It’s probably Eleanor. She’s here to see Garret in his costume before he goes trick-or-treating. Jack and Martha are also coming over, but they’re coming later, for dinner. I invited Eleanor to join us but she declined. She seems uncomfortable around Martha and she acts strange around Jack. I’ve asked Pearce if there’s some kind of history there I don’t know about, but he didn’t say there was, so maybe they just don’t get along.

“Grandmother!” Garret says when he answers the door.

Eleanor and Holton don’t like the ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa’ labels. It’s too informal. So Garret has to call them ‘grandmother’ and ‘grandfather,’ which were nearly impossible for him to say when he was a toddler, but they still corrected him if he didn’t call them that.

“Look at you,” she says, smiling at him. “Already in your costume.”

He hugs her. Garret doesn’t know that Eleanor isn’t a hugger, but even if he did, he’d still hug her. Like me, he hugs everyone.

“I’m going to be quarterback someday,” he tells her.

I walk up behind him. “Hi, Eleanor.”

“Hello, Rachel.” Eleanor comes inside. “I brought Garret something. I hope that’s okay.

“Of course.” I like that she brings him things. It reminds me of when my own grandmother would come to visit. She’d always bring me something, like a pack of gum or some candy. And I like that Eleanor doesn’t spend a lot on whatever she buys Garret. It’s usually something small and not too expensive.

“Garret, I brought you a gift.” She sets a large shopping bag on the floor. Inside is a wrapped box.

“Can I open it?” he asks me, sounding excited.

“Yes. Go ahead.”

He takes the box out and rips it open. It’s a set of wooden blocks of different shapes and sizes that can be used to build things. The photo on the box shows a boy building a skyscraper.

Garret points to the photo. “Mom, look what I can build!”

“Yes, that looks like fun.” I smile at Eleanor. “Thank you. That was very nice of you.”

Garret hugs her again. “Thank you, Grandmother.”

“You’re welcome. I also brought you this.” She reaches in her purse and pulls out some chocolate candies shaped like pumpkins and wrapped in a small see-through bag.

He takes them from her. “Thank you.”

“Honey, why don’t you go put your gifts in your room,” I tell him.

He takes them and runs upstairs.

Eleanor smiles as she watches him. “He’s so excited. I suppose this is a big night for him.”

“Yes. He’s been looking forward to trick-or-treating for weeks.”

“We never took Pearce. Holton wouldn’t allow it.” She looks down at her skirt and smooths the fabric with her hand. “It was probably for the best. You can’t trust what people hand out to your child.”

“We’re only taking Garret to houses where we know the people. It should be fine.” I hesitate, thinking I shouldn’t bring this up, but then I do. “Did Holton say anything to you about yesterday?”

She looks up. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

He didn’t tell her? I guess that makes sense. The two of them don’t talk much. Or maybe he was purposely hiding this from her. I’m telling her anyway.

“Yesterday, Holton took Garret out of school without telling Pearce or me. We didn’t know where he was or who had him. We were worried sick. Then just as I was about to call the police, Holton showed up here with Garret.”

“Oh.” She furrows her brows. “I was not aware of that. I can see why you were concerned. Holton should not have done that. He doesn’t always think through the consequences of his actions.”