Lin Su sighed wearily. She wondered if she’d survive his teenage years. The onset of testosterone was seriously impacting his sweetness.

Charlie went to where Winnie was sitting in her favorite chair. He plopped down on the sofa and said his day was fine and he was going next door right away to talk to Blake about a workout program to help control his asthma. And out the door he went with Winnie’s blessing.

Two hours later he was back, his eyes sparkly and his cheeks rosy. If Lin Su hadn’t been aware of the circumstances and Charlie’s excitement over this new project, she’d have taken his temperature. Troy and Grace were home and Lin Su was in the kitchen, making a salad to go with their dinner, and he called to her. “Mom, come and see what we figured out today.”

She could feel her smile reach way down inside her and it lifted her heart. Lately he had become more protective of her, especially when they had some crisis like the break-in, but he was less likely to include her in the rest of his life. They all gathered around the dining table and passed around a booklet that explained the effectiveness of different aerobic exercise and a notebook that Blake had created for him to monitor his activity, times, pulse, whether he had to use the inhaler.

“He’s going to monitor the first week, starting tomorrow. Then when he goes to Tahoe to race, Troy can. Troy, will you?” Charlie asked.

So much for him not wanting to do this in front of everyone, Lin Su thought. She couldn’t imagine him more excited if she’d gotten him a puppy!

“Be happy to,” Troy said.

“I will help. I am coach!” Mikhail insisted.

“I think Charlie is supposed to use some discretion,” Grace said. “You have a reputation for being the most difficult and demanding coach on the circuit.”

“Pah! You are baby! Princess!”

“You are brute,” Grace said, a slight Russian accent involved.

“This is going to be great,” Charlie said.

I must find an appropriate way to thank him, Lin Su thought. Blake was a true hero, over and over. This was the kind of man she hoped her son would become.

She didn’t realize she was massaging Winnie’s hand, holding it lovingly, gazing at Charlie with glowing eyes. It got her attention when Winnie looked at her. “You’re very smart to start this,” Winnie said. “You’re a good mother.” Then Winnie lifted her arm and put it around Lin Su’s shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.

“Ah, Winnie, I have so few shining moments as a mother.”

“Obviously you have enough,” she said.

* * *

Seth Sileski gassed up the police SUV at least once a day, sometimes twice. It was a good opportunity to spend five or ten minutes talking to his dad, if Norm could pry himself away from other more exciting things, like explaining to Al how to better tune an engine or educating Eric on the best way to change out brake pads. Self-serve gas pumps were not allowed in Oregon so Seth had to wait for an available attendant even though he grew up pumping gas in this station. He was hoping for a moment with Norm. He hadn’t talked to his dad alone since his mom’s birthday dinner.

It was his lucky day. Norm came shuffling out of the garage, wiping his hands on a rag that he then stuffed in his back pocket.

“Morning, Dad,” Seth said.

“Son,” he returned. Seth already had the tank cover open so Norm went straight for the gas nozzle. “How’s crime today?”

“It’s an easy day so far. I wanted to congratulate you—your present to Mom was a big hit. Cruise, huh?”

“I thought I could make the sacrifice. A lot of the fishermen have history with Alaska. Sounds like I might be able to stand it. I sure ain’t going to some island with all topless hula dancers.”

“They’re topless?” Seth asked.

“Ain’t they?” Norm asked in return.

“I don’t think so, Dad.”

“Then what’s the point?” Norm asked.

That was his dad. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, it was a classy thing you did. Mom’s been dying to go on a cruise.”

“Aw, she deserves to get some of the things she’s been praying for. After the way she took care of me when I nearly died of the gallbladder.”

Seth suppressed his laugh. He had not come even close to being in serious condition, but Norm was still getting a lot of mileage out of his one and only gallbladder attack. “She must be very excited.”

“She’s spending money like crazy, buying all kinds of clothes. I don’t mind, of course. Gwen’s never been a spendthrift. But she’s buying stuff for me to wear and I don’t know that that’s going to work. I like my clothes just fine. Don’t need anything new. I’ll pretty much just stand at the rail for ten days.”

“Now that surprised me,” Seth admitted. “You could’ve gone for four days or even a week, but you took on the whole ten days.” He whistled. “That’s quite a plunge,” he said. “No pun intended.”

Norm shrugged. “I hope she don’t have any high ideas of dance parties and shuffleboard. Could be bears, though. And there’s a glacier. You don’t even have to get off the boat.”

“I hear the food is good.”

“Food’s good right here,” he said.

“I’m sure you’ll have a great time,” Seth said.

“I’m sure I’ll throw myself overboard after the second day,” Norm said.

“That’s it,” Seth said. “Attitude is everything.”

Nine

Charlie wanted to begin his training program immediately. “Blake says I have to be patient because we’re going to start slow, but if I get started right away it’ll be no time at all and I’ll be able to run a mile. Ride five miles,” he told his mother.

Lin Su could work as much as she wanted to and if she needed time off, all she had to do was make arrangements with the other members of Winnie’s household to make sure she had all her meals and wasn’t trying to get around the house without supervision. So, if Charlie was going to be working out with Blake, Lin Su was going to be right next door, taking care of Winnie. It was all she could do not to beg Charlie to let her observe.

Of course, on Saturday Grace was at the flower shop all day. Troy and Mikhail took the opportunity to go somewhere. It was just Winnie and Lin Su when Charlie went next door at three, a prearranged time. Blake had his own training schedule to keep, mostly in the morning. While Charlie was next door, Lin Su was busier than usual doing chores that were rarely done on weekend afternoons—laundry, cleaning, linen changes, running the vacuum. Winnie sat in the living room, a book in her lap. Then she wanted to go to the deck since the sun was shining brightly. Then she wanted to be back inside.