Local Hero

coffee.”
    “Thanks.” He grinned at the back of her head. He’d done exactly what he’d set out to do—confuse her. Now she’d be thinking about him, about what had been said between them. The more she thought about it, the closer she’d be to seeing reason.
    Whistling between his teeth, he strolled into the kitchen while Hester banged in the second nail.
    He
had
asked her to marry him. She remembered everything he’d said, everything she’d said in return. And she knew that he’d been angry and hurt. Hadn’t she spent two days regretting that she’d had to cause that? Now he strolled in as though nothing had happened.
    Hester set down the hammer, then lifted the shelves. Maybe he’d cooled off enough to be relieved that she’d said no. That could be it, she decided, wondering why the idea didn’t ease her mind as much as it should have.
    “You made cookies.” Mitch came in carrying two mugs, with a plate of fresh cookies balanced on top of one.
    “This morning.” She smiled over her shoulder as she adjusted the shelves.
    “You want to bring that up a little on the right.” He sat on the arm of a chair, then set her mug down so his hands would be free for the chocolate-chip cookies. “Terrific,” he decided after the first bite. “And, if I say so myself, I’m an expert.”
    “I’m glad they pass.” With her mind on her shelves, Hester stepped back to admire them.
    “It’s important. I don’t know if I could marry a woman who made lousy cookies.” He picked up a second one and examined it. “Yeah, maybe I could,” he said as Hester turned slowly to stare at him. “But it would be tough.” He devoured the second one and smiled at her. “Luckily, it won’t have to be an issue.”
    “Mitch.” Before she could work out what to say, Radley came barreling in, his two friends behind him.
    “Mitch!” Delighted with the company, Radley screeched to a halt beside him so that Mitch’s arm went naturally around his shoulders. “We just had the neatest battle. We’re the only survivors.”
    “Hungry work. Have a cookie.”
    Radley took one and shoved it into his mouth. “We’ve got to go up to Ernie’s and get more weapons.” He reached for another cookie, then caught his mother’s eye. “You didn’t bring Taz up.”
    “He stayed up late watching a movie. He’s sleeping in today.”
    “Okay.” Radley accepted this before turning to his mother. “Is it okay if we go up to Ernie’s for a while?”
    “Sure. Just don’t go outside unless you let me know.”
    “We won’t. You guys go ahead. I gotta get something.”
    He raced back to the bedroom while his friends trooped to the door.
    “I’m glad he’s making some new friends,” Hester commented as she reached for her mug. “He was worried about it.”
    “Radley’s not the kind of kid who has trouble making friends.”
    “No, he’s not.”
    “He’s also fortunate to have a mother who lets them come around and bakes cookies for them.” He took another sip of coffee. His mother’s cook had baked little cakes. He thought Hester would understand it wasn’t quite the same thing. “Of course, once we’re married, we’ll have to give him some brothers and sisters. What are you going to put on the shelf?”
    “Useless things,” she murmured, staring at him. “Mitch, I don’t want to fight, but I think we should clear this up.”
    “Clear what up? Oh, I meant to tell you I started on the script. It’s going pretty well.”
    “I’m glad.” And confused. “Really, that’s wonderful, but I think we should talk about this business first.”
    “Sure, what business was that?”
    She opened her mouth and was once more interrupted by her son. When Radley came in, Hester walked away to put a small china cat on the bottom shelf.
    “I made something for you in school.” Embarrassed, Radley held his hands behind his back.
    “Yeah?” Mitch set his coffee down. “Do I get to see it?”
    “It’s Valentine’s Day, you know.” After a moment’s hesitation, he handed Mitch a card fashioned out of construction paper and blue ribbon. “I made Mom this heart with lace stuff, but I thought the ribbon was better for guys.” Radley shuffled his feet. “It opens.”
    Not certain he could trust his voice, Mitch opened the card. Radley had used his very best block printing.
    “To my best friend, Mitch. I love you, Radley.” He had to clear his throat, and hoped he wouldn’t make a fool out of himself. “It’s