Mad About You

Ginny."
    "Whatever. Why don't you move out to the farm and let me come live there?"
    I'll pour footers tomorrow and have it finished in ninety days, the builder had promised him, standing in the meadow less than an hour earlier. A home for himself, Chad, and hopefully, Ginny. He chose his words carefully. "Son, I'd like nothing better than for us to live together at Shenoway, and if things go the way I plan, maybe we can be there by mid-fall."
    Chad's face lit up. "That would be great!"
    "Now, wait a minute," Bailey warned, holding up a finger. He leaned close and lowered his voice. "This has to stay between me and you—Ginny doesn't know yet, and I want to wait to tell her, okay?"
    "Sure." Chad nodded happily.
    "Meanwhile," Bailey said gravely, "if Ginny says that breaking your game was an accident, then it was. And as far as what you overheard, well, promise me you'll try to see her side when she's ready to talk about it, okay?"
    "Okay," he grumbled.
    "That's my boy." Bailey smacked Chad on the knee.
    Chad smiled back, then leaned over and picked up a leaf. He twirled it idly by the stem, and a tentative expression crossed his face. "Bailey." His voice had a strange timbre, and he didn't look up.
    Worry flooded him. "What, son?"
    "I, uh..." Chad kept his gaze riveted on the leaf. "I was thinking maybe Chad Kallihan wouldn't be too bad of a name to be stuck with." He flicked the leaf away, then looked up.
    Bailey's chest expanded to bursting. "I think it has a nice ring to it."

    * * *

    The little jaunt might not have been so beneficial, Ginny decided as she pulled back into her driveway. Her anxiety about talking to her son was now compounded by frustration when she realized how thankful she felt that Bailey had arrived to act as buffer between them.
    Sighing, she allowed the painful realization to sink in. Although she was grateful he'd come just when Chad needed him, she'd been just as glad he'd arrived when she needed someone... needed him. After her earlier breakdown, she'd have to try even harder to convince him and to convince herself she could handle Chad without him.
    Virginia carried the bag of groceries into the house, surprised to see the debris from the game had been cleared. She heard Chad's animated voice from his room, and caught occasional words about his model collection.
    She threw, "I'm home," up the stairs on the way to the kitchen, then froze. Such a simple phrase, yet years had passed since she'd had anyone to inform she was home.
    "Be right down," Bailey yelled. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.
    Virginia slowly unpacked the groceries, eyeing the plate of seasoned raw steaks. She lined up salad ingredients by the cutting board. Her heart pounded in anticipation as they descended the stairs. How would Chad react to her? What was she going to say?
    "Salad?" Bailey asked as they swept into the kitchen. "My body won't know how to react." His smile was casual and encouraging as he nodded to her.
    Her eyes quickly darted to Chad, who stood with his eyes down, holding a Monopoly game.
    "Well," Bailey said cheerfully, "why don't I get the steaks on the grill and let you two get things going in here." He grabbed the plate and disappeared.
    Virginia watched her son fidget, then said, "Would you help me cut up tomatoes for the salad?"
    He frowned. "I don't like tomatoes."
    She laughed softly. "I'm not surprised—Bailey doesn't either. How about carrots?"
    "Nope."
    "Mushrooms?"
    "Uh-uh."
    "Well," she tried to keep her voice light, "at least wash your hands and help me tear up the lettuce."
    He sighed and set his board game on the table, then walked to the sink. After washing his hands, he climbed up on a barstool, facing her, but not making eye contact.
    She handed him half a lettuce head, then began tearing her half into bite-sized chunks.
    He followed suit with little enthusiasm.
    "Chad, I'm sorry."
    He worked his mouth but didn't reply.
    "I'm sorry you overheard me say something bad about Lois." She expected him to bolt any second, but continued. "It was wrong and I have no excuse other than to tell you that my reaction sprang from my love for you." She choked on the last couple of words, but recovered. "I would never hurt you intentionally." She ached to hug him tightly, but she knew her foothold was precarious at best.
    He remained silent, but glanced up quickly and tightened his mouth. He began to tear the pieces with more vigor, obviously angry.
    She rushed on. "I'm sorry, too,