Don't Touch Me! - 38

Cody approached Mrs. Grainger's house nervously. She wasn't in the front yard and he wondered if she was even home. "Maybe she's at church."

"Maybe not," Brent replied when the front door opened. Mrs. Grainger came down the steps, her arms laden with plants. Cody hurried to help her, much to her obvious surprise.

"Put them over there, dear," she said, pointing to one of the flowerbeds. She joined him, thanking him when he relieved her of the other plants then stepping back. "You look…happy."

"I am. I think…" Cody held out his hand, a gesture which was becoming almost automatic now.

She looked at his hand, then up at him. "Are you certain? I mean…" She chuckled. "I don't want to watch you go into a meltdown again. It was not fun."

"I don't think that will happen, but…" He smiled hopefully. "Are you willing to take the chance?" Cody was aware of Brent coming up behind him and felt Brent's hand on his shoulder.

"Well, if he can do it," Mrs. Grainger said with a grin. "I'm not about to be outdone." She gently took hold of Cody's hand.

For a moment, Cody felt a wave of panic. He knew it showed when he heard Brent say, as if from a distance, "You can do it." Taking a deep breath, Cody held his hand still and the fear faded, replaced by deep relief.

"Are you all right, dear?" Mrs. Grainger asked, even though she didn't release his hand.

"I'm fine. Honest."

"Good. Now if you don't mind, there are two more trays of plants just inside the front door."

"No problem." He went to get them, smiling when he heard her say to Brent, "I bet this is your doing."

"I encouraged him. That's all. The rest is his believing he's better now."

"Thanks to you," Cody said, returning to set the plants down beside the others.

"So, where are you two off to on such a lovely morning?" Mrs. Grainger asked.

"I'm taking him out to lunch," Brent told her.

"How lovely." She leaned in to kiss Cody's cheek. "Have fun and eat a lot. You're too thin by half."

"Well, since apparently he's paying…"

Brent groaned. "There goes the cash I was going to spend on a couple of new books."

They all laughed. Mrs. Grainger gave both men quick hugs, and Cody and Brent continued on their walk to the restaurant.