045

SCOTT

I opened up four bottles of Corona, put them in cold cubbies and added slices of lime to each. I also poured an orange soda into a plastic cup with a couple ice cubes and two glasses of ice water. I handed Shasta the orange soda and one of the beers. I handed Bernice two of the other beers and put the rest of it on a tray to carry out. We went out onto the porch and Lucia was sitting on the ground rolling the ball back and forth with Cedric. He looked up when we came out.

"Look momma. I'm playing catch."

"I see that. Very nice."

Dawn and Zoe had blown up the water wings for Cedric and were relaxing on a couple of the noodles in the pool. I handed Dawn her beer, Zoe a water and placed the other water on a table next to Lucia.

Shasta set the orange soda next to Lucia's water, saying, "Here's an orange pop for you to drink when you're done playing catch, Cedric."

"Thank you, Momma."

The three of us sat down on the edge of the pool and dangled our feet in the water.

"Did you bring a