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are busy this weekend and since he was only in for a couple of days they felt fine about missing it.” She brought a beautiful platter with sliced pork tenderloin, surrounded by new potatoes and asparagus. “Jacob has never liked clowns, ever since he saw that awful movie, Poltergeist , with that little blonde girl who goes into the TV, and the boy who gets strangled by the clown. Jessie used to watch Bozo in the mornings before school and Jacob hated it. I swear she did it just to bother him. They’re only two years apart and they fought like cats. Anyway, the first time Jacob came home from the hospital, Jessie decorated his room with clown pictures and clown dolls. It was kind of her way of saying that he wasn’t too sick to pick on.”
    “I found the nightmares quite comforting,” Jake said.
    “We always bring out the clowns to remind Jacob that he’s just fine.” Trix filled water glasses from a large pitcher, brought over a basket of bread, and then motioned them to sit down. Amanda stood waiting to see where she was supposed to sit. Trix finally grabbed Amanda by the shoulder and said, “Why don’t you sit here, sweetie.”
    “Thanks,” Amanda murmured. She took her cloth napkin and set it on her lap. Trix hovered over them, serving their tenderloin, vegetables, potatoes, and bread.
    “Now I have some things to do, so you two enjoy your dinner,” and Trix escaped to her room before either of them could argue.
    For the second time that day, Amanda stared at Jake, unable to find words. “She’s not going to eat with us?” she finally asked.
    Jake shook his head and smiled. “Apparently not. I guess she wants this to be date night.”
    Amanda let out a snort, then looked away quickly. She felt like an idiot. She kept acting like she didn’t want a date with him, when the only real problem was that she was too socially inept to know what to say. They ate quietly.
    Trix must have sensed the tension because she came back out and started bustling in the kitchen again. “So Amanda … where do you live?”
    She tensed at the question. Having no idea how much Jake had told her, she didn’t want to admit she lived in a trailer court on the opposite end of town. She also couldn’t lie, so she was vague. “Near the mall,” she finally said, and quickly added, “This dinner is wonderful.”
    “I’m glad you like it … Maybe I’ll have a little something with you.” She brought out a plate and served herself full helpings of everything. “When my husband’s out of town I usually don’t cook. This time he’s been gone for so long I think I was happy to have the excuse.” She caught herself and was appalled. “Oh’ Jacob, I mean I wasn’t happy that you were in the hospital. Dear Lord what a thing to say.”
    “Settle down, Mom. It’s fine.” Jake helped himself to another serving of pork, which his mother eyed carefully. “Are you still feeling okay, Jacob? You don’t want to make yourself sick again.”
    Jacob seemed to have infinite patience for his mother, as even Amanda was starting to feel a little smothered by all her mothering. “Yes, Mom. They said it was probably something I ate, so my system should be clear of it by now. I can eat whatever I’m hungry for, and I want more of your delicious pork stuff.”
    “Tenderloin, Jacob. You help yourself.” She watched him until his plate was completely full again, then she turned to Amanda. “Jacob told me you’re going to the U this fall. Do you know what you plan to study?”
    Amanda chewed slowly to stall for time. This whole experience was a little intimidating, and Amanda didn’t want to admit to Trix that she was completely undecided about what to do with her life. College was just the next thing to do because she couldn’t imagine trying to hold any job other than Dairy Queen.
    “I guess I want to spend a little more time looking into my options,” Amanda said.
    “Undecided,” she said knowingly. “There’s nothing wrong