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alone.

    â€œMom, we’re here,” Bebe called as she pushed open the screen door of the farmhouse with her arms laden with bags and dishes. Scott and Dylan followed with coolers. They were soon enveloped by the ample arms of her mom and her sister-in-law, Karen, who exclaimed over how much they’d grown since the spring.
    â€œTake the coolers out to the barbeque,” Bebe told the boys, and they passed on through to the backyard to deliver them and find their cousins.
    â€œWhere’s Neil? He’s not working today, is he?” her mother asked while they unloaded the hot dogs into the fridge.
    â€œNo, Mom, he’s outside. He wouldn’t miss Scott’s party. Rudy’s showing off his new car.”
    Karen leaned over the kitchen sink to look out the window. “That Rudy. It’s not ours, he borrowed it from the lot.” She turned on the faucet and starting washing a colander full of purply-red tomatoes. “You know your brother. Always hoping to stir up a little business.”
    Bebe went on through to the backyard where she was greeted by Max, an Australian shepherd mix, and a collie named Bandit who were overjoyed to see company. She loved on them for a moment, and then she hugged her dad and told him that Neil would be out soon. She embarrassed both of her teenage nephews by planting huge kisses on their cheeks. They suckerpunched Scott in the arm and gave him grief aboutjoining up. She noticed on her way back inside with relief that her brother Bobby wasn’t among them.
    Bebe picked up a gorgeous purple tomato from the windowsill, smelling the mouthwatering tang. “Did you pick these today, Mom?”
    â€œThe Cherokee Purples? Yes. And those Brandywines. You two can slice some up and put them on a plate.”
    Bebe washed her hands and joined Karen at the sink, pulling out her mother’s cutting board and a knife. “They wanted $2.59 a pound for Heirloom tomatoes in the grocery store.”
    â€œYou girls can take some home with you when you go. I’ve got more in the garden.”
    Karen lightly elbowed Bebe and gave her a wink. “Thanks, Mom,” she called.
    â€œIs Bobby coming?” Bebe asked, as nonchalantly as possible.
    â€œHe’ll be here for dinner.”
    â€œWhere’s Paul?”
    â€œYour brother had some business to take care of with Frank. That’s our new foreman.”
    â€œDoes Sal still pick for you?”
    â€œNo, he’s too old now. He lives in the trailers year-round. Pilar died last winter and his kids finished school and moved away awhile ago. He still doesn’t speak much English.”
    She handed Bebe cucumbers and green and yellow peppers to slice.
    The kitchen was already heating up, and Bebe brushed back damp hair from her forehead. “The vines look great. Who do you sell to now?”
    â€œI don’t know. You’ll have to ask Poppa.”
    Bebe and Karen sliced the vegetables and grated cheese for the salad as her mom patted out hamburger rounds. “This is the last of our beef. Poppa will have to butcher in the fall.”
    Bebe’s maternal aunt and two uncles each trickled in with their families. Her father’s family still lived in North Dakota. She hadn’t seen them since she was a child. Her mother sent the men out to the backyard; the women she put to work in the kitchen. When Neil came in to see if he could help, she turned him around and shooed him out the door.
    Karen and Bebe exchanged a look, and Karen said, “Come on, Mom, he’s a surgeon. He’s safe with a knife.”
    â€œMen don’t belong in the kitchen,” her mother-in-law answered as she dug in the pantry for buns.
    Bebe rolled her eyes with her back to her mother and Karen quietly snickered.
    Rain arrived just as they put the meat on the grill and Bebe’s mom greeted her as if she were one of her own, expressing her sorrow about Jude’s illness. Bebe wasn’t