Saving Grace by Katie Graykowski Page B

depending on how good and plentiful the drinks are. Let me take some notes.” She walked to the cabinet under the phone, opened the drawer, and pulled out a legal pad and a pen. She wrote down CoCo’s suggestions. “Boys, what would you like?”
    Cart chimed in. “I would like lots of balloons.”
    HW looked pensive and then added. “I want a chocolate fountain.”
    Grace turned back to CoCo. “Do you have a theme in mind, and did you want formal or casual?”
    “No theme. I can’t see dad dressing up in a costume or anything. I think it needs to be casual.” She looked at the boys. “What do you think?”
    The looked at each other and nodded.
    “Casual, it is.” Grace was relieved. She didn’t have anything formal. She pulled at the ratty old T-shirt she was wearing—she barely had casual. Chord had given her the first week’s salary in advance, and she’d happily paid Uncle Vernon’s rent. Maybe next week she’d buy some new clothes. “When’s his birthday?”
    “April first.” CoCo chewed on her lower lip.
    Grace glanced at the calendar on the fridge. “That’s a little under two weeks away.”
    “Yes.” CoCo nodded.
    “Your father was born on April Fools Day?” Grace took a deep yoga calling breath and let it out. “So many things make sense about him now.”
    “And we’re not playing a joke. His birthday really is on April Fools Day.” HW put on his serious face. If it had been only him, she’d have known he was pulling a prank, but all the kids were there.
    “We need to make a guest list and then invitations, think about food…” Grace glanced at CoCo. “Do we want to have it catered? I suppose we’re having it at night so we need to serve food and drinks. We need a bartender—depending on the number of guests—maybe two.” She scribbled notes.
    Thirty minutes later, they had a guest list.
    Grace looked down at the five pages of names, made a note to call the Lone Stars’ office and ask for an employee list so no one would be left out, and flipped the rolled pages of the legal pad down. A party. She hadn’t thrown that many, but she’d been to lots.
    “Are we keeping it a surprise?” Grace hadn’t thought to ask until now.
    “Yes.” CoCo nodded. “A surprise.”
    “Okay, operation candle is a go.” Grace winked.
    “Operation candle?” HW looked confused.
    “Every good covert plan needs a codename.”
    “Oh, got it.” HW tried to wink back, but he blinked instead.
    “So my birthday superheroes, I formally declare today—the last day of Spring Break—superhero Sunday!” Grace walked to the timer on the double ovens and set it for thirty minutes. “You have exactly thirty minutes to create and put on your costume—”
    “That is so stupid.” CoCo rolled her eyes. “I’m not doing it.”
    “Winner gets to pick the dessert we have with dinner and the movie we watch after.” Grace sighed heavily. “You know the boys will pick chocolate, and I know how much you love chocolate. Also get ready for Star Wars I again…it’s the only movie they watch.” She turned to them. “Don’t y’all want to know what happens in the other five movies? The Phantom Menace was just the beginning even though it wasn’t the first movie.”
    “Nope.” HW said while Cart shook his head.
    “Crap.” CoCo chewed on her lower lip. “I guess I can come up with something.” She drew out the last word. “But no pictures. I don’t want superhero night to end up on Instagram.”
    “Snap Chat it is.” Grace patted her on the back. “Now, y’all get to it. Time’s wasting.”
     
    ***
     
    Chord opened his car door, and stepped into his garage. As a rule, he didn’t work on Sundays, but with all the time he lost being sick he didn’t have a choice.
    Man, he was tired. His body still wasn’t one hundred percent, and he was hungry. As soon as he opened the door, the scents of melted cheese, tomato sauce, and chicken had his stomach standing up and paying attention. He