Deep in the Heart of Dixie

by Heidi Sprouse

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  Dixie stretched then wished she hadn’t because her body was sore, muscles strained from pulling and lifting more than her body was accustomed. Things were popping in straightening up wasn’t easy. In all her life, she’d never worked that hard. A glance at the clock had her moving anyway. It was past noon! A steaming shower and a pair of shorts and shirt left by Jake’s mother made her feel like she could show her face. She made her way downstairs to the patio where James and Sara sat drinking coffee and eating a late brunch. “Good morning. Thank you for the clothes, Mrs. Jackson, and to both of you for having me for the night.”

  James stood and pulled out a chair. “Think nothing of it, sugar. I’m glad we could oblige. After the good job you’ve done for us and all you mean to our son, it was the least we could do. Have something to eat, darling. You need a little more meat on those bones.”

  Sara filled a plate and set it in front of Dixie. “We’re so glad your home was spared. How bad was it for the others?” Her sympathy was evident in every look and word. She poured a tall glass of orange juice and waited anxiously.

  Dixie sighed heavily, the images of the previous night still all too clear in her mind. “It was bad enough. Five trailers were completely destroyed, one with a single mother and five children that stayed in my place last night. The other four belonged to an elderly gentleman, an elderly woman, a young couple, and a teacher who’s saving for a house. There wasn’t much we could save but we tried. Some of the other places were damaged, but nothing too bad. I don’t know what those people are going to do.”

  James touched her hand in encouragement. “Don’t you worry, sugar. Sara and I have already been on the phone with people this morning. We’ve got quite a few connections, bankers, contractors, local businesses. Everyone’s coming together and we’ve got some used trailers coming in as soon as the clean-up is done and there will be something to give everyone a fresh start.”

  Dixie dropped her fork in shock. “Am I still dreaming? I feel like I’ve been in a fairy tale ever since I got here.” She glanced from face to face, waiting for the punch line. “Is there a hidden camera or something? Are we on one of those reality shows?”

  Sara laughed. “Honey, this is how it is around here. You just had to change your geography. Besides, it’s Independence Day. We have to remember the sacrifices that were made so we could have what we do. We’ll gladly make some of our own so that others can celebrate today too.”

  “Happy 4th of July,” Jake called out softly, his characteristic pep missing. He moved gingerly. His father had been right. Everything ached, even places he didn’t think could hurt. He eased his way into a chair, unable to hide a wince as his breath came out in a rush. If he was still a kid, he’d be whining and carrying on. Too late. Besides, there was a girl present. He couldn’t be a wimp in front of her.

  Dixie could not hide her concern. She went to his side and knelt down beside him. “Oh, Jake, I knew you did too much last night but there was no slowing you down. Is there anything I can do?” She felt a little better when his hand took hold of hers and gave it a good squeeze.

  Jake’s smile was one thing that could not be affected, stretching from ear to ear. “Dixie Cup, just knowing you care goes a long way. I’m going to try a shower in a little bit, see it that loosens things up a bit. How about you, sugar? You did a fair share yourself, you know.” He thanked his mother for a heaping plate and picked for a little while, head propped on his hand.

  Dixie shrugged in an off-hand way. “I’m a little sore but I’ll live. I’m not sure I can say the same about you though.” Even lifting a fork seemed to be an effort as Jake had already set it down. “You want me to feed you?” He shot her a look but had to laugh any way.

  “You look like you got hit by a train, son. Why don’t you go on back to bed and rest a while?” James urged him, trying to take a load off of shoulders that always carried too much. That Jake had even managed to crawl out of bed was an accomplishment. Right about now, the boy looked ready to topple out of his chair.

  Jake gave him a drooping grin, chin propped on his hand. “I think I’ll take you up on that because I feel like I got hit first and then the engine ran over me. I’m taking a shower as a hot as I can stand it and then I’ll lie down for a while. I’m sure I’ll be up for fireworks tonight. You’ll stick around, won’t you, sugar gal?” His puppy dog eyes couldn’t be resisted.

  “Sure, Jake. You go take care of yourself and I’ll talk to you later.” She couldn’t hide her worry watching him move like an old man to return upstairs.

  Sara excused herself to go on ahead of her son, get his shower going, and set out a change of clothes. Once he made it to the shower, she found Dixie and made a request.

  Jake walked out of the bathroom to find Dixie waiting for him on the edge of the bed. She patted the spot next to her and gave him her best smile even though she looked scared to death. “Your mom found some ointment she says will fix you right up. Come lie down and I’ll make sure you’re covered.”

  Who could argue with that request? “No reason to be nervous, Dixie Cup. I don’t bite.” He struggled to pull off his t-shirt, almost gave it up, but did it and stretched out, wearing only his shorts. Dixie began with a light and tentative touch but as she felt him relax from her ministrations, she put her muscle into it and was thorough, from his arms down to his legs. Jake let a long sigh. “Darlin,’ did someone turn the heat up in here? You’ve got something bewitching in those fingers of yours. If I could move you might have to worry about me not being the nice boy my mama raised me to be.”

  Dixie playfully pushed his head down into the pillow. “Hush up and get some rest, you hear?” A few good, healthy groans proved she did her job well. Jake’s crossing over to Neverland, sound asleep for the count, only went further to reinforce her good work. She set a trembling hand on his back, feeling its reassuring rise and fall. Eyes closed, a prayer of thanks went heaven-bound for sparing this boy, for all he’d done, and for giving her the nerve to give the boy a back rub.

  Late in the afternoon, Jake walked outside to find Dixie sitting on the dock, dangling her feet in the water. She looked up at him with a smile when he dropped down next to her. “Hey you. You look much better.” She nodded approvingly.

  “Hey yourself. It’s all because of you and your magic touch. What have you been doing with yourself while I’ve been a horrible host?” He brushed a strand of fiery hair out of her eyes. Before he could stop himself, he dipped in quicker than a hummingbird for a kiss.

  Dixie leaned up against him and splashed her feet. “Oh, I helped your Mama in the kitchen and then she told me to go relax and wait to hear about a 4th of July surprise from you. What’s the surprise?” Her tongue couldn’t stop running with the barely contained excitement of a child.

  “Well, Dixie Cup, it just so happens to be a Jackson family tradition to head to Granddaddy’s cabin on the lake for Independence Day and stay for a few days. It’s our vacation too. Everyone knows we close the store until the 10th. Daddy probably posted the sign today. The surprise, which really is no surprise, is you’re invited if you’ll accept.”

  Dixie clasped her hands together, getting younger by the minute. “A vacation, on a lake, really? I’ve never had a vacation before or been to a lake! I don’t believe it! But what about the park, won’t they need help?”

  Jake shook his head and fought a grin. Give her pigtails and he’d peg her at about five. “No, they’ve got it covered, what with all the people Mama and Daddy called. Mama even drove over and grabbed some of your clothes for you. What do you say?”

  Dixie gave him a kiss with a promise in it. “How can I say no?” She was getting good at this. Better keep practicing, make sure to make the moment stretch. It had to be worth his while.

  An hour later, they were at a log cabin tu
cked in by a small lake. It was a modest place, with plenty of room but nothing overbearing or fancy. Rustic, lived in, and comfortable. Jake and his father brought in the supplies while Dixie worked with Sara to prepare dinner and dessert. By six o’clock, they sat on the back deck with a table made cheerful by a red and white checkered cloth, a candle, and wildflowers that Dixie gathered from the lawn.

  Jake pulled out a chair for Dixie just as James did the same for his wife. “Wow, this all looks really good. You’ve outdone yourself, ladies.” He reached for a piece of garlic bread then dished out some antipasto.

  Sara pointed across the table. “I was just the assistant. Dixie is the one who really pulled this together. You weren’t kidding about her cooking, Jake. I just might have to hire your girlfriend for my next party.”

  Dixie cheeks grew hot, not only at the compliment, but also at the title of girlfriend. It was hard to believe but that’s what she was. After they polished off a meal of stuffed shells and chocolate cream pie, Jake led her down to the water. They stretched out on the shore on a large blanket and stared up at the sky, watching the light fade into darkness. They drifted off for a while, only to be brought wide awake by colorful flashes and the popping of fireworks in the sky.

  Dixie stared up in wonder, felt the same way about the young man lying next to her and his touch on her arm. “This is amazing…being here, watching this with you. You’re so lucky. You know exactly who you are!”

  Jake laughed softly, watched her face light up from the display overhead. Watching her was better than any light show. She’d spoiled him on all the rest. He tugged his thoughts back to her words. “I’m not as sure as you say. Who do you think I am?”

  Dixie rolled on her side to look him in the eye. The colors of the sky washed over them both interspersed with darkness. “You are Jake Lee Jackson, son of the South and generals long gone. You are traditional, old-fashioned, and have true values. You know your place, you know your family, you know where you have been and where you’re going. You have a future ahead of you and you’re set on getting there one step at a time but you’ll never forget the people around you and you’ll never hurt them. You’ll kill them with kindness, win them with charm. You are the South.”

  Jake reached out to touch her. Something about her voice and how it trembled on the last made him afraid she might break. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. Tell me something…who are you, Miss Dixie Mason?”

  Dixie looked down at her hands, her voice very small and quiet. “I…don’t know yet. I’ve spent most of my life afraid, hiding. I could never be me and no one saw me anyway. And now, …I still don’t know what’s real and what isn’t.”

  Jake held her hand and didn’t let go. His voice was soft as Mama’s silk robe, a carefully guarded present from her daddy, one she hung on and cried the night that she died. “Here’s who I think you are. You are Dixie Mason, a northern star shooting its way South. You sparkle and sizzle, plumb full of wishes—your daddy’s, your mama’s, yours…mine. That’s why you light up a place wherever you go. You’re brighter than the sun when you smile. You make me look forward to my day because you are in it. You’re smart as a whip, cook like a dream, and stronger than steel. As for who you’ll be…you’ll figure that out as you go and Lord have mercy on us all when you do.”

  Dixie felt the tears trembling beneath her lids and she let them fall. “I think that you have just told me more about myself than I ever knew. I don’t know if you’re a fortune teller or off your rocker but…I think…no, I know…I love you, Jake Lee Jackson.”

  He brushed her tears a way and gathered in close. Fragile. Handle with care flashed through his mind. This was one package that needed time and patience as she opened up more each day. “I love you too, Dixie Cup.” His heart filled to bursting. There was only one way to seal a moment like that, under a rainbow shower of lights in the sky. Southern boys had perfected it long ago. Jake settled in for a kiss. Breathing could wait for later.