by Joy Redmond
One afternoon, Will went out on the front porch and sat down beside Sudie. “Her time is about up. I’ve prayed my heart out for her to live, but it’s not working.”
“I’ve prayed every waking minute. But we can’t give up. Miracles do happen. We’ve got to keep praying for a miracle,” Sudie said.
“You pray. I’m done!” Will said. He rubbed his hands over his face with revulsion.
One afternoon, Rose asked Will if he’d bring Sudie into the bedroom. “I need to tell you both what I want and how I want it. And I expect you to carry out my wishes with no backtalk. Not that it would do any good. It’s all in my Last Will and Testament. I just want you to hear it from my lips.”
Will called Sudie, and they sat on either side of the bed and held Rose’s hands.
“Sudie, the house and all household contents are yours. You hire you some hard working girls. I have a little black book in the top drawer of my desk. It has names of people you can contact, and you’ll have working girls as fast as you can interview them. You know what kind of girls I accept. You do the same. My banker will give you advice on how to invest your money.”
“Will, you get all my money and the car. It’s enough money to hold you for years. My lawyer will give you all the papers where my money is invested, and I’ve got a stack of U.S. Savings Bonds. In the bottom drawer of my bedside table, you’ll find a ring of keys. Anything you find locked just keep inserting keys until you find the right one. The smallest gold one is to the strongbox in the upper left drawer of my desk. I really want you to go on to college and get your law degree. Will you both promise me you’ll do as I’ve asked?”
Sudie said, “I promise, Rose. I’ll find the best of the best in working girls. I’ll have this house lively and I’ll keep the johns happy. I don’t think I’ll have any problems with getting the sheriff and his deputies on my side. I think I can entice the new Chief of Police to come out for a visit. The law will protect me and my girls, just as it has always protected you and your girls. Your memory will continue through the business you’ve worked so hard to keep going. I’ll do the same for you that you did for Miss Sophie.”
Will squeezed Rose’s hand. “I promise that I’ll go to the best law school in Missouri and I’ll become a lawyer. As for the hotshot part, well, I’ll do my best.”
“Good,” Rose said. “You better not break your promises to me or I’ll come back and haunt your butts.” Rose reached for her tonic, turned up the bottle and took long swigs. She set it back down, wiped her mouth, them said, “I’ve got to get the rest of what I want to say out before I fall asleep. As for my funeral, there will be none. I’ll be cremated. My ashes will be placed in an urn and delivered to you. I want my urn buried in a sunny spot by the gazebo. I’ve also picked out my headstone. Place it facing the gazebo.”
Will wiped his eyes, hoping he wouldn’t break down before Rose finished.
“Now, I want nobody here when my urn is buried except for my girls, if they can make the trip. Their addresses are in my desk drawer. Sudie, you get letters out to them as soon as I take my last breath.” Rose’s mind seemed to drift at times but she continued.
“When it’s time to lower the urn, I’d like for all the girls to place their hands on it and slide it into the hole. I’d like for all who attend to tell their favorite story about me. I’m sure there is plenty to tell. I want laughter. Not tears. When I’m in the ground, I want everybody to go eat, drink, and be merry.” Rose closed her eyes.
Will and Sudie pulled a sheet over her and left the room.
Will headed outside. He walked around the gazebo and picked out the spot for the urn. It was behind the chair where Rose sat when they had tea and long talks. He went to the shed and found the posthole digger. “I might as well get it done. I may not have the strength when the time comes,” he mumbled.
Will and Sudie took turns sitting by Rose’s bedside. When she was in pain, they held the bottle of pain tonic to her lips. Every breath she took, they wondered if it would be her last.
Will drank himself into a stupor every night. But he always heard Rose if she awoke during the night, needing pain tonic.
One morning, Will awoke at eight o’clock. He eased out of bed and Rose didn’t stir. He thought it was strange that she hadn’t awakened him and ask for pain tonic, but he was glad. He’d watched her suffer more than he thought he could stand.
He went into the kitchen and found Sudie already up and the percolator humming its tune as it made bubbles in the clear top. He loved the smell of fresh brewing coffee.
“How did she do last night?” Sudie asked.
“She didn’t wake up and ask for her tonic. I hope that’s a good sign.”
“Me, too.” Sudie said, as she poured Will a cup of coffee.
“I’m going to take my coffee and take a walk in the woods. I haven’t had a talk with Red in a long time.”
“Go. I’ll keep an eye on Rose. You need a break, and the woods is the best place. You always did find peace among the trees and underbrush. Who knows? You might find another deer.”
Will merely nodded and headed out. He stopped and talked to Red, telling him that Rose would be coming to visit him soon. “You take good care of our lady, ol’ boy.” He squatted down and straightened the lopsided cross.
He walked the woods from one end to the other. A few rabbits jumped up and ran and he smiled as their cotton tails disappeared into the bushes. His heart wanted to see Wiggles running toward him. But he knew that it would never happen. Wiggles was gone, just like everything and everybody he had ever loved. “Every ten years, my life gets flipped upside down,” he said, as if the rabbits could understand him. Finally he headed back to the house.
When he came through the backdoor, Sudie was washing dishes, humming a hymn he and Miss Marylee had sung in church many years ago. He stood by the door facing and listened to her, “Leaning on the everlasting arms.”
Will cleared his throat and Sudie stopped singing. He walked over to her and grabbed her around the waist. “You’ve always been there for me to lean on. I would have never made it this far without you.”
Sudie turned and hugged his neck. “We’re in this together. Until the end.”
“Have you checked on Rose?”
“I’ve checked on her every ten minutes. She’s still asleep.”
Will looked at the clock over the stove. “Shit, Sudie! It’s noon. I didn’t have my watch on and I lost track of time.” Will ran down the hall, and opened the bedroom door. Rose was still in the same position. Will’s shoes felt as if they were made of lead as he put one foot in front of the other. He stood for minute, begging himself to touch her. He placed his hand on her arm. She was cool to his touch. “Rose! Rose!” he cried.
Rose turned over and said, “Stop the yelling. I’m not deaf!”
Will sat on the bed beside her. “Oh my God! I thought you were, er, I thought you needed your pain tonic. It’s been fourteen hours since you’ve taken a dose. Are you hurting? I’ll get the bottle for you.”
Rose said, “No. I’m in no pain. As a matter of fact, I haven’t felt this good in months. Would you prop me up in bed? I’m tired of lying down. Get your pillow and a couple throw pillows and get me upright.”
“Yeah. Hold on.”
Will stacked the pillows behind her, then lifted her under the armpits and braced her body against them. He noticed her eyes had a sparkle, and she wasn’t as pale. “How’s that? Are you comfortable?”
“It feels great. Would you ask Sudie if she’ll brush my hair? It’s a tangled mess.”
“I’ll brush your hair.”
“I want Sudie to brush it. She knows how to make it shine.”
Will stuck his head around the doorframe. “Sudie. Can you come here?”
Sudie ran into the bedroom. “What’s wrong?” Then she saw Rose propped up in bed. “Oh my goodness! What—”
“I’m sitting up. Good grief. I get tired of laying down all the time. Do you mind to bru
sh my hair?”
Sudie picked up the hairbrush from the dresser. “I’d be more than happy to.” She started brushing with long strokes from the scalp to the ends.
“Ah, that feels so good. After you get it brushed, I’d like for you to part it down the middle and braid it. And tie the ends with your red hair bows.”
Rose paused and took several deep breaths. “Will, get my red gown out of the bottom drawer, if you don’t mind. Then help me get out of this drab thing. Wait a minute. How long has it been since I’ve have a bath?”
“Sudie gives you a sponge bath every day. We keep you clean.”
While Sudie ran upstairs to get the hair bows, Will changed Rose’s gown. “I always did like this red one.”
After Rose was dressed, Sudie braided Rose’s hair and tied the ends with the red bows. “They match your gown. You sure look beautiful.”
“Good. Now if you don’t mind, put a little face powder on me and some lipstick. I must look a fright.”
When Sudie finished with the makeup, she handed Rose a hand mirror. “Just look how beautiful you are. Nobody would ever guess you’d been sick a day.”
“I am pretty, if I do say so myself.” Rose turned the mirror several times. “Yep. I’m looking good and feeling good. Now I need to smell good. Sudie, would you hand me that small bottle of gardenia perfume?” she said, pointing to the top of her dresser. “I want to smell like Miss Sophie. I always loved the way she smelled.”
Sudie squeezed the small pump and sprayed the perfume on Rose’s neck and arms.
Rose deeply inhaled. “What more could an ol’ gal ask for?”
“I’d like to ask you for one thing, Rose,” Will sheepishly said.
“Don’t ask me to dance!” Rose said, and she and Sudie laughed.
“Will bent on one knee and took Rose’s hand. Will you marry me, Rose?”
Rose patted his face. “You silly goose. We are married. We’ve lived together for ten years. By Missouri law, we’ve been in a common law marriage for three years.”
“That may be true. But I’d like for us to exchange vows.”
“Then say your part,” Rose said.
“I, Will, take you, Rose, to be my wife until death do us part.”
“I, Rose, take you, Will, to be my husband until we part.”
Will kissed her sweet lips.
Sudie clapped. “By the powers of Sudie Marie, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride. Again!”
“You know what?” Rose said. “That getting married worked up an appetite. Sudie, would you mind to fix me some scrambled eggs and toast? And use a lot of butter. And I want some coffee.”
“I certainly will!”
Sudie looked at Will and they both shrugged their shoulders.
“When Sudie left the room, Rose said, “Will, I’d like to go out to the gazebo while Sudie is fixing breakfast. Do you mind to carry me out there? I’ve been in this bed so long, I’m not sure my legs will hold me up.”
Will scooped Rose into his arms. “Your Will is yours to command.”
They laughed.
Will carried her to the gazebo and he sat in her chair and held her in his lap. Please don’t turn around and see the hole, he silently begged.
“We’ve have many good talks out here. This has always been my favorite spot. Such beauty surrounds us. Isn’t this a glorious day? The sun is smiling upon us,” Rose said, and her smile seemed to be as bright at the sun.
“Every day is glorious when I’m with you, my sweet Rose.”
They sat for a few more minutes, admiring the beautiful day. “I bet Sudie has your breakfast ready. Do you want to go back in, or do you want her to bring it out here?”
“I’ll go back inside and eat. Then later this afternoon, we can come back out here.”
Will carried her inside and propped her in bed.
“Let me go see if I can help Sudie. We’ll be right back.”
Rose laughed. “I doubt if I’ll go anywhere.”
Will headed into the kitchen. Sudie had the tray fixed with Ceil’s embroidered cloth. “I’m dishing up the eggs. Then I’ll pour the coffee.”
“I’ll run outside and pick a rose. Where is the rosebud vase?”
“I’ll get it,” Sudie said, as she wiped her tears. “See, Will? Miracles do happen. We prayed for one and we got it!”
“It sure looks like it. Thanks for believing when I doubted,” Will said as he headed out the backdoor.
Will came back with a bright red rose and put it into the vase, then set the vase in the middle of the tray. “Everything looks perfect. I hope she eats every bite.”
Sudie carried the tray and Will followed. They walked into the bedroom. Rose’s eyes were closed.
Will said, “Take the tray back to the kitchen. We’ll let her sleep a bit. You eat this and we’ll fix her another plate when she’s ready.”
Sudie took the tray. “I am hungry.”
Will sat beside Rose and stroked her hair. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
Rose fluttered her eyes. She deeply inhaled and slowly exhaled. Her head fell to one side.
“No, Rose! No!” Will cried. He reached down and pulled her body against his, her head resting on his shoulder.
He buried his face in her sweet smelling hair and his tears flowed like water.
Jeka Rose McGraw, closed her eyes in death.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Two days after Rose passed away, Will and Sudie went to see her lawyer as she had instructed them. The lawyer handed them all the legal papers they needed to claim their inheritance.
Will’s name had been added to Rose’s bank account and savings account. Rose had signed over her car to him as well. The lawyer handed Will another packet. The name and address on the envelope is Rose’s lawyer in St. Louis. You’ll need to contact him and he’ll give you the details for Rose’s other business deals. He smiled sadly. “Rose was a wheeler and dealer. One smart woman.”
They left the lawyer’s office and Will told Sudie to go to Woolworths and wait for him. He headed for the bank.
The banker welcomed Will into his office. Will took a seat. “I’m not here to make small talk. I’d like to close out my bank account and savings account. He handed the banker a piece of paper the lawyer had given him.
“You want to close them out?”
Will watched in amusement as the banker’s face turn white. “Close them out, and I want it all in cash.”
“Do you have any idea how much money—?”
Will held up his hand. “It doesn’t matter. I want it all. Now!”
“This will take a while. I have to have three people with me when we go to the vault and we all have to count it three times.”
“Then you best get started. I haven’t got all day.”
Finally the banker came into his office carrying a large briefcase. “I have to count it out to you. Then you have to recount it to me.”
“That won’t be necessary. I trust that it’s all here.” He reached for the case.
“Hold on. There’s paperwork to be done. I’ll need you to read through the papers and sign them.”
Will scanned the papers, then signed them. He walked out of the bank and headed to Woolworths. He walked inside, remembering the many times Rose and Sudie had been with him as they came through the same doors to get a banana split. He swallowed, hard, then he spied Sudie sitting at the soda counter. Will slid onto a stool beside her. “I think I can pick up the tab,” he said, and patted the large case.
“Dang, Will. Are you crazy? You shouldn’t be carrying around that much money.”
“Who says it’s money? Maybe I’m a lawyer and I’ve got a lot of clients.” He chuckled. “And someday I hope I do have so many clients I’ll need two briefcases. I’m sorry it took so long.”
“No problem. I did some shopping, then I ate two banana splits. One for me and one for Rose. I would have eaten one for you, but I didn’t have room for it,” she sai
d, patting her stomach.
“Are you ready to go?” Will asked, extending his arm.
“I’m ready, Mr. McGraw.”
“Don’t call me Mr. McGraw! Call me Will!” Sudie’s eyes widened and Will burst out laughing. “Come on, I’ll tell you a funny story on the way home. Then you’ll understand.”
Four days later, Will and Sudie were sitting on the front porch. Will’s mind kept going back in time. He gazed at the clouds. “That’s Gram’s face.”
Sudie said, “Where?”
“In that cloud up there to the right of the tree. She’s smiling at us. Oh, look over there, it’s Miss Marylee.”
“Will, you’ve drank yourself into a stupor for almost a week. You’re seeing things. I’m starting to worry about you. Who’s Gram and Miss Marylee?”
“The only two people who really loved me until my sweet Rose found me.”
“I sure remember that Sunday when she brought you home.” Sudie laughed so hard she was holding her sides. “Prissy wasn’t going to let you sit at the table and eat until you were clean. She said she wasn’t eatin’ with no filthy bum.”
Will laughed. “And Rose ushered me into the bathroom where she gave me instructions on how to bathe and shampoo. That ruffled my feathers.”
“Well, when you came out of that bathroom all clean and groomed, I swooned.”
“The first time I saw you come down the steps in that evening gown, I swooned. I was mad as hell every time you went upstairs with a man.”
“You’re kidding. You were jealous?”
“I got over it.”
Sudie smiled and patted Will’s leg. “I think you’re right about nobody coming for the graveside service. It’ll just be me and you. I’ll be glad when the urn gets here and we can get it over with. Right now, we’re just sitting on hold.”
Will said, “Look, there’s a car turning into the driveway. I don’t recognize it.”
They didn’t move until the car had pulled to a stop at the top of the hill. Sudie shaded her eyes from the sun, then yelled, “Oh, I can’t believe it!” She ran down the steps.
