by Sharon Sala
A lone white heron flew across his line of vision and landed in the shallows of the pond off to the east, but Johnny had no time to admire the scenery. He glanced at his watch. It was almost one. He would be done with this job before long and would, happily, get away from the stench.
* * *
Dori cried some more after she’d finished her conversation with Evelyn Harper at the funeral home. She kept imagining her granddaddy’s body all laid out on some table with strangers doing only God knows what with it, and no one caring about who he was or how special he had been. She cried until she gave herself a headache, then washed her face and dried her tears and went to check on Luther. He was still sleeping.
She thought about Lovey Cooper spending the day gathering up clothes for them and was grateful for such a good friend. Then she wondered what Johnny was doing and if he regretted his offer to give her shelter. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to someone again, but right now it seemed she had no choice.
If she’d been home, she would have had cookies baking or a cake in the oven. But this was not her house, and she didn’t dare use up foodstuff they might be saving. The floors were swept and mopped. The bathroom had been scrubbed, and she’d dusted the house from top to bottom. It smelled like lemon and pine in every room.
When she’d taken down the curtains in the boys’ room to wash, she’d found a stick-figure pencil drawing behind one curtain with the word Mama written beneath it. It was heartbreaking to see the simple drawing, obviously done in secret so that Mama, who was no longer with them, would not be forgotten. She’d noticed the only family pictures were of Johnny and the boys. It was as if this family had begun only after he had become the man of the house. She wanted to hurry up and get the clean curtains rehung, so that their secret would still be safe.
She was pacing the floor and watching the clock when she saw a car turn off the street and come up the drive. It must be the lawyer. She wiped her hands on the sides of her sweatpants as she watched the tall, lanky man getting out of his pretty white Lincoln. He looked a little bit like a younger version of Clint Eastwood, and Dori wondered what had possessed his parents to name him Peanut.
The lawyer knocked twice. She took a deep breath and then let him in.
“Miss Grant, I’m Peanut Butterman. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
“I thank you for coming,” Dori said and stepped aside. “Please take a seat.”
Peanut’s long legs made the trip from the door to the sofa in three steps, and then he stood, waiting for Dori to sit first. She sat at one end of the sofa. He sat at the other.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
She shrugged, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“About like you’d expect. I keep praying this is just a bad dream, but I can’t seem to wake up.”
He frowned. She looked so young. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that she was a mother.
“I can only imagine,” he said softly. “I can’t mend your sadness, but maybe after we talk, you’ll feel better about your future. Mr. Webb made sure you would not be destitute.”
“Really?” Dori said.
“You didn’t know?”
“No, sir. I assumed one day he’d leave the house to Luther and me, but it’s gone and I’ve been trying to figure out how and where we’ll start over.”
Butterman opened his briefcase and pulled out a handful of papers.
“I will, of course, file all the necessary papers to have Meeker’s will go through probate, but considering these drastic circumstances and that you are the only heir, I wanted you to know where you stood, okay?”
She nodded.
“You were correct in that your grandfather left you the house, and the four city lots on which it stood. Yes, it’s been destroyed, but it was fully insured. The insurance value on the house was two hundred thousand dollars, so once all of his estate has settled, that money will be yours to rebuild on the site or buy another house if you choose.”
Dori was stunned. “That’s a lot of money!”
Peanut shrugged. “It costs a lot to build a house; even the most simple of houses can cost dearly. Now, with regards to his car, which also burned up, it, too, was fully insured, and since he had you listed as co-owner on the title, you will be getting money to replace this almost immediately. He had fifty-five thousand dollars in his checking account. There is a safety-deposit box we have yet to open, and since his key probably burned up in the fire, we’ll have to get the bank to have it opened by a locksmith, but that’s all in the future.”
Dori was in shock. She heard what he was saying but could hardly take it in. Granddaddy and her grandmother had always lived a simple life. They’d always had enough but nothing over the top. Now she knew why. They’d been saving it, obviously for her.
“There is also a five-hundred-thousand-dollar life insurance policy that he took out over twenty years ago. You are the sole beneficiary.”
Dori gasped, certain she’d misunderstood.
“What did you say?”
Peanut looked up. “About the life insurance? Five hundred thousand?”
She leaned toward him, whispering, “As in…half a million dollars?”
He nodded.
Dori slapped both hands over her mouth to keep from screaming as her eyes welled with tears.
Peanut smiled. He didn’t often get to deliver good news in a bad situation, but this time was different and he liked it.
“I would like to suggest that, at this point, you tell no one. You are not yet of legal age, and Meeker had named me executor, so I would be in charge of your inheritance for you, until such time as you turn eighteen. By the way, when is your birthday?”
Tears were running down her cheeks.
“I turn eighteen this coming Sunday.”
Peanut’s smile widened. “As Meeker’s lawyer, I can assure you an executor for your inheritance will not be necessary. You will be legal before probate is finished.”
Dori was shaking. “I’ve been so scared. I thought we were going to be homeless. I would give anything to have my granddaddy back, but I am forever grateful for this.”
“How old were you when your parents passed?” Peanut asked.
“Nine. They died in a car wreck a few days before Christmas. The car spun on icy roads and went over a cliff. I barely remember what they looked like. Grandy and Granddaddy were everything to me, and when we lost her, Granddaddy stepped into the gap as best he could for me and we kept our family together.”
Peanut nodded.
“And now you have your own little family.”
As if on cue, Luther woke up in the back bedroom and let out a howl. “Speaking of family, will you excuse me? I need to change him before I come back.”
Peanut smiled. “Do what you need to do. I’m not going anywhere.”
Luther’s howl was getting louder. Dori broke into a run as she left. She ran into their bedroom just as Luther was making an attempt to crawl over the pillows she’d put around him so he wouldn’t roll off the bed.
“Hey, little man. Where do you think you’re going?” she asked as she picked him up, cradling him close as she picked up a fresh diaper and the box of wipes and laid him at the foot of the bed, on the blanket she’d folded to use as a changing pad.
He squawked when she laid him back down, and then when he realized she was taking off his diaper, he began to kick and smile his wide-open, toothless smile. She thought it was funny how much babies liked to be naked, but she knew better than to let him be that way long. Inevitably, someone always got peed on, usually her.
“We have company,” she said as she removed the wet diaper and wiped his bare bottom, then slid a new diaper beneath his backside and quickly fastened it. “There now, let’s go say hi to the nice man in the living room. He brought us some really go
od news, and I will say we were due for some.”
Luther rode her hip like a pro, his hand fisted in her hair to steady his balance.
“Thank you for waiting,” she said shyly and then introduced the lawyer and her son. “Mr. Butterman, this is my son, Luther Joe. Luther, this is Mr. Butterman. Please be a good boy for Mama for a few minutes more.”
Peanut smiled. “He’s a fine-looking young man; big for his age, is he not?”
“Yes, sir, that’s what folks say.”
“That means you’re taking very good care of him,” Peanut said. “Have a seat for a few minutes more and then I’ll leave you to get on with your day.”
She plopped Luther in her lap as she sat back down, positioning him so that he had full view of the man at the other end of the sofa.
“There are a couple more things you need to know,” Peanut said. “You have access to Meeker’s checking account, do you not?”
“Yes, but I’ve never used it. Granddaddy had me sign a card for the bank, but he either gave me cash or I spent my income from work on things we needed.”
“Good. That way, even though we’ll be going through probate, you can still access his money for necessities.”
“I have almost a thousand dollars in my checking account, but I’m stuck here until Lovey Cooper brings us some clothes and shoes.”
Peanut frowned. He hadn’t considered that aspect and promptly took out his wallet and peeled off a handful of twenties and a couple of hundred-dollar bills.
“Here. I think that’s about three hundred and fifty dollars.” When she started to object, he held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll add that amount onto my bill when we finalize everything, okay?”
Dori’s hand shook as she took the money he’d laid in her hand.
“You are a good man, Mr. Butterman. You have gone out of your way for us today, and I know it. Even though my heart is heavy, you have given me peace of mind.”
He nodded. “Have you spoken to the funeral home yet?”
“Yes, sir. We’re having the funeral this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Baptist church. I still have to contact Preacher Lawless about details, but that much is firm.”
“I’ll make note of it,” Peanut said and handed her his card. “Call anytime you have a question or need advice. That’s what I’m for. Don’t get up. I’ll let myself out.”
He was at the door when Dori called out. “Thank you again.”
He smiled. “You are very welcome. And just so you know, I have high regard for Mr. Pine. He has a good head on his shoulders.”
Dori didn’t say so, but she had high regard for Johnny too.
Luther was still riding her hip when she made a call to the church. After settling with Preacher Lawless about songs for the funeral, she would be done.
* * *
Back at Granny’s Country Kitchen, the news of Dori Grant’s tragedy was the conversation of the day. Lovey had a donation jar at the cash register similar to the one Ruby had set up and had a sign up on the door about her clothing drive for Dori and the baby, so that her customers would see it as they entered. The drop-off point for the clothing was at the Episcopal Church that she attended. The pastor had been happy to participate.
Ruby Dye heard about the clothing drive and funneled all of the information to her clients, should they be inclined to donate clothes instead of money.
Then she thought about what else she could do to let Dori Grant know that not everyone in Blessings was a bigot and thought about sending flowers. Even though there were so many things that girl and her baby needed, sending flowers was proper. She checked the phone book for a number and then made the call.
“Franklin Floral, this is Myra.”
“Myra, it’s me, Ruby.”
“Hello, Ruby. What can I do for you?”
“I want to send flowers to Dori Grant.”
Myra Franklin swiveled her chair around to the computer and pulled up a new screen.
“That was a terrible thing, wasn’t it?” Myra said.
“Yes. I feel just awful for her. I keep thinking how alone she must feel,” Ruby said.
Myra lowered her voice and leaned into the receiver.
“Well, I don’t know about being alone. I heard she and her baby are staying with that Pine family.”
“Yes, that’s what I heard too. I guess it’s a good thing he and his little brothers came along, or she’d still be standing in her yard with her baby, because that’s where all of her good Christian neighbors left her after they’d had their fill of sightseeing.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” Ruby said. “I got it straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. No one offered her and that little baby shelter. They offered to pray for her, but they didn’t see fit to take her in.”
Myra sputtered. “Even so, what would make some boy offer to take in a girl and baby unless he had a horse in the race, so to speak?”
“I guess for the same reason he fought to keep his little brothers from going into the Georgia welfare system. Maybe he’s just a good person. Now, if you still want my business, I suggest we change the conversation.”
Myra sputtered again and then took a quick breath. “About those flowers—what did you have in mind?”
“Do you have any azaleas blooming?”
“Yes, I have dark red and whites in bloom, and one lavender color, I believe.”
“The red. I’d like to send the prettiest red one you have.”
“That will be fifty-five dollars,” Myra said. “Do you want use a credit card? Or I can bill you.”
“Just send me a bill,” Ruby said. “I don’t know the address though.”
“Oh, I know where they live,” Myra said. “I worked the flowers for their mother’s funeral a couple of years back. It’s the second house on Admiral on the west side of the street. It has a wide porch that runs the length of the house and a porch swing. I always did like porch swings.”
“I want it delivered today,” Ruby said.
“I’ll get George right on it,” Myra said. “Thank you for your business.”
“You’re welcome,” Ruby said and hung up, then glanced at the clock.
It was almost noon. She’d made a little over a hundred dollars this morning and just spent half of it—probably the best money she’d ever spent. She turned around and looked at the salon. All the customers were gone and none were due for at least an hour. She headed for the workroom, where the twins and Mabel Jean were eating lunch.
“Hey, girls, I’m going to run an errand. I’ll be back in a few, okay?”
“Sure thing,” Mabel Jean said. “I’m almost finished. I’ll take the front.”
“Thank you,” Ruby said. She took off her smock, grabbed her purse, and headed out the back door to her car.
* * *
Dori had just finished feeding Luther a baby food jar of applesauce and was heating a bottle of milk. The baby was cranky, and Dori was guessing he was missing Granddaddy as much as she was. More than once she’d caught him staring around the house and watching the doorways. They were obviously in a strange place, and Meeker Webb was certainly missing. He had been Luther’s primary caregiver every day. It was no wonder he was confused and fussy. She felt the same way.
The microwave dinged, and Dori took out the bottle and screwed on the top with Luther on her hip trying to help.
She finally got it on and put the bottle in his mouth as she cradled him against her breasts. His little eyes widened as he clamped down on the nipple and began sucking the milk down in noisy gulps.
Dori smiled as she headed to the living room with him in her arms.
“For goodness’ sake, Luther Joe, slow down. You aren’t anywhere near starvation.”
The baby paused in the act of swallowing to grunt and fart. A trickle of milk ran
from the corner of his mouth and then he clamped down on the nipple and began sucking again as if nothing had happened.
It made Dori laugh. She was still chuckling as she sat down in the recliner and pushed off to make it rock. In the middle of a smile, she started to cry. Granddaddy would have loved these funny little moments, but there was no one left for her to tell. So she cried a little more and then blew her nose, which startled Luther enough that he let go of the nipple and stared, milk running from the corner of his mouth and down his neck.
Dori laughed. “Did I scare you? I’m sorry, baby boy.”
Luther saw her smile and decided it was okay and latched back on to the nipple. He had the bottle finished in no time, and she had him on her shoulder, trying to get him to burp, when she heard another car pulling up the drive. She got up to look and recognized Ruby Dye from the hair salon. She couldn’t imagine what on earth she would be doing here at Johnny’s. It didn’t occur to her that Ruby would come because of her. She was still patting Luther’s back and waiting for that burp when Ruby knocked.
When Dori opened the door, Ruby started talking.
“Hello, Dori. You remember me, don’t you? Ruby Dye? I own the Curl Up and Dye.”
“Yes, ma’am, I remember you. Would you like to come in?”
Ruby sailed over the threshold with two sacks in each hand.
“Yes, thank you, but I won’t stay. I’m so glad I finally found you…and there’s that sweet little guy in your arms. I used to see you push your son by the shop in his stroller until you went to work full-time. I came to tell you how sorry I am about what happened to your grandfather and your home.”
“That’s very kind of you, ma’am,” Dori said.
“Call me Ruby or Sister, if you like, everyone does,” she said.
Dori nodded and kept patting Luther’s back, waiting for that burp.
Ruby held up the sacks. “I brought food. If you’ll lead the way to the kitchen, I’ll put it on the table, and you can put it up later, when you don’t have your hands full.”
