by Sharon Sala
“Food?”
Ruby patted Dori’s arm.
“Yes, honey. It’s what we do when family loses a loved one—food for feeding the relatives who inevitably come.”
“We didn’t have any relatives, at least none I knew of. There was just Granddaddy and me left…and Luther, of course.”
“Well, then, you can feed yourself and Johnny’s family instead of cooking for yourselves, okay? Now show me the way.”
Dori led her into the kitchen.
Ruby sniffed as she began taking food out of the sacks.
“This place smells wonderful! Is that air freshener I smell?”
“No, it’s just pine and lemon scents from house cleaning.”
“Amazing. If you ever want a little extra money, I could sure use you at the shop a couple of times a week. I hate to mop,” Ruby said and began emptying the second sack.
Dori stared at the food coming out of the sacks.
“This is so kind of you,” she said. “I was going to make meat loaf for supper, but I guess I’ll put the hamburger meat in the freezer.”
Ruby beamed. “I’m happy to help.”
Dori pictured the looks on the boys’ faces when they saw the desserts. Beep had asked for cookies, and she’d noticed that Johnny hadn’t brought any when he came back with stuff for the baby. Now she could add more money to the pot and put a feast on the table tonight.
“When I stopped by to pick up the pies from Granny’s Restaurant, Lovey donated the fried chicken and all the mashed potatoes and gravy. I wanted you to know this isn’t all from me. There are lots of people who are pulling for you, honey. You’re not alone.”
Dori tried to smile, but the tears were too close to the surface. Instead, she buried her face against her baby and started to cry.
Ruby shook her head and opened her arms, pulling Dori and the baby into a motherly hug.
“Bless your heart, bless your heart,” Ruby said softly. “The world has definitely handed you some heartache. But I’m here to tell you that you will get through this and be all the stronger for it after. Understand?”
Dori raised her head, and at that moment, Luther let out a burp of massive proportions.
“Oh Lord,” Dori muttered.
Ruby laughed.
Luther Joe followed up the burp by promptly filling a diaper with several impressive grunts.
“Oh dear Lord,” Dori said. “I’ve got to go change him. I’ll be right back.”
Ruby’s laughter followed her down the hall and into the bedroom.
Dori eased Luther down onto the changing blanket and then grabbed the baby wipes and a fresh diaper. Luther was almost asleep as Dori began cleaning him up.
“Yeah, look at you,” Dori said softly. “Ate yourself into a coma, burped liked a piggy in front of company, and then loaded up this diaper without taking a second breath. Very impressive, my little man.”
Luther smacked his lips and made little sucking sounds as Dori fastened the clean diaper and then put him down for a nap. She covered him with a light blanket and corralled him by piling all the pillows around him again, then gathered up the messy diaper and wipes into an empty plastic sack and took it with her when she left.
Ruby was still in the kitchen when Dori came through.
“Give me a second,” Dori said and went through the kitchen and out onto the back porch to toss the diaper into the garbage can.
Ruby was folding up the paper bags when Dori returned.
“I don’t know about you, but I always save these,” Ruby said and laid them on the cabinet.
Dori washed and dried her hands before going back to look at everything Ruby brought.
“You have no idea how appreciated this will be. It will last us at least a week,” Dori said.
Ruby patted Dori’s cheek. “I’m happy to help. Have you set a time and date for the services?”
Dori nodded. “Two o’clock. Saturday at the Baptist Church.”
“My girls and I have already decided to close up shop long enough to attend the services, so we’ll see you there,” Ruby said. “Now, I want you to promise me something. If you need help, will you please call me?”
Dori hesitated. “We’ll be fine,” she said.
Ruby shook her head. “No, I’m serious. If you need something, call me. There are four of us at the shop. We’ll make time to deliver it to you, okay?”
“I don’t know what to say,” Dori said.
Ruby smiled. “Just say yes.”
Chapter 10
Dori stood at the window a moment, watching Ruby backing down the drive, then went back to the kitchen and began going through the food she’d brought.
The fried chicken, along with the mashed potatoes and gravy, would be supper tonight, and when she found a container of coleslaw, she added that to the menu. There was a big order of ribs from the barbecue place, and she recognized a large to-go order of baked beans from Granny’s. Not only had Ruby brought two bags of dinner rolls, but there were also three different kinds of pies and two large bottles of Pepsi. It was an amazing gift, and Dori was grateful to have food to contribute to the family rather than taking it out of their mouths.
She began putting away what needed to be refrigerated and setting the other food on the counter until supper was over. In the midst of all that, the buzzer sounded on the dryer. The boys’ curtains were dry. She needed to get those back up before they got home.
It then became a juggling act, getting them on the rods and then up on the hooks without having them slide back off the other end, but she persevered until it was done. She stood back to look at the room, making sure she hadn’t disturbed anything they might think would matter, and then hurried back to the kitchen.
It was past noon, almost one o’clock, and she hadn’t eaten a thing but a few bites of oatmeal this morning. Before, the thought of food had turned her stomach, but after the news Peanut Butterman had given her and the kindness of others, the knot in her belly was easing. Because of Meeker Webb’s foresight, she and Luther were going to be okay.
She poked through the cartons and dishes one more time, then chose a piece of chicken and some slaw and ate it standing up. A few minutes later, she was cleaning up when her cell phone rang. She dried her hands and answered.
“Hello?”
“It’s me,” Johnny said. “I thought I’d check in and make sure you’re okay.”
She smiled, surprised and grateful that he’d called to check on them.
“Yes, we’re okay, but you would not believe what’s been happening this morning. Granddaddy’s lawyer was here and Ruby Dye from the beauty shop came by with a lot of food.”
Johnny heard a lilt in her voice that hadn’t been there before. Whatever was going on had lifted her spirits.
“That’s great. So meat loaf is on the back burner?”
“We have fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and coleslaw, and some barbecued ribs and baked beans, rolls, three pies, and two liters of Pepsi. I put the meat in the freezer. Hope that was okay.”
Johnny laughed. “Of course it’s okay. I was just kidding you.”
Dori sighed, and he heard it. He knew she was struggling. He remembered the day his world fell in.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything before we get home?”
“I’m positive, but thank you, Johnny.”
“For what?”
“For asking. For caring. I don’t know. Just thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Call if you need help.”
“I will,” she said and disconnected.
Johnny knew she was no longer on the line but still held the phone to his ear. It took a moment to disconnect his emotions as he finally dropped the phone in his pocket. He had the dozer on the flatbed ready to haul back into town and was more than ready to leave the pigs
and Higdon’s pigsty behind.
* * *
An hour later, a van from Franklin’s Floral drove up to the Pine residence. George Franklin got out and carried a large potted plant to the door, then knocked. He eyed the young girl who came to the door.
“Dori Grant?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry for your loss,” he said and handed her a large blooming azalea.
“Thank you,” Dori said and shut the door as George headed back to the delivery van.
The azalea was stunning, the blossoms a deep crimson red. She put it down on a side table by the front door and then sat down to read the sympathy card.
From Ruby and the girls at the Curl Up and Dye.
All that food and then she’d sent flowers too. Last night, the world she’d known had gone up in flames. Then Johnny Pine opened a door to shelter her and Luther, and the kindness continued to grow.
A short while later, the baby woke up cranky. Dori felt his forehead, making sure he wasn’t getting sick as she changed him, then wrapped him in his blanket and sat down in the rocker and rocked him back to sleep.
* * *
When Lovey showed up just before four o’clock with two boxes of clothing, Dori was relieved to see her. This was a woman she knew and admired, and she’d come through for them in a very big way.
“I can’t stay, but I knew you would need these,” Lovey said as she set the boxes down and then gave Dori a big hug. “Honey, I am so sorry about everything. Do you have any immediate needs? Is there something I can do?”
“No, ma’am. Thanks to Johnny and his brothers, and people like you and Ruby Dye, we’re good for now.”
“Johnny Pine sure showed those good Christians on your block for who they really are,” Lovey said.
Dori shrugged. It still hurt her feelings that the people she’d known all her life had shunned her the moment Meeker was no longer a presence in her life.
Lovey gave Dori a quick hug. “I need to get back. Tonight is all-you-can-eat fried catfish, and you know the place will be packed.” And then she saw Luther lying on a pallet in front of the television and smiled. “I’ve said it before, and I have to say it again. That little guy is the cutest thing ever, and he is growing like a weed. You are doing a grand job, my friend.”
“Thank you,” Dori said. “I’m really sorry to let you down on such short notice.”
“No, no, you didn’t let me down. Life just drop-kicked you again, for which I am so sorry. Meeker was a wonderful man, and he will be missed. Oh…I have a list of the people who donated clothing. I’ll make sure to put a thank-you in the paper and add your name.”
“Thank you again,” Dori said. “People are being so kind.”
“There are lots of good people in Blessings, honey. Take care of yourself, and if you need anything, you have my number.”
Moments later, she was gone.
Dori took the box of clothing into her bedroom and began taking the items out one by one, thrilled by what they’d been given. All of the clothing was clean and in good condition, and in some cases, the pieces still bore price tags. There was a new pair of tennis shoes in her size and a pair of sandals. Someone had included new underwear, a makeup bag with new lipstick, moisturizer, toiletry articles, and a hairbrush and comb.
For Luther, there were baby bottles, lots of diapers, baby toys, a trio of new blankets, and much-needed clothing. She began opening the packages of new garments and took them to the laundry to wash.
Luther began fussing, and she quickly heated up a bottle and stopped long enough to feed him, then laid him down on the bed to play as she continued going through the box, hanging up some of the clothes and putting the rest through the laundry.
Luther was fussing again. When she looked up from what she was doing, she was surprised by how late it was. It was almost time for Johnny and the boys to come home.
The thought made her anxious. She hoped he wouldn’t resent what was happening, but she hadn’t expected people to acknowledge her in this way. The stuff that kept arriving might make him think she was taking over his space, and hurting his feelings was the last thing she wanted.
* * *
By the time the workday ended, Johnny was ready to go home. He was on his way to Before and After to get the boys, but his thoughts were on Dori. He didn’t know what to expect when they got there and was a little concerned with what he and the boys would be facing. She’d sounded almost upbeat when he’d talked to her earlier, but that was hours ago. She could be in tears again, and he wouldn’t blame her, but he didn’t want the boys scared or upset either.
He pulled up at the day care and got out. The Come In sign was still hanging on the door, so he walked in without knocking and called out, “It’s me, Miss Jane.”
“We’re in here!” she called out.
He walked through the house and into the kitchen, then saw his brothers and grinned. The work island was covered with flour and jars of colored sprinkles. Freshly baked cookies were cooling on a rack. Beep had flour on his nose guard as well as on both hands, and the front of Marshall’s shirt had a light dusting of flour, as well.
“Looks like you guys have been busy.”
Jane Farris brushed flour from her hands and frowned.
“The boys told me about your houseguests this morning. I want to commend you for your generosity. Is it true Dori Grant’s neighbors walked off and left her standing at that fire?”
Johnny eyed the boys. He didn’t realize they’d picked up that much of what had happened to her.
“Well, is it?” Jane asked.
“Pretty much,” Johnny said.
Jane rolled her eyes. “I could hardly believe it. I go to church with those people.”
There was nothing Johnny could say.
“It’s a good thing you happened by,” Jane said.
Johnny eyed his brothers again and then smiled.
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?” she asked.
“We were out because they were worried about you. They saw the fire and knew your house was in that area. They wouldn’t go back to sleep until they knew you were safe. We were out driving toward your house when we came upon the actual fire. In a way, it’s because of you that we were even there.”
Jane Farris’s eyes widened.
“Is this true? You were coming to see about me?”
Marshall nodded.
“We didn’t want you to burn up,” Beep said.
Jane grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes and then cleaned the flour off of Beep’s nose brace.
“Thank you, Beep. Thank you, Marshall. It has been a long time since anyone worried about me. Now, let’s get a bag so you can take some of these cookies home for your supper.”
“That’s nice of you, Miss Jane, but don’t send too many. Dori said people brought some food to the house today already,” Johnny said.
“That’s fine. These cookies are kid cookies, anyway. Not really fit for company.”
“They’re fit for me,” Beep said.
Johnny grinned. “Boys, go get your backpacks while Miss Jane is bagging up your cookies. We need to get home.”
The boys ran out of the kitchen as Jane added a few more cookies and then gave him the bag.
“Your little guy is almost healed, isn’t he?”
“We still have to be careful of his nose and ribs,” Johnny said.
“He won’t forget that,” she whispered. “He won’t ever forget. I hate that so much for him.”
Johnny frowned. “Yes, ma’am, so do I.”
“You are a good man, Johnny Pine. I just wanted you to know that.”
Johnny was surprised by her words and the emotion with which they’d been delivered.
“That’s kind of you to say, ma’am.”
“Give Dori
Grant my sympathies. I liked Meeker Webb. He was a good man.”
“I will. Thank you for the cookies.”
“We’re ready,” the boys yelled and headed out of the house.
“See you tomorrow,” he said.
Jane waved them off, then took the Come In sign off the front door and locked it. She was done for the day.
Johnny put the cookies in the seat beside him and then turned around to check the boys.
“Are you guys buckled up?”
“Yes!” they chimed.
“Is the lady still at our house?” Marshall asked.
“Yes, are you okay with that?” Johnny asked.
Marshall nodded.
“How long is she gonna stay?” Beep asked as Johnny started the car and drove away.
“Until she figures out what she’s going to do,” Johnny said. “Are you okay with it too?”
“Yep. I’m okay,” Beep said and then smiled, and just for a moment, Johnny saw their mother in his face.
“You guys are the best,” he said and headed for home.
The boys were talking and laughing and poking each other as Johnny drove through town.
He saw Peanut Butterman coming out of the courthouse with a briefcase in his hand, and Myra Franklin from Franklin Floral was carrying a large potted fern to the van.
Officer Pittman appeared to be ticketing a teenage driver he’d pulled over on a side street.
LilyAnn Dalton was walking down the street toward the bank. Everyone seemed to be on their way to someplace else.
He thought of Dori waiting for them and took a left turn at the end of Main Street and headed home.
The farther he drove, the less activity he saw. There were no businesses in this direction and the houses were older. Some yards were in need of mowing and landscaping was nonexistent. By the time he crossed the old railroad crossing and headed downhill toward Admiral Street, he not only saw but also felt the separation of the classes in Blessings.
He glanced in the rearview mirror. The boys were still giggling and poking at each other, oblivious of their lot in life at the moment. He braked for the turn onto Admiral, and as he looked down the street toward his house, he saw Dori and the baby in the porch swing. Just for a minute, he let himself fantasize that they were one big happy family and that they belonged to each other.
