I'll Stand By You

by Sharon Sala

“So, let’s get this show on the road,” he said and headed to the utility room, taking tags and pins out of the shirts as he went.

  * * *

  Supper was long since over. Everyone was in bed, and Johnny couldn’t sleep. The three-quarter moon cast a faint glow through the blinds, leaving wafer-thin slices of light on the hardwood floor. The water stain in the corner of his ceiling looked darker. He needed to get up on the roof and see if that place needed patching again. The whole roof needed replacing, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

  He heard a noise and raised up, thinking one of the boys must be out of bed, and then heard it again and realized it was outside. He got up, moved the blinds aside to look out, and saw two kids having a fight out in the street.

  He grabbed his jeans and put them on, then headed for the front door and walked out onto the porch.

  “Hey! Take that crap somewhere else,” he yelled.

  Suddenly their fight was no longer front and center as they aligned themselves against him.

  “Make us!” they yelled.

  Johnny came off the porch on the run, and they scattered like quail, going in two different directions. Johnny Pine didn’t take shit from anybody, and everyone knew it. They were running for their lives.

  “Stupid kids,” he muttered as he pivoted in the damp grass and walked back into the house. Now he was even wider awake.

  He went into the kitchen to get a drink of water and opted for a piece of pie to go with it, then stood at the living room window and ate it in the dark, just to make sure the two kids were gone for good.

  Even after he’d gone back to bed, he couldn’t get the image out of his head of Dori being assaulted, begging for help, and no one coming to her aid.

  He tried to remember her in high school and, after a few moments, realized she was one of the smart ones, one of the students who tutored others who were in danger of failing. He remembered seeing her before school in empty classrooms, tutoring first one student and then another in different subjects. She’d helped one of the guys in his class pass science so he could graduate.

  So, Dori Grant was smart, really smart, and she wanted to design websites. Given half a chance, he was guessing, not only could she do it, but she would also see much success.

  Finally, he fell asleep and dreamed he was on the dozer and moving dirt for a new road that ran from his old house, all the way up the hill, across the railroad tracks, and onto the good side of Blessings, straight to a new house sitting empty on a tree-shaded lot. All he had to do was build the road, and when he got there, it would be his.

  * * *

  Dori had also been awakened by the commotion outside and flew out of bed and ran to the window.

  She’d heard Johnny yell at the boys fighting in the street, and when she heard them yell back, challenging him, her breath caught in the back of her throat. Were they going to come up and attack him?

  All of a sudden, they turned and ran in two different directions, and before she had time to wonder why, he appeared in her line of vision, running across the yard toward the street, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. Not only had he heard their challenge, but he’d taken it to them. Now they were gone, and he was standing alone in the yard, his hands doubled into fists, his feet apart in a fighting stance, ready to protect what was his.

  Dori took a deep, shaky breath, mesmerized by the glow of moonlight painted on the bare skin of his upper body. She watched until he walked back toward the house, then turned and stared at her doorway, listening as he moved through the rooms. She heard him in the kitchen and thought about joining him, then knew that wasn’t a good idea. She crawled back into bed and tried to go back to sleep, but her head was filled with so many what-ifs and maybes that she couldn’t relax. She dreaded tomorrow in the worst possible way. It would be the last time she would see Granddaddy this side of heaven, and she needed to be strong.

  Luther let out a small squeak, but before she had time to get up, she heard him sucking his thumb and closed her eyes.

  When she opened them again, it was hours later and Luther had rolled over onto his back, kicked off his blanket, and filled his diaper. She could smell it.

  “Way to wake up your mama,” she mumbled and glanced at the clock. It was just after 4:00 a.m. She threw back the covers and got out of bed to change him, then carried him with her to the kitchen to warm up a bottle while he held on to her hair, trying to get it in his mouth.

  “No chewing on hair,” she said and flipped it over her other shoulder as she put the baby bottle in the microwave.

  She stopped it a second before it dinged, so as not to wake anyone up in the back of the house, then popped it into Luther Joe’s little mouth and carried him back to the bedroom, cradled in her arms. She carefully shut the door, eased herself down in the rocker, and pushed off with her toe, rocking gently as the baby sucked down the milk one greedy gulp after the other.

  Twenty minutes later, he was back in the playpen and she was in bed. She pulled the sheet and blanket up over her shoulders and closed her eyes. Even though a dog barked somewhere nearby, the house was quiet. It never occurred to her to lock her bedroom door or feel afraid. From the moment Johnny had taken her screaming baby out of her arms and brought her home to the scene she’d witnessed only hours earlier, watching him protect all that was his, she felt safe.

  And that was Johnny Pine’s gift to her.

  He’d given her a soft place to fall.

  * * *

  When morning came, Dori didn’t speak about the incident during the night and neither did Johnny, and the morning flew by until it was time to go to the church.

  She dressed Luther in a blue one-piece outfit with a little yellow-and-brown giraffe embroidered on the front and blue socks on his feet. The black-and-white baby-doll dress she was wearing was so pretty that when she first put it on, her instinct had been to show Granddaddy, and then she stopped, crushed all over again by her loss.

  The empire waist on the smocked bodice of the jersey knit fell in loose gathers beneath her breasts, while the hemline ended just above her knees. The black tights made her long legs longer, and the black wedge heels added two inches to her height. Ruby Dye had solved her hair problem, and because the day was calm, she’d chosen to wear it down.

  She had the diaper bag packed with everything she might need for the baby. Now all she needed was the baby himself. She wrapped him in a lightweight blanket, slung the diaper bag and her purse over her arm, and out the door they went.

  Johnny and the boys were dressed and waiting for her in the living room. He had to admit the boys looked good in the pale blue dress shirts and jeans. Their cowboy boots were worn but shiny. Struck by the solemnity of the event and remembering their own mother’s funeral, they were on their best behavior.

  When Johnny heard Dori’s footsteps, he stood. Then she came into the living room, and he took a slow, deep breath. The only thing he could think was that she was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

  Dori saw Johnny get out of the chair and for a few moments forgot what she’d been about to say.

  The white dress shirt against his sun-browned skin and black hair was a stunning contrast, and the fabric of his Levi’s molded to his body and long legs in a perfect fit, leaving nothing to the imagination. The younger boys were mini-versions of him.

  “You all look so handsome,” Dori said.

  “And you look beautiful,” he said softly.

  “Thank you,” Dori said. “Can we drive my rental? The baby seat is already buckled in.”

  “Absolutely,” Johnny said and picked up the car keys from the side table before ushering everyone out the door.

  He took the diaper bag and Dori’s purse so she could put the baby in the seat in the middle, then the boys got in, one on either side of Luther. When Johnny gave them a look, they quickly put their hands in their laps.r />
  The silence inside the car was telling as they headed for the church. A muscle was jerking at the side of Dori’s eye and her hands were shaking. She dreaded this day even worse than the day she’d had to tell her grandfather she was pregnant. When Johnny put a hand on her arm and gave it a quick squeeze, it pulled her out of the moment.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “I’m sorry this day is going to suck,” he said.

  She sighed. “So am I.”

  A few minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot. It was full.

  “Oh Lord. Everyone in town must be here,” Dori said.

  Johnny glanced in the rearview mirror at the boys.

  “Remember what we talked about?” he said.

  They nodded as he parked, then he gave them one last order. “Okay, we’re getting out now. Walk with us. Stay with us. Do not run around anywhere. This is not a time to play.”

  “We’ll be good,” Marshall said. “I promise.”

  “Want to take the car seat inside?” Johnny asked. “Might make it easier for you to keep up with Luther and discourage a lot of people from wanting to pass him around.”

  “Good idea,” Dori said.

  “I’ll carry him inside in the carrier,” Johnny added.

  And so they walked into the church, looking like the little family they weren’t and upping the gossip meter even more.

  Pansy Jones was in the church dining hall, putting serving spoons in the dishes of food, when she saw them arrive. When she saw Johnny carrying the baby like he owned the right, she smirked and glanced at her women friends, as if to say, See? I was right. But then the blanket came off and the baby was revealed, and at that point, one thing became blatantly clear. The three Pine boys looked alike—thick, straight black hair, brown eyes. Luther Joe had blue eyes and soft brown baby curls. He did not look at all like Johnny Pine.

  The women looked at Pansy and frowned. It made her anxious. This would poke a huge hole in her attempt to add credence to her story that the baby was his. She sniffed and continued with her duties. So what if he wasn’t the baby’s father? They were living in sin and that sure wasn’t right.

  The meal was endless. Dori couldn’t swallow more than a few bites. She fed Luther and then held him, because it comforted her to hold him close as people stopped by to pay their respects.

  Johnny stayed nearby, trying to anticipate her needs before she asked. People had been gathering inside the church for over forty-five minutes and the sanctuary was nearly full. When Dori was finally alone, he scooted into a seat beside her.

  “Do you want to go freshen up or something? It won’t be long before the services start. I’ll hold Luther if you need a break.”

  Dori’s eyes were swimming with unshed tears.

  “Yes and thank you.”

  He lifted Luther out of her arms.

  “Come here, little man. You’re gonna sit with me a minute.”

  Chapter 14

  Dori smoothed down the front of her dress and headed for the ladies’ bathroom. The cinnamon-scented air freshener hit her in the face like a slap. Wrinkling her nose at the too-strong scent, she slipped into a stall only moments ahead of two women who came in behind her. It was obvious they didn’t know she was in there, because the first words out of their mouths had to do with her.

  “Dori Grant looks so pretty, and that baby of hers is a real cutie. I love curly-haired babies, don’t you?”

  “Yes, he’s a cute baby, but then aren’t they all?”

  Dori held her breath, trying to stay quiet. That last voice belonged to Pansy Jones, and she didn’t want a confrontation.

  “Personally, I think it’s terrible that sweet baby is being subjected to such immoral behavior,” Pansy added.

  Rage went through Dori so fast, she stifled a gasp. Her hands were shaking as she flushed the toilet and jumped to her feet.

  The moment the women heard it flush, they hushed.

  Dori straightened her clothing and came out of the stall with her chin up and her hands curled into fists.

  Pansy Jones looked like she’d seen a ghost. Before she could form a thought, Dori was in her face.

  “All these years you were my neighbor, and I thought you were such a nice lady. But I will be the first to admit my mistakes. You are a mean woman, Pansy Jones. I don’t know what I ever did to make you hate me this way, but I won’t have it. How dare you tell lies? How dare you insinuate something bad about me and Johnny Pine? Just because he helped me when no one else would does not make him or me guilty of anything. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  Then she pushed past them and out the door, letting it slam behind her as she strode back into the dining hall with her chin up.

  Johnny saw the flush on her face and could tell she was angry.

  “What happened?”

  Dori saw Ruby Dye heading her way and shook her head.

  “It’s nothing,” she said as Ruby arrived.

  “Dori, you look beautiful. Your grandfather would be proud,” Ruby said.

  Johnny couldn’t agree more as he watched Dori touch the bodice of her dress and then her hair, as if uncertain of her appearance.

  Then Ruby pointed at the pastor who was waving them toward the door.

  “I see they’re about ready for you to enter the sanctuary. Do you want me to take the baby during the service? I’ll gladly stay in here with him,” Ruby said.

  Dori glanced at Johnny and then nodded.

  “That would be great. I’ve been worried that he would start crying. You’re sure you don’t mind?”

  Ruby hugged her. “Of course I don’t mind.”

  “Here you go, and I think he’s getting sleepy,” Johnny said as he handed over the baby.

  Ruby snuggled him close and kissed his little cheek.

  Dori cupped the top of Luther’s head, feeling the soft curls against her palm.

  “There’s his car seat and diaper bag. If he gets fussy, he can have a bottle. Everything else you might need is in the bag.”

  Ruby had already settled into a chair and had the baby on her shoulder.

  “The service won’t last long, so don’t worry about us. We’ll be right here when you get back,” she said.

  “Thank you so much,” Dori said.

  Johnny eyed his brothers.

  “Boys, tuck in your shirts.”

  They quietly obeyed.

  Everything after that felt like a dream. Dori vaguely remembered the congregation standing as Johnny and the boys walked with her down the aisle, and because they seated them in the front pew, she didn’t see a single person—or hear a thing the preacher said afterward. All she could see was the cherrywood casket they would be putting in the ground with her grandfather in it, buried beneath six feet of Georgia dirt where she would never see him again.

  She hurt too much to cry.

  * * *

  By the time they’d followed the hearse to the cemetery to see Meeker Webb to his final resting place, it was almost three o’clock. Luther was asleep, so Johnny and the boys stayed in the car with the baby as Dori proceeded to the grave site alone.

  The preacher said a brief prayer and then Dori sat through what felt like an endless receiving line of people who came to pay their respects. She didn’t know the boys had slipped into chairs on either side of her until Marshall patted her arm and handed her a fresh tissue.

  “It’s okay to be sad. We were sad when Mama died,” he whispered.

  She wanted to hug him. Instead, she took the tissue.

  “Thank you, Marshall. That was very thoughtful of you.”

  He nodded.

  Beep leaned his head against her shoulder.

  “Are you tired, honey?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “So am I,” she whispered and gave him a
quick hug.

  She looked up and caught the preacher’s eye, and he quickly came to her side.

  “Pastor Lawless, the service was beautiful, but I’m not feeling well, and I need to get the baby home. Would it be rude of me to leave before all the others were gone?”

  “No, no, absolutely not,” he said. “I’ll see you to your car.”

  “Thank you, but the boys are here. They’ll walk with me. Please give everyone my thanks.” Then she looked down at Beep and Marshall. “Ready, guys?”

  They glanced at each other and then nodded in unison.

  Beep took one hand and Marshall took her other, and they walked away. About halfway to the car, Beep stumbled, and Dori caught him before he could fall.

  “Are you okay, honey? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “I’m not hurt,” he mumbled and ducked his head.

  Marshall frowned and then followed his brother’s line of sight, right to the group of boys just up the hill who were picking up trash that had blown across the graves.

  “I know what’s wrong,” Marshall said and pointed. “That’s the guys who hurt Beep. They are on kid parole and have to do work every Saturday for a long, long time.”

  Dori paused, then looked up the hill at the four boys walking up and down the rows, dragging trash bags behind them. Off in the distance, she could see a police officer. It was true; it looked almost like being in jail and was no more than they deserved.

  “Don’t worry, Beep. They’re in trouble and you’re not. So let’s go. Johnny’s waiting,” Dori said and gave his hand an extra squeeze.

  He didn’t say a word, but he held on a little tighter as they walked back to the car.

  When Johnny saw Dori holding hands with the boys, he felt like he’d missed out, and then he took a slow breath, taking comfort in the fact that they were coming to him. He got out, held the door open as she slid into the seat, got the boys in the back without waking the baby, and then drove away.

  “Hey, Johnny, did you see them guys?” Marshall asked.

  “Those guys, and who are you talking about?” Johnny said.

  “The ones who hurt Beep. They’re back in the cemetery picking up trash. They have to walk on people’s graves and everything. I’m sure glad I’m not one of them,” Marshall said.