by Caryl McAdoo
“But that was different. Papa needed the help. And they'd planned on building a second house. Stupid war.” She mumbled the last under her breath. At least she didn't spit.
That would have got her in big trouble. Maybe even the strapping Papa kept threatening over the years.
“You're right.” Lucy nodded. “That was different. You two weren't even of age when Jake and I tied the knot, but . . . all water under the bridge. Earl has asked. I told him . . .”
She glanced over at Harmony who stared intently with those beautiful big blue eyes. Could her beautiful, treasured daughter understand?
Some of the hearing boys at the school claimed that a few of the deaf ones could read lips. Had they taught her baby how? Since she'd so quickly grasped the concept of words.
“I told him that Harmony has fallen hard for her teacher, and that I was certain she'd resent anyone but him.”
Oh Lord, what could Melody do? She didn't know who Lucy should pick. Certainly she knew who she'd pray for her to. As much as she wanted her beloved sister to go for Mister Draper—was she wicked for it?
Her heart screamed, 'choose Earl, choose Earl'! But her head . . . She could never dismiss her precious Harmony.
“What are your thoughts, Melody?”
Her thoughts? She could never share them, not in a hundred years, with anyone! She shook her head.
“I agree about the prayer.” She plastered on the biggest smile she could force. “We all need to pray, ask the Lord to show us the right path.”
Thank the Lord for making smiles so contagious. Lucy's always brightened the room.
Her sister's eyes twinkled. “Amen.”
Even Servilia had a grin. “And amen.”
Harmony stood in her chair and clapped.
Chapter Five
S
unday next, the faithful streamed into the church building. At least three dozen Zeke hadn't seen before crowded in for standing room only.
As usual, the Parker sisters occupied their regular pew, except instead of getting her own spot, little Harmony sat in her mother's lap. The child had certainly won him over.
He pulled his pad from his pocket and wrote out “Who's the man sitting next to Lucy Parker?”
Preacher leaned in close. “Name's Earl Draper. Been sweet on Lucy for years, but according to my wife, only now got his nerve up to ask her to marry him.”
The pencil raced across the paper again. “Has she accepted?”
“Not yet.”
With a flat hand, he brought the palm side of his fingers near his lips then moved them forward toward the preacher—the universal sign for “thank you” then returned his attention to looking, without staring, at the object of his affection.
So, Mister Draper had come calling. Interesting. Zeke would like to ask more about the man.
But the pastor took the pulpit, and apparently Preacher's wife was the one he should be quizzing.
The big clock hanging on the back wall struck eleven. One of the deacons, Orval if Zeke had it right, opened with a prayer. Announcements followed three songs, then his time arrived.
Preacher introduced him without fanfare. “Reverend Sheffield has requested a few minutes of our time.”
“Another storm coming?” Someone in the back asked a bit too loud, causing a small wave of laughter and comments.
He shrugged and motioned for Jessie, his best hearing student, to join him on stage. The boy stood next to him sideways. Zeke's fingers flashed, his interpreter faced the congregation.
“He says that since the storm, there's been ten visitors come to the school.”
What a joy! Melody could understand most of what Zeke said with his hands. Having Jessie confirm what she'd read made it even better and boosted her confidence like a roman candle.
“The reverend says he's not a fortune teller and can't talk to your dead loved one, so please stop asking.” Everyone laughed again.
“He says if the Lord gives him a word, he'll tell you. That he'll hunt you down if he has to because God's Words in his mouth have to be spoken, and he doesn't need me or his tablet.”
The boy looked at his teacher who signed out more. “The stuttering has sorely vexed him, except that . . .” He shook those words off then made the thank you sign.
The boy looked back to the congregation. “This.” He held his hand in front of his mouth, then swept his fingers down toward the congregation, repeating the gesture. “Means thank you.”
The man repeated the sign toward his student who gave him a nod with a smile then took his seat again.
Vilia leaned close. “Told you so. They all think he's some kind of freak.”
Oh, how her sister did irritate her. Melody glared but didn't respond. An angry countenance silenced a backbiting tongue. Wasn’t that what scriptures said?
But what a hateful thing to say! Couldn't she see how uncivil she always acted? How obnoxious she was? What man in his right mind would ever want to spend his life with her if she kept it up? Seemed she doomed herself to spinsterhood.
That afternoon and evening while Earl sparked Lucy—with first Melody then Vili as chaperone—the 'except' that Zeke shook off stood tall in her mind's eye. But like a buck hiding in the shadows, she couldn't get a good bead on it.
What exactly was he talking about? Except what? One thing that happened or a time when it was different?
Had there been a time when he could talk normally?
Or perhaps when the Lord did something special, but . . . no longer?
Could his mother's death have anything to do with it?
Even with what he'd said, a bunch of neighbors from as far away as Bagwell had crowded around him after the service as though he was someone famous—a governor or stage actor.
She hated the time they took but loved how gracious the man was with everyone.
Then again, according to her tale-monger of a sister, not a body in all of the Red River Valley missed hearing of him foretelling the storm and twister.
Mister Harvey must have shown off his long lost toy soldier a hundred times and told his story to any and everyone who would listen. They all had to admit his prophecy took the cake on anything exciting in the valley in forever.
Maybe the most talked about happening since Lacey Rose Langley—she should say Nightingale—skedaddled. Coming back married to Charley held down the gossip.
In the end though, the only thing for certain that disturbed her. But being jealous of Jessie couldn't be more ridiculous. Still, if only he'd asked her to interpret . . . But then, Preacher probably wouldn't have allowed her up front anyway.
The next morning she beat the rooster up by half an hour or better. Her eyes popped open to the realization that Monday followed Sunday every time!
The best of days. She loved the Lord's day all right and had forever, loved going to church and seeing all her friends and neighbors, but nothing trumped getting to spend the day near Mister Sheffield.
Mondays about sent her over the moon.
Once dressed, she floated downstairs, hoping against hope to have beaten Lucy up, but who could? And even worse, Vili sat her seat, sipping coffee. Still, praise the Lord!
School day arrived, and God blessed her with the lovely task of driving Harmony to see her teacher. Nothing could dampen her joy, not even Servilia.
“I've been thinking. I need to make a trip to DeKalb. How about me dropping our little scholar off on my way?”
A bucket full of cold water poured down over her head, washing her joy into her socks.
“No.” Ooops. Melody never meant for that to come out like it had, but no matter what, her sister was not going to ruin things.
“And why not? You've taken her twice now. Lucy doesn't trust you enough to leave us alone, so seems me taking her will kill two rats with one rock.”
The rat part, she definitely got right—well, for herself, not sweet Harmony. And for sure Melody would like to kill . . . No! She put that thought away.
; As much as the nasty blister bug brought misery to the otherwise happy little home, she didn't want to harm her own blood.
“Tell her, Lucy. Someone has to be there to help the baby. Besides, it wouldn't be right to just leave Harmony there with all those boys.”
“You're crazy. She goes to church with most of them.” Vili turned to her older sister. “But if you insist, Sissy, I can stay awhile, then she can study on the way to town and back.”
“No. Tell her, Lucy. Tell her she needs to stay in class all day.” Melody faced the water thrower.
“Zeke only comes by now and again, only whenever he can get a few minutes. So no!” Her eyes begged the oldest sister.
Hopefully, she'd not give in to Vili just to keep the peace. “He'd have to spend what little time he had teaching you! I already know what needs doing. You don't!”
“The fields haven't crusted over yet, and Earl was planning on coming over for dinner, so . . .” She grinned. “Why don't you just drop . . .”
Melody's heart sank.
“. . . both my song birds off on your way to town.”
Took half a beat for her heart to rally and the words to sink in, then once they did, surely dear little Harmony could hear the thumping all the way upstairs.
“But you both have to promise to be good. If you think you can get along . . .”
“Oh, of course!” Melody smiled at her tormentor. “We'll be angels, right?” Making a little bridge by interlocking her fingers, she rested her chin on it and grinned.
“Absolutely.” Vili gave her patented smirk then looked to Lucy. “So Mister Draper's coming for dinner. He'll be eating us out of house and home.”
Lowering her eyes to the floor, Lucy shook her head and huffed. “Do not start on me, Servilia. He's bringing a smoked roast for all of us to enjoy. I suppose I can bake rolls and fry up some okra.”
“I'll slice tomatoes when we get back, Lucy. I'll be happy to see Mister Draper. I like him a lot. He's good for you.”
“Should I stay home to chaperone? Or do you intend to be the talk of the town?”
“Stay if you want, Vili, but we're officially engaged now, so that isn't really necessary.”
Pandemonium—like when Melody and her sisters were five, seven, and thirteen—erupted. Dancing around the kitchen, she whooped and Servilia hollered with Lucy twirling in place, carrying on between kisses and hugs.
A tug on her shirt stopped Melody.
Harmony, starting near the thumb of her left hand's palm, dragged the tip of her index finger downward, across her palm. 'What' Then spelled out 'happen'?
Signing back, Melody spelled out the good news as best she could to her niece. While the child's progress had been phenomenal, especially for a four-year-old, sometimes it proved difficult to know exactly how much she understood.
But baby girl obviously caught enough of the meaning of the words she spelled with her hands—words of love and marriage.
Except Harmony didn't look nearly as happy as her mother.
A familiar wagon lumbered toward the school. Zeke's eyes hadn't deceived him. Both the younger sisters sat on each side of his littlest prodigy.
Once there, without being prompted, Jessie took the near mule's halter. Zeke waved then signed Harmony's name first, then her favorite aunt's. Though he could certainly spell Servilia's name, she'd shown no interest in learning how to read the language.
So he only gave her a nod.
Melody took his hand, climbed down, then turned to get her niece, but the girl waved her off then jumped into his arms. He swung her around then set her on the ground.
“Vilia's is going on into town. She'll be back to pick us up after school.”
The middle beauty shot her little sister a smirk. “Have fun.” She slapped the reins over the mules' backs a bit too hard for Zeke's taste, but then they were not his animals. Who was he to tell her how to drive?
The day progressed nicely until dinner, then it seemed at every turn, something or someone kept him from where he wanted to be. Finally dawned on him; he wrestled not with flesh and blood.
Retreating into the pantry that doubled as his office, he got on his knees and signed the Lord's Prayer. He pressed his forehead to the floor and held his hands out.
'Lord, have mercy on me, bless Your Holy Name. Hedge us in. Charge Your angels to watch over us. Make my way according to Your will, Father.' He stood.
“S-s-s-atan, I b-b-b-bind you off m-m-m-me and mine by the B-b-b-blood of Jesus. You are defeated, d-devil, by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of my testimony. I will not love my life unto death.” The Lord heard the words he signed, but the demons needed to hear him speak. Zeke appreciated the Lord loosing his tongue so that it wasn't such a struggle.
The devil and his minions trembled at the evocation of Christ's name and His Blood.
Straight from his prayer closet, he headed for the parlor. As expected, Melody and the girl sat across from each other at what had become their Monday table. Their hands flew.
Her love for the child was quite evident, and she made a terrific teacher. Baby girl, like a sponge, caught onto new words and concepts much quicker than students twice her age.
The little one looked up, beaming, but she didn't run to him. It mostly pleased him that besides words, she'd learned how to act better, too.
Showing self-restraint was plenty good, though it also nibbled his heart. Would he love his own any more should the Lord ever bless him? He couldn't imagine it, because the little angel owned the whole of his heart.
“Oh, sorry, Zeke.” Melody stood, her cheeks reddened two shades. “Jessie came and told us dinner's ready, but . . . well, we were in the middle—”
'No, no. You're fine.' He smiled then signed more. 'Be right back' then disappeared. Shortly, he returned carrying a tray with three steaming bowls of soup and a nice hunk of cheese, hard tack, and milk.
“Oh my. What a treat. You didn't have to do that.” She jumped to her feet and cleared a space, straightening their papers and closing books.
Baby girl clapped then as soon as he'd set the tray down, hugged his knees.
For the first few refined slurps, silence ruled. Nary a finger said a word.
“It's very good.” Melody set her spoon down, pinched a bit of cheese, and looked him in the eye. “I have a question.”
'What?'
“Yesterday in church, you started to say something, waved Jessie off. What was it, if I may be so bold as to ask?” Her cheeks flushed even redder then before. He loved her being a little embarrassed to get personal yet bold enough to ask. “I mean, well, you see, we've had some news, and . . . well . . . Oh, Mister Sheffield! I'm beside myself! Forget I said anything.”
'No, it's all right.'
“I . . . I'm being much too forward. Please forgive me.”
He shook his head. Did he dare open his mouth? He'd wanted to wait . . . make sure, but his heart wouldn't abide such. “Miss Parker.” So far, so good. Thank You, Lord. “I . . .” Should he continue? He'd not stuttered. Could it be true?
Her eyes widened. She stared then swallowed, reached out, and took his hand. “You're . . . you're speaking. Somehow, I wondered. It's what you were going to sign yesterday, wasn't it? I don't know how, but . . .”
His chest threatened to burst. But he couldn't stop then. “Only the Lord and love—God is love—loosens my lips. And Miss Melody Parker, I have loved you from the first instant I laid eyes on you.”
She gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth. Tears welled. How could it be? Was she hearing things? Melody replayed the man's words. His spoken words! He'd said he loved her. She glanced over at Harmony, quietly eating her soup.
He loved her?
Cotton suddenly filled her mouth and no drummer alive could keep pace with her heart. He loved her!
“Yes! Me, too! I've thought of nothing else, but . . .”
“But what?”
She looked again to baby girl who grinned rather sheepishly.
; “Well, I thought Harmony would be so disappointed, so sad, if you didn't marry her mother, but . . .”
Reaching across the table's corner, he squeezed her hand. “Isn't an uncle almost as good as a father?”
“Looks like.” Melody wiped her cheek. “She's going to have both. Earl Draper's asked Lucy to marry him.” She put her free hand over her heart to still its wild racing. “I can't believe what's happening. I can't believe you love me. It's . . . it's—”
“True. That's what it is.” His face literally glowed. His eyes sparkled. How could God bless her so? “I'm happy for Lucy. What about Servilia? Has she a beau?”
“Not that we know of, she's real secretive sometimes.” Melody searched her memory, but couldn't remember Vili mentioning boy or man. She was pretty enough, especially if she didn't make that horrible smirky face. “Why do you ask?”
“Oh, from the first, I thought of a cousin of mine who would . . .” Footfalls stopped him. Jessie appeared in the door way.
“Mister Sheffield, sir.”
With an 'S' fist, thumb beneath tucked fingers, Zeke nodded his hand, flashing the sign for 'yes'.
“Want me to get the boys started, sir?”
After agreement and a bit of instruction, the young man hurried out to his task. He glanced at Harmony then faced Melody. “Rupert, that's my cousin, is brilliant, but rather challenged socially. He's a professor of mathematics by trade.”
“Where does he teach?”
“University of Chicago. If your sister might be interested, I have his address. She could write. Maybe they could begin a relationship through letters.”
“Really? What put you in mind of him when you met Servilia?”
He smiled. “I noticed she's a lot like his mother, whom he adored, and if she's as abrasive as I suspect, then it will take someone like my cousin to win her heart.”
Melody hashed then rehashed his declarations about Vili. “How do you know so much about her?”
He grinned. “She thinks I'm a freak.”
“Who told you that?”
A chuckle sounded before he found his voice. “She did, yesterday at church. I can read lips.”
