Wanda stifled a giggle. “You mean Gordon Ramsay? Girl, he’s terrifying!”
“I think the mange has cleared completely,” Dr. Dixon replied. “We’ll have to do a scraping to be sure, but we don’t have to do that today.”
“Yeah, you can bring Felix to work with you,” Wanda said.
“Really?”
“Really,” Dr. Dixon continued. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to put off any lab work for another day. I’m beat.”
“No problem.”
“Come on.” Wanda motioned for Addie to follow her. “Let’s get out of here and go back to my place. I’ll feed both you and Felix.”
Addie didn’t protest. She shut down the computer, grabbed Felix’s leash, and followed Wanda out of the clinic.
CHAPTER 25
“SO YOU’RE TELLIN’ ME THAT AUGUSTUS SMOOT WAS JUST SITTIN’ on your porch swing at six A.M.?” Wanda stood in the doorway of Addie’s shed, watching her struggle with an oversized box.
“That’s what I’m telling you.” Addie huffed. “Can you come over here and help me with this box?”
“Sure thing, sugar.”
“Why do you think my aunt had so many horseshoes?” Addie asked. “I mean, what on earth would she need with horseshoes?”
Wanda shrugged. “I don’t recollect that she ever owned a horse.”
“Judging by half of the things I’ve found in here, I think she may have been just as crazy as Mr. Smoot.”
Wanda hung a horseshoe around her index finger and said, “I thought you said he wasn’t crazy.”
“I don’t know.” Addie wiped the sweat from her brow, smearing rust all over her forehead. “He seemed sort of normal, except for, you know, him being on my porch in a bathrobe and underwear.”
“At least he had the sense to wear a bathrobe.”
The two women giggled.
“So have you talked to Jasper lately?” Wanda asked Addie as she counted horseshoes. “You haven’t mentioned him at all.”
“Nope, not since Memphis.”
“One minute he’s all hot and heavy and can’t keep his eyes off of you, and another minute he’s pretending like you don’t exist,” Wanda replied.
“I don’t understand him at all.”
“He’s a Floyd.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means if he had a ham under both arms he’d cry ’cause he didn’t have no bread.”
“Did your granny just make this stuff up?”
“That one was my uncle Lawrence.”
Addie turned around to check on Bryar and Felix. Bryar had his arm around Felix and was stroking Felix’s half ear as he watched the news. “Hey, Bryar! What do you think? Are we really going to have tornadoes on Sunday?”
“It is possible,” Bryar replied. “On average, twenty-six tornadoes occur every year in the state of Arkansas. But in 1999, a hundred and seven tornadoes were recorded, which is still the most in state history.”
Addie shot a look at Wanda who shrugged and said, “He makes me read to him out of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas at bedtime. I bet he’s memorized every word of the weather section.”
“He’s four.”
“I’m convinced he’s really an eighty-year-old man,” Wanda said. “You know, like Benjamin Button.”
“Or my crazy sprinkler-dancing, porch-swing-sitting neighbor?”
“Or your neighbor,” Wanda said. “Have you talked to him again since the porch-swing incident?”
“I tried,” Addie replied. “But he pretends like he doesn’t know me. I guess he and Jasper have a lot in common.”
“Well, he’s not known for being cordial.”
“If it turns out that Bryar is secretly Brad Pitt, I can’t guarantee you that I won’t make a pass at him.”
“You’ve got enough man trouble,” Wanda reminded her. “Now, let’s get something to eat before Bryar predicts the snowstorm of the century.”
“I found a recipe in my aunt’s recipe box that I’ve been wanting to try ever since we got back from Memphis,” Addie said. “But I’m not exactly sure I can do it.”
“What is it?”
“Hush puppies.”
“Girl, those are easy.”
“Maybe if you’ve been cooking your whole life,” Addie scoffed. She fiddled with the papers inside the box. She felt silly and incompetent. Everybody down here could cook, it seemed. A pang of envy ran through her body for Wanda’s knowledge. What if the way to a man’s heart really was through his stomach, as her aunt Tilda always said? What would happen if she gave Jasper Floyd food poisoning? Whatever it was, she figured, it wouldn’t be good.
“You want me to show you how to fix them hush puppies?” Wanda interrupted Addie’s thoughts. “I promise they’re real easy, but if you’re ever going to make them for anybody”—she stopped and stared at Addie as if she were reading her mind—“you’ll need a main course. Hush puppies are meant to be a side. You know that, right?”
“Of course,” Addie replied, although she really hadn’t known. “Everybody knows that.”
ADDIE WOKE UP on Sunday to rain. The dull gray of the morning made her want to crawl back under the covers and go back to sleep. She curled herself up around Felix and closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of her bed.
The sound of the phone jarred her out of her cocoon. She sat up and shivered. The phone rang again, and Felix started to bark.
“Calm down, ferocious beast,” Addie whispered. Felix ignored her and jumped down from the bed, barking and wagging his tail simultaneously. The phone continued to ring.
She felt around on the nightstand, her eyes still adjusting to the odd light of the room. “Hello?”
“Addie? Is that you? I’ve been calling you for an hour. I thought you were dead.”
“Hi, Mom.”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I guess I didn’t hear it.”
“Jerry said he heard on the news that Arkansas is getting slammed by tornadoes.”
“That’s the rumor.”
“What’s it doing now?”
“Raining.”
“You need to go to the store and get some provisions.”
“Provisions?” Addie asked. “It’s a potential tornado. That’s all.”
“You’re not in Chicago anymore,” her mother warned. “You can’t just walk to the store down there. It’s a rural community. Besides, didn’t a tornado take out your kitchen window?”
Addie flopped back down on her bed and rubbed her forehead. “I could get ‘provisions’ if I needed them, Mom. Civilization doesn’t end outside of Chicago. It’s not like Little House on the Prairie down here.”
“You could just walk to the store if you needed to? You wouldn’t have to get in that tiny car of yours and drive? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“That’s what I’m telling you,” she said, although Addie knew that wasn’t entirely accurate. The nearest store was more like two miles instead of two blocks. “And guess what? We also have indoor plumbing!”
“You’ve really become quite sarcastic. I’m just trying to help.”
“I’m not trying to give you a hard time. I’m just tired, I guess.”
“Please go to the store and get a few things,” her mother urged. “Just in case you lose power.”
“Fine,” Addie grumbled. “I’ll get up and get dressed and go. Okay?”
“You’re still in bed? It’s almost noon!”
“Bye, Mom,” Addie said. She slid off the bed and wandered over to the window, pulling back the curtains.
Augustus Smoot was outside. Addie worried that he’d be stuck in his house during the storm without anything to eat or drink. Or worse—without any underwear.
Maybe she should just go over and check on him.
He was sitting on the porch when Addie and Felix started across the lawn. He didn’t look up from the newspaper he was reading, but as Addie neared the steps he said, “Don’t bring that dog up
here.”
“He isn’t going to hurt you. He’s a good boy.”
“Dogs that look like that are dangerous.”
“This dog’s not dangerous.”
“Leave him just the same.”
Addie sighed and said, “Sit, Felix. Stay.”
The man folded his newspaper and stared down at Addie. “He listens well.”
“He’s a good boy.”
“He barks a lot.”
“You told me so already.”
“You sound like a Yankee.”
“I’m from Chicago.”
“I’m Augustus Smoot.”
“I know,” Addie replied. “Remember, we had a talk on my porch swing?”
“No.”
Addie sighed. So he was crazy after all. “Have you heard that we’re supposed to get some bad weather tonight?”
“I have indeed.”
All she really wanted to know was if he was going to keep himself inside or if she was going to come home from the store to find him blown into her yard like a half-naked lawn ornament. “I’m going to the grocery store. Is there anything I can bring you just in case the weather turns ugly?”
“Magdalene will be along shortly,” he said. “She’ll bring provisions.”
There was that word again, provisions. “Okay, then.” Addie wondered if Magdalene was the woman who’d shown up at his house the morning of the storm to coax him inside—the lady with the nurse’s shoes. She’d seen the same yellow Neon parked outside of the house before. Maybe she was his girlfriend.
Augustus didn’t seem to notice or care when Addie turned around and walked back across the street to her house with Felix on her heels. She glanced around the kitchen, making a mental grocery list. Felix probably needed more food. And she supposed she ought to buy some staples like milk and bread, just in case. Her new wine rack, made from the last of the barn wood and the horseshoes, was almost empty. Now, that was a staple she couldn’t do without.
CHAPTER 26
BY THE TIME ADDIE GOT TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE PARKING lot was packed. People streamed in and out of the building, baskets laden with food and supplies. She’d never seen people make such a fuss. Addie was pleased to find that the most important provisions she came for were still in stock—dog food and wine. Smiling to herself, she began to load her cart.
“Hey, Miss Addie.” Bobby Carter greeted her from one end of the dog food aisle. “How you doin’ today?”
“Hey, Bobby,” Addie replied. “I’m great. Just trying to prepare for the storm. Last time I got a tree through my window. I’m a little nervous.”
“Well, maybe some of that work we did will hold up.”
“I’m sure it will. Thanks so much for your help.”
Bobby pushed his cart closer to Addie. “Could I ask you a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Can I use you as a reference? For a job?”
“Of course you can,” Addie said. “What job?”
“There’s a trucking company in Mississippi. I could drive one of their trucks till I get up the money to fix my truck. Get me outta town for a while, too.”
“Okay. Let me give you my number.”
“I already got it from Wanda. I hope that’s all right. Maybe you could just tell ’em that I’m reliable?”
“You already bored with all that Eunice has to offer?”
“Nah.” Bobby gave her his throaty chuckle. “But I ain’t used to spendin’ so much time here. A week on and a week off. That’s what life I been livin’.”
“I thought you were working for Redd Jones.”
“Not much work to be had.”
“You could be his maid,” Addie said with a grin. “Lots of work to be done inside that house of his.”
“I ain’t got the gumption for that.”
“What does he do, anyway?” Addie asked. “I mean, for money?”
“Just takes care of things around the neighborhood.”
“What does he take care of?”
“People around here ain’t got a lot, but Redd makes sure they got enough to survive.”
“When you put it like that, it sounds nice,” Addie replied. “But something tells me that Redd’s not nice.”
Bobby scratched behind his neck. “I’ve known Redd since we was kids, but we just ain’t got the same kind of mind for things, that’s all.”
“I think that might be a good thing.”
“He ain’t all bad,” Bobby said. “People don’t want to come down to those parts anymore. Don’t want to look at the ugly part of town. They ain’t got no one else to rely on.”
“Maybe that’s how Redd likes it.”
“You may be right about that, Miss Addie.” Bobby grinned broadly at her, displaying a row of crooked teeth. “I best be gettin’ home. It was nice talkin’ at ya.”
Addie watched him turn the corner. Bobby was so decent, so caring. How could he get mixed up with a man like Redd Jones? She knew Wanda wasn’t at all happy about Bobby living with Redd, and there must be a reason other than the fact that he lived on the wrong side of town. Addie was lost in a deluge of her own thoughts until another familiar voice broke through them.
“It looks like you’re planning for a wild evening.”
She knew who it was even before she turned around. “It figures that I’d run into half the people I know in this town at the grocery store.”
Jasper Floyd grinned at her. “What on earth are you going to do with a month’s supply of dog kibble and alcohol?”
“I’m preparing for the zombie apocalypse,” Addie replied. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“And to think the rest of the town is stocking up on candles and jugs of water.”
“I don’t have time to educate everybody.”
“Is that really all you’re going to buy? What if you lose power?”
“I’ll drink.”
“What if another tree slams through your window?”
“I’ll drink some more.”
“Eunice is tornado alley. You really ought to take this seriously.”
Addie leaned up against her cart and crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you and my mother conspiring with each other?”
“Maybe being without power for an hour or two is no big deal,” Jasper said. “But around here people aren’t so quick to respond. If you lose power, you’ll be lucky to have it back in a day or two. Real lucky.”
Addie bit the bottom of her lip.
“You’re not in the city anymore, Toto. Come on. I’ll help you get what you need.”
“Fine,” Addie relented. “But I’m keeping my cart full of dog food and wine.”
“Whatever you want,” Jasper said. He grasped the handle of her cart. His hand brushed up against hers, and Addie’s stomach did a flip-flop. “You look like a crazy person.”
“I wouldn’t be the only one on my block.”
“True.”
“And how do you think it makes you look to be seen with the crazy person?”
“There’s nothing that can be said about me that hasn’t already been said.”
“I bet I could think of a few things.”
Jasper stepped in front of her, and Addie slammed into his knees with the cart. “Listen, I’m sorry about Memphis.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”
“Yes, I do,” Jasper continued. “It was supposed to be your weekend. And it turned into an entire evening spent with me and my friends. I wasn’t even supposed to be there.”
“I’m glad you were there.”
“You don’t wish anything about that weekend had been different?”
“Well, I do wish that the cake had been chocolate instead of vanilla,” Addie replied. “But other than that”—she met his gaze—“I don’t regret anything.”
Jasper seemed to accept this response, and soldiered on. It became increasingly clear that he knew everyone at the grocery store—probably in the whole town. Addie counted fifteen times that the
y had to stop and chat with someone, and each time she was met with a questioning look and a sweet southern smile. Jasper pretended not to notice, and people were too polite to ask. By the time they emerged from the grocery store, the rain was coming down in sheets. Groaning, Addie fished around in her pocket for her keys.
“There is no way you’re going to make it home in that skateboard with a motor,” Jasper said.
“I’ll be fine,” Addie replied. “It’s just a little bit of rain.”
“You told me in the store that your windshield wipers didn’t even work.”
“I hate to drive in this stuff. In Chicago, I walked or took the El whenever the weather turned ugly.”
Jasper threw Addie the keys to the Bronco. “Run on to the car and get in. I’ll load up the groceries.”
Addie did as she was told. The rain was coming down slanted, and she was reminded of a conversation she’d had with Bryar. So far, his weather predictions had not been wrong, and he’d told her that slanted rain meant tornadoes.
“I don’t know how it can be raining like this and still be sweltering outside,” Addie said when Jasper jumped into the driver’s seat minutes later.
“That’s part of the Delta’s charm,” Jasper replied.
“You look like you’ve been swimming,” Addie said. She reached out and brushed his sopping hair out of his eyes before she could stop herself.
“It’s your fault.”
Addie’s eyes locked with his and her pulse quickened. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. Every time he was close to her she couldn’t think of anything other than touching him. She hated it. It wasn’t until Jasper started the car that he looked away from her.
The drive home was quiet. All along the road cars were pulled over, waiting out the storm. When they got to her house, Addie found Felix and let him out into the backyard while Jasper unloaded the Bronco. Felix ran around licking at the rain and sliding in the mud. He looked happier than he’d ever been.
“That’s the last of it,” Jasper said, heaving two fistfuls of plastic bags onto Addie’s kitchen table. “You know, you should really use recyclable bags.”
Sit! Stay! Speak! Page 15
