Wayne spoke up, “Since you two are here, I need some help. Part of the barn roof got torn off in the storm last night. Care to have a go at it with me?”
John brightened. “Sure,” he said, but Howard looked doubtful.
“Come on, dude, we farm boys will show you how to patch a roof,” John said, slapping him on the back. “We’ll take a look at it with you, Wayne. Need us to go to the lumberyard?”
“Yeah, a whole section blew off. If you go to the lumberyard, I’ll start on trimming it back,” he said between bites.
“Great,” spoke up Rachel. “Mom and Dad are on their way. Daddy’s made a kettleful of his Brunswick stew, so we’ll have a big crowd for lunch. I’ll make some cornbread, and there’s plenty of stuff for a salad in the garden.” She turned to her girls, “Are you up for a big party today? Want to see Granny and Grandaddy?”
“Yea!” shouted the little girls. They jumped up from the table to throw their arms around their mother.
After breakfast was cleared, the men went to the barn to assess the damage, then John and Howard left in John’s jeep for the lumberyard. Geneva took a basket to the garden where there were plenty of greens for a salad, and the squash was already ripening. She gathered enough for a crowd, then, since there were a fair number of weeds making serious headway, she stooped to pull a few until, after wrestling with a particularly stubborn oak seedling, her back began to really hurt again. Shoot, she thought. I don’t like this! I am taking the rest of this day off! And soon, she found herself lying in a nest of pillows, watching the sun shimmer through the apple blossoms. The last thing she remembered was how soft the air felt and how beautiful the day was, before the gentle rocking of the swing and the motion of the light hypnotized her into a cloudy daze.
She did not hear the car in the driveway, or the car doors slam, nor the voices murmuring on the spring breeze, but she felt something niggling in the corners of her consciousness, and she opened her eyes drowsily. Lenora had just stepped through a swirl of dust motes dancing in the May light. Jimmy Lee was right behind her. Lamentations trailed along, nudging Jimmy Lee’s leg and trying to push his head up under his hand. Geneva heard the bees buzzing in the apple tree, and enveloped in the warm haze of the morning, she smiled lazily at Lenora as the old woman reached the top step and paused. Jimmy Lee bumped into her, then he caught sight of Geneva, and he suddenly sat down on the porch step, staring, all the color drained from his face. In her drowsy state, Geneva felt like she was in a dream where she had no control, but she did not care. She was happy to see Lenora, even happy to see Jimmy Lee. A fuzzy notion that Howard might be close by crept over her like a soft fleece.
“They Lordy, girl! You done surprised the whiskers offa me,” said Lenora, smiling broadly. “I did not know you wuz in the family way!”
“Hello Lenora, Jimmy Lee,” Geneva smiled and blinked. She glanced around, hoping Howard was just out of sight. “I didn’t know you were coming. I would have…” she trailed off, seeing Jimmy Lee’s sad state. She wondered if she ought to apologize to him.
Lenora looked at Geneva compassionately. “Sorry. We shoulda called first. We wuz jist in town, and thought we’d drop by, see them babies.” She looked crestfallen, embarrassed. “We’re intrudin’. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s okay, Lenora,” Geneva said, as the fuzz began to retreat from her head. “Have a seat. Jimmy Lee, can I get you a drink of water? Really, come and sit down. You’d be finding this out sooner or later anyway,” she added, indicating her mounding belly. When neither of them moved, she thought about standing up, but she was too comfortable. “I’ll get you something to drink,” she said, but she didn’t move.
“No, child,” said Lenora, suddenly gentle. She came close to Geneva and patted her on the shoulder. “We’re jist fine, and we’re real sorry we jist dropped in like this. Ike about cut his thumb off this mornin’, and we tuk him to the hospital to git it stitched back on. Chap’s there with him, and me and Jimmy Lee, well, we just thought we’d run by since we wuz in town and see th’ babies. Yew stay settled, and we’ll plan on comin’ back another time…”
“No,” interjected Geneva, glad that the comforting old woman was here, glad that some connection to Howard had arrived, glad the news was broken. “I’m happy you’re here. Maybe you can give me a few pointers. She laid her hand on her stomach and smiled. “This one will be along any time now.”
Lenora’s face lit up. “Law, girlie, I gotta tell ye, it does me good to see another life about to come in the world. Your sister’s babies, they was the last I delivered, and seems I cain’t git enough seein’ ‘em and watchin’ ‘em grow. Now maybe I git to see another ‘un.” She laughed her clear, childlike laugh, then added wistfully, “Maybe I kin even be here when yer time comes?” She caught herself. “Oh, of course, ye’ll be havin’ this in a nice hospital, won’t ye?”
Geneva did not know what made her speak. The words were out of her mouth before she even thought them. “Lenora, I’d love for you to be here for me, for this baby. After all, it is your great-grandchild.” She stopped, suddenly wide awake, the dream vanished in a vapor. Had she really said that? Her hand flew to her mouth and she shrank back into the pillows.
Lenora gasped, then gaped, and blinked twice. Then she turned toward Jimmy Lee and suddenly whacked him over the head with her purse. “Jimmy Lee Land! I am ashamed of you, boy! What do yew mean, gittin’ this girl in the family way and lettin’ her git this far gone and never a by-yer-leave!” She hit him twice more before Geneva could react and before Jimmy Lee gained the presence of mind to throw up his arms to shield himself from the blows.
“Ow, Grannie!”
“No!” shouted Geneva. “Not Jimmy Lee! Oh, stop it! He’s not the one!”
Lamentations grew fidgety, growling and looking over his right shoulder.
“Grannie! Ow! Stop it! Lamentations!” Jimmy Lee was torn between cowering beneath Lenora’s blows and stopping Lamentations before he could go into a full frenzy. He kept one arm over his head and gingerly reached out toward Lamentations with the other.
“Who, then?” demanded Lenora. “By God, I’ll see he does yew right. Which one of my boys has got you in this shape?” She stood up to her full height, and although it was just short of five feet, she seemed huge and formidable. Her face blazed with anger, and Geneva could swear her hair stood straight out from her head. She swallowed, deeply regretting her lapse. Oh Lord, please get me out of this! Wide eyed, she cowered before Lenora’s wrath.
But Lenora was not moved. She was so mad she hit Jimmy Lee several more times with her voluminous pocketbook, and although it was made of soft, quilted fabric, Geneva grew more alarmed as Jimmy Lee tucked his head under his arms and howled. Lamentations started to bark and snarl.
“Which one of those good fer nuthin’s wuz it?” She turned back to her grandson. “Jimmy Lee?” Lenora’s face shone red with rage.
Panicked, Geneva jumped up, blurting out, “Oh, stop hitting him, please! It’s not Jimmy Lee! It’s… it’s—” and then she clapped both hands over her mouth. She was too horrified to cry, but she sat down abruptly in the porch swing and cowered in the corner. She was certain Lenora would turn on her.
But the old woman did not. She stopped suddenly, and stood perfectly still for a second, eyes drilling into Geneva’s, and then spoke through her teeth while still staring at Geneva. “Jimmy Lee. Yew git on the phone and yew call that there horspital, and yew tell Chap to git hisself here right now. Right now, yew hear me?”
“No, Lenora! Please! He doesn’t know! And it wasn’t his fault. It was mine! Entirely mine. He doesn’t know.”
Lenora was unmoved. “Yew heard me, Jimmy Lee. Right now.”
Rachel came around the corner of the house, babies in their stroller, older daughters trailing behind.
“Oh!” exclaimed Rachel when she saw the scene laid out before her. Then she fell silent. For a few seconds, the only motion in the tableaux was Lenora’s nostrils twitching
and the only sound was her breathing. Then, without a word, the old woman spun on her heel and stormed into the house. Jimmy Lee had moved down a step and had flung an arm around Lamentations’ neck. He looked at Geneva with a pale and mournful expression that tore at her heart. Would she never stop hurting people?
Wayne appeared and assessed the frozen spectacle briefly. “Well, Jimmy Lee, looks like you have stumbled into quite a drama here.”
Rachel demurred. “I think they may have brought the drama. Geneva? You okay, honey?” She moved up the steps to enfold Geneva in her arms. The children, oblivious to the situation, had discovered a kitten in the yard and were teasing it with a twig. Geneva stared at the kitten, rolling on its back and batting at the twig, and all she could think of was help!
The screen door banged open, and Lenora stormed out. “They done left the horspital.” Catching sight of Wayne, she directed orders. “Git me the number of that place on forty-four. Heyday Diner. Ike said he wanted to go there.”
“No, Wayne,” broke in Geneva. “Don’t you dare call him. Lenora, please, this is not really Howard’s business. He doesn’t know a thing…”
“Don’t yew tell me it ain’t none of his business,” spat out the old woman. “If this ain’t his business, then I’m the President of the United dang States. Now, git in there, Dr. Hillard. And I ain’t pullin’ yer laig.” She turned to Geneva, softening just slightly. “Girlie, you stop tryin’ to protect that boy. Yew jist sit right down, and we’ll git this straightened right out.” Geneva sat. She simply had no fight left in her. After a brief moment, when Wayne looked questioningly at Geneva, he mounted the steps and went into the house.
No one spoke. They all watched the little girls and the kitten. A tear slipped down Jimmy Lee’s cheek, but it was not followed by another one. Geneva gritted her teeth and swore she would not faint or cry or make a bigger fool of herself than she already had. Genny squirmed to get out of the stroller, and Rachel took her out, then sat down beside Geneva in the swing and held the baby’s hand while she stood and wobbled. Everyone sat quietly, the swing moved back and forth, squeaking softly. Phoebe and Hannah rolled an acorn in front of the kitten.
The silence was broken by the sound of a car turning into the driveway. It was Howard Graves and John, returning from the hardware store. All eyes turned to them as John parked the car and they got out with the supplies. Howard caught sight of the group on the porch first. He faltered, then stopped. “Did I do something?” he said.
“Come on up,” said Rachel. “We have a little situation here. Seems Lenora has found out who the daddy is.” That was all she needed to say. Both men looked from Rachel to Geneva. Howard’s eyes lingered on Geneva’s face for a second, then moved on to Jimmy Lee. He nodded to the younger man.
“Hey,” said Jimmy Lee, voice full of misery, but he lifted his free hand and gave a little wave. John strolled over to Jimmy Lee and offered his hand, then sat beside him on the step. Howard’s eyes settled briefly on Lenora’s marble face before he eased himself up the steps to perch on the porch railing as far away as possible. His face was bright with curiosity.
Geneva wallowed in self-loathing, self-pity, and abject fear. She tried to pray, but her mind, numbed with shame and dread, refused to function more than enough to allow her to breathe.
Wayne appeared at the door. “I got hold of them. They’re on their way—but, uhm—they’ve got Sally Beth with them. Seems she was visiting someone at the hospital and couldn’t get her car started. They’re giving her a ride home.”
“Did you tell them to drop her off first?” demanded Rachel.
“Uh, no. That would take an extra forty minutes, and uh…” He trailed off. No one else spoke for a long time, until Hannah ran up to her mother, “Mama, can I have some lemonade?”
Rachel gently eased Genny into Geneva’s lap and stood up. “Sure, honey. Why don’t you and Phoebe come inside and help me make it? I’m sure everybody could use some.” She took Hannah’s hand and carefully made her way across the porch. “Come on, sweetheart,” she called to Phoebe. “Come help Hannah and Mommy make some lemonade. I bet everybody is real thirsty.” She shot a sympathetic look to Geneva. “Want to help, Geneva?”
“I will,” offered Wayne hastily, snatching little Lenora up from the stroller and hastening to open the door for Rachel. Geneva desperately wanted to get away, but she was overcome with inertia, her mind unfocused, as if to distance herself from the surreal scene going on around her. Jimmy Lee looked soft and far away. Howard stared at her with concern in his face, so she winked at him and closed her eyes, retreating into a misty sea of languor. Occasional dull pains intruded into her consciousness that made her think of stones floating in water around her, bumping into her, annoying her. She wished she could say something to ease the tension everyone else was surely feeling, but she was very tired, and the pain in her back kept her from saying anything coherent. She also felt a little nauseated, but she pressed her lips together, snuggled Genny close, and simply waited with everyone else.
Presently, she heard some conversation around her. John was doing what he could to make the situation a little more relaxed. He asked Jimmy Lee about his leg, about Lamentations, and when it became apparent that Jimmy Lee was in no mood to talk, he turned to Lenora, who ignored him completely. Geneva opened her eyes to see Lenora staring at her intently. She tried to smile, but another pain wrenched in her back and the smile evolved into a grimace.
“You awright, girlie?” the old woman asked her, concern in her voice.
Geneva roused herself, “Oh, yes, we just got here yesterday, and the ride was hard on my back. It’s bothering me some.” She took a breath and stretched, and the pain subsided. She deliberately kept her mind from turning to Howard and how bad things would get when he arrived. She would stop time. He would never come, and soon she would wake up from this nightmare. The swing creaked in the breeze.
Lenora nodded, but continued to watch her closely. Geneva noticed Howard was doing the same, so she smiled again and made an effort to get up. It was hard to do with Genny in her arms, so she settled back down into the cushions. Howard was at her side in an instant. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“Oh, I thought I would get up, but I can’t move with Genny in my arms. Just help me up.” She struggled to her feet, Howard’s hand at her elbow. There was a sudden pressure in her bladder, and suddenly she was jolted back to reality. This was real! This was not a dream! Howard was on his way, and she was totally out of control of her own body, of everything around her. In an instant, she was wide awake, urgently needing to pee. She hurried inside to the bathroom, and then, rather than go back and face the drama on the front porch, she wandered into the kitchen, where Rachel and Wayne scurried around, looking frazzled. “Need any help?” she asked, as brightly as she could.
“No, we’ve got it,” answered Wayne. He looked at her again. “You okay, Geneva? You seem a little… off.”
Geneva chuckled ruefully, then felt the tears sting her eyes. She made a little joke. “I think I’m doing pretty good, considering that my baby’s daddy is on his way here to walk into a hornet’s nest. I don’t know which will do him the most harm, finding out about this baby, or Lenora, who is spitting mad. You got here after she beat up poor Jimmy Lee. With her pocketbook.” She forced a tired smile. “That family is pretty violent with soft things. She beat up Ike with her hat the night the twins were born.”
Rachel snorted. “You’re taking this pretty well.”
“Yeah, I’m sort of resigned. And I’ve got this awful pain in my back. I hurt it this morning pulling weeds.”
Wayne walked over and put his hand on her stomach. “You might be in labor,” he said. “Back labor can feel like muscle spasms sometimes.”
“No, it’s just a muscle spasm. I felt it when I was weeding and pulled too hard.” She moved toward the tray of glasses. “I’ll take this lemonade outside. No need for you to have to be in on this. I’ll send Howard and John in, too. The
y’ve been the unlikely heroes in all this, and they don’t need to be subjected to any more.” She faltered. “This will probably be ugly.”
“No, let me,” said Rachel. That’s heavy, and I need to be there for moral support. Wayne, I’m leaving you in charge here. If you want, you can give them some Sesame Street. She hoisted up the tray and led the way onto the porch. Walking behind her, Geneva felt her heart lurch the moment she crossed the threshold and glimpsed Howard’s rickety truck turning into the driveway. She had not seen him in six months, but the distance of time had not prepared her for the way her sinews, even her bones, dissolved at the sight of him. She wished she could protect him from what was coming, but for the first time in her life, she felt that her body was not up to the task to shield anybody from harm. She was as weak as one of the kittens, and the pain in her back and in her heart were so intense she had to fight to keep herself from a writhing collapse.
The truck stopped. He had not seen her standing in the shadows. She held her breath as Ike, then Sally Beth, then Howard got out of the truck and made their way toward the house. Sally Beth was in the lead, walking beside Ike and talking earnestly. Ike’s left hand was swathed in a bandage and bound up close to this chest. Howard hung back, making his way more slowly, but he was the first to see her. When she saw his eyes fly open in surprise, she stepped backwards, trying to hide her belly, but when the color drained out of his face, she knew he had seen all of her, even in the gloom. She closed her eyes against the tears and clung to the door, swaying as all the substance in her head seemed to evaporate.
Sally Beth and Ike also stopped at the bottom of the steps. Rachel sang out, “Hey, y’all. Welcome to the party. Come on up and have some lemonade.”
No one moved for a moment, then Sally Beth took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Why, that’s real sweet of you, Rachel, And Geneva, you’re here! And my goodness, just look at yew! About to pop with that sweet little baby. I was hopin’ yew’d come home for the birth, ‘cause we all want to see it jist as soon as it gits here!”
The Women of Jacob’s Mountain Boxed Set Page 43
