tight. âMandie, please, letâs donât say harsh words to each other about this. Of course I was upset when we found the will giving you the house, because I wanted to get it back for you myself. I knew how much you wanted it, and you just canât imagine how much I wanted to get it for you. But you will have the house soon, and that settles that.â He looked into her blue eyes and added, âMaybe there will be something else I can do for you someday.â
Mandie quickly covered his hand with her free hand and said, âJoe, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I will try my best to behave better. Andyou donât have to do anything else for me. Just be my friend. Thatâs more important than anything else.â
âAnd I want you to be my friend, too, with maybe a deeper relationship when we grow up,â Joe said.
They were both startled by Mrs. Taftâs voice as she came out onto the front porch. âI believe itâs about time to eat,â she was saying as she walked over to a rocking chair and sat down. âHas anyone returned yetâyour mother, or Uncle John, or Uncle Ned, or Mr. Bond?â
âNo, maâam, Grandmother,â Mandie replied as she quickly withdrew her hands from Joeâs and sat up. âNobody has come home yet.â
At that moment Aunt Lou came to the front door, looked out, and said, âDe food ready to serve, Miz Taft. Whut we gwine do âbout nobody home yet?â
Mrs. Taft looked at her and said, âWould it be possible for you to keep everything warm for just a little while longer? Maybe theyâll all be back soon.â
âDonât wanna wait too long. Food wonât be fittinâ to eat,â the big woman replied as she turned back into the hallway.
They waited on the porch, and in a little while Aunt Lou came back again.
âAinât no sense in yâall lettinâ yoâ dinner go to waste jesâ âcause de rest of dem ainât home yet,â she told Mrs. Taft.
Mrs. Taft rose and said, âAll right, Aunt Lou, weâll go ahead to the table.â Looking at Mandie and Joe, she added, âLetâs go eat now.â
Mandie and Joe followed her to the dining room, and they all sat down at the table.
âAunt Lou, just pass us something and then keep the food on the stove so it wonât get completely cold,â Mrs. Taft told the woman.
âPeople oughta come home when itâs time to eat,â Aunt Lou grumbled as she and Liza passed the food around the table.
âYouâre absolutely right, Aunt Lou,â Joe said emphatically as he dug into the squash on his plate.
âEverybody is always here at mealtime. Thatâs one time that everyone shows up,â Mandie said as she buttered a biscuit. âThere must be something important keeping them from getting back in time to eat.â
âWeâll find out when they return,â Mrs. Taft told her, sipping the coffee in her cup.
Even though they were slow about eating, no one else had shown up by the time they finished the meal.
âWell, I suppose we might as well begin searching the cellar,â Mandie said as the three of them rose from the table.
âHow about a walk first?â Joe asked.
Before Mandie could reply, Mrs. Taft said, âThat sounds like a good idea. Iâll walk with you all.â
Joe looked at Mandie and then at Mrs. Taft as he said, âWell, what I had in mind was just sorta rambling through the woods down toward the Burnsesâ house.â
Mandie spoke up. âThat may be too far for Grandmother,â she said as she looked up at Mrs. Taft. They went into the hallway.
âOh no, dear, I need some exercise. Iâve been in my room just about all morning,â the lady told her. âBut let me go get a wrap and my hat. It may be cool in the woods.â
âWeâll wait for you on the front porch, Grandmother,â Mandie told her as Mrs.
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