When the Tide Ebbs: An epic 1930's love story (A Grave Encounter) by Kay Chandler
Authors: Kay Chandler
Ads: Link
ratted.
I went to #8 and asked Mr. Newsome if I could borrow his ax. He was the only one in the camp with tools. He was particular about lending them out, but he took a liking to me when we moved in, and said I could borrow anything he had.
I walked out to the edge of the woods and spotted a short-leaf pine with full branches. The kind Mama liked. After cutting it down, I made a stand and drug it home. The look of awe on Mama’s face when she saw the tree was worth more to me than a bag of money. I threw the pine limb out the back door.
“Kiah, you think we might buy some popcorn to string on it?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a Christmas tree without decorations, now would it, Mama? If you want popcorn, it’ll have popcorn. We’ll decorate it Monday night when I come home from work, and it’ll be the prettiest tree in all the county.”
The fresh scent of evergreen filled the room. Mama thanked me more times than necessary, before crawling in bed.
It was only eight o’clock and I couldn’t sleep. I had to get out of the house. I didn’t start out knowing where I was going, but somewhere between Rooster Run and the church, I figured out my destination. I’d stay out of sight in the pecan orchard and wait. If I was lucky, I’d get a glimpse of her walking home from the party. I tried to envision her in the strapless gown she’d described so enthusiastically, yet I knew my imagination could never equate such beauty.
I stepped up my gait when I came to the edge of the road leading to the church. My heart beat faster as I sprinted down the lane. Hiding in the orchard, I waited for the party to end, and when it did, I scrutinized every person leaving the building. Zann wasn’t among them. Her father, the last to leave, locked the building. But where was Zann? She’d looked forward to the Christmas Party for weeks. I wanted to run ask Parson Pruitt if she was ill, but I couldn’t. He hated me.
Would I ever be able to get her out of my mind?
Sunday morning I woke to the sound of Mama’s off-key humming. “You sound chipper, Mama. Feeling better?”
“I do, Kiah. I reckon it must be the Warburg’s Tincture.”
I sat down at the table and smiled. She could credit the tonic, but I knew better. The Christmas tree standing tall in the corner was the medicine that did the trick. She sat down and sipped on a cup of coffee. There was something different about her. Something besides the smile on her face. “Your hair . . . you’ve done something different . . . and you’re wearing lip rouge.”
She lowered her head and blushed. “I didn’t think you’d notice. You like it?”
“I do. You look . . . well, you look real nice, Mama. Real nice.” I could tell she was pleased.
She reached up and patted her hair. “I haven’t worn it up in a long time. I wasn’t sure I could find my combs, but they were tucked away in my carpet bag.”
“Did you get all spruced up for a special occasion?” The question was asked in jest, but her answer stunned me.
“As a matter of fact, I did.” I watched her suck in a deep breath and slowly let it back out. She had a peculiar look on her face. She sat a bowl of oatmeal in front of me. Without so much as drawing a breath in between her sentences, she quipped, “I wish we had some raisins. My mama always put raisins in our oatmeal. You like raisins, honey?”
I had a sudden rush of adrenalin. I remembered the day Zann asked me the same question. Though I hadn’t wanted to admit it at the time, but that was the day I fell in love.
“Do you, Kiah?” Mama asked.
I laughed. “Yes, Mama, I love raisins, but the oatmeal is good without them.” What had brought about the sudden change in Mama? She looked alive for the first time in months. Where was her rush coming from?
Maybe the Christmas spirit was responsible for her gaiety. Had she got all gussied up, hoping I’d take her to Goodson’s to buy popcorn for the tree? Of course. That was it. Had to be. I
I went to #8 and asked Mr. Newsome if I could borrow his ax. He was the only one in the camp with tools. He was particular about lending them out, but he took a liking to me when we moved in, and said I could borrow anything he had.
I walked out to the edge of the woods and spotted a short-leaf pine with full branches. The kind Mama liked. After cutting it down, I made a stand and drug it home. The look of awe on Mama’s face when she saw the tree was worth more to me than a bag of money. I threw the pine limb out the back door.
“Kiah, you think we might buy some popcorn to string on it?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a Christmas tree without decorations, now would it, Mama? If you want popcorn, it’ll have popcorn. We’ll decorate it Monday night when I come home from work, and it’ll be the prettiest tree in all the county.”
The fresh scent of evergreen filled the room. Mama thanked me more times than necessary, before crawling in bed.
It was only eight o’clock and I couldn’t sleep. I had to get out of the house. I didn’t start out knowing where I was going, but somewhere between Rooster Run and the church, I figured out my destination. I’d stay out of sight in the pecan orchard and wait. If I was lucky, I’d get a glimpse of her walking home from the party. I tried to envision her in the strapless gown she’d described so enthusiastically, yet I knew my imagination could never equate such beauty.
I stepped up my gait when I came to the edge of the road leading to the church. My heart beat faster as I sprinted down the lane. Hiding in the orchard, I waited for the party to end, and when it did, I scrutinized every person leaving the building. Zann wasn’t among them. Her father, the last to leave, locked the building. But where was Zann? She’d looked forward to the Christmas Party for weeks. I wanted to run ask Parson Pruitt if she was ill, but I couldn’t. He hated me.
Would I ever be able to get her out of my mind?
Sunday morning I woke to the sound of Mama’s off-key humming. “You sound chipper, Mama. Feeling better?”
“I do, Kiah. I reckon it must be the Warburg’s Tincture.”
I sat down at the table and smiled. She could credit the tonic, but I knew better. The Christmas tree standing tall in the corner was the medicine that did the trick. She sat down and sipped on a cup of coffee. There was something different about her. Something besides the smile on her face. “Your hair . . . you’ve done something different . . . and you’re wearing lip rouge.”
She lowered her head and blushed. “I didn’t think you’d notice. You like it?”
“I do. You look . . . well, you look real nice, Mama. Real nice.” I could tell she was pleased.
She reached up and patted her hair. “I haven’t worn it up in a long time. I wasn’t sure I could find my combs, but they were tucked away in my carpet bag.”
“Did you get all spruced up for a special occasion?” The question was asked in jest, but her answer stunned me.
“As a matter of fact, I did.” I watched her suck in a deep breath and slowly let it back out. She had a peculiar look on her face. She sat a bowl of oatmeal in front of me. Without so much as drawing a breath in between her sentences, she quipped, “I wish we had some raisins. My mama always put raisins in our oatmeal. You like raisins, honey?”
I had a sudden rush of adrenalin. I remembered the day Zann asked me the same question. Though I hadn’t wanted to admit it at the time, but that was the day I fell in love.
“Do you, Kiah?” Mama asked.
I laughed. “Yes, Mama, I love raisins, but the oatmeal is good without them.” What had brought about the sudden change in Mama? She looked alive for the first time in months. Where was her rush coming from?
Maybe the Christmas spirit was responsible for her gaiety. Had she got all gussied up, hoping I’d take her to Goodson’s to buy popcorn for the tree? Of course. That was it. Had to be. I
Similar Books
