Passing through Perfect (Wyattsville #3)(16)

Such a thought eased Delia’s heart, and although her cooking was nowhere near as tasty as her mama’s she began forcing herself to eat.





Throughout those early months Delia’s moods would go up and down like a yo-yo. One day she’d be laughing at the way Isaac squealed and kicked his feet in the air; then the next day she’d be standing at the window looking for something that was never there.

Benjamin came to know and understand her moods. On the blackest of days when he saw the melancholy draped across her shoulders, he’d find something to cheer her: a flower from the field, a tender embrace, a string of kisses that traveled down the side of her neck. These small kindnesses touched Delia’s heart, and while a tear still lingered in her eye she would turn and smile.





Delia





A chunk of me died when I lost my baby girl. I looked at that sweet innocent baby turned blue as a bottle of ink and I thought, Lord God, how much more of this can I take? First I lost Mama and Daddy, and then you took away one of my precious babies. It’s too much to ask of any woman.

I believe in my heart my baby girl dying was ’cause Daddy called down the vengeance of the Lord on me. Daddy’s a person who don’t see no shades of grey, just good and evil. He’s got a whole lot of what he calls holiness, but the truth is he can be way meaner than the worst devil in hell.

If I could talk to Daddy I’d tell him Jesus forgives people what’s made a mistake; then I’d ask him if he thinks he’s better ’n Jesus.

Knowing Daddy, he probably does.





The Barbeque





In early April the weather turned warm, and Delia could once again sit on the porch to rock back and forth with Isaac in her arms. By then he was starting to teethe, and the motion of the chair eased his fretfulness. It was on just such a day that Beulah Withers happened by.

Beulah was on her way back from that wide spot in the road Grinder’s Corner called town. “Howdy there,” she called when she saw Delia sitting on the porch.

Delia waved back, and that was all it took. Beulah turned and started up the road toward the house.

“The mister done told me Benjamin got hisself a sweet little wife; I’m guessing that’s you,” she said.

“I ain’t gonna swear to sweet, but I’m sure enough Benjamin’s wife.” Delia gave the lighthearted laugh that hadn’t been heard in a number of months. It was picked up by a passing breeze and carried off to the side field.

Benjamin was busy spreading fertilizer, but hearing the laugh caused him to stop and listen. When it sounded again, he started back toward the house. As he came around the side, Beulah tickled Isaac under the chin and Delia laughed the way she did back in Twin Pines. It was a happy sound, free of heartache and sour memories. Benjamin stood and watched for a moment; then without them ever knowing he’d been there he turned and headed back to the field. As he walked a smile spread across his face, and his step became lighter.

He was still smiling that evening when they sat down to supper. After he’d polished off a full plate of rabbit stew, he pushed the plate back and said, “I’m thinking it’s time you got to know our neighbors.”

Delia beamed. “I met one today. Name’s Beulah.”

“Beulah’s a fine woman,” Otis said. “Her and Tom got six young’uns. The eldest ain’t yet in high school.”

“Six?” Delia repeated. “However does she manage?”

Before the conversation could settle into the worrisome thought of six children, Benjamin went back to what he’d had in mind.

“I’m thinking a big ole barbeque,” he said. “Invite a buncha neighbors and make a cooking fire in the yard.”

It was as if a light snapped on inside of Delia. “Really?” she said, her eyes sparkling.

Benjamin nodded. “Really. It’s been a good year, and we got spare money.”

“Caleb got hogs he’s looking to sell,” Otis said. “Might be he’d give you a good price on one of ’em.”

“Pork barbeque, huh?” Benjamin smiled. “That sounds mighty good.”

Late into the evening they remained at the table making plans for the cookout. It was decided that Benjamin would buy one of Caleb’s hogs and butcher it. Fresh meat from the hog Benjamin bought from Caleb would be used for the barbeque, and what was left would be cured and stored in the smoke house.

In a voice laced with excitement, Delia asked question after question. What were the names of the people who’d be coming, and did they have children? How many were there? How old were they? Did anyone have babies? What were the women like? As Benjamin described one family or another, she leaned forward with her elbows on the table and her neck stretched out to catch every word.

“There’s Digger Perkins,” Benjamin said. “Him and Marybeth have a girl what’s still in a cradle; she’s close enough to Isaac’s age.”

“What about boys?” Delia asked. “Any boy babies?”

Benjamin rubbed a calloused hand across his whiskers. “Let’s see. There’s the Wilsons. Virginia’s got a boy, but he’s about five, maybe six.”

Delia wrinkled her nose. “He’ll be eight when Isaac’s two,” she said, disappointed.