As She Fades(35)

Slate nodded and smiled, but the smile wasn’t as genuine as it had been before we visited his uncle. It had been hard on him. Again, I wanted to hug him and tell him it would be all right. But the truth was, it wouldn’t be, and we both knew it. His uncle D’s time was limited.

“It’s okay. I like the McKinley family members I’ve met so far. I’m sure everyone else is just as cool.”

They were. I loved my family, and after spending the day with Slate and his uncle I realized I was incredibly lucky to have the large family I had. No sickness had touched us. No death. Crawford had been the biggest tragedy we faced. And I still believed he would open his eyes one day.

“Okay. Well, the food will be good. More than likely one of my favorites. You can expect red velvet cake for dessert.”

“Momma’s baby has come home for a visit,” he teased.

I nodded. Because he was right. “Yep.”

I opened the door and waved him inside. “Here we are.”

The house wasn’t huge. It was big enough for us, though. The foyer had a coat rack that currently held two rain jackets, an umbrella, Mom’s purse, and her reusable shopping bags. The stairs were right around the corner leading up to the four bedrooms. One for my parents, one for me, one that Knox and Jonah had shared, and one that Dylan and Michea had shared. They all still remained the way they had been left when the others had moved out. Except there was a baby bed in Dylan and Michea’s old room. The girls had outgrown the baby bed, but it was waiting on the next grandchild.

Voices from the kitchen and living room were so loud they hadn’t even realized we were here. This was typical of my family. Everyone was always trying to out-talk the others.

“VALE!!” Maddy was the first to see us. She screamed my name and ran at me with her arms up in the air.

I bent down to catch her just as my mother, father, Malyn, and Catherine all came out of the kitchen. Michea and his fiancée, Hazel, came from the living room with Dylan.

“I didn’t even hear y’all come in,” Momma said, wiping her hands on her pink polka-dot apron that the girls had painted for her last Mother’s Day.

“I expect not with all the talking that was going on. Everyone, this is Slate Allen. He is a friend of mine and one of Knox’s frat brothers,” I said. Then I turned back to Slate. “You’ve met Dylan and the girls. This is Catherine, Dylan’s wife and the girls’ mother.” I then went on to make the rest of the introductions.

Dad shook his hand, as did Michea. When I was finished, Maddy decided to remind us that she’d seen him kiss a nurse. He was never going to live that down with the girls. Dylan had quickly hushed her up, and I smiled over at Slate. He needed to be careful where he kissed people.

The table was already set and I was sure Mom had put Catherine and the boys to work as soon as they got here. We had a long, wide farm table that my dad had made just after he and Mom got married. We filled it up now, and over the years he’d had to make two benches for either side to fit everyone.

Right down the middle was where the food was placed and we passed it all around to fix our plates. I scooted in to sit beside Maddy and let Slate take the end seat. “How’s your uncle?” my mother asked as soon as plates were filled and everyone was comfortable.

“He’s tough,” Slate said, “but he’s not getting better.”

Mom looked at him in a way only a concerned mother could. “Well, we are here if you ever need us to take him something. Meals, or just to check on him. Don’t hesitate to call. I was thinking of sending Dylan up there with a plate tomorrow. We always have so many leftovers.”

“I’m sure he’d like that. He hates the hospital food. His appetite isn’t much these days.”

Mom nodded, and I was willing to bet that Uncle D got a hot meal from her every day from now on. She, however, never mentioned Crawford or asked about my visit with him. I figured Slate’s being here had her keeping quiet about that.

“I was hoping Knox could make it home tonight. He didn’t have time to stop by the other day and it’s not easy with y’all both being gone,” Momma said, looking down at her food.

“Yeah, me and Michea aren’t enough to keep her happy. If Michea and Hazel would hurry up and get hitched and shoot out some kids, then she’d have something else to worry over. The girls are getting too big now, and she needs a baby to tend to.” Dylan was teasing, but there was truth to his words.

“Leave your momma alone. She’s doing just fine. We’re all glad Vale is off at school and living her life again. Ain’t no one wishing she hadn’t gone,” Dad piped up before soaking his corn bread in turnip greens and taking a bite.

“How are classes?” Catherine asked me, changing the subject before the boys could keep on.

“Good. Harder than I was prepared for, but I’m managing.”

“So how is Knox adjusting to the frat house life?” Michea directed his question to Slate.

The rest of the dinner went just as smoothly. Slate laughed at stories my brothers told about my childhood, and although some were very embarrassing, it was making Slate laugh so I let it go.

*

WHEN WE LEFT, both my parents told Slate to come back anytime. That he didn’t need me to get a good meal. For that, I hugged my parents. Simply because they had no idea what they had offered him. Something he’d never really had. A big family.