Almost Home

by Valerie Fraser Luesse

  “Dolly, are you sure you don’t mind me wearin’ your jewelry for the weddin’?” Daisy asked.

  “Oh, heavens no, honey! It’s just sittin’ here in this box. I tried to get Violet to take all of it, but she wouldn’t. See, our mother and Little Mama were very social women—always throwin’ big parties or goin’ to dances. The family had plenty o’ money back then. But things are different for me and Vi. She’s too busy with young’uns, and I’m too busy helpin’ Si to be the belle o’ the ball. Let’s take your dress outta the bag so we can see what we’re workin’ with.”

  Dolly unzipped the Loveman’s dress bag hanging from a hook on the door. She and Anna both gasped.

  “Oh, Daisy, it’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen!” Anna exclaimed. “Let me look at your ring one more time.”

  Daisy held out her hand to show her friend the engagement ring Reed had bought for her at Loveman’s—a marquise-cut solitaire.

  Anna sighed. “It’s amazing, Daisy.”

  “Never had a diamond before,” Daisy said. “I can’t quit starin’ at it. You sure Jesse don’t mind me leavin’ all my stuff in here?”

  “I’ve already told him that from here on out, it’s a boy-girl arrangement. All of his clothes for tonight and tomorrow are in Reed’s room.”

  “And Jesse’s gonna pick up Ella on his way home from work and bring her over here so she can eat supper with us and stay in Joe’s old room tonight,” Dolly explained. “I thought that’d be easier on her since she’s havin’ trouble gettin’ around these days. And just so you don’t worry about her, Si’s hired R.W. to take care o’ things and look in on her. It’ll do the boy good to have some responsibility, and he can earn a little money to help his mama.”

  Daisy gave Dolly a hug. “You think of everything, don’t you?”

  “Well, I try, but my mind ain’t what it used to be. I just can’t get over this dress.” Dolly ran her hand over the flowy skirt, which hit Daisy just below her knees. The dress was made of ivory French lace over champagne silk satin, with a fitted bodice, V-neck, and elbow-length sleeves.

  “Are you wearing a veil?” Anna wanted to know.

  Daisy shook her head. “I think I’d feel silly, as old as I am.”

  “Honey, wait till you’re on the backside o’ fifty,” Dolly said. “You girls are young! I tell you what, though—you don’t need much with that dress. I’d say it speaks for itself. Here, what about this?” She reached into the jewelry chest and pulled out the simple pearl tiara that Anna had worn when Daisy drew her portrait for Jesse. She slipped it over Daisy’s hair and passed her a hand mirror.

  “It’s perfect, Daisy!” Anna said.

  Daisy giggled. “Y’all are gonna mess around and have me lookin’ like a girl on my weddin’ day.”

  “I know you wanna wear Reed’s pearls—can we call that your something old and the dress your something new?” Anna asked. “Dolly’s headband is borrowed, so you just need something blue . . . I know!” She pulled a blue lace handkerchief from her Bible on the bed stand. “You can tuck this into your bouquet. It belonged to my grandmother, so it covers old and blue—just in case Reed’s necklace is too new to qualify.”

  “What about you, Miss Anna?” Dolly said. “What are you wearin’?”

  “The first new dress I’ve had in two years, hallelujah!” Anna said. “Jesse took me shopping.” She went to the wardrobe and pulled out a pale lilac dress made of silk.

  “That’s mighty pretty, Anna,” Daisy said.

  “I think I could wear it plain to church and dress it up for anything special—like a wedding.”

  “Lemme fish around in this ol’ pouch right here—I’ve got something o’ Little Mama’s that oughta do the trick.” Dolly handed Anna a necklace and earrings made of amethyst stones set in gold.

  “Oh, Dolly! I can’t borrow these!”

  “It’s just a bunch o’ baubles, honey. Wear ’em and enjoy ’em. Matter o’ fact, keep ’em.”

  “I couldn’t take these, Dolly.”

  “What good are they doin’ in that bag? Keep ’em and wear ’em. Don’t hide ’em away like I did.”

  “This is the most beautiful gift in the world,” Anna said as she put on the necklace and gave Dolly a hug.

  “No, honey—you girls are. I’ve got to go see about Si, but y’all can rummage through Little Mama’s jewelry till the cows come home and wear whatever you want.”

  “We’ll be down to help, Dolly,” Daisy said. “I can’t believe Reed’s folks are gonna be here tonight. Sure hope they like me.”

  “They’ll like you just fine,” Dolly assured her. “You girls have fun.”

  Anna and Daisy went through the jewelry boxes, showing each other brooches, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces that had been in Dolly’s family for generations.

  “I’m sorry your folks can’t come,” Anna said.

  “It’s okay.” Daisy shrugged. “Can’t say I blame ’em. Just worked out that Mack came home from the Navy the same weekend I’m gettin’ married. They haven’t seen him since he shipped out.”

  “Well, don’t you worry. We’ll be here for you.”

  Daisy smiled at her. “You always are.”

  “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Kept plenty o’ yours.”

  “Well, this is a big one,” Anna said. “I’m bringing a guest to your wedding.”

  “Who?”

  Anna smiled and patted her belly.

  “Oh my gosh, Anna!” Daisy hugged her and bounced them both up and down on the bed. “Sorry! Guess I shouldn’t jostle little Jesse Junior like that.”

  They erupted into giggles.

  “How long have you known?” Daisy asked.

  “Remember how I got queasy when we found the money? Well, I’ve been queasy ever since. I went to see Dr. Sesser last week. We want to wait till after the wedding to tell everybody. This ought to be your time—yours and Reed’s.”

  “You know I don’t care about that stuff.”

  “You think you don’t, but just wait. You’ll be glad you had this little moment in the sunshine. And I want it for you.”

  Daisy fingered an antique ruby brooch on the bedspread. “I ain’t never gonna have another friend like you, Anna.”

  “And I’ll never have one like you.”

  Daisy grinned. “I’m bequeathin’ you my overalls when I leave on my honeymoon.”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “Not those dang overalls!”

  The two friends giggled like twelve-year-olds at a slumber party.

  “It’s weird, ain’t it?” Daisy said when they were quiet again. “You and Jesse were livin’ your life in Illinois, and Reed was in Alabama, and I was in Mississippi, and wouldn’t none of us have even met if it wasn’t for the war. We woulda just lived our lives without each other. But now I can’t imagine life without y’all—just like a coupla years ago, I couldn’t imagine life without Charlie.”

  “I know what you mean. It broke my heart to leave Illinois, but now . . . I’ll cry just as hard when we leave Alabama.”

  “I think it’s a good thing that we can’t see what’s comin’,” Daisy said. “If we could, it’d scare us so bad we might run from it, and then we’d never get to see how good it could be. Got any idea when y’all are goin’ back?”

  “Soon, I think. The ‘little nest egg’ Dolly gave each of us was plenty to get the farm going again. And now that we know Dolly and Si can afford any help they need, I don’t think we’ll stay much longer. What about y’all?”

  “Reed starts school at Tulane in two weeks. So we’re gonna look for a place to live while we’re on our honeymoon. Can you believe he kept that a secret? Had me thinkin’ we were just takin’ a trip to New Orleans, and the whole time he had decided to go to school there.”

  “New Orleans, Daisy! Are you excited?”

  “’Bout to bust. I woulda been happy just to see it, but to live there while Reed’s in college—never thought this ol’ Delta girl would end up in
the big city. Hang on just a second.” Daisy climbed off the bed and opened her suitcase, which was sitting on the stool in front of Dolly’s dressing table. “I got somethin’ for you.”

  Daisy pulled out a drawing, meticulously done with her colored pencils. It was Anna, standing in Dolly’s garden, her face turned to the sky, her eyes closed, and a serene smile on her face. Her long auburn hair and green-and-white gingham skirt looked blown by a breeze. She had one hand on her straw hat, the other holding a basket overflowing with green beans.

  Anna stared at the drawing. “I think you drew me a lot more special than I am.”

  “We see each other true, Anna. That’s what makes us sister-friends. ”

  Anna reached over and hugged Daisy tight. “I love you dearly. And before you even say it, I know I’m getting mushy. You’ll just have to deal with it.”

  “You sure it’s okay for me to steal you away for a little while?” Reed asked Daisy. They had left their shoes on the bank and were wading the shallows of the Tanyard.

  “The house is clean, the table’s set, the food’s warmin’ on the stove, and Dolly said the bride shouldn’t have to strain herself on the day before her weddin’, so she threw me out while I was tryin’ to dust the parlor. My meet-the-family clothes are over at Dolly’s, so it won’t take me long to get ready.”

  “In that case, I’m gonna be selfish and hide out with you till my family gets here.”

  Reed took her hand as they waded along, the sunlight filtering through tall pines that softened its shades of gold before they lit up the water. He could see that Daisy was as captivated by the light as he was.

  “It’s pretty perfect, right?” he said.

  “I keep tryin’ to draw that light, but I can’t quite get it.”

  “You will. Just keep tryin’.”

  “You sound mighty sure.”

  “I am mighty sure. You’re talented, Daisy.”

  She smiled at him. “Thanks for that.” They took their time wading a long, winding, shallow stretch of the creek.

  “You nervous about me meetin’ your folks?” she asked him.

  “You mean am I worried they’ll scare you away?”

  “No, I’m worried they’ll tell you to head for the hills and get as far away from this crazy woman as you can.”

  “They’re gonna love you just like I do. Hey, look.” He pointed to a flat rock in the creek, where four baby turtles were resting with their mother.

  “Were you a turtle catcher when you were a kid?” she asked.

  “Not really. I caught a couple one time and put ’em in the bathtub when Mama wasn’t lookin’. But they didn’t seem happy there, so I felt bad and took ’em back to the creek.”

  “That’s so weird.”

  “What—feelin’ sorry for a turtle?”

  “No, I mean it’s weird that I did the exact same thing. My brothers used to catch ’em all the time, and I thought I had to do everything they did, so I caught one and put it in a box with a bowl o’ water in my room. But it just sat in a corner of the box, hidin’ under its shell. I couldn’t stand to see anything that miserable, so I took it to our creek and turned it loose. Ain’t never liked to see anything hemmed up. Never cared for zoos or dog pens or birdcages.”

  “Always knew you were a softie.”

  “Now, see, that worries me.”

  “What—that I think you’re a softie?”

  “I’m worried you’re seein’ all kinda good things in me that’ll turn out not to be there, Reed.”

  “You’re worried I’m seein’ things that aren’t there, and I can’t sleep at night thinkin’ about all the things I haven’t even found yet.”

  Mourning doves were calling in the woods as the space between Reed and Daisy dissolved, and the thought of being anywhere but here, together, flowed away with the light-dappled creek water.

  “I’m sorry you’re gonna be late gettin’ ready for supper.”

  Daisy laughed. “No, you’re not.”

  “No, I’m really not,” Reed said as he kissed her again. They were sitting under a cottonwood tree on the creek bank. Her head was resting on his shoulder, and he had his arms around her.

  “If we don’t turn up at the house soon, Dolly’s gonna miss us and think we’re up to no good.”

  “I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to that . . .”

  Daisy gave him a nudge. “C’mon, while Dolly still thinks you’re an angel.”

  Reed reluctantly helped her up, taking the opportunity to kiss her one last time.

  She was looking up at him, holding his face in her hands, when she broke into a big smile.

  “What?” he said.

  “Next time you kiss me, I’ll be your wife.”

  “I don’t know about that. Pretty sure we can squeeze in a few more before tomorrow.”

  Daisy shook her head. “Nope. I want the next one to be the one. Now come on to the house before I change my mind.”

  CHAPTER

  forty-eight

  “Reed, buddy, I sure could use your military expertise right about now.” Jesse was standing in front of the mirror over Reed’s chest of drawers, struggling with his tie.

  Reed came over and began working a Windsor knot. “Got any advice for me since you’re the ol’ married man?”

  “Lemme think . . . Don’t leave your clothes on the floor. They hate that. No matter what her cooking tastes like, tell her it’s better than your mother’s. They take it real hard when you don’t like their food. And flowers will get you through a lot.”

  Reed stepped back and examined his work. “That cover it?”

  “Not even a start, but it’ll keep you alive those first few months,” Jesse said with a grin. “Just love her, my friend. Take good care of her. Enjoy being surprised by her. And never, ever let your stupid pride come between you. Anytime you got doubts about what to do, just picture Si and Dolly, and you’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  Jesse shook Reed’s hand. “Now, let’s go get you married.”

  At two o’clock in the afternoon, Si escorted Daisy into Dolly’s parlor. He walked with a cane, and the stairs were too much for him now, but Daisy said she’d rather have Si at her side than make a grand entrance. So they had waited in the kitchen together and then walked down the hallway into the parlor, where the Baptist preacher was standing in front of the fireplace. With their friends and Reed’s family looking on, and Little Mama’s curtains dancing in the breeze, Reed and Daisy got married.

  Dolly made a chocolate cake for the reception. Reed only ate the icing.

  Epilogue

  “What you got there?” Reed sat down in the porch swing next to Daisy.

  When they first moved to New Orleans, they had rented this Creole cottage overlooking Audubon Park, near Tulane. The minute they wrote Dolly with their new address, she had promptly called her banker—a man who couldn’t do enough for his millionaire customer—and asked him if it would be too much trouble to track down the owner of that house and buy it for Reed and Daisy. The banker said it would be no trouble at all.

  “I’m readin’ the latest news from Dolly—and she’s passin’ along Catherine’s journal for Anna. Wanna hear it?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  October 1, 1945

  Dear Daisy, Anna, and Evelyn,

  I’m hoping y’all won’t mind passing my letter along to one another since I want to tell you all the very same news. I’m enclosing some extra stamps so it won’t be a burden on anybody.

  “Is that not just like her?” Daisy said.

  Anna, honey, I was honored beyond words to hear that y’all named your little girl Dolly. Give Jesse a big hug for me, and tell him I think he’ll make a real fine daddy. You keep those pictures coming, okay? And be sure to send me some of your farm now that you’re all settled in.

  Evelyn, how are you and Harry? I bet all the boys that are coming home and enrolling at the college are thrilled to pieces to be learning from t
he two of you instead of fighting that awful war. I give thanks every day that it’s finally over. Tell Harry to look for a package that ought to get there soon. I asked Daisy to pick him out some records in New Orleans, and she’s sending them your way.

  “Are those the records we bought in the Quarter a coupla weeks ago?” Reed asked.

  Daisy nodded. “Yeah. Harry oughta be set for a while.”

  I know Reed’s just getting started at Tulane, Daisy, but when he’s all done, he’ll be a doctor. Doesn’t that just thrill your soul?

  “Sure does,” she said, giving Reed a kiss.

  Be sure and tell him that Dr. Sesser was over the moon when I said Reed had heard about young doctors going in together and starting clinics where they take turns looking after us country folks and still keep up their learning in big-city hospitals. If Reed ends up doing that in Blackberry Springs, he won’t even need to advertise. Why, there will be a line the minute he opens the doors.

  “Miss Dolly will see to that,” Reed said.

  I hope y’all won’t think bad of me for saying this, but I just love having money! I’ve spent it like it’s going out of style, which I’ve never been able to do before. Whoever said money can’t make you happy probably didn’t know what to buy.

  Reed and Daisy laughed at the vision of Dolly and her money. “Well, I’m glad she’s havin’ some fun with it,” Daisy said.

  First off, we bought a new organ for the church. That old one was practically wheezing. Then we hired sweet R.W. to do any yard work that needs doing—plowing the garden and keeping the grass cut—so Si can just do the things he enjoys without any worry. We don’t pay R.W. by the hour—we pay him by the quality of his work, which is always very good. So I put however much I imagine his mama needs into that envelope, plus some spending money for R.W., because Si says a boy that age likes to feel a little folding money in his pocket. It makes me so happy to see the look on that young’un’s face when he collects his salary. It’s changing him, knowing he can provide for his family. I see character building by the day. I’ve got him a college fund all set up when the time comes. I want to see him make something of himself after all these years of doing without.