Annie laughed. “I promise! But there’s something else I want to say. I will do everything I can to hold onto this farm. I understand what it means to you, to our family, and I’ll do my best.”
“Annie, that’s the best gift you could give me. The reason I’m so frugal is so I can leave you fixed to where you can keep all this.” Her grandmother’s face glowed with approval.
The next morning, Annie dressed feeling there was much to do. The beans her grandmother had planted before she arrived were ready to pick, break and can. And they were expecting Evelyn, Jake and Camille for dinner. Annie had thought Jake might bring Camille over yesterday to meet her, but they had probably enjoyed their time alone together. A seed of jealousy tried to settle in her heart, but she pushed it away, glad for reasons to keep busy.
“While you’re in the garden, I’ll put a couple of pies together if you’ll put all the ingredients for me on the table,” her grandmother said. “I thought we’d pull out that chicken casserole I froze before the surgery and some of the biscuits. You’ll have us a mess of green beans, and that ought to be enough for supper tonight.”
“Do you want me to make up more sweet tea?” Annie asked.
“That’s fine, but add a little more sugar than you did the last time. It wasn’t quite sweet enough.”
Annie smiled to herself and headed out to the garden. She had put nearly a cup of sugar in the last gallon of tea. Sweeter was better, but she would just as soon not know how much sugar went into it.
Time in the garden was the best for thinking. And after all the talks with Jake, she was beginning to look at the work as life giving. It made her feel good to think she was growing her own food for once, that she knew where it came from and that it only traveled a few feet from her garden to the kitchen.
Perched on a small stool in between two rows of green bush beans, she worked her way down, plucking the pods from plants on both sides and dropping them in the basket. She picked the visible beans first, and then lifted the vines to find the beans hidden underneath. Her mind drifted to conflicting emotions that tumbled like a pile of clothes in a dryer. If only she could take each one out as if it were a piece of clothing and separate it from the rest, then she might get to the heart of the issue.
There was the impending deadline of work on Monday, unless Bob could get her an extension. She prayed for more time, but he hadn’t called yet and Annie felt like that might be bad news. Hopefully Evelyn would know some ladies who could help Beulah until Annie could come back.
Then there was Stella Hawkins. The wail she had heard at the stone house had haunted her in some deep place. Something was wrong, but with no clear evidence of anything criminal, there was nothing to do but watch and wait.
And what was up with this crazy feeling of jealousy with Jake? The hardest thing to figure out was her anger at him for sharing the crossover place with Camille. It was the perfect place to pause for conversation or even a kiss. Even she and Jake had shared a kiss there once when they were in middle school to see what all the fuss was over. But Annie had felt like she was kissing a relative. Jake agreed, and that was the last time they tried it.
So why, all of a sudden, was she thinking of him in a different way? Was she being needy or selfish at losing Jake’s attention? Or threatened by Camille who was everything Annie was not? Or, and this was the most disturbing thought, was there something truly growing between them, some tiny seedling that had sprouted in the last few weeks?
Annie stood and carried the two full baskets of beans into the kitchen. An aroma of baking desserts overwhelmed her when she opened the door.
“Chess?” Annie said, admiring the pies fresh from the oven.
“One chess and one lemon chess,” her grandmother said. “I didn’t know which Camille would like better, so I made one of each. Look at those beans! We have enough for supper and one canning. Let’s break them on the back porch.”
Annie carried the bowls and the beans out while her grandmother eased out with the help of her walker. With a bowl between them for the ends and strings and a large bowl for the broken beans, they settled in to work.
Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw the black snake stretched out on the millstone and soaking in the afternoon sun. She started a little at first, then relaxed.
“How long has Booger been around?”
“Only a couple of years. Since he’s been here, my mice problem has gone away. This is a new spot. Last year, he liked the spot there around the pump. I always worried somebody would step on him there. I’m glad he’s got a new place.”
“I never thought I’d be keeping company with a snake,” Annie said.
Beulah chuckled. “We’re always keeping company with snakes. We just don’t always see them.” After a few minutes of work, Beulah spoke again. “How did the cemetery look? I want to get up there and put flowers down as soon as I’m able. I hated I missed Decoration Day.”
“What’s Decoration Day?”
“Memorial Day is what it’s called now, but it used to be Decoration Day.”
“The cemetery is beautiful and so peaceful,” Annie reached into the basket for another handful of beans. “Grandma, do you remember much about your brother?”
“Oh yes. Ephraim was older than me by seven years. In fact, mother always said I was a welcome surprise when I came along. I was only ten when he went into the Army. He was a good brother, looked after me and played with me.”
“I always wanted a brother like that. I guess that’s partly why Jake and I were so close.”
“It was a wonderful thing to have. I guess our age difference was enough that he paid even more attention to me than if I had been closer to him in age. He played games with me, brought me a piece of candy when he went into town, and rode me around on his back, acting like a horse. He was sweet on Bessie Sprinkle, and she became like an older sister.” Beulah sighed. “But then Pearl Harbor came, and our world changed. Ephraim enlisted immediately. Daddy was proud of him, doing his duty, but we were all so sad to see him go, wondering if he would come back to us. But we’d been attacked, you see, and there was no going back.
“For a while, letters came with foreign stamps, and we heard the updates both on the radio and on the movie newsreels. When we heard the news from Anzio, everything changed. The letters with foreign stamps stopped coming and Bessie Sprinkle, the girl he was sweet on, married another boy.”
Beulah sighed and leaned back in the chair, lifting her chin and closing her eyes in memory. Annie thought what a strong face it was: solid jawline, giving her the look of someone who knew what she was doing and where she was going; a straight nose; and few wrinkles. She wasn’t pretty, but she had a beauty of her own that came from inner character and dependability. Her eyes could be intense and straightforward, or kind and gentle, depending on the subject. Annie was surprised to see a small bead of water make its way slowly down her cheek from the outside corner of her eye. When she spoke, her voice was steady. If Annie hadn’t seen the tear, she would not have known Beulah felt any emotion.
“Thousands of our boys died there. Most families couldn’t afford to bring them home, and so they were buried there in an American cemetery. The government paid for the burial if you let them stay. I’ve seen pictures of the cemetery on the news. They did a special on it one night, and it showed rows and rows of white stones, under these pretty Italian trees that looked like big green umbrellas. I thought I’d like to go there someday, for Ephraim’s sake, and look up the boys he talked about in all those letters. I don’t know if they lived or died.”
“We brought him home,” Annie said, surprising herself with how closely identified she felt with a great uncle she never knew.
“Yes. It was expensive, but Daddy wanted him buried on the farm where he belonged.”
“As many times as I’ve been to Italy, I had no idea my great uncle fought a battle and died there.”
They were both silent for a few minutes, than Annie voiced the idea forming in
her mind.
“I could take you there, Grandma. The area is familiar to me. I have friends who could help us find it.”
Beulah chuckled. “I can’t even get around my own home right now.”
“After you get well, you’ll be able to move around better than before. It would give us something to work toward,” Annie said, growing excited about the idea.
“We’ll see. I’ve never been much to travel, but it might be time I did a little of it. Evelyn might want to go. She said she’s always wanted to go to Italy.”
“We could make it a girls’ trip!”
Sterilized jars sat empty on the kitchen counter, a teaspoon of salt in each. A large canner was on the stove, a quart of water and a tablespoon of vinegar in the bottom.
“Now, I used to can the old-fashioned way, by cooking the beans and ladling them into jars, but I like this method much better. Seems like I get more done,” Beulah said from her seat at the kitchen table. “Now that the beans are clean and broken, fill each jar up to the top, stuffing in as many as you can. You don’t want them so high they poke into the lid, so keep it below that.”
Annie did as she was told, pushing the rubbery beans in and making room for more.
“Now, ladle the hot water into each jar until it’s about an inch below the top.”
Annie poured steaming water into each jar and watched it fill around the shape of the beans. “Okay, that’s done.”
“Take a paper towel and wipe all the water off the surface of the jar lid. A drop of water will keep the lid from sealing.”
Annie wiped each off carefully, pulling off a new towel when she needed it. “Done.”
“All right then. Now do the same with the sterilized lids and bands. Make sure to get every drop of water off.”
That took a little longer, since she wanted to be sure and get all the water. “Now, I put the lids and bands on each jar, right?”
“That’s right. Place them in the canner. Seven jars will fit, then lock the top in place.”
Annie did as she was told.
“Now put the pressure cap on fifteen and turn the burner on high.”
“Got it,” Annie said.
“When it starts jiggling, set the timer and turn the heat down. When the time is up, turn off the heat. When the canner cools down, we’ll take the jars out and wait for the lids to seal. Tomorrow we can take them to the basement after we mark the year on the top.”
Annie was writing everything her grandmother said on paper even as she did it. “I want to make sure I get this right. Now, will this be the same way for the tomatoes?”
“No, a little different pressure and length of canning time. There’s a book in there if you’re ever in doubt. It’ll tell you what to do.”
“And you’re sure this won’t blow up or something?” Annie said, cleaning the used paper towels off the counter.
Beulah laughed. “I’ve never had one blow up, although that was a common tale years ago when things were done a little differently. They have safety features, but you still have to pay attention.”
“Why don’t you get some rest before supper? There’s not much left to do, and I can handle it.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Beulah said, pushing herself up to the walker.
While Beulah rested, Annie set the table and cut some of the honeysuckle for a centerpiece. Help me to be nothing but happy and supportive for Jake, she prayed silently. She knew it was how he would be for her.
Annie had judged Camille to be someone with whom she couldn’t be friends just because she looked like a Hollywood actress and made Annie’s size six feel like a size sixteen. Jake had called her Cam, but to Annie she looked like a Camille.
With the supper preparations finished, she went upstairs to change clothes. She settled on black pants and a cool blue top with a V-neck and three-quarter-length sleeves. In her jewelry box, she looked for something simple to wear. She put on a pair of small silver loop earrings, and then looked for a silver necklace to go with them. Nothing satisfied her. She opened the drawer to her dressing table to see if there was anything in the old jewelry box inside.
She found old earrings and necklaces from high school. A silver chain gleamed from the bottom of the intertwined jewelry. Annie pulled it out gently, untwisting it as she worked it free. The silver chain held a small cross, the one Jake had given her when she was sixteen.
Jake had called and told her to meet him at the crossover place. When she got there, he was already waiting, a long, thin box in his hand. When she opened it, the silver cross and chain lay inside the Chaney’s jewelry box. He blushed when she hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I thought you should have something special on your sixteenth. Mom helped me pick it out.”
“I love it,” she told him and put it on immediately. She had worn it constantly after that, until she started dating Brett that fall. Then it wasn’t cool anymore because none of the girls he hung out with wore crosses, so she had put it away in this box and forgotten, until now. Looking back, Annie wished she hadn’t cared so much what her new friends thought.
Annie held it up to the lamp light and watched the silver reflect the light against the mirror. It went perfectly with the earrings and the blue top. She would wear it tonight.
“Annie, they’re here!” Beulah called.
She reached for the necklace and touched it, taking comfort from it.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There was no sense in putting on airs, and as much as Beulah might like her guests to come to the front door, it rarely happened. The back door was her front, and there were no two ways about it. She was about to open the screen door when a scream ripped through the air and nearly knocked Beulah off her walker.
When Beulah opened the door, she saw Camille, or so Beulah assumed since they had not properly met yet, running to the car, Jake right behind her, and Evelyn looking at Beulah with an apology on her face.
“What’s happened?” Beulah asked.
Evelyn reached for a tobacco stick that stood next to the back door.
“It’s the black snake,” Evelyn said. “We forgot to warn Camille about him.”
“Booger’s out here this late? That’s unusual,” she said as she watched Evelyn scoot him off the porch with the stick until he slithered into an opening in the concrete below the porch. It was still daylight, but he liked the millstone for his sunbath and when the sun moved on, so did he.
“It’s all right, he’s gone.” Jake had his arm around the young woman and walked toward them. Strands of golden hair fell over the girl’s face, like the flax Beulah’s grandfather grew, ready for the harvest. She wiped her eyes and pushed the strands back off her face, and gave Beulah an embarrassed smile.
“I’m sorry. It’s quite a way to make an entrance,” Camille said and extended her hand.
Beulah shook her small hand, smooth and free of calluses. “It’s our fault. We forgot about him,” Beulah said. “Do come in.”
She stood back as the group moved into the back room. Camille reminded her of a lovely, rare bird. Her teeth were as white as any Beulah had ever seen, and her skin looked like the porcelain on her old china doll.
“Is everything okay?” Annie asked, coming from the kitchen.
“We forgot to warn Camille about the snake,” Evelyn said.
Camille smiled tentatively. “I’m terrified of them,” she said.
“This is Annie,” Jake said, and Beulah sensed pride in his voice as he introduced the two women.
“I’m barely used to him myself,” Annie said in a consoling tone as she extended her hand. Camille smiled warmly back at Annie.
The only mar to Camille’s beauty was a black smudge of mascara under her left eye from the excitement. This child needed a minute to collect her wits, Beulah thought. “If you would like to use the restroom, it is right there,” she said, and pointed the way to the downstairs bath.
“Oh yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you,” Camille said as she turned t
o go.
“I’m so sorry,” Beulah said. “I never thought to check on Booger this time of day.”
“Don’t worry,” Jake said. “She might as well get a taste of country life sooner rather than later.”
“Annie, did you do this canning?” Evelyn asked, pointing to the jars of beans on the counter.
Beulah watched as Annie’s face shone with pride. “I did! Grandma told me what to do, but I think I can do it on my own now. It was fun!” she said.
“I’m impressed,” Jake said. “You’ll make a good farmer’s wife,” he teased.
Camille appeared, much more composed, and Beulah moved them into the living room for a visit before dinner. No sense in rushing into the meal when everything was fine to sit for a minute. While Annie brought glasses of tea, Beulah said, “Camille, how long will you be here?”
“A few days, I hope. It depends on the hotel. We’re wrapping up our spring conference season, so it depends on how many problems happen while I’m gone.” Her accent was Northern, Beulah noticed, but of course it would be living up in Cincinnati.
Annie handed a glass of tea to Jake and with one in her hand, sat down. “Tell us about your job,” Annie asked.
Cam’s eyes lit up. “I’m the director of sales for my father’s largest hotel. We book the conventions and meetings. I love it!”
“It’s a lot of responsibility, I suppose,” Evelyn said.
“Yes, but it doesn’t feel like work. It’s kind of like putting on a big show every week.”
They were quiet for a moment and Beulah watched Camille lift the tea and sniff it before taking a sip. She hoped Jake or Evelyn might jump in with something to keep the talk moving.
“Your house is beautiful,” Camille said, looking at Beulah. “It’s very quaint and farmy.”
“Thank you,” Beulah said, wondering what “farmy” meant. Had someone tracked in manure?
“Camille was telling me on the way over she wouldn’t mind riding while she’s here. What about Nutmeg?” Jake directed the question to Annie.
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