Something Old

by Dianne Christner

She quickly returned to the table and gave Minnie a weak smile, handing her a spoon. The woman clamped her hand around the spoon but didn’t eat. Remembering how Jake had gotten her to the table the other night, Katy started talking about how good the soup smelled. Minnie took the bait.

  Katy wanted to push the woman’s hair back over her shoulder so it didn’t hang in her chili, but she didn’t want to frighten her again. Instead she returned to the sink and ran water through the covering, reverently patting it dry and trying to plump out its shape, setting it in a sunny spot.

  Next she seated herself beside Minnie and forced herself to take a few spoonfuls of the soup, wondering how she was going to get Minnie’s hair combed and the covering back on her head. She knew that if Minnie were in her right mind, she’d want to wear her head covering. She’d want someone to make sure she kept it on when she wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. Katy determined to make that happen.

  Eventually after much maneuvering and gentle urgings, Katy managed to get the contrite woman to her bedroom. She combed out Minnie’s hair, plaited it and replaced her covering. While Minnie settled under the bed quilt, Katy read a few scriptures from a Bible on a nearby nightstand. She patted Minnie’s back until the old eyes closed. Even afterward, Katy lingered outside of the bedroom door until she heard

  Minnie’s snoring. Then she leaned against the wall a moment to collect herself, wondering how so much damage could happen in such a small fraction of time.

  Next she returned to set Ann’s kitchen to rights. Katy set the dirty dishes on the counter and removed the white tablecloth, running water over the tomato spots, then dabbing vinegar on the stain. She draped it over the washing machine and returned to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

  When she had the kitchen finished, she went to listen outside Minnie’s bedroom door. But she only heard silence through the walls. Sensing that Minnie could get in more trouble than Addison at seven years of age could even dream of, she slowly turned the doorknob and eased it open.

  Her heart leapt in her chest. Katy cried, “Stop!”

  Minnie’s hand paused. Orange-handled scissors interlocked a long shank of thin white hair. Hair that had hardly ever been cut. Minnie blinked. Then Katy saw a rebellious glint enter the old eyes. Was this some sort of showdown? It was becoming obvious where Jake got his rebellion.

  Katy was afraid to step into the room. If Minnie jerked, she might snip off her hair. She willed her voice to calm. “Your hair is so lovely. If you give me the scissors, I’ll brush it for you again.”

  “No! That hurts. I’m cutting it so it doesn’t hurt.” The woman lifted the shank of hair and dropped her gaze to it, pressing the scissors handles closed. With a gasp, Katy watched twelve inches of growth slip to the floor.

  Katy flew into the room and wrestled the scissors out of Minnie’s hand, all the while being sure to keep it away from her face. When Minnie saw she had lost, she curled into a ball on the bed, making a noise that sounded like an angry cat. And Katy had a moment to take inventory. Minnie’s wet covering was squashed on top of the pillow. Not only was a large chunk of Minnie’s hair gone, but now Katy noticed that part of the cape on Minnie’s gown was shredded.

  Katy pressed her eyes together in agony and regret. Had she been too rough when she’d brushed Minnie’s hair, giving her charge the idea to cut it off? Then remembering she couldn’t give Minnie a scrap of time unwatched, she flashed her eyes open again. But Minnie was still curled on the bed making unearthly sounds. Katy rubbed her sweaty palms on her skirt, wondering how to rectify the situation.

  Suddenly Minnie sat up. “My dress is ruined.”

  A flash of anger shot through Katy, but she quickly reminded herself that it wasn’t Minnie’s fault that the cape was shredded. It was the disease. And Katy’s own neglect. First, she needed to get rid of the scissors. A glance at the door told her Minnie’s lock had been removed, but she still didn’t trust her alone. Katy backed toward the closet, stood on her tiptoes, and shoved the scissors on a high shelf that the shorter woman wouldn’t be able to reach. While she was by the closet, she saw a clean dress and removed it from its hanger. Draping it over her arm, she started toward the bed. “Let’s put this on before Ann comes home.”

  Minnie swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Where is Ann?”

  “She went to town.”

  “How? Did she go with her daddy?”

  Katy realized Minnie thought her daughter was a child again. Taking advantage of the older woman’s contemplative state, she unfastened her dress and managed to remove it from a compliant body. “May I pin up your hair? Jacob likes it that way.” Minnie shrugged, and Katy used her fingers to inspect the damage. The shearing was noticeable, but could be disguised when plaited. After that she shook open the covering. “A woman should always wear her covering,” Katy soothed, starting toward her.

  “No.” Minnie stuck out her foot and kicked Katie in the stomach.

  “Ugh!” The unexpected blow took her breath away and brought tears to her eyes. But Katy quickly recovered. She narrowed her eyes. Her voice came out harsh. “Why not?”

  “I’m sick of it. I always wanted to be an actress.”

  The words hit Katy with a force equal to the earlier kick. This was more serious than she’d thought. Katy began to perspire. She tentatively bent toward Minnie, softening her voice as though she spoke to a four-year-old. She pointed, “I’m wearing one, see?”

  Then quick as a viper, Minnie’s hand struck out and swiped Katy’s covering from her head, taking pins and hair with it.

  “Ouch!” Katy’s arms flew up, but she was too late.

  Minnie now waved Katy’s covering, from which several long black hairs dangled.

  Setting an angry jaw, Katy placed a firm hand on Minnie’s shoulder and with the other tried to snatch her covering back. But Minnie waved it overhead like a white organdy flag. This was far from a truce. Katy made several swipes through the air, and the last one toppled them both back on the bed with Katy landing on top of the weaker woman.

  But Minnie fought like one twice her weight and hollered like she was being murdered, crumpling the head covering and pulling it close to her body. Katy feared Minnie would scratch herself with the pins. Then in a quick flash, the wily woman stuffed it inside her bodice.

  With both hands free now, Minnie started to beat Katy and kick. She landed several blows to Katy’s face. “Get off!”

  Katy thrust up a protective arm and tried to capture Minnie’s battering fists. “Stop. Give me that! This instant!”

  “What on earth!” a feminine voice wailed from the doorway.

  Katy flinched then sat up, her own hair now nearly as disheveled as Minnie’s. Minnie crawled to the far side of the bed and pulled the covers up around her protectively. Katy’s cheeks flamed to see Ann burst into the room with Jake at her heels. Katy slid to her feet and withdrew a few steps.

  Jake swept past her and fell to his knees, gently embracing his grandmother. “Grams. You all right?”

  The gentleness in his voice and his total disregard of Katy enraged her. Ann wore a pained expression. How could they think this was her fault? “Just keep it!” Katy spit out. She faced Ann. “She cut her hair and her dress. The scissors are on the closet shelf. And my covering is in her bra!”

  Ann’s face paled, and she took a backward step, her hands going to her chest as though she might have a heart attack. But Katy ignored it and stormed out of the room. “Wait!” Katy heard Ann call after her.

  Utterly humiliated and in spite of the footsteps clamoring after her, Katy fled from the nightmare. She flung open the closet door, threw her coat and purse over her arm, and ran for the car. But she slipped in the gravel driveway and fell, bruising her knees.

  Behind her she heard, “Oh Katy.”

  She struggled to her feet and didn’t look back.

  CHAPTER 26

  As two of the most important women in Jake’s life fled from the room, his mom screaming after Katy, he
sat on the bed and draped his arm around his gram. On the floor lay a pile of discarded clothing and a covering with strings. His gram’s.

  Instantly, he understood what had happened. Gram had been removing her bonnet a lot lately, and Katy probably tried to force her to wear it. They should have warned Katy about that. But struggling with scissors? What had Katy been thinking to allow it to come to that? Headstrong and hotheaded. Maybe it was good he’d seen this side to her. He couldn’t believe the image that lingered over what he’d witnessed when he entered the bedroom. Katy on top of his little grandmother, manhandling her. Unbelievable!

  Minnie shivered, and Jake realized she was still recovering from the ordeal. He pulled the quilt up over her shoulders. He needed to dress her. He rose and sorted through the mess on the floor, and his hand touched the discarded head covering. Wet? How on earth? With a frustrated sigh, he let it lay and retrieved the fresh dress from its hanger. “Let’s get you dressed.”

  “Is that awful woman gone?”

  “Yes. You’re safe now.”

  Minnie nodded obediently. “Wait.” She stuck her hand through her torn bodice and withdrew another smaller covering, thrusting it forward like a great prize.

  Jake blinked. She did have Katy’s covering in her bra! How in the world?

  He narrowed his eyes. “Grams, what did you do?”

  “She’s a wildcat! Do you want it or not?”

  He obviously wouldn’t get to the bottom of it by talking to his gram. Katy would have to explain the situation. He tightened his jaw. Her version of it. Her sanctimonious version of it. At his grandmother’s contrite expression, he relaxed his jaw. “It’s all right, Gram.” He opened his hand, and she dropped it into his palm.

  She tugged at her bosom. “It scratched me.”

  Surprised, he noticed the pins. He’d never paid much attention to the little caps, although he’d seen plenty in his day. For years, his grandmother had designed and sewn them for others as extra income. He dropped the straight pins in his shirt pocket, but left Katy’s hair in the organdy cap and stuffed it into his jeans pocket.

  “She’s gone,” Ann declared, entering the room with a sullen expression. “We scared her off.” She swept a painful gaze across the room, like he had earlier. Then she looked at Minnie, and her eyes softened. “You tired, Mother?”

  “No. I think I’ll swing,” Minnie declared.

  Ann sighed.

  Jake handed the dress to his mother and left them, intending to get to the bottom of the incident. In the kitchen, he saw the bare table, the open closet door, the wet boots. There’d been plenty of action in a few hours’ time. He strode to the window and looked outside. Gone were all but the tire tracks of Katy’s Chevy. He turned and scaled the stairs, hurrying into the privacy of his room. Moving to the window that gave view of the barren fields, he speed-dialed Katy. But she wasn’t answering. Of course, she wasn’t, he fumed, jamming his phone in his pocket and striding to his door.

  Stomping into her bedroom and jerking open the drawer of her nightstand, Katy took out a fresh covering and marched to the bathroom. She was taken back momentarily when she saw her disheveled state. Her face was bruised on the right cheekbone just below the eye. Well, now she matched Jake and David! She washed her face and quickly put herself to rights, pinning on the fresh covering.

  “Ouch!” She stuck her thumb in her mouth. The physical pain subsided, but not the pain over the incident with Minnie, and worst, getting caught in the midst of it.

  Her stockings had a hole in one knee. She removed them and washed gravel from the wound, placing salve over it and a bandage. Then she put on her slippers and went to the kitchen.

  Not knowing how to rectify the situation, when Ann and Jake so obviously blamed her for everything, she got out a pint of chocolate ice cream. Absurd images flashed through her mind. Her hands shaky, Katy licked the tasteless dessert. Shame flooded over her. How had she lost control of a petite, eighty-five-year-old woman? An innocent babe who didn’t know what she was doing? And worst, why hadn’t she stayed to explain her actions instead of running away like a guilty criminal?

  Because Jake betrayed her. Again.

  Still she could have heeded the soft warning, the quiet voice that had warned her to cease struggling. She could pinpoint the exact moment when she’d let her anger take control, overstepped her bounds, and pressed ahead in anger instead of retreating in love. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Until the struggle. Then she’d chosen the same childish behavior as Minnie’s. But it had all happened so quickly, she rationalized. She would have quit struggling if she’d had only a moment more. She didn’t want Minnie to get scratched with the pins. But Ann had returned at the most inappropriate time.

  As she thought back to the incident, she remembered Minnie’s bloodcurdling screams. No wonder Jake and Ann had burst into the room with looks of horror on their faces. She jammed the spoon into the frozen mound and pushed it away.

  Her cell phone rang. Jake again. She groaned and didn’t answer it. He’d called at least six times now. She wasn’t ready to talk to him, couldn’t forget the condemnation in his eyes. She put the carton of ice cream away and got out her journal instead.

  Tomato stain—run cool water until clear, then blot with white vinegar.

  Next to the tip, she wrote: Removing the stain does not remove memory of the incident. I remain in search of that particular cleansing agent that can renew thoughts.

  She remembered reading something like that in the scriptures and went to her bedroom to get her Bible. When she passed the window, however, she caught movement outside. Her spirit sank to see Jake’s truck pulling into the drive.

  Squaring her shoulders for battle, she started toward the door. He just doesn’t know when to give up!

  When Jake stepped inside, his face was grim. He looked around the spic-and-span doddy house with snapping eyes. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “No.”

  “Then why didn’t you answer your phone?”

  “Because I saw your name on the screen.”

  His face flinched. He lifted his gaze to the top of her head and dropped it again, his expression burning with accusation. He swept her covering out of his pocket and slapped it on the table. “Guess you don’t need this.”

  Her cheeks heated.

  “She’s a frail old woman,” he admonished.

  “How dare you come blaming me without giving me a chance to explain what happened?”

  “You’re the one who ran. You let her alone with scissors? What were you thinking?”

  Katy placed both hands to her temples. “Okay, stop. Just sit down. Listen to my side of it.” He hesitated.

  She tilted her head to the side impatiently, “Isn’t that why you came?”

  He brushed past her and strode into the living room. She wasn’t expecting to win him over, but she wasn’t about to let him leave without defending herself. She followed him and sat at the opposite end of the leather sofa, keeping an awkward distance between them.

  She folded her hands on the lap of her dark skirt and painstakingly conveyed the entire story. Surprisingly, he didn’t interrupt. His expression had softened when she told him about swinging with his grandma, but it hardened again as the story continued. “Then you burst into the room, and you know the rest,” she finished.

  “But how did she get the scissors?”

  He was one-tracked. Katy shook her head. “I’m not a fool.” He lifted a brow.

  “I don’t know. Maybe she slipped into the living room. Maybe she was pretending to sleep. Honestly, it’s almost like she was testing me, playing me.”

  He rolled his gaze toward the ceiling.

  Katy insisted, “You know as well as I do that the covering was once important to Minnie. If she were in her right mind, she would want us to keep it on her head.”

  “You can’t control the congregation’s vote, so you control someone too weak to defend herself.”

  “Minnie may be small
, but she’s not weak. My face has the bruises to attest to that. And you won’t find any bruises on her!”

  Jake studied her face, perhaps seeing the bruises and scratches for the first time. His voice calmed. “God knows my grandmother’s heart. After years of service and faithfulness, do you think He’s going to reject her now when her physical mind has grown senile? She’s our family. It’s our responsibility to keep her safe and happy. And if she doesn’t want to wear her covering, then so be it.”

  Were they going to encourage her to become an actress, too? She pushed the bitter thought aside and faced the truth. She had failed miserably, neither keeping Minnie safe nor happy. And she wasn’t part of their family. Jake and Ann had the right to decide what was best for Minnie. Feeling the depths of her failure and desperation over what she’d done that might never be set right again, Katy slumped, resting her head in her hands. A grievous mistake. So many mistakes. Her shoulders convulsed uncontrollably.

  Within seconds, she felt Jake’s arms drape across them, sheltering her. She closed her eyes, inconsolable, not knowing how to make things right. Unconsciously, she curled into the comfort of his embrace.

  “It’s okay,” he murmured again and again.

  When she opened her eyes, his face hovered over hers, lined with empathy.

  She squirmed then froze. When had she crawled into his lap? His hands cupped her face, caressed it. “Katy. Katy,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.” She tried to sit up, but he stayed her. “Me, too,” he breathed into her ear.

  She nuzzled into the crook of his neck, slid her arms around his waist, and rested there, not knowing what else to do until a creaky door and a surprised Whoa! brought Katy to her senses. At Lil’s voice, Katy tried to leap off Jake’s lap, but his arms tightened and firmly held her in place.

  “Don’t mind me,” Lil chirped, walking past them and disappearing into the bedroom.

  Katy groaned in the crook of his neck. “What else?”

  “Be still,” he whispered. “I’m not letting you up until we understand each other. I lost you once, and I won’t do it again.”