by Ali Spooner
Cadin checked the coals. “I’m going to get the burgers.”
“Wait for me and I’ll help you,” Lexie said as she jumped off the swing.
“Is everything set for your mom’s surprise?”
“Yes, ma’am, the candles are on the cake already.” Lexie and Miss Betty planned to light the candles and carry the cake to the table after everyone had finished dinner.
“Awesome,” Cadin said and held the door open for Lexie.
†
When they returned outside, a car was pulling into the drive. Cadin smiled to see it was Renee carrying a large shopping bag. “Hello,” she said as Renee walked up. “I thought you would already be on your way home.”
“I heard there was a party going on so I decided to stay an extra day to help celebrate the homecoming. Do you mind if I crash your party?”
Cadin looked at Lexie who shook her head and then smiled up at Renee. “We don’t mind at all. Why don’t you take your bag inside and you can join us at the grill if you’d like.”
“I’ll be right back then,” she said. Lexie ran ahead of her to open the door.
“Well, that’s a nice surprise,” Cadin said to herself. She hadn’t expected to see Renee again until she returned home.
†
After she finished eating, Cadin took out her camera and snapped several shots of her extended family. She watched as Lexie and Miss Betty disappeared from the table into the kitchen. Several minutes later, Lexie burst out of the kitchen and shouted, “Happy Birthday, Mommy!”
Miss Betty followed behind her, carrying the cake, candles ablaze, as the group began singing “Happy Birthday.” She placed the cake on the table in front of Terri and Lexie said, “Make a wish, Mommy.”
Terri closed her eyes and leaned forward to blow out the candles to a chorus of cheers and clapping. Her eyes filled with tears when Lexie lifted a small gift box to her.
“Happy birthday, Mommy,” she said and kissed her cheek.
Terri carefully removed the paper from the box as Lexie held her breath. When she opened the box to see the beautiful bracelet, she burst out in tears. “Thank you, honey,” she said and leaned down to kiss her daughter. Then she looked up at Cadin. “Thank you for making this the best birthday ever.”
“She used her harvesting money and picked it out all by herself. She said you had seen it and fell in love with the bracelet.”
“I can’t believe you remembered.”
“I love you, Mommy, and wanted to get it for you.”
“You did really, really well,” Terri said and pulled her close. “Will you help me put it on?”
After a few tries, Lexie finally managed to fasten the bracelet. Her face glowed with pride when she looked up from her mother’s wrist.
Terri opened the other gifts, and Renee handed Miss Betty a shopping card.
“JC and I wanted to give y’all this to stock up on grocery basics to get you started.”
“Please send out thanks to JC. This will come in very handy,” Miss Betty said.
†
After the birthday celebration, Miss Betty said, “We have one more surprise tonight.” She and Lexie went to a small table beside the door, reached inside her purse and handed a card to Lexie.
Lexie carried the card to Cadin and handed it to her, then kissed her cheek. “Thank you for giving us a home.”
Cadin carefully opened the envelope and pulled out a card. Everyone from Sister Frances’s had made a comment and signed the thank-you card. She read all of the comments as tears rolled down her cheeks and looked up to see everyone watching her. “Thanks to all of you,” she said.
†
After cleaning the kitchen, the women started to head for home. When Renee, Cadin, and Sister Frances were the last ones remaining, Lexie hugged Cadin. “Will you come by before you leave tomorrow?”
“You bet I will,” Cadin answered.
“I’ll cook breakfast if you’ll eat with us,” Miss Betty said.
“You’ve got a deal,” Cadin said. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Lexie and Renee walked out to the bike with her. Cadin straddled the bike and turned back to her. “Enjoy sleeping in your own room tonight. I’ll miss your snoring,” she teased.
Lexie broke down and started crying.
Cadin climbed off the bike and knelt down to take her in her arms. “Please don’t cry,” she whispered.
“I’m going to miss you,” Lexie said, gasping for breath.
“I will call to check on you and I will come back, so be strong for your mom and Miss Betty.”
She wiped at her eyes and smiled at Cadin. “I’ll try,” she said.
“That’s all I can ask,” Cadin said and hugged her tight. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Cadin.”
“Goodnight, Lexie. Sweet dreams,” she said.
“You too,” she said and turned to run back to the house.
Cadin watched until she went inside and turned to find Renee smiling at her.
“What?”
“I hope you realize that child loves you dearly.”
“I do and the feeling’s mutual. I’d love to have a child like her one day.”
“Hopefully you will,” Renee said. “Where are you off to next?”
“Bogalusa, Louisiana,” she answered.
“Never heard of it, but I hope the town is ready for you,” she teased.
“It can’t be half as great as this one’s been,” Cadin said.
“You never know,” Renee said. “Call me and let me know how things are going and when you think you’ll be home. I’m looking forward to your guided tour of Atlanta.”
Cadin chuckled. “I most certainly will.”
Renee stepped forward to embrace her. “Stay safe and enjoy your journey. I’ll be talking to you soon.”
“I will and I promise to call once I’m settled.”
“Goodnight Cadin.”
“G’night ma’am,” Cadin said and tipped an imaginary hat, making Renee smile.
She watched Renee climb into her car then mounted her bike to ride back to Sister Frances’s home. Leaving was going to be much harder than she ever imagined.
†
The sleeping quarters felt empty without, Lexie, Terri, and Miss Betty. She pulled her duffel from under the bed and safely stored her gear. She kept out a clean outfit and then dressed for bed. She had just finished preparing for bed and climbed under the covers when she heard Sister Frances return home.
The following morning, Cadin showered, dressed, and packed the rest of her belongings into the duffel. She placed an envelope on the bed with Sister Frances’s name written on the outside. Inside were two hundred-dollar bills to cover the rest of her stay. Cadin would leave it there for her, knowing full well Sister Frances would not accept it without an argument. Smiling, she carried the bag to her bike and secured it before going to the kitchen. The house lights were on and she walked in to find Sister Frances pouring a cup of coffee. She looked up when Cadin entered. “I hoped you would stop in to say goodbye.”
“I couldn’t leave without seeing you. Are you not going to Miss Betty’s for breakfast?”
“I’d love to, but to be honest I can’t stand to see Lexie’s heart breaking when you leave. Last night was bad enough.”
“She’s a great kid.”
“She loves you like a second mom.”
“Yes, I know,” Cadin answered with a deep sigh.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“I think I’d better pass and head on to Miss Betty’s. I have a long ride ahead of me today.”
Sister Frances had tears in her eyes. “Please keep in touch,” she said as she hugged Cadin. “I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done.”
“It’s nothing compared to what you have done for years,” Cadin said. “I’ll give you all a call in a couple days.”
“Be safe then. I hope your heart finds the peace it seeks.”
“Me too,” Cadin said and hugged Sister Frances one last time then rushed from the room.
†
Cadin’s heart was aching when she pulled into Miss Betty’s yard and Lexie came rushing from the house. “Good morning, Cadin.”
“Good morning. How was your room last night?”
“It was great,” she said as she took Cadin’s hand and they walked into the house.
“Good morning,” Cadin said to Terri and Miss Betty. “You’ve got it smelling terrific in here.”
“We thought we’d send you off with a full stomach,” Miss Betty said as she placed a platter of bacon on the table.
The meal was fantastic and the time flew by too quickly. Terri stood and hugged Cadin. “I’ve got to go to work. Thanks again for everything.”
“My pleasure,” Cadin said.
Terri hugged Lexie, who had become quiet during the meal. “I will see you two later today.”
“Bye Mommy,” Lexie said.
Terri left and Cadin asked, “May I help you clean the kitchen before I go?”
“Heaven’s no. You have done so much for us, I can’t ever begin to repay your kindness,” Miss Betty said.
“Thanks for a great breakfast. I’ll be calling you soon to check on things,” she said. “Will you walk me out, Lexie?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she answered and pushed away from the table.
They walked out to the bike and Cadin turned to face her and knelt down. “I want you to know how proud of you I am. You’re smart, kind, and a hard worker. Don’t ever lose those qualities.”
“I won’t,” Lexie said as she started to sniffle. “I love you,” she said and rushed into Cadin’s arms.
“I love you too,” Cadin said as she held the crying child close.
When her tears finally abated, Cadin held her at arm’s length. “Be strong and help your mom and Miss Betty as much as you can.
“I will,” Lexie said with a smile.
“I’ll call you later this week, okay?”
Her smile brightened. “I’d like that.”
“Go now and help Miss Betty.”
Lexie turned to walk to the house and then rushed back to hug Cadin and kiss her cheek one more time. When she started toward the house, Cadin climbed on the bike and started the motor. She backed the bike to face the drive and waved at Lexie, who had stopped at the door to watch her. With her heart in her throat, Cadin kicked the bike in gear and pulled out of the driveway.
Chapter Six
The brisk morning wind blew the tears from her eyes as Cadin drove south, away from Greensboro and her new family. The country road she was on was clear of traffic, so she opened the bike’s throttle, racing to her next adventure.
When she crested a hill and found a combine moving slowly, she backed off the throttle and maneuvered the bike past the farmer, tossing a wave and a smile his way. His weathered face broke into a smile, and he lifted his sun-darkened hand to return her wave. The fall harvest was well underway and Cadin passed fields freshly plowed, the smell of the turned earth making her think of Miss Betty’s garden. With a little attention, it would once more produce a plethora of vegetables to keep her pantry stocked with canned goods.
Cadin never dreamed that such a simple way of life would appeal to her, but her experiences in Greensboro had taught her how therapeutic the slower pace of the country could be for a shattered heart. She opened up the throttle once more and rode another hour before she needed to stop for fuel.
Miss Betty had filled her stomach with a wonderful breakfast before she let her go, but the smells coming from the small country store made Cadin’s stomach growl. She filled her tank then went inside to pay for her fuel and investigate what the delicious smells were. A lady working in the small kitchen had just brought out a fresh pan of steaming biscuits as she walked over to the counter. “So that’s what smells so good.” So many choices made it hard to decide. There was a wide variety of breakfast meats to fill the biscuits and she selected the country ham and smoked sausage.
“May I get you anything else?” the woman asked.
“A bottle of Sun Drop.” Cadin grinned. “I haven’t had one of those in years.”
The woman pulled a chilled bottle of the citrus-flavored drink from a cooler and added it to Cadin’s purchases.
Cadin paid the woman and carried her bag of food outside. She pulled her bike over to a small covered picnic table and devoured the two biscuits. A large red-tailed hawk flew into the top of a nearby tree and she crept quietly to her saddlebag to retrieve her camera. The hawk scanned the area for prey as Cadin snapped several shots of the majestic bird. He watched her curiously until a passing truck backfired and he once more took flight to soar across the freshly turned fields.
She reviewed the new pictures she had taken, scrolling through the shots from Terri’s birthday party. Cadin’s heart soared when she turned to a photo of her and Lexie sitting on the bike, deep in conversation. Terri must have taken the shot surreptitiously. Lexie was looking up at her with complete adoration as she listened intently to what Cadin was saying. This one I’ll definitely enlarge and frame for home, and my office, she thought as she scrolled through the rest of the photos.
Draining the last of the Sun Drop, she walked back inside to use the restroom before starting on her way. Passing through the store, she caught the cook’s eyes. “Those biscuits were heavenly.”
The woman’s face lit up with pride. “I’m glad you enjoyed them. Do you want some to go?”
“I’d love some, but my storage space is limited. I will definitely be back for more.”
The woman smiled at her. “I’m here every day and we always have fresh biscuits.”
“Thanks again,” she said and left the store.
She looked up at the cloudless blue sky to see the hawk spiraling down to earth in search of prey. She watched as he dropped to the ground and lifted again, with a small rodent clasped in his talons. “I’m not the only one enjoying a quick snack,” she spoke aloud as she settled her helmet on her head and straddled the bike.
†
It was just after two when she arrived in Bogalusa and pulled into a small diner for a late lunch. The crowd was sparse, most of the lunchtime crowd already having rushed back to work or home. She took a seat at a small table and picked up the menu. A small strip of white paper was attached to the menu announcing country fried steak as the daily special, and her mouth instantly watered.
“Welcome. What can I get you to drink?” Cadin heard a slight Creole accent in the server’s voice.
She looked up into crystal-blue eyes of the woman who had arrived to take her order. “I’ll have sweet tea, please. Is the daily special still available?”
“Yes, it is. Are mashed potatoes with gravy and corn good for you?” the woman asked.
“That sounds perfect,” Cadin said, returning the woman’s smile. She watched her as she walked behind the counter and poured a fresh glass of tea to bring to her. The woman’s eyes weren’t the only beautiful thing about her. Her dark cinnamon skin glowed and a perfect white smile met Cadin’s eyes. To say the woman was lovely was a gross understatement. She was beautiful.
The woman placed her tea on the table. “I’ll have your food up in just a few minutes. My name is Emma, if you need anything else.”
“Thanks,” Cadin managed to speak and watched her return to the kitchen. “Down girl,” she whispered softly and busied herself checking the messages on her phone.
†
The door chime sounded as Emma placed a steaming plate of food in front of her. “Here you go. Is there anything else I can get for you now?”
“Not yet,” Cadin said. “Those pies look interesting, though,” she said, pointing her fork at the display on the counter.
“Just let me know when you’re ready.”
“I will,” she said and turned to greet her next customer.
“Hi, Hank, I hope you go easy on me today,” she spoke to the man
standing just inside the door, a metal clipboard in hand. Obviously, he was the local health inspector.
“Hi Emma, I’ll be as easy as I can, but you know eventually you’re going to have to put some money in this place,” he answered.
“When I find that money tree I will gladly upgrade.” There was concern in her voice.
“I know you’re always clean, but the floor, equipment, and furnishings have been here for ages and there’s only so much cleaning can do,” he said with compassion.
Cadin continued eating her meal as her gaze moved around the small diner. The place could use some modernization she agreed. She watched Emma and Hank disappear into the kitchen then return several minutes later. Hank made several notes and then tore the top copy off the report he had finished and handed it to her.
“Buy yourself a lottery ticket and maybe you’ll get lucky,” he said with a smile and left the diner.
Emma looked at Cadin who was watching the interaction closely.
She could see the tears pooling in Emma’s eyes, until she turned away and rushed into the kitchen.
When she returned several minutes later, Emma had regained her composure and carried a tray of pie slices to her table with a pitcher of tea. She set the tray on the table for her review while she refilled her tea glass. “What can I tempt you with?” she asked.
That’s an awfully loaded question, Cadin thought with a smirk. “They all look so good. What do you recommend?”
“My favorite is the coconut cream,” Emma said.
“May I ask a favor then?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Grab two slices and a drink for yourself and join me for a few minutes.”
Emma looked around the empty diner and then returned Cadin’s smile. “I guess I can do that,” she answered.
Cadin watched as she returned to the counter, served two slices of pie, and poured a cup of coffee.
“That was a great meal,” she said when Emma returned.
“I’m glad you liked it,” Emma said with a smile. “I hope you enjoy the pie too. A local woman bakes them fresh for me every day.”
“It looks heavenly,” she said, pushing her now empty plate to the side and reaching for the pie. She took a bite and groaned with pleasure. “Beyond heavenly,” she crooned.