The Curing Season

by Leslie Wells

  Sibby watched my face closely.

  —You’ve been through a lot, girl, she said softly. —I couldn’t believe your letter.

  She glanced down at Joshua, and I shook my head in warning. I didn’t want to bring up any more questions from him, as he’d finally settled down a little about things.

  —We’ll talk later, I said. —Let’s go out and walk to the park. It’s beautiful here. Do you have someplace to stay? I can ask Joan if there are any extra rooms.

  —Oh, we’re all set, Sibby replied. —Charlie had a good year with his tobacco, so we’re staying in a hotel for the first time, aren’t we, chirren? We’re at the Pacific Hotel down the street. Do you want to stay with us tonight? We could order us up some room service, stay up late and talk.

  —Maybe we can. It would be a treat for Joshua, I said, who regarded me questioningly. He was still wary of new things, and didn’t know what a hotel was, I imagined.

  We walked to the park, and while the children were playing, Sibby and I caught up on our lives. Charlie had done well with his tobacco and was also raising dairy cattle. He still did some farming with his cousin Tom, and they were very close to that side of his family. Mother and WillieEd had managed to make a go of things with Man Murfree’s help, and little Luke was in school and doing well. Mother looked ten years younger, Sibby said, and had started going to church socials and ladies’ circle meetings again.

  —And now, Cora Mae, I want to hear about you, she said quietly, raising her eyebrow. —I got your letter, and cried and cried. I told Charlie what he’d done to you—I hope that was all right, but I just had to talk to him about it. I didn’t tell him you started the fire, she said in a low voice, noting my agitation. —But I’m glad you did. If you’d stayed there, he’d have kilt you.

  —I lie awake at night thinking I could have got away from him without doing what I did. I’ve agonized over it.

  —You had to get away, Cora. If you hadn’t, he would’ve hurt Joshua. I wish you’da knocked him into tomorrow a long time ago. If I’d had any idea you were in trouble all that time you were away, I would have come running. I just thought you didn’t want to see us, were ashamed of us or something. I had no idea you were in bad circumstances until I heard about the fire and some rumors started going around that reached us. At first I read in the newspapers that you died in the fire, and I just about went crazy. Then when I got your letter and you told me what you’d been through—

  She stopped speaking, tears filling her dark eyes. I looked out at our three children, romping around on the grass.

  —I know you would have come, would have helped me, I said. —Part of it was pride; at first, I just didn’t want to admit I’d made such a big mistake with Aaron. He turned out to be so different from what he seemed. Then I became afraid of what he’d do to me if I tried to leave him, or if anyone from home showed up. I was afraid of what he’d do to Joshua. I’ve thought over and over about why I stayed with someone like that, and I can’t come up with any good answers, except I was just plain scared.

  —Well, you’re here now, that’s what counts, Sibby commented, taking my hand and squeezing it.

  —You know, you could come back home and live with me and Charlie, she continued. —I talked it over with him before we left. There’s a separate two-room house in back we could fix up real nice; you wouldn’t have to stay under the same roof as us. But you’d be welcome any time you wanted to come for dinner or whatever. Think about it, Cora, she said when I shook my head. —I feel like we have so many years to make up for. And our children could have so much fun together. Listen to them now.

  Their laughter rang out as they played under the big trees.

  —It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, I said. —I do. I may take you up on your offer sometime. But for now I think I need to be in a new place, away from all the memories. It’s been so good to be in new surroundings, where no one knows me or my past. I feel like I’m starting everything new.

  —I can understand that, Sibby replied. —I can see how you’d need to do that. But if you ever change your mind, you know you can stay with us. At least I hope you’ll come back home to visit.

  —I will, as soon as I get settled in here. I want to find a job and get a place for us to live. I have a second interview at an import-export firm that Director Adelaide set up for me—she knows one of the owners of the company. I’m hoping I’ll get taken on as a secretary.

  —Cora Mae Slaughter, working in an office in the big city of San Francisco. That sounds real exciting. Maybe I’ll leave Carol and Daniel with Charlie and come shack up with you instead of going back to podunk holler, she laughed.

  We rounded up the children and went back to her hotel, where Joshua and I spent the night. Sibby and I stayed up until three o’clock in the morning, laughing and crying and reminiscing. We visited for two more days, and then they had to go home. But Sibby and I write each other every week, and once a month she calls me on her brand-new telephone that Charlie has installed. In December I will have one week’s vacation, and I imagine Joshua and I will take the train to see them. By then it will be good to be back home.

  • • •

  Joshua bursts into our room from the hall, where he has been playing with some of his friends. I take him down to his classroom and kiss him goodbye. Then I step out into the cool October air and catch a trolley to my new job.

  Now that I’ve been coming here for three weeks, I feel less trepidation when I walk into the huge portals of the company. My boss seems kind, and the other secretaries are too busy to pay much notice to my foot. One of them, Mary, invited me out to lunch the other day, but I told her I would have to wait until payday. She laughed and said she knew what that was like, and that she’d look forward to next Tuesday so we could have our lunch.

  My hearing has come all the way back in my right ear. I am still partially deaf in my left ear; the doctor who comes to the Home said he’d never seen an eardrum that had been burst so many times. He pressed me to tell him what had happened to me, but I could not. I just could not bring myself to relive it. He says that I am lucky to have any hearing left at all in either ear, and I agree wholeheartedly. I am lucky, period.

  Every day I wake up and realize I am free, and I rejoice.

  Author’s Note

  Women and children who are in violent domestic situations need a safe refuge. Please contact your local women’s shelter to find out how you can help.

  The author supports:

  The Retreat

  P.O. Box 988

  Wainscott, New York 11975

  Acknowledgments

  My endless gratitude goes to my agent, Julie Rubenstein, whose brilliant editorial insights helped me to make this novel complete. Without her, this book never would have seen the light of day.

  A multitude of thanks to Amy Einhorn, whose skillful editing was a wonderful gift. I feel blessed to have been able to work with such a caring, enthusiastic, and talented editor.

  Much appreciation to Linda Chester for her invaluable support, and to Meredith Phelan for her thoughtful suggestions.

  Thanks to Pat Mulcahy for an early read and encouraging words, and to April Sinclair for friendship and support in this endeavor.

  Thanks to Bob and Martha for letting me work at home. Love and gratitude to my good friends Richard and Kris; and to Patti.

  Grateful thanks to Phil for his support.

  Appreciation and love go to Jane and Janet for many years of conversation and advice; to Monica for listening to my plot ideas, and for being such a good pal; and to Karen and Mimi for longtime friendship.

  Thanks to Papa Paul for all the time, love, and care you’ve given all of us—and for being the best grandfather anyone could ask for.

  Thanks to Paul Scott and Tammy, Eric and Gloria, Kevin, Keith, and Janice for being such great family.

  Thanks to Sheri for years of listening and sharing, and for being a true friend through thick and thin.

  Huge appr
eciation to Jennifer and Emily, who couldn’t be nicer, closer, or more supportive.

  The love of my husband and son sustains me. You are the light of my life.