Kin

by Lesley Crewe

  David turned to face her. “I am not a nobody, and I’m very proud to come from Cape Breton. I’m also extremely proud of my family. And can I just say that my mother has more class in her baby finger than you and all of your friends downstairs combined.”

  Virginia gave him a filthy look. “Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.” She stalked out of the room.

  Kay looked at him with adoration. “No one has ever stood up to my mother like that.”

  “I can’t believe your mother, Kay. Get packed. We’re leaving tonight.”

  * * *

  Annie and Henry were deliriously happy in their new house. It was Henry’s wedding gift to her, and he made sure it was clear across town from his mother’s, so there’d be no unexpected pop-ins. They spent many happy hours together decorating.

  The rest of the time, they were in bed. Henry was determined to be a father before his next birthday, and Annie, being Annie, happily obliged.

  When David called to say he was engaged and bringing his fiancée home for Christmas to meet everyone, their mother became a cleaning and baking machine. Annie got fed up that every time she was over, Mom was roaring around the house trying to make everything look better.

  “Mom, you realize this girl isn’t blind. She’ll know that the coal stove is a coal stove no matter how many times you polish it.”

  “What’s wrong with making a good impression? She’s used to the best, according to David.”

  “I hate to tell you, but according to David she doesn’t know how to cook.”

  That stopped her in her tracks. Mom gave Annie an incredulous look. “What do you mean she doesn’t know how to cook? What about David’s ulcer?”

  “It’ll become gigantic and walk the earth as a terrifying force of evil.”

  “Stop it. Your brother has a terrible time with his stomach. It’s no laughing matter.”

  Annie reached for a banana and peeled it. “So teach her yourself.” She broke off a piece and stuffed it in her mouth. Lately she couldn’t get enough bananas.

  “When am I supposed to do that? She’s only coming for a few days.”

  “Write all your recipes down in a notebook and give it to her for Christmas.”

  “That’s an excellent idea.” Her mom went back to her scrubbing.

  “And while you’re at it, do one for me, but only include fattening fried things and every dessert you ever made.”

  Annie called Lila to tell her the good news.

  “Give him my best,” Lila said tightly.

  “You’re going to see him, aren’t you? We have to be together when we first lay eyes on her, and everyone wants to see Caroline.”

  “We’ll see. It’s not much fun to drive into town with a cranky two-year-old.”

  “She’s adorable.”

  “An adorable crank. Don’t make me feel guilty if I can’t make it in. I’ll do my best.”

  “Why can’t I push you around anymore?”

  “I’m a mother. See ya.”

  David and Kay hoped to be in Glace Bay in the afternoon the day before Christmas Eve, but there were reports of snow squalls between Antigonish and Sydney, which made everyone tense hoping they weren’t caught in bad weather. Annie and Henry arrived and Mom wondered if Annie’s outfit was fancy enough.

  “For cryin’ out loud! If my husband likes it, do I give a crap what she thinks?”

  “Don’t use rough language. It reflects on all of us.”

  Annie rolled her eyes and reached for a piece of sliced coconut loaf on the coffee table.

  “Don’t eat that! Wait until they get here.”

  “Dad!”

  Kenzie looked up from his paper. “Dear, let the girl have a piece.”

  Much to their delight, the Johnson car pulled up. Everyone rushed to the door to usher in Aunt Eunie, Uncle Joe, Lila, and Caroline, nicknamed Cricket, who was looking especially adorable in her new Christmas dress, with her golden-red hair a mass of curls around her face. Henry always grabbed her first and made a big fuss over her. He loved kids. Anyone’s kid would do.

  They spent a blissful hour watching Caroline run from person to person, handing them candy from a dish and saying “Here go!” to all of them.

  “Hey Mom, how come you’re not yelling at Cricket for getting sticky fingerprints on all the furniture?

  “She’s allowed to do whatever she wants.” Mom grabbed Cricket from behind and gave her lots of kisses.

  Annie thought Lila looked flushed and tired. She went over and sat beside her on the couch. “You okay? Do I need to check your pulse?”

  “I’m fine, I have a bit of a headache, that’s all.”

  “Want me to get you something for it?”

  That’s when Mom, who was constantly at the window, shouted, “They’re here!”

  Everyone but the Johnsons ran out to greet the happy couple. Eunie and Joe didn’t want to interfere, and Cricket was busy tearing up pieces of newspaper on her mother’s lap.

  When David and Kay came through the door amid shouts of hello and welcome, Annie took one look at her soon to be sister-in-law and whispered to Henry, “He’s hit the mother lode.”

  Kay was dazzling in a winter white coat with a fox-fur collar and cuffs. It was hard for Annie to keep her eyes off her and when she noticed it was hard for Henry as well, she gave him an elbow. Even her father stood a little taller, while Mom beamed at the prospect of gorgeous grandchildren.

  David kissed them all and they kissed Kay too, who looked excited and happy to be there. She left red lipstick on the men’s cheeks and they grinned like fools. But she was just as nice to Annie and her mom, and Annie knew that she was going to like this girl, even if no one would ever notice Annie again at a family get-together.

  Mom ushered them into the living room. “And these are our dear friends, Eunie and Joe Johnson, and their daughter and granddaughter, Lila and Caroline. Lila is like one of the family. She and David and Annie grew up together.”

  “It’s such a pleasure,” Kay smiled and walked around to shake all their hands. “What an adorable little girl! Isn’t she perfect, David? What’s her name again?”

  “I call her Cricket,” said Lila.

  “You are so lucky to have such a beautiful child. David and I would like to start a family as soon as we can, isn’t that so, David?”

  “Yes, indeed. I’ll just go out and get the bags.” He left the room and went out the front door. Kay smiled at everyone as she took off her coat. “You have a lovely home, Mrs. Macdonald.”

  “Thank you. We’re happy here, aren’t we, Dad?”

  Dad agreed.

  Henry, Joe, and Dad offered to take Kay’s coat. She took off her gloves, unbuttoned her coat, and removed the white cashmere scarf at her neck. “Thank you.”

  Then they stood around and looked at her like she was an exhibit at a Hollywood movie set. Her silver dress had sparkly snowflakes embroidered on the skirt, and her diamond earrings twinkled when she turned her head.

  Cricket got off her mother’s lap and reached over to touch Kay’s skirt. Kay bent down and let her feel the material. Then David came back in and shouted from the porch that he’d take the bags upstairs. Mom and Dad were finally galvanized to start being proper hosts. Mom asked if Kay would like to go and freshen up. Annie thought she looked plenty fresh already, but Kay humoured her mom and followed her upstairs.

  That left the rest of them looking at each other with their mouths open.

  “Can you believe her?” Annie said. “Why on earth would she fall for David when she could be the queen of a small country somewhere?”

  They were an excited bunch waiting for the couple to come back down. Except for Lila, who got up and took Cricket into the kitchen for a drink.

  When everyone came back downstairs, Mom asked Annie for her help in the
kitchen, and Dad asked Kay if she’d like a Shirley Temple. She said she would be delighted.

  Mom grabbed Annie’s hands near the sink. “She’s so beautiful.”

  “I know!”

  Lila poured Cricket a small drink of juice. “Anyone can be beautiful if they have money.”

  “I suppose that’s true, but she seems like a lovely girl.”

  “You’ve only known her for five minutes.”

  Annie and Mom looked at each other. It wasn’t like Lila to be so negative.

  “Did you want an aspirin for your headache?” Annie said carefully.

  “Yes, please.”

  At dinner, Mom served a baked ham crisscrossed with pineapple rings, maraschino cherries, and cloves, and a large casserole dish of creamy scalloped potatoes, with butter rolls, red tomato chow, and sweet peas.

  “This is delicious, Mrs. Macdonald. Did you do this all yourself?”

  Mom laughed. “Of course, dear. Who else would do it?”

  Annie was ravenous and piled as much as she could on her plate. Henry looked at her. “You’d think we had no food at home.”

  “Shut your gob, Pratfall.”

  Annie noticed that David hardly touched his meal. He was no doubt too excited to eat. It’s a big deal to bring home the girl you want to marry. Lila didn’t eat much either, but that’s because she was busy keeping Cricket in her chair and cutting up her food.

  “So when’s the big day?” Mom asked.

  “This April,” Kay said. “I hope you don’t mind that we’re having it in Halifax.”

  “We understand. Your entire family is there and I’m sure your mother is run off her feet organizing everything, but if there’s anything I can do, I’d be happy too. I missed the chance with Annie’s wedding.”

  “Mom, are you going to bring that up again?”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “We thought we’d come back in the summer and have a big party out in Round Island, for friends and relatives who can’t make it to the wedding,” David said.

  “What fun!” Mom said. “Won’t that be fun, Kenzie?”

  Dad didn’t even look up. “Indeed.”

  “I have a great idea,” Kay said. “Cricket could be our flower girl. That would be so sweet.”

  Lila shook her head. “Thank you, but we won’t be going to the wedding.”

  Annie was surprised. “You’re not?”

  “Cricket gets car sick, and that’s a very long drive.”

  “And Lila has to be careful not to overdo it,” Aunt Eunie said. “But we’ll be there with bells on for the summer party.”

  “I was hoping you’d be one of my bridesmaids, Annie.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “I’d love to have David’s family in the wedding party. I hope you’ll say yes.”

  “Are you sure you want her? She’ll be up there crossing her eyes and making faces at me the entire time,” David laughed.

  “Hey! No I won’t…not the entire time.”

  Cricket knocked over her glass of juice on the table and started to cry. Everyone assured her it was fine, but she couldn’t be consoled. Lila took her in her arms.

  “This little girl is tired. I think we’ll say goodnight.”

  “But she hasn’t had dessert,” Mom rushed to say. “I made her some rice pudding.”

  “We’ll take it with us.”

  Aunt Eunie and Uncle Joe looked sorry that they had to go, but they nevertheless got to their feet. Mom got up as well. “I’ve made a butterscotch pie for us. I’ll cut some of that up too, so you can take it with you.”

  Everyone said it was nice meeting everyone else, and as the Johnsons left with their goodies, all of them shouted Merry Christmas and everyone shouted Merry Christmas back.

  Then back to the table to cut up the rest of the butterscotch pie.

  Annie looked at her parents, her husband, her brother, and his mate. “So here we are. Our little family unit is growing.”

  “You’re very lucky to have such a wonderful family,” Kay said. “You say that Lila grew up with you?”

  Annie told her the story, as Mom dished out the pie. David didn’t want any, but Mom coaxed him into having a tiny sliver.

  “I hope I’m not being nosy, but why did Eunie say that Lila couldn’t overdo it?”

  “She has heart problems. She nearly died having Caroline. Henry can vouch for that.”

  Henry nodded. “She was one lucky girl. It was close for both of them.”

  “Can we talk about something a little less morbid?” David said. “This is supposed to be a celebration.”

  After dinner, Kay went out to the living room with the men. Annie and her mother cleaned up.

  “She’s probably never had to do a dish in her life.”

  “Leave her alone. She’s a guest.”

  “I’m not being mean, it’s just an observation.”

  At that moment, Kay appeared in the doorway. “I wondered where you went. Do you need some help?”

  “Oh no, dear,” Mom said, “we’re fine.”

  Annie saw that Kay was disappointed. “Don’t listen to her. Here’s a dishtowel.” Annie threw one to her.

  “This is so much fun,” Kay smiled. “Girl talk in the kitchen. I’ve always wanted to do this.”

  “You sure are easy to please,” Annie laughed. “You can knock yourself out at my place if you like. I’ve got a whole sink full of dirty dishes.”

  Mom rinsed a plate. “What do you mean you have a sink full of dirty dishes? That’s not how you were brought up.”

  “Not every woman in the world is a domestic goddess like you, Mom.”

  “Amen to that,” Kay added.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  On New Year’s Day, Lila woke up before sunrise. Something didn’t feel right, but she wasn’t sure what. It was like something was missing. She sat up in bed and looked around the room. Cricket was fast asleep in her crib and everything looked the same, so what was it?

  And then she knew.

  She reached down and touched Freddy at the end of her bed. Every morning he would stretch his fourteen-year-old legs and yawn like an old man. Even though she knew she wouldn’t hear it, she put her head against his chest and waited for his heart to beat.

  “Don’t leave me, Freddy. Not now.”

  She was still holding him when Cricket woke up. She sang to herself for a while and then turned over and saw that her mother was awake. She immediately jumped up and bounced, holding onto the sides of the crib and smiling, her sleepyhead hair every which way.

  “Mama. Fweddy.”

  Lila began to cry, hearing Cricket say his name. Her daughter loved Freddy and he loved her back. He’d put up with a lot—being grabbed by the neck for a hug, or being a horsey, or a handy mat on the floor she could snuggle against.

  Seeing her mother cry made Cricket cry, which brought Aunt Eunie running upstairs.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Freddy’s dead.”

  Aunt Eunie began to cry, which brought Uncle Joe upstairs. When he started to cry, Lila knew they were in big trouble.

  Lila wrapped Freddy in his favourite blanket and kept him on the bed. Then she went downstairs to call Ewan.

  “Freddy’s dead.”

  “Oh no. What happened?”

  “He died in his sleep. I thought you’d want to know because Freddy loved you so much.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”

  Lila and Uncle Joe got dressed and went outside to pick a spot to bury their special dog. “He needs to be under the maple tree. The leaves brush up against my window and Freddy loved lying under the shade to cool off.”

  “He also liked it because he was guarding the house,” Uncle Joe sniffed.

  Lila wasn’t sur
prised when Ewan drove up the driveway in his truck and came towards them carrying a pickaxe and shovel. He looked like he’d been crying too. “Show me where you want him.” Lila pointed to the spot and Ewan put the pickaxe up to his shoulder and slammed it into the hard ground. He did it over and over and soon had a hole that Freddy could be snug in.

  Aunt Eunie came out with an old throw to line the space, some dog treats, and his favourite ball. Uncle Joe held Caroline, who was delighted to be outside so early in the morning with her snowsuit on. They looked at Ewan.

  “I’ll go get him.”

  Ewan went into the house and came back shortly with Freddy’s body wrapped in his favourite blanket. While he held him, the family kissed Freddy’s white muzzle and told him how much they loved him and thanked him for being the best dog in the whole world.

  They were still crying when Ewan lowered Freddy and gently put him in the hole. Lila put in the treats and his ball and then they took the four corners of the blanket and wrapped him up like a special gift.

  “You go on in,” Ewan said. “I’ll cover him up.”

  “I’ll stay with you,” Lila said. “Take Cricket into the house.”

  Aunt Eunie and Uncle Joe took the baby back inside. Lila stood by the grave and watched Ewan shovel the dirt back in and over her beloved pet. He smoothed it and put back the frozen sods before he shovelled some snow over it again so it would look nice.

  They stared at the space together. Then Lila’s shoulders began to shake and she hid her face against Ewan’s heavy flannel jacket. He put his arm around her.

  Lila insisted he come in and have breakfast to thank him for his efforts. Whenever Ewan came over, Cricket would crawl up on his knees and make him bounce her up and down like a horse, going slow and then fast and then slow again. Aunt Eunie decided to make buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, because those were Freddy’s special treats. Lila thought she wouldn’t be able to eat, but she had a few bites of pancake.

  Aunt Eunie stacked six thick pancakes on a plate and passed them to Ewan. “Does your mother enjoy living in town?”

  “It sounds like it. She and my aunt call themselves the merry widows.”