Part 34 (1/2)
”Yes, ma'am, an' my vision, too. All happened within a year. Scared me somethin' awful, bein' alone out here, but I have my angel. Watches out for me.”
”Your angel?”
”John.” Emma Dee sets the breakfast down on the table. They settle in. ”He come by here one day, askin' if I needed help.”
”Why?”
”He's an angel, I'm tellin' you. At first I was suspicious, too, but he never asks me for anything. Won't even let me pay him. Just come by 'bout twice a week. Brings me groceries, helps cut firewood, tidies up, you know, things like that.”
”A Good Samaritan?”
”I s'pose so. I've asked him, 'Why you do this for me, John?' But he just says it's his pleasure, then he's on his way. How's your biscuit, hon? Done enough?”
”Delicious. Best I ever ate.”
A few hours later Kate looks out the front window, where F.M.'s truck can be seen across the street.
”It's quite a ways to town, Kate. I'm sure he's fine.”
”Oh, me, too.”
”You love this man, don't you?”
Kate laughs. ”Well, it's hard to describe.”
”Love usually is.”
”I just feel safe with him. Totally safe.”
”Ah. Sometimes we'd be in bed and Robert would shake me and say, 'Breathe, Emma! Inhale! You haven't taken a breath in so long you're gonna faint!' But y'know what, Kate? Truth is, when I was in Robert's arms I didn't feel like I needed to take another breath ever again. It was like he was my air.”
Tears well up in Kate's eyes.
”What is it, child?”
”Nothing. May I use your bathroom?”
”Of course. First door on the right.”
Kate walks down the short hallway to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she turns away, lowers the lid on the toilet, and sits. Burying her head in her hands, she weeps.
Above the sound of the Big Mama Thornton record playing in the living room, Kate hears a knock at the front door and Emma Dee's voice.
”John? Is that you? Well, come on in!”
The front door slams shut, followed by the sound of footsteps and more greetings. Kate rises, splas.h.i.+ng cold water on her face, hearing the m.u.f.fled conversation through the bathroom door.
”Roses? It's not my birthday.”