Here With Me

“Ms. Gautreaux has a sewing circle that meets every Tuesday.” I pull the keys out of my pocket. “It’s a bunch of old ladies who like to sit around and gossip. I bet they’d welcome you.”

“I’m not gossiping.”

“We ready?” Leon trots up with his hands in his pockets. He’s got a red plaid shirt pulled over a white tee, and he’s wearing jeans and a ball cap.

I step back and check him out. “What are you doing out here?”

“What does it look like?”

“Listen,” I walk over and put a hand on his shoulder. “These old guys… well, it’s not something you do for three weeks then drop for aeronautics or whatever.”

“Atmospheric phenomena.” Leon has the nerve to look annoyed.

“What’s that?” Taron hands my little brother his travel mug of coffee.

“Storm chasers.”

“Is that so?” Taron looks over at me. “Sounds like something you’d like. Storm chasing. Or is it skirt chasing?”

I don’t have time for this. “Here.” I toss the keys to my friend. “You two go, and I’ll get started here.”

Taron’s about to complain when Leon steps forward, cutting him off. “Okay!” He takes the keys. “I got this. I’ll let you know what they say.”

“I’m sure I can guess.” I turn

on my heel and start for the house.

Taron’s still muttering as he climbs in the cab. I pause on the steps, watching Leon take off down the dirt road way too fast, sending clouds of dust all over everything.

Shaking my head, I pull the screen door open, holding it so it doesn’t slam. It doesn’t matter. The whole house is awake. Dove hops down from the chair she was standing in, leaning forward on the table coloring.

Noel looks up from where she’s sitting, sipping coffee. “You didn’t go with them?”

“Didn’t see the need.”

My little niece holds up her arms to me, and I lift her onto my hip like I’ve done every morning since she started walking. I carry her to the table and she picks up her crayon again.

We’ve only had her six years, but I can’t remember this house without her. “Y’all are up early on a Saturday.”

“This one woke with her daddy, which means I woke with her daddy. Now she’s pouting.”

I lean to the side and see her bottom lip poking out. “What’s the matter with you?” I give her a nudge.

“Leon said I’m too little to go to the peach meeting.”

“Trust me.” I slide a golden curl off her shoulder. “You don’t want to go. It’s just a bunch of old men being boring.”

She sits back and crosses her arms. “Then why did Leon want to go so bad?”

“Heck if I know.” Noel shoots me a look, and I shrug. “It’s the truth.”

Dove scoots around to face me. “Why do you always go?”

“Just in case they say anything important.”

“I want to go.”

“Tell you what. If you still want to go, I’ll take you with me next time.”