Escaping the Past

She stepped back and tried not to listen when Brody whispered, “Good night, Mama,” before he did the same.

Mrs. Wester fell asleep with a smile on her face before they ever left the room.

Lou turned with a smile to Brody to say thanks for all the help. She was met with cold, gray eyes that seethed with anger. He was obviously furious.

“How long has she been like this?” he demanded, stepping into the hall and pulling the bedroom door shut behind him.

“She started to go downhill about two weeks ago,” Lou replied as they walked into the kitchen.

“Why didn’t anyone call me before now?”

“She told us not to. As she became weaker and weaker, Sadie and I decided you needed to know,” she added. “She seemed very happy to see you. How long has it been?”

He sighed and some of the anger left his eyes. “It’s been twelve years.” The silence hung like a cloak as she waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t. “I talk to her on the phone every chance I get. I just didn’t think that I would be coming home.”

“We’re glad you did.” She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “Good night.” She turned and went back up the stairs.

****

The next morning, the alarm clock buzzed loudly beside Lou’s ear at five a.m. She reached over and tapped it lightly. She rolled over in the big bed, slid from beneath the covers, and headed for the bathroom. She pulled her long, dark waves of hair into a high ponytail. Shedding the T-shirt in which she normally slept, she put on a pair of shorts and a cotton top, and then laced up her sneakers. She quickly checked herself in the mirror, brushed her teeth and headed down to the kitchen. The day started early on a ranch this size. When Lou had first arrived at the ranch, Sadie was still taking care of the breakfast and feeding all the hands who worked the stables. As the years passed, Sadie still made the plans, but Lou did most of the work. Sadie stood by to help, but Lou did the physical labor, lifting and serving.

Lou wiped the sleep from her eyes and entered the kitchen. Brody, Sadie, Jeb, and John were seated at the kitchen table drinking coffee and looking over the day’s news.

“Good morning,” she chimed.

Brody looked up with a surprised look

on his face. “Morning,” he mumbled as he crossed to the coffeepot. “Want some coffee?” he asked, extending the pot in her direction.

“No thanks. No time. I’ll put on more for the hands, though,” she said, taking the pot from his hand. She quickly filled the reservoir, added coffee, and started the perk. She then grabbed a basket and headed out to the hen house to get the fresh eggs for breakfast.

She returned to the house with a basket full of eggs and the beautiful day made her add a spring to her step. She started cracking eggs into a bowl. For the next thirty minutes, she scrambled eggs, fried piles of bacon, and boiled grits. She took out biscuits Sadie had cut by hand the day before and warmed them in the oven. When she was done, she rang the bell to beckon the hands to come in for breakfast.

****

In the kitchen, she washed her hands before heading back upstairs. Brody watched it all trying to keep his admiration for her from showing on his face. He turned to Jeb. “Does she do that every day?”

“Five days a week,” Jeb replied.

“She certainly earns her keep.” John went to join the hands at the buffet table.

“I thought she was your girlfriend, John?” Brody asked. Several of the hands snickered behind their hats.

“Who? Lou? Nope. She’s works on the farm, just like the rest of us.” John’s face reddened.

Just then, Brody heard small feet scurrying down the stairs. Lou followed, and held out her hand for the brush and ponytail holders the child held.

Brody leaned closer to John. “Who’s that?”

“That’s Sarah.”

“But, Mom, I want Sadie to fix my hair!” The little girl screeched with a flurry of activity.

She ran around the room and landed at the Sadie’s feet, wrapping her arms around the old lady’s thick calves.

“Do you mind, Sadie?” Lou exhaled.

“Nope,” Sadie replied. “How do you want them, princess?”