After the lactation consultant pays a visit, Grady’s parents both come in to get a look at our girl, and soon mine do too, and then after the room clears out, Grandma comes in. She sits down in the chair and holds our daughter close to her heart. A tear slips from my eye and runs down my cheek as I watch them together. Pepper lies at her feet, curled in a ball.
“A great-grandbaby,” she says with no little awe. “I’m going to hold you all night.” She drops her voice to a whisper. “Your mommy and daddy are tired, so you and I are going to sit here and get acquainted while they take a little nap. And when you’re big enough, I’ll teach you to make homemade biscuits and apple pies and salmon cakes. You see, salmon cakes take one can of salmon, exactly eight saltine crackers, and some salt and pepper. If you’re feeling fancy, you can add some garlic powder. And then you…”
Her voice drones on as I close my eyes. Grady lies next to me in the narrow hospital bed as we both close our eyes and listen to Grandma tell her first great-grandbaby the secret to a perfect apple pie. Then she goes on to banana pudding.
Grady hugs me close, and I lie there and rest, knowing that while our journey felt like a lot of
trouble when it started, it’s pretty perfect now.
Grandma’s voice goes on and on, quietly talking about recipes and cooking. Then I hear Grandma tell our daughter, “One night, about a year ago, I woke up when my doorbell camera sent me a picture of a naked man who was sound asleep in my azalea bushes. And that, my darling, was the beginning of how you came to be born…”
Grady’s chest rocks as he chuckles quietly next to me. “I’ll never live that one down, will I?”
“Not likely,” I whisper back.
He leans over and kisses the tip of my nose. “I wouldn’t change it,” he admits softly.
Neither would I.
36
A Special Treat
Since I mentioned my mama’s salmon cakes on Facebook and I used them in the book, I got her permission to share her recipe. So, if you’re interested in making your own, here you go!
1 Can Salmon (or Jack Mackerel) Drained
1 Egg
Exactly 8 Salted Crackers
A Dash of Garlic Powder
Pick the bones out of the fish if you want. You really don’t notice they’re in there if you leave them, but I always pick mine out. Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Make small patties in the palm of your hand. They should be damp. If they’re too dry, add a little of the water from the can. Fry on medium heat in olive oil (or your favorite oil) until browned on both sides.
If you’re doing low carb (like me), you can substitute the crackers for 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. I use the snowy kind that comes in a shaker for the best texture.
This recipe sounds simple, and it is, but it’s my favorite, probably because this is how my mama makes them.
Enjoy!