Doc's eyes widened as Orabelle set another dish on the table. "Orabelle, you shouldn't have gone to so much trouble."
Orabelle sat down next to Sweet Billy. "It wasn't no trouble a'tall, Doc. Just the usual..."
"The usual!" Doc ran his hand over his face and eyed the food. Bowls of chitlins, greens, black-eyed peas, and yams surrounded a big platter heaped with fried chicken. Two more platters held biscuits and cornbread and pitchers were brimming with gravy and sorghum and buttermilk. There were mashed potatoes, fresh butter, old cheese and bread pudding. A dish of apples and several pies with various fillings sat dangerously close to the edge, a pretty flask shaped like a honeycomb held wild honey, and a pot of fresh coffee stood between him and Festus.
"Well, maybe I did make a few special dishes in your honor, Doc," Orabelle admitted, "but really, Jessamine did most of the work."
"You mean Jessamine made me do most of the work," scoffed Eliab. His wife shot a look at him and he shrank in his chair, but his eyes were twinkling and she started to laugh. He leaned over and kissed her soundly and she pushed him off.
"Eliab, cain't you never behave yourself in front of folks?"
Eliab smiled. "Not with someone as looksome as you, Jessamine."
"Oh, hush up." Jessamine glanced around the table. "Who wants to say the blessin'?"
Melody pulled at her sister's sleeve and Jessamine smiled at her. "You want to do it, honey?" The little girl nodded. "Go ahead on then."
Melody folded her hands and bowed her head and everybody followed suit. "Dear Lord, thank you for these vittles we're about to eat. Thank you for Eliab and Jessamine and Sweet Billy and Orabelle. Most of all, thank you for Uncle Festus bringin' Doc Adams to doctor Orabelle. Amen."
Doc glanced at Festus and the hillman smiled. "That wuz a mighty fine blessin', Melody," said Festus. "Should we start in now?"
Melody jumped up. "Y'all get started...I forgot something." She hurried to the kitchen and returned with a small china bowl, which she set at Doc's elbow. "There you go, Doc Adams."
The old man looked at the bowl. "Sugar?"
Melody raised her head proudly. "Store sugar." The hillpeople traded fond looks among themselves and Doc suddenly felt very humble.
"Thank you, Miss Melody." He spooned some sugar into his coffee and tasted it, then nodded approvingly. "That's my favorite sugar of all."
