Chapter 29. Did You Know…
Mike crashed almost as soon as dinner was over, after having been too tired to do more than push the food around the plate. He was surprised to find Aunt Kate was understanding, urging him to just go on to bed, though not without a warning that he'd be expected to do better in the morning. He awoke the next morning to the sound of the crowing rooster and his aunt's voice speaking in hushed tones to his friends.
"I shoulda known," she admitted sadly. "His mama, Florence and me met at camp when we was all 12. Flo and her sisters were all there, but I didn't meet the twins 'till that summer ended. Flo, Bette and me all shared a cabin, though. We was tight as could be by the time that summer was over. So when Flo's brother Clayton – his friends called him Clyde, but his given name was Clayton, God rest his soul – started courtin' me and her brother Warren – Ren, most folks call him – started after Bette we was all thrilled. We was all pleased as punch at the idea we was all gonna be kin."
Mike laid back, unwilling to join them just yet. This was a tale he'd heard before and the last thing he was ready to do was to be involved in the telling.
"Bette's ma passed on and her and her Pa was on the verge of losin' their homestead when Ren come swoopin' in," Aunt Kate went on. "Her pa bought up a little place in the big city sight unseen and packed her up, thinkin' he was movin' her closer to her future. He took Ren for someone who was gonna take care of her no matter what. He passed on not long after that from some sort of snake bite or some such – I never was real clear what got him – never knowin' what kind o' man he married his girl off to."
Mike wondered for the billionth time what kind of life his ma would have had if she'd never married his father. Would she have met someone who'd have been good to her like she deserved?
"We knowed up front what Bobby did to young girls, there was proof enough of that all over town," Aunt Kate's voice grew heavy with emotion as she continued. "That's why Clayton took me and come back here, outta his reach when he got sent to war. We didn't even spare a thought for poor Bette when Ren went off, too. She come running to me so upset and big with child. I just had me my first. That dark haird'un you met. Clara. Ain't never growin' up, I swear." She shook her head, smiling softly, then went on. "She had twins. A boy and a girl. I was sent out to the well gettin' more water when the midwife delivered the second. By the time I come back in, she done wrapped her poor little body up and sent her off with her assistant. She thought it would be too much on poor Bette to see the poor thing on top of everything else she'd just been through. The birthing had been so difficult for her. I always thought she ought to have, though. Bette was so sure she heard that baby cry. I swear, I halfway believed her by the time she got done. She was just so sure. She needed to see the body so she'd know for herself that her girl was gone."
Mike shuddered at the thought. If his mother had been right and that other baby had been alive when it was taken from the room, he might have a sister out there somewhere he'd never met. He wondered idly if she existed, would she have felt as alone and afraid growing up as he had.
"What about everything his uncle did to him growing up?" Mike heard Micky ask softly. "How did you not know about that?"
Aunt Kate seemed to pause before answering, and Mike wondered if maybe it wasn't time to get up and put a stop to the discussion now. A hand on his shoulder kept him where he was, though. Glancing over, he spied his cousin Clara with her finger pressed to her lips. "You should let them do this," she told him softly. "I'm supposed to keep an eye on you and fetch you down to breakfast when you wake up. So lie still, and I'll do that once they're done talking, okay?" Seeing his reluctance, she pressed gently, "You should hear this, RJ . Mike, I mean. It's time now."
"Bette never said anything about him at all after folks swore she was lyin' sayin' he took her like he did, and by the time RJ could talk, he never said anything more than he didn't like havin' him around the kids at first." Aunt Kate attempted to explain. "All three of the spinsters – Florence, Edna and Ethel – all said how she'd poisoned the boy's mind against his kin and how RJ was prone to tales. After Bette …"she paused, getting choked up a moment, then continued, "After she passed on and the children were split up, RJ come to me for a summer. He didn't say much. Mostly stayed with Clara and left Lucy and me to ourselves less I told him to help. I tried talkin' to him some, but he was fierce quiet. Angry. Felt guilty, like he done pulled the trigger and not his ma. Weren't much talkin' to him then 'cept to let him know I knowed it weren't his fault what happened even if he didn't, and that I was here if he needed me. After he went back, I heard about this accident or that fight he'd get into. To hear them tell it, the boy wasn't nothin' but trouble. I couldn't quite believe that though. I knowed how helpful he was to Bette, and I knowed how good he if I needed him, so it didn't add up. I weren't there to see for myself and the boy didn't confirm or deny nothin', though. He didn't tell me much 'sides it him and Bobby didn't get along and he wasn't wanted there. Tried tellin' me once he was afraid there. Said somethin' 'bout bein' sure he'd die there, and I didn't hear him. I weren't in no position to take on another child for good, so I didn't listen. Not really. I should have." Mike could hear her sniffling and made to rise again, only to find Clara's hand pressing still pressing him back.
"Let her get through this now," Clara urged him. "You know when you and she try this you'll just end up cutting her off and comforting her and brushing it all aside same as always. You need to hear this, though. Just once. Just so you know where she really stood on it all."
"I tried to get him to tell me again later, after I thought about it and knowed it wasn't somethin' he'd'a said if it wasn't weighin' on him. He wasn't ever the type to talk just to be talkin'. He just brushed it off, though. Said it weren't nothin' and he was sorry for botherin' me with it the first time." Kate sniffled again. "I talked to my mother in law 'fore she passed and she told me how hard Bobby was on the boy. She didn't tell me everything he done, but she told me he was prone to the strap if the boy stepped outta line at all. Said he hurt him all kinds o' ways, but I didn't understand. I was thinking discipline. I wasn't thinkin' she meant…" she cleared her throat. "She made me promise to help him get out as soon as he was ready, and I done that. I done all I could to keep him gone, too. He took to callin' me 'ma' as often as 'aunt kate' when he called 'cause o' some o' what I done to help him stay out that way." After a moment, she concluded softly, "I should have known what he gone through. The stories didn't add up so many times to explain how he was hurt. I should have known. "
Mike shook his head, pushing Clara's hand away. "That's enough now," he sighed, making to rise. He groaned softly, prompting her to help him the rest of the way up. "I got it," he protested to no avail as she settled him on his feet.
Smirking, the dark haired girl looked at him sternly. "Right. And I'm a Texas Prairie Chicken." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek before hurrying to the kitchen. "Ma, Mike's awake now."
"Good," Aunt Kate's voice was accompanied by the shuffling of chairs. "Y'all go wash up now. Lucy, finish setting the table. We'll have breakfast as soon as he joins us."
Mike moved through the kitchen and straight out to wash up at the pump alongside the others, smirking as the others protested the icy water, having already steeled himself for it. "Come on, now. It ain't that bad." He said, rolling his eyes as the others carried on.
"You must be joking! That's bloody cold!" Davy protested.
Before Mike could discover that for himself, Aunt Kate had a hand on his shoulder. "You'll wash up inside young man. I heated some water up a bit for you. It won't do any good you catching your death after all you done been through." He glanced apologetically at his friends, only to find them waving him off.
"Go on. You heard her." Peter pressed gently as Davy nodded encouragingly.
Micky grinned and pushed, "We can't eat until you're washed up so get to it. I'm starved!"
Mike rolled his eyes, smirking as he sighed.
"Don't you stand there rolling your eyes, young man. Go on. You heard'em." Aunt Kate insisted as she steered him bodily toward the house. "You boys hurry up. Food'll be gettin' cold at this rate."
By the time the other three had rejoined them at the table, Lucy and Clara had set out the full spread. Platters of bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, biscuits and country gravy, all in ample amounts, were set out for them to enjoy. Kate led everyone to join hands and said a blessing over the food before moving to get the orange juice while everyone dug in.
"What's wrong, Mike, don't you like my cookin' no more?" Lucy asked, pouting petulantly as the lanky young man took a small helping of eggs and a biscuit.
"His stomach's still a mite testy," Clara pointed out. "He'll try a bit more, just let him get that down first without it unsettling too much." She smiled at Mike, acknowledging his grateful expression. "Mama said he'd be spending a few days here to rest and recuperate among his own for moving on up to the city."
"Why can't we go to the city with him?" Lucy asked her mother as she rejoined them at the table.
Kate considered that carefully, then nodded. "Mayhap we should. Someone's gonna need to keep the spinsters in line and I'm not sure you're up for it, boy." She told Mike, her tone surprisingly gentle. At his look of surprise, she took his hand and explained. "Your friends and I had us a nice long talk while you was restin', Mike. Somethin' I hear tell you'll still need plenty of, thanks to what Bobby and Ren and their friends done to you. Sounds like just the tip o' the iceburg on that one and we're still gonna have to talk it out, you and me, but you need to know that whether you decide you're ready to do it now or you still need time, I am so sorry, and I am on your side. I didn't always show you that clear enough and I reckon I owe you for that. I really do. They say you're up here to finally lay some o'them demons to rest, though, and that's a good thing. So, I aim to make sure don't none of them three decide to help out the side of the demons." She patted his hand again, then piled more food on his plate. "Try to get that down, boy. You're too dang skinny. All of you," she said, as much to give Mike a moment out of the hotseat as to admonish her guests, "Take more. You are all too thin. I expect to see it all put away, now. Go on. Eat up. Maybe once you're done Mike and Clara can show you three boys down to Melody Pond . It's right peaceful this time o' the morning. Maybe not as good as the ocean, but I think it'll suit you well enough for now. Lucy and I can handle clean up. " Blonde haired Lucy opened her mouth to argue, but snapped it shut without uttering a sound when her mother turned that stern gaze in her direction.
Micky, Davy and Peter exchanged a look and grinned. Nobody needed to tell them twice. They all piled more food onto their plates, offering wholehearted thanks at the thought of full stomachs and restful surroundings, if only for awhile.
"We can all help with clean-up first," Mike offered, feeling as if someone should for Lucy's sake.
"You'll do no such thing, young man," Aunt Kate scolded. "You and I both know how ugly the visit with the spinsters is gonna be. So you're gonna relax and enjoy it here a few days before headin' up to see, and you're gonna let us see to you and your friends like we're supposed to, and you're gonna leave off the arguin'. You're gonna just do as I say. Is that clear? "
Mike looked down as his friends snickered, waiting for it to die down before finally offering a quiet, "yes, ma'am," at last.
