FIVE

Nancy drives me home and I get out of her car, makin' sure to say 'goodbye' and 'thank you' properly. She didn't drive all the way up to the house, and when we get here she says that she is willin' to. Somethin' feels off to her.

The sun is almost completely down now and all the lights on the property seem to be off. Everything and everywhere except for the outdoor lights over the animals and outside the barn.

Even though I tell her I'm fine and start to walk to the house on my own, I almost wish I let her walk me to the door at least.

I know she's still there though. She is sittin', waitin' for me to go in the house before she drives off.

When I open the front door to the house, I notice that it's almost pitch black in here.

"Lee?" I whisper. He should be home by now, but if I wasn't home he wouldn't've gone to sleep yet. "Marshall...?"

Somebody grabs my hand and squeezes me tight. "Where've you been?" Lee drags me to stand in front of him. I almost fall tryin' to keep up. "You were s'posed to go to that clinic and walk ya *** right back here."

I start to stutter. "I.. I.. found..." I take a breath and look at his nose and not his eyes, it appeases him sometimes. Like a dog assertin' it's dominance. "I fell in the road on my way home. Nancy Draper brought me back."

"Old fellas down on French say they saw you with some native boys." he grips my face. "Now, Gracie Belle, I dare you to lie to me again."

I shake my head. "But, I ain't lyin' to you," I tell him. "I can tell you who I was with, and that all they were doin' was takin' me to see Nancy." I reach in my dress pocket and pull out the canvas pouch. "See, she gave me herbs to mix with my water if I get sick again."

"So you are pregnant?" he let's go of my face and I feel relief wash over me like rain.

I nod. "Yes, I am."

A hand comes across my face faster than my eye could catch it and I stumble to the side. Still dizzy from earlier and tired from the emotional hills I been goin' through.

"You be home before sundown, Gracie." he points a hard finger at me. "And if you go anywhere else with anybody you let me know immediately." he sniffs and rolls his shoulders like he's relievin' tension. "Had me worryin' and 'bout to search the town just cause you're irresponsible."

I rub my cheek to get rid of the sting. "I'm sorry, Lee."

He walks off and to the kitchen. "Come in here and make me some dinner."

Half trippin', I put the little basket in my hands down and take off my shawl. When I go in the kitchen, I don't make eye contact with my husband sittin' at the table. I put Junior in his high chair and I go to put on my apron and start cookin'. I do need to speak with him though.

"Lee." I get his attention without turnin' away from my pot.

"What?" he grunts.

I shiver, but I gotta ask. "Now that we know I'm pregnant, can I go to tell my mama tomorrow." I ask in a different way than I did this mornin'. "She would wanna know about her first grandbaby, right?"

"You gotta lot of nerve askin' me for favours when you pulled that kinda stunt just now." he scolds.

I turn around and pass him a fresh, opened beer. "Please, Lee, I don't ever ask you for nothin'." he ignores me and sips his drink. I get on my knees in front of him and take his hand. "Lee, she's my mama. I wanna see her more than anything. If you forbid me from ever goin' anywhere else, ever, I would be okay with that."

He raises both eyebrows at me and brushes back my bangs. "Gracie, you are real good girl, did you know that?"

I hesitate, his tone strange to me. "My mama told me that, daddy too."

"Don't go anywhere without my permission, again." he grips my hair tight. "Do you hear me?"

I wince. "Yes, yes, I hear you."

"Tell your mama I said 'hi' tomorrow." he replies, lettin' go of me and turnin' away to finish his beer. "And get on back to dinner, somethin' is finna burn."

Gettin' to my feet, I rush to the pot and get to finish dinner. Mashed potatoes and roast. The meats already been slow cookin' all day so I just gotta get the biscuits out the stove. Lee told me he needs to eat a bit less these days since he is lookin' for a promotion.

My heart sings because tomorrow I finally get to see my mama and my sisters and Nana. I can't wait for it.

When I get done cookin', I eat with Lee and listen to him talk about how uneventful work was and complain again about not knowin' where I was all day. I clean up and give him a shoulder massage before we go to bed, takin' care to make sure he finished his beer and I got all three bottles in the bin.

Marshall kisses me and lays with me again, whisperin' about my body eventually not bein' the same after the baby. S'pose he wants to get his fill of me until I get too big.

When it's over, Marshall almost always goes straight to sleep. The man sleeps like a log on some nights, but on others he is easily woken up by just a little squeak in the bed. On those nights, if I wake him up and he's mad, he'll yell and holler at me 'til he gets tired again.

Tonight, he drank, got his fill of dinner and me, and I gave him a massage, so he is knocked out.

A part of me wants to go outside and look at the stars. The sky is extra pretty tonight, but I'm exhausted. I feel like a zombie. Besides, tomorrow I get to see my family again for the first time since I got married. I'm so happy and so excited, I go straight to sleep ready.

So, when the mornin' hits, the sun shinin' through my window is what wakes me. I get up, go downstairs and make breakfast. Gettin' Marshall's clothes ready for work and preparin' everything for dinner later in case I get home a little late.

"Smells good in here." Marshall walks in the kitchen, fresh out the shower and puttin' on his underclothes.

I grin and rush to get him a plate. "Yep." I cain't control how happy I am. "I made you some biscuits and gravy and sausage. Just how you like it." I put it down in front of him and kiss his cheek.

"What're you so happy for?" he seems confused.

Brief hesitation comes over me and I pick my words. "I love my husband and how nice he is." I tell him goin' to the fridge. "I made you coffee, but do you want beer too?"

"Bring me a cup a Joe and come 'ere." he waves.

I snatch up a mug and make my way to him. "Yes?" he pats his leg and I sit down on it. "Honey?"

"Do you love me, Gracie Belle?" he puts the coffee on the table and nuzzles my side.

Puttin' my arm around his shoulder, I adjust myself on his lap cause I started to feel like I was heavy. Then I think about his question.

I don't hate him... "I do." ...and I appreciate everything that he's done for me and my kin. "You're good to me, Lee. I couldn't beg for better."

"That's what I like to hear." he gets up and takes my hands. He starts dancin' around the kitchen with me, spinnin' me like a princess. "But," he dips me and brings me back with our faces an inch apart. "Remember what I said. Don't go anywhere else without my permission. And be home before sun down."

I nod in agreement. "Alright."

And with that, I'm set free for the day. Well, I had to watch him leave first and then I had to clean up after breakfast. Then I had to put Norean in charge of Junior for the day. But, then I get on my way.

I get to my mama's house twenty minutes after I set out because I had a pep in my step.

"Gracie?!" she sees me comin' from aways away and shields her eyes from the sun.

She's with Nana and my sisters in the pecan trees.

My sisters see me and come runnin'. They crash into me and give me hugs and kisses all over my face.

"My precious baby." mama comes and engulfs me in a hug. "I missed you."

Nana takes my hand and kisses it. "Bein' in the same town and not seein' you made us uneasy." she tells me with her brows furrowed. "Everytime Leo Marshall came by to drop off money or whatnot, we would ask 'im bout you and he'd give such a roundabout answer."

Charlie pouts. "Sometimes he don't answer at all."

Carlie nods at her side.

"I'm sorry." I kneel to give them pecks on the nose. "He let me come today. Where's Earle?" I ask despite the fact that I don't really care all that much about his whereabouts.

All I know is that his pride took a little hit from havin' to get support from havin' to receive from his stepdaughter's husband. However, he was more than happy to have gotten rid of said stepdaughter. One less woman in his household to look down on 'im I suppose.

"Earle got a job at the junkyard." mama tells me. "Said he's gonna keep it until harvestin' season comes around again in a few months."

Makes sense. Marshall couldn't be the one bringin' in all the income for this household. Especially when a man already lives here.

"That's good." I sift through my basket. "I brought presents for y'all." I let them know as I pull them out. "For you girls, I got loads of peaches. Mama and Nana, I got y'all some preserves and olive oil. Marshall's cousins make the best products outta what's on that farm."

Mama smiles and gazes at the bottle of oil. "Come on inside, Gracie." she puts a hand to my back and then picks up Carlie. "I'll make some banana pancakes with this oil you brought me."

I had almost forgotten why I came here. "Mama, I'm pregnant."

She stops walkin' and drops the bottle. Luckily, Charlie catches it right on time and hands it to Nana.

"How far along are you, Gracie?" Nana takes my hand.

"I think the doctor said three weeks." I answer her. "At first I wasn't gonna tell anybody, but..." if Marshall didn't know that would be takin' a chance. Plus, I wanted to see my kin. "I just couldn't keep it to myself."

Mama puts down Carlie and rushes to take my hand. "Well, it's bad salt to tell people about a baby before the first trimester is over. Bad luck for the baby." she tugs me toward the house. "When we get inside, we'll throw some salt over your shoulder. Then I'm gonna make you pancakes."

I get close to mama and rest my head on her shoulder. This feels so good, I don't want the day to end.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***