Hannah had barely made coffee when an old barge of a black caddy rolled into the barnyard. Its paint and chrome glistened in the sunshine. When the door opened, a mite of an old woman clambered out. She had to have a pillow on the seat because otherwise it didn’t look as though she could see out the windshield. She slammed the door and stood there for a few moments, looking around, her hands pressed to her lower back. Then, she walked to the trunk, opened it, reached in and raised up with what would be the first food delivery of the day.
“Luke, go out and help Miz. Lionel up
the stairs, would you please.” Hannanh asked without turning around. Miz.
Lionel had been her granny’s very best friend. In fact, the Lionels and her
grandparents had been friends since they’d all gone to school together. Now. Miz.
Lionel was the only one of the four left and even though she appeared to be
getting around just fine, she was verging on ancient.
Miz. Lionel allowed Luke to take the
dish from her and took his arm as they slowly and carefully came up the steps
to the house. The old woman stopped frequently maybe to catch her breath or to
just look around the place since she hadn’t been to visit much in the last
couple of years.
Hannah held the door open and waited
for Miz. Lionel to enter, but had to let go of the door and bend down as thin
arms encircled her waist in a fierce hug while the woman said, “Oh honey, I’m
so sorry about your gramps. I’ve knowed Thomas since we began school. You know
we were all best friends, and now, it’s just me. I’m so sorry dear, so sorry for
your loss.”
Miz. Lionel pulled away and looked up
into Hannah’s face. “I know you miss your granny something bad and I know
having your gramps go now too is going to be so hard for you. You just tell me
if there’s anything I can do. That dish has some of my hearty venison stew in
it. One of my grandboys got him a deer last fall and this is the end of it.”
“Now Miz. Lionel, you come sit down,
please.” Hannah asked, taking the woman by the arm and directing her toward a
chair at the table. “I so appreciate you driving all the way out here and bringing
me something to eat. I remember your venison stew from all the potlucks we used
to have and know I’ll enjoy every single bite.”
“Well, I may be the first, but I won’t
be the last coming by with food, funeral meats we used ta call ‘em. I’m just
the first because I can’t seem to sleep more’n a few hours at night. If’n I was
a rooster, I’d be gettin' everbody up way before the sun.” She laughed and
smoothed her apron over her knees.
“How about some coffee Miz. Lionel? We
haven’t had breakfast yet either, so I’d love for you to join us.”
The old lady was happy to have some
coffee and join them for breakfast. “I don’t eat much but find I’m eatin’
often. Beats me why I’m still so skinny. And, unless’n you’ve moved everything
around from the way Gracie had it, I can give you a hand.”
“No mam, you just sit there and drink
your coffee. It will help me if I keep busy. When I think of eating breakfast
without gramps for the first time since I was 11, my tummy hurts and I just
want to fling myself down and cry and cry.” Hannah responded, pulling eggs and
bacon out of the fridge.
By the time Luke had finished taking
care of the livestock that was close by and giving instructions to the few hands
about the work that needed doing on the ranch, Hannah had breakfast ready. As
they all sat down to breakfast, Miz. Lionel took their hands in hers, lowered
her head and said a solemn but heartfelt prayer. Hannah felt a little guilty because
once granny had passed, she and her gramps had given up giving thanks.
Over breakfast and second cups of
coffee, Miz. Lionel steered the conversation around to the funeral and what
Hannah wanted to do. Since she was their best and last friend, she planned to
help Hannah every step of the way.
While Luke took care of cleaning up
the kitchen, Miz. Lionel and Hannah went to Thomas’ bedroom and opened his
closet. The familiar smell and the sight of his clothing had Hannah’s eyes
leaking, but she persevered and pulled out his Sunday go to meeting suit. It
was the only one he had. To that she and the old lady added his favorite boots
and hat, underwear and a tie.
Hannah sat on the edge of the bed and
said between taking deep breaths, “Seems so silly to get all his fancy stuff
out just to have it put under the dirt up on the hill. He hated getting all
fancied up as he called it.”
“Yes, honey, but that’s what people’ll
be expectin’ at the funeral. You are planning on an open coffin and a
visitation the night before I expect. Your granny looked beautiful at her
visitation and I know she’d want Thomas to look his best too.
“Now, not to change the subject, but
have you talked to the funeral parlor about what it is you want?”
Hannah responded saying, “Gramps made his own arrangements when he
did Granny’s. He wants just what she had and then to be buried up on the hill
with her and my parents. At least I can climb up there and visit them as often
as I want.”
By the time Hannah finished talking, she was sobbing so hard Miz.
Lionel sat down beside her and pulled her into her arms. “There, there now
sweetie-pie. It’s always hard at the beginnin’ of somethin’ like this, but you’ll
get through it just like you got through it with your folks and your Granny. Your
grandparents were loved and an important part of this community. Thomas will
leave us in the same style my Bennie and Gracie left. Yes, it will hurt, but
your memories and the love and care from everbody will help. Yes, it will help.”
After being held and patted for a bit, Hannah raised up and wiped
her eyes and face with her hands. Miz. Lionel stood up and said, “Now let’s get
Thomas’ stuff packed up. When I go back into town in a bit, I can deliver it
for ya. That way you can stay here and be here for everbody that’s gonna be
comin’ and goin’ today. But, how about you? You got decent clothes for the
funeral. You can’t go looking like you do now. For that matter, you should put
on something a little bit more dressy since you’ll be hostessin’ all day.”
“I have the clothes you helped me buy when Granny passed. They
should still fit. I can wear those for the funeral. I also have a decent dress
that doesn’t show too much skin and isn’t too short. I can change into that for
today.”
Back in the kitchen, Hannah asked Luke to put her gramps’ things
in Miz. Lionel’s trunk and explained why. The old lady followed that with, “Now,
you’re gonna be here aren’t ya young man. I never met ya before, but everbody
in the valley is gonna be droppin’ by here all day today and maybe even
tomorrow. Hannah’s gonna need a steady hand to keep it all together, and since
you were eaten breakfast in the house, I’m guessin’ you were more than just a
hired hand to Thomas, and maybe to Hannah here too.”
Both Hannah and Luke tried hard not to become embarrassed, but
there was a twinkle in the old lady’s eye as she hugged Hannah again and said, “Now,
go on and make yourself look nice. You want your gramps to look down and be
proud of how you’re handlin’ this.”
Luke walked Miz. Lionel out to her car while Hannah took a quick
shower and put on lady underthings and the dress she’d mentioned. She took her
long braid and wound it around it head like a crown. A little lip gloss and she
was as ready as she was every going to be. I’m so thankful Luke will be here
with me she thought and ran her hand over the base of her tummy. Once everyone
had left the gathering after the interment, she’d tell him about their baby.
The church women’s group arrived about 30 minutes after Miz.
Lionel left. They brought ice tea, iced coffee, soda, water and all kinds of
breads and meats and cheeses and a platter of fruit. Their contribution also
included paper plates, napkins and cups. Not only that, these women would spend
the day at Hannah’s house, making sure the guests were provided with food and
drink and the kitchen kept spotless. All Hannah had to do was greet, receive
condolences and hugs, and listen to stories about her beloved gramps. She
remembered how it had been when Granny passed. It was amazing what these women
could put together in a matter of hours.
It wasn’t long before a parade of cars began to drive down the
road from the highway. Every single one brought some kind of dish, usually the
special dish for which they were known. The church ladies took control of those
and carefully put them away so they’d be available for the gathering after the
funeral. And there again, the church ladies would bring additional supplies and
take care of everything so Hannah didn’t even have to think about it.
Luke felt a bit superflulous, especially since he didn’t know
hardly anyone who came to call. Hannah always tried to remember to include him,
introducing him as Thomas’ right-hand man and saying how grateful she was to
him for easing all the hard ranch work off gramps shoulders. There were a good
many older folks and Luke made sure he was able to assist them, without being
too obvious, when it came to climbing up and down the steps.
The day passed much more quickly than Hannah had initially
expected. So many people in and out, so many stories, so little time for
actually grieving, but eventually, the sun began its descent and after half an
hour with no new visitors, the church ladies cleaned and packed up and left
Hannah and Luke alone in the house.
“Hannah, I don’t think I told you that you look absolutely
beautiful in that dress with your hair up like that. Once we get you through
this funeral, we’re going to have to talk about us and the future, but just let
me say this one thing, I do love you so very much.”
She went to Luke and let him enfold her into his arms. She leaned
against his body and took strength from the words he’d just said and knew that
once gramps joined granny, she could look forward to being so very happy…just
her and Luke and their baby. With her lips against Luke’s neck, Hannah
murmured, “I love you too. I think I’ve loved you since the moment you walked
out of the barn last January.”
Hannah pulled away and looked up at Luke, “And I meant everything
I said today when I was introducing you as gramps’ right-hand. I know my time
with him would have been even shorter if your truck hadn’t broken down and you
agreed to stay and work for him. I love you even more for those extra months
gramps lived. Thank you.”
Luke’s guilt almost made him blurt out his secret about Jamison,
but he loved Hannah too much to add to her distress. It would have to wait
until after the funeral, but the fact she loved him reassured him. Surely, she
wouldn’t hold his actions against him, especially since he hadn’t been able to
give Jamison any information anyway.
“Well, the church ladies left everything in great shape.” Luke
said. “Are you hungry? Can I make you something to eat? I don’t think I saw you
take a bit the entire day.”
“If you can find Miz. Lionel’s venison stew, I’d have a bowl of
that. I know she’ll be bringing something else for the table the day of the
funeral. The stew is just for me, for us.”
“Okay, you go sit down and I’ll wait on you for a change. Then,
once you’ve eaten, you can get yourself to bed. I can tell by the circles under
your eyes you are very tired.”
“I don’t want to go to bed without you.” Hannah responded,
reaching out for his hand.
“Once I clean up our dinner dishes, I’ll be right there and
snuggle you as tight as you’ll allow. I don’t want to ever again sleep without
you, Hannah.”
This night, they were both exhausted and slipped into sleep
without giving any thought to their secrets or the days ahead. Both were
content that even while so sorrowful at Thomas’ passing, their future would be
wonderful.