Anothertwo sets of eyeballs bulge out from the sockets.
“Thanks, asshole.” I sneer at my baby brother. “Remind me toput arsenic in the ice cream next time.”
DespiteGunner’s broken arm, mama cuffs him upside the head. “Get in thathouse, boy! You’re dang lucky your arm’s broken! But, marks mywords, when it’s healed, you’ll be mucking stalls until Lollipopgrows a fifth leg!”
“Yes, mama.” Gunner says, following Blake into thehouse.
Thankfully, Austin and Zack have more tact than Gunner, andthey leave, without being asked, out of respect. Mama stands nextto me as my eyes stay on the ground. “Maverick?”
“Yes, mama.”
“You in love with her, darlin’?”
It takesme a moment to realize that, yes, I am in love with Ellie. I nod,still staring at the floor.
“She love you?”
I drawin a deep breath. “I’m not sure about that, mama. She just gotdivorced.”
“She keen on having the baby?”
“She is now, but it took some doing.”
“How far along is she, sugar?”
“Seven weeks.”
Shenods. “This the one you boys helped move? When Gunner busted hisarm?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And she brought him over them books?”
Inod.
“Maverick, darlin’, y’all don’t have to tell her that I know.Why, she’s probably scared stiff, being so early on and all,especially if she wasn’t keen at first. How is she doing, sweetpea?”
“She’s okay. I’m helping her as much as I can. I’m making surethat she eats.” I look at mama. “She’s a busy girl, mama. Careertype.”
“I always pictured you with a down-home kinda girl, Maverick.But I can see it in your eyes that you love her, darlin’.Just…stand by her, honey. It’s tough on some women who aren’tready, you know? Make sure you get her all that she needs, and tellher, not with words, but with actions, how much you care for her.It’s important, love.”
“I know that, mama. I’m doing all that I can.”
She rubsmy back. “I believe you, sweetie. And y’all need any help feedingher, well, you let me know. Me and Gladys’ll cook her up somethingnice.”
“Thanks, mama.”
Funnyhow that’s what it comes down to…food. In my mama’s mind, if twocountries are fighting with each other, they have a buffet and talkit over. Ain’t nothing that can’t be figured out over a potpie.
“Now, you don’t worry about your brothers. I’ll see to it thatthey keep their mouths shut about this. That’s all Ellie needs isfor it to be spread all over town.”
“Thanks, mama.”
“Come here, sugar.” She says, inviting me to bend down, so shecan kiss me on the cheek. “You go on back to work, darlin’. Don’tyou worry about a thing.”
***
Zack’slooking at me expectantly as we each take turns rubbing Chocolatedown. “Go ahead, say it, man.” I urge, unable to handle theexpression on his face any longer.
