His eyes widened. I thought I heard the cameraman snicker. Maybe I imagined it.
I pulled my phone from my pocket. Held it up. “I’ve already informed you that you’re trespassing. And I have the sheriff’s department on speed dial. Sheriff Owens is a quick responder. He’ll be out here in a flash.” The sun was in my eyes. I squinted at him, to make sure my words hit home. “Want to see me in court on Monday morning?”
He hesitated. I gave him a moment to think it over. I would prevail, no doubt about that. The only question was how far the battle would go.
He exchanged a glance with the cameraman. I saw the reporter curl his lip. But he’d backed down. I could sense it.
I followed them back to the van and watched them load their equipment. I waited until they started the van up and put it in reverse. As they departed down the gravel drive, I waved at the van and called out, “Y’all drive safe!”
When the news van disappeared, I started picking up emptyplates and cups. It was time to wrap up the breakfast. If folks started leaving soon, I might have everything cleaned up around two in the afternoon.
Not trying to blow my horn. That’s the way it’s always been on our farm. Just a typical Saturday.
CHAPTER
10
Nova Jones
UNION SPRINGS, ALABAMA
Nova Jones ran down the cracked concrete steps and headed across a weedy strip of green yard. She’d barely made it to the sidewalk when the door to their apartment building flew open.
“Nova! Get back here!”
She turned, squinted up at the figure of her mama. Mama was standing in the doorway, frowning down on her, like Nova done something wrong.
Nova said, “You told me to go to the dollar store, Mama!”
“You get back here and take your brother. I can’t have him underfoot.”
Nova walked back up the steps, moving slow and dragging her feet. “He won’t mind me, Mama.”
“You make him mind. Caden, get over here! You’re going with your sister!”
Mama opened the door, pulled Caden through the opening. Squatting on her haunches, she shook a finger in the toddler’s face. “When you go in the store, you don’t touch nothing. You hear me?”
Nova wanted to scream. She just couldn’t do it. No way she could carry Caden all that way. She’d been cramping again, pain coming and going, and spotting blood. Dr. Bria said it might happen. Told her to come back to see her if it did. But how was Nova supposed to do that? How would she explain it to her mama?
“Mama!” Nova’s voice rose to a whine. “I can’t carry him. It’s too far!”
“Take the wagon!”
Her mama pointed at an ancient toy wagon, its red body covered with a coat of rust. Nova sighed as she climbed back up the steps, picked up her brother, and carried him to the wagon.
“Don’t you fall out,” she said, giving him a glare.
Mama called from the door. “Don’t be lazy, pick up your feet! I don’t want to wait all day for you to get back here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“If they give you any trouble about using my EBT card, you ask for Sherree. She knows you’re just helping me out.”
Nova kept her mouth shut. It wasn’t that easy, using Mama’s card when she wasn’t there to approve it. More than once, the women working at the store had refused, saying Nova wasn’t authorized. And how could Nova argue with that? It was Mama’s card, not hers.
No point in fighting about it with Mama. Nova had a better chance winning an argument with the cashier at Dollar General. Mama didn’t put up with any back talk.
She picked up the handle, gave it a pull. Her baby brother had to grab both sides of the wagon to keep from spilling out. Hedidn’t cry, though, didn’t complain. He crowed with laughter, giggling like a crazy boy.
