Dollbaby: A Novel by Laura L McNeal Read Free Book Online

insults like that, we’re leaving and Ibby is coming with me.”
    “I just thought you might like your freedom now that you’re a widow,” Fannie said. “I can take care of Ibby. You can visit whenever you like.”
    “Are you out of your mind? Look at you. What’s that bump on your head? You fall down drunk again? You been drinking this morning? Is that it? Is that where all this is coming from? You think that’s the sort of environment to raise a child?”
    “No, I haven’t been drinking. I’m perfectly sober.”
    “Then that just proves you’re even crazier than I thought,” Vidrine said. “Graham always said so, you know. He hated you from the time you sent him away to boarding school. Why do you think he moved so far away after we were married?”
    “That was your doing,” Fannie said. “Not Graham’s. He was perfectly happy to stay here in New Orleans.”
    “Then why did he never come back to visit?” Vidrine put her hand on her hip. “He hated you. You think he’d want his daughter to live with a mother he hated? I don’t think so.”
    “Why don’t we let Ibby decide?”
    Vidrine glared at her. “This was a mistake. I should never have brought Ibby here in the first place. Liberty Bell, come on down here! We’re leaving!” Vidrine screamed so loudly, the chandelier tinkled above her head.
    Ibby appeared at the top of the steps. “What is it, Mama?”
    “Oh, no. Miss Ibby’s coming down,” Doll said to her mother.
    “How long you think she been listening? Poor thing,” Queenie said. “We got to do something.”
    Doll shook her head. “Nothing we can do now but watch and see what happens.”
    “Come on. We’re leaving.” Vidrine picked up Ibby’s suitcase from the floor.
    “But I just got here,” Ibby protested.
    “I’m sorry, Vidrine,” Fannie pleaded. “We can talk about this later. Let Ibby stay.”
    “Did you hear me, Ibby? Get down here. Now!” Vidrine yanked at the doorknob and kicked the door open with her foot.
    Ibby came bounding down the steps.
    Fannie grabbed Ibby and pulled her toward her. “Let her stay.”
    Vidrine looked from Fannie to Ibby, then at her watch. She threw the suitcase at them. It landed just in front of Ibby’s feet. Then the front door slammed. Doll could see Vidrine rushing toward the car. She never looked back once.
    Queenie came away from the kitchen door. “I hope that’s the last time I ever see that woman.”
    “I wouldn’t bet on it,” Doll said.
    After Vidrine left, Fannie grabbed Ibby’s arm. “Come on. We’re going for a ride.”

Chapter Seven

    D oll and Queenie stood by the back window and watched Fannie back the car out of the driveway.
    “Now where in the heck you think they going? Miss Fannie ain’t driven that car in years. Think they gone be okay?” Queenie fretted.
    Doll put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “How I know? Besides, it wouldn’t do no good to try and stop her on account she never listens to what two wily niggers have to say.”
    Queenie swatted Doll’s arm. “I ain’t laughing. Had enough of that joke for one day.”
    Queenie went over to the counter and turned the radio to the gospel station. She swung her head from side to side as she washed some dishes. After a while, Doll reached over and turned the dial to a different station.
    Queenie looked at her. “Now why you go and do that? You know I like to listen to my gospel music while I do the dishes.”
    A deep voice resonated from the radio. “This is WBOK, the one and only rhythm and blues station in New Orleans, and I’m Chubby Buddy, bringing you the sound of our very own queen of soul, Irma Thomas. Her new song, ‘Wish Someone Would Care,’ is making it up the charts. And the rest, they say, is history. Come on down to La Ray’s Village Room on Dryades Street to hear Miss Irma tonight.”
    Doll turned up the volume just as Irma Thomas let out a soulful cry.
    Queenie reached over and turned the volume back down. “Don’t