Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton Read Free Book Online

reality of my life screeches back in and swaps places with the denial that has been taking up residence for years. “Details, details,” I say with truthful resignation.
    “Details, details,” Virgy’s voice mocks back at me.
    I lean back against the headrest and sigh. “I’m getting mad at Baker again.”
    “See, I told you that you had plenty to be mad about.”
    The idea of living with Kissie seems to be fading fast. I would have lived with her, though, despite what anyone else says or thinks. “Why don’t you go with me today to look for a rental house?”
    “I wish I could but I don’t have a sitter. I doubt you’ll want three extra little children tagging along with us.”
    “Probably not.”
    “Just call me when you get back. Will Kissie keep Sarah and Issie or do you need to bring them over?”
    “They can stay here.”
    “Okay, get going and call me later. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
    I hang up with Virginia and sit in the car a moment longer. The more I think about it, she’s right. Considering the small amount of money Baker sends every month, I do have to go back to work. And heaven knows I’d never want to be the cause of Sarah being unprepared for first grade at Jameson. Homeschooling probably is not the most realistic option. Okay. Decision made. I will rent a house in Germantown and put Sarah in school. She started kindergarten at a public school in Vermont; I suppose she might as well finish the year at one.
    When I get back inside, Kissie’s left arm is wrapped around Issie who is hanging on her hip. She’s holding a fork in her right hand, scrambling eggs.
    “How is Kissie suppose to cook, baby girl?” I say, reaching out for her.
    Issie moves over into my arms while Kissie finishes. By the looks of the food she’s preparing, you’d think she’s feeding the whole neighborhood. Besides the eggs, pancakes, sausage, and grits, there’s a big bowl of fruit on the counter.
    “Will you please put cheese in my eggs?” Issie says.
    “Of course I will, baby.” Kissie has to turn sideways to get past us on her way to the fridge. “Y’all sit down. The table’s already set.”
    I put Issie at one of Kissie’s dining room chairs but not before covering the seat with a kitchen towel and a couple of the old phone books she never throws away. “Breakfast is ready, Sarah,” I call, as I’m getting Issie settled. She runs in and finds her own spot at the table.
    Once all the food is ready, Kissie places the feast, which is on big platters, in the middle of the table. After she’s finally seated at the head of her table, she asks Sarah to say grace and we bow our heads.
    “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. And for Kissie,” Sarah says, in her cherubic prayer voice.
    I raise my head and notice Kissie’s head is still bowed. “And Lawd,” she says, “I thank you for bringin’ my babies home safe. Please help Leelee today. She has so much ahead of her and needs that peace that surpasses all understandin’. And please Lawd, bless my body so I can have the strength to always be a help to her. In Jesus’ name I pray. A-men.”
    “Amen. This looks delicious,” I say, spreading my paper napkin across my lap. “Thank you for making this beautiful meal. Isn’t Kissie the best cook in the world?” I look over at the girls just in time to grab the bottle of maple syrup out of Sarah’s hand. She has just poured half a cup onto her plate and her pancakes are now floating. As I’m dripping the syrup on top of Issie’s pancake she says, “I sure miss Gracie. When are we gonna get another puppy, Mommy?”
    “You said we could get one as soon as we move to Memphis,” Sarah adds. “And we’re in Memphis.”
    “I said we’d get one as soon as we’re settled. It wouldn’t be fair to Kissie to bring a dog into her house.”
    “Why? Don’t you like dogs?” Sarah asks Kissie, with a big bite of pancake in her mouth and syrup dripping off her