The Christmas Portrait (14 page)

“I'm sorry about your mama and your friend and your questions, but everything will be just fine, you'll see. Yes, little one, I think this story will have a happy ending.”

Why would that old man say that about a story? That's what Pastor Simmons said. But how could this old man know the ending?

He was quiet for a few minutes, and I didn't make a sound. I just said, “Mm-hmm.”

“Tell me about your mama. I just imagine she loved you a lot.”

“Yes, sir. Mama made everything fun and special.”

“She did, did she?”

“Yes, sir. Mama knew how to do everything, and she made even simple things special. She taught me a lot of things, mostly about making people happy. But then one day Mama got cancer. Daddy tried to make her better because taking care of folks is his job, and he wanted Mama to get well. And the doctors tried too, but they couldn't make her better, she was just too sick.” I couldn't help it. The tears started coming. “We prayed God would heal her, and Granny Grace said He did because on September 28, Mama just quit holding my hand one night, and God came and got her and took her to heaven.”

“He did, did He?”

“Yes, sir. He did.” I didn't mean to and I didn't want to, but I just folded my arms over my face and leaned on my knees and cried. I cried hard like I hadn't cried in a long time. “I miss Mama. It's Christmas, and I miss my mama so much.”

I felt his hand on my shoulder. “I know you miss your mama.”

“It seems like forever she's been gone, and I don't want her to forget about me because she's so happy up in heaven.”

“Oh, Kate. Your mama won't be forgetting one thing about you. Maybe she's happy in heaven because time is different there. Maybe to her, the time away from you doesn't seem so long.”

He called me Kate. “But it seems pretty long to me.” I wiped my eyes with my scarf.

“It hurts real bad sometimes to be separated from someone you love.” He patted me on the back. “I want to tell you something, Kate. As you grow up, you'll be hearing your mama's voice in the things you say and in the things you teach your own children. And you'll see a little bit of her when you look into the mirror. Little one, your heart will always remember your mama.”

We sat for a little while and didn't say anything. The sunlight coming through the window made his hair look like silver. Then he stood up, put the matchbook back in his pocket, and said out of the clear blue like he could read my mind, “Like I said, Kate, everything will be all right. You just remember to keep your faith. I can tell you have a real fine family, and your mama will love you forever.”

Faith. Family. Forever. Now he sounded like Mama.

Then he reached underneath his coat and pulled out a magazine like he was going to read it, but he just laid it down on the table beside me. Right there on the front cover of the magazine was a picture. It was the prettiest redbird I ever saw, perched in a pine tree covered in snow.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN

I
DON
'
T KNOW HOW
long I stared at the picture on the magazine, but when I looked up, Mr. Josh was gone. I wiped my eyes with my scarf and looked around the room. I was alone. Where did he go?

I walked over to the door and nearly ran into Daddy coming in to get me. “Where'd he go?” I walked out into the hall and looked both ways. Mr. Josh wasn't there.

“Who are you talking about?” Daddy looked at me hard. “What's wrong, Kate?”

“Nothing. I was just talking to Mr. Josh about Mama and Laramie.”

Daddy took me by the shoulders. “Who is Mr. Josh?” “You didn't see him coming down the hall? He's an old man in a long overcoat.”

“No, I didn't see anybody fitting that description.” Daddy had that look on his face like the time he thought I had a fever. “Are you sure you're okay? You ready to go see Laramie?” Daddy took me by the hand and led me through the door.

I looked for Mr. Josh through every door we passed down the hall. He was just plain gone. Every room had people in it and flowers or balloons, but probably Laramie's wouldn't. “We shoulda brought some flowers or a teddy bear or something.”

“You have a card. It'll be just fine.” Daddy knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open.

Laramie was lying there with her head all bandaged up watching TV. I had my card in my coat pocket.

“Well, hello again, Laramie. Look who I brought to see you this afternoon?”

“Hi, Laramie. You sure do look a lot better than you did last night.” Why did I have to say that? I'm sure that's just what she wanted to hear. “How are you today?”

“You girls visit a little bit. I need to make a call.” Then Daddy stepped out.

I pulled the card out of my pocket and walked over to the edge of the bed. “I made you something, Laramie. I'm sorry I didn't have an envelope big enough.”

Her eyes got big when she saw the two cardinals on a limb. She reached for the card. “Did you draw these?”

“Yep.”

“You can really draw good, Kate. And you drew the birds, the kind like your mama told you to remember.”

“Yep. I know how you like to feed the birds and all, and you're the only one in the class who lets me know when the redbird shows up at the bird feeder. So now you have some birds to remind you you're not alone. Maybe one of them can remind you of your mama.”

“Thanks.” She looked like she was going to cry and she didn't know what to say.

“Is it okay if I sit on your bed?”

“Sure.” Laramie smoothed out the sheet, and I sat down.

“Everybody's been real worried about you.”

She just shrugged, so I went on. “I'm glad you're okay and that you threw the rocks at my window, but I was wondering why you came to our house.”

“I don't know. I guess I was scared, and I remembered what you said in class one day when you gave your report about what your daddy does. You said his job was to help people. So I just came to your house. I knew where you lived, just down the street from Emily and not far from the school.”

“Yeah, Emily lives up the hill. But how did you know which room is mine?”

“That was the only light on upstairs, and I could see you sitting at your desk. And I wasn't throwing rocks; I found some acorns underneath the snow. I didn't want to break a window and be in more trouble than I was already in.”

“Everybody's glad you came to our house. My daddy and my uncle Luke went out looking for you.”

Laramie didn't say anything for a long time, and I just sat there on her bed. She was looking at the redbirds on the card. “Kate?”

“Uh huh.”

“Last night when I came to your house, I sat under the tree a long time until all the lights went out, and there was a redbird.”

“I think they roost in that tree in the nighttime because it's safe in the weather and it's close to where they feed.”

“I was throwing acorns at your window. After that I don't remember very much.”

I was glad the redbird made Laramie feel better.

“Kate, you think I'm in real big trouble?”

“I don't think so. I haven't heard my daddy say anything like that.”

That's when Daddy walked in, and I was glad. I didn't want to talk about what Daddy said about Mr. Fields having a bad temper. Even if he wasn't the best father, he was still Laramie's daddy.

“Well, girls, you having fun?”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“Well good, because you're just getting started. Laramie, how would you like to come to our house for a few days? They're letting you out of here tomorrow morning.”

“You mean to stay at your house? What about going home? Am I ever going home?” Laramie was holding that card I made her real tight.

“It's not a good idea for you to go home just yet. Your dad should be home in just a few days, and he thinks it's a good idea for you to stay with us. We have a doctor in the house, and you'll have Kate here to buddy around with. Doesn't that sound like a good idea?”

“I guess. I mean, yes, it does, sir. Thank you very much.”

Laramie was using her good manners. Sometimes she does, and sometimes she doesn't.

“Then it's a deal.” That was when Daddy handed me his notepad and pencil. “Now, I need to talk to someone, and while I'm gone, Kate, make a list of all of Laramie's favorite foods.”

After Daddy left, Laramie asked me, “What's your favorite food, and your daddy's?”

I told her. She said those were her favorites too. I was glad because I didn't know who in the world would make it if she liked something weird. Daddy wasn't that great at cooking, and Aunt Susannah Hope wasn't up to it. Maybe Granny Grace would. But anyway we wouldn't have to worry about it now.

Daddy came back in to get me. “Laramie, you watch TV and rest this evening, and we'll be by to pick you up in the morning.”

She was holding on to the card when Daddy and I walked out the door.

I went right upstairs when we got home. I didn't even say good-bye to Uncle Luke when he left to go shopping. I wasn't supposed to know about it so I couldn't tell him to buy the bloomin' ring anyway, like Daddy said. I cleaned up my room and put away some things I didn't want Laramie to see. I knew she was going to be my friend and all, but there were some things Mama gave me I wasn't ready to show her.

I cleaned out some drawers for her and boxed up my stuff and put it in the closet. I would ask Daddy to stop by the flower shop and get flowers for Laramie in the morning. He always did that for Mama. I'd make sure they were yellow, the happy color.

“Supper!” This time it was Daddy's voice, not Chesler's.

He was putting leftover chili in the bowls when I got downstairs, and the hot corn bread was on the table. “Pour the milk, will you, Kate?”

“Sure, Daddy. Don't you think we should have something green?”

“Green, you mean like grass?” Chesler was running around in circles in his sock feet like Grady chasing his tail.

“No, not like grass. I mean like green beans or a salad or some broccoli.”

“We had yellow eggs this morning.” Chesler was just trying to be cute. I ignored him.

“Mama's list on the bulletin board says we're supposed to eat something green every day.”

“Okay, Kate, you can take your hands off your hips. You're right. I just wasn't thinking. Would a tossed salad do?”

“Yes, sir. I'll help you make it.” Tossed salad to Daddy means only lettuce cut up in little pieces, so I got out the tomatoes and celery and cucumbers.

Last spoonful of chili, and I was at the sink washing dishes again. Daddy went to his office to pay bills, and Chesler went up to his room to play. I was thinking about Uncle Luke buying a diamond ring when the redbird showed up again in the cedar tree. The moon was reflecting so bright on the snow, it looked like a spotlight on that redbird. I couldn't help but think about the picture of the redbird on the magazine Mr. Josh had.

“You know, little redbird, maybe I'll just talk to you about what I know. Uncle Luke's thinking about getting married to Miss Applegate, and he might be buying her a ring right this very minute. Daddy wants him to, and I know I want him to. If my mama was here, she woulda just marched down to the jewelry store with Uncle Luke and picked one out. That's the good news, but I know some bad news too.”

That redbird just fluttered her wings like she knew what was coming.

“My Aunt Susannah's sick. Daddy's afraid she's got what was wrong with Mama. When Mama got sick and told me she was going to heaven, I used to wish it was Aunt Susannah Hope. She didn't have any children to take care of, and I loved Mama so much. It just seemed better to me if my aunt had gone to heaven instead of Mama. Now I'm sorry I was thinking those things because I don't really want her to be sick. Uncle Don would be so sad, and poor Granny. One of her little girls has already left this earth without her, and Grandpa too. I hope I didn't make Aunt Susannah Hope be sick because I was thinking those things. I know I can tell you what I know, little bird, because you won't tell a soul. Oh, and I met Mr. Josh today.”

I didn't hear Daddy come into the kitchen. “Who you talking to, Kate?”

“Just to myself. Daddy, I was just thinking I could put two smiley faces on my calendar tonight because we made Laramie happy two times. One for the card I made her and another for inviting her to come home with us.”

“I think you're right, Kate. And if there's room, you can add a smiley face for me, because it made me so happy to see you welcome Laramie into our home.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” I liked that I made Daddy smile. “Guess tomorrow's the big day, so I'm going to my room to make sure everything's ready.”

“Sure. Need any help?” Daddy put his arm around me and squeezed.

“No, sir, I think I can handle it.”

“I'm sure you can. Turning in a bit early sounds good to me too. Now, how do we get Chesler to do the same?”

“That's not on my list. Besides you're the daddy, and that's your problem. My door's gonna be closed. So tell him that.” I grinned at Daddy and walked out of the kitchen. I put one foot on the bottom stair and turned around. “And make sure Chesler brushes his teeth.”

By the time I finished tidying up my room and putting everything away, it was late. Chesler's room was dark and quiet when I went down the hall to ask Daddy something. I headed back to my room when I saw there was no light coming from under Daddy's door. My question would have to wait till morning. Uncle Luke wasn't home, and I was the only one awake in the Harding house.

I put three smiley faces on my calendar, crawled into bed, and pulled the blanket up tight around my neck.

All was quiet inside the house, but outside the wind was howling, and the naked branches of the elm tree rattled against the house. Now I might have been in bed and not making a sound, but I wasn't quiet on the inside. My brain was rattling like those tree limbs. I was really worried. Only a few more days until Christmas, and nobody had been able to answer my question about getting Mama's present to heaven. I wasn't sure if I'd ever figure it out, but I kept thinking.