An Elderberry Fall (23 page)

Nadine came over with a cake she had baked. She was no guest of mine. However, she'd managed to plead to Mrs. Hall's emotion and she invited her and the children.

Mrs. Hall replaced her Northern sophistication and appeared to have embraced the Southern hospitality. It was Christmas Day. From the moment she opened the door, I could smell the aroma from the cedar Christmas tree, and the apple cider steaming on the stove. She had a smile from ear to ear. A white woman in an apron was a first for me. Every white woman I knew strolled around the house behind the help making sure there was no missing fine china or silver, and occasionally sliding a finger across the furniture searching for dust. But, for some odd reason, the whites trusted coloreds with their food. To me, food would have been the only way to get back at some of them for the insensitive and nasty ways white folks delivered to coloreds every day of their life. I even knew a few colored people who had laughed about adding a little pee or spit spice to the food before serving dinner. Ginny had said, “They would eat like it was the best-tasting food, and all I could do was smile inside. Now, I's know it was wrong, but at the time, I didn't care. I changed when they started asking me to take the leftovers home for dinner. I couldn't throw away good food, so I stopped adding the spice.”

Little Robert's eyes danced at the sight of the people and food. Mrs. Hall had invited the entire community, it appeared: Nadine and her two children, the corner store merchant, Simon and me. I saw Nadine, and told myself to ignore her.

“Hey, Simon and Carrie!” Nadine shouted out.

“Merry Christmas!” Simon answered, and I waved.

“Have a seat,” Nadine coaxed as if she was the woman of the house. I scanned the room for Jessie, and he was not around.

Mr. Hall was sitting at a table in the corner stacking dominoes in zigzag lines. Mrs. Hall was in the kitchen. Although the aroma was enticing, I worried about Mrs. Hall's ability to cook food. This was my first holiday away from Jefferson County. The last Christmas home had been painful. Momma had delivered Robert. She was stunned.
How could I be with child and she not know?
It is what happens when you stop paying attention to your own business. It was the night she found out Herman Camm had stolen my youth and her life.

Nadine scooted over on the davenport, patting the seat so I could sit down. I sat down beside her, but Simon didn't sit. Instead, he pulled a chair up at the card table, where Mr. Hall was stacking dominoes.

“You want to play?” Mr. Hall asked him.

“Why not? I might as well whip you while the evening is young.”

“You sure talk a lot of shit for someone who is getting ready to get beat on Christmas Day.” They both chuckled.

Mrs. Hall called from the kitchen, “Nadine, why don't you come in the kitchen?”

“I was going to sit here with Carrie. She looks like she could use a little company.”

Her comment got underneath my skin. I was all of a sudden shaking my leg like I did when my nerves were about to be rattled. Instead, I got up and went into the kitchen. I pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and watched as Mrs. Hall reheated the soda biscuits she'd asked me to make for the day.

Nadine followed me like a puppy and sat at the table. “You and
Simon sort of look happy today,” she said, crossing her legs and smoothing down her hair.

“We are happy,” I replied. “This is our first holiday away from home.”

“I enjoyed myself when we went to Jefferson. I can't cook like Mrs. Mae Lou, but we are still going to have a good time.”

Nadine turned up her nose, and stared at the alabaster ceiling. “Y'all didn't ask me to go.”

I ignored her comment. Then she added, “Simon probably would have a fit if I came.”

“What do you mean?”

She shook her head. “He just wouldn't want me there.”

Mrs. Hall interrupted her, “Nadine, how do you make gravy?”

Nadine smacked her lips. “Well, I usually brown some flour and add a little water.”

“Mrs. Hall, I use the turkey drippings for seasoning,” I chimed in.

“Believe it or not, I hardly ever cook a turkey. We usually eat a baked chicken and toast the holiday in with a glass of wine.”

“That's 'cause y'all a little stuffy. People from up North always eat like that, like they are better,” Nadine said.

Whatever truth she said, it didn't matter. It all sent a frustrating chill up my spine.

I didn't comment, even though I sensed inviting Nadine to our holiday get-together had the potential of turning sour.

Mrs. Hall took her time commenting, but when she did, she said, “No matter what is served, the point is it is Jesus' birthday. It is the reason we are here, and whether we serve turkey or ham, it really does not make a difference.”

“You don't have to get your feathers ruffled. I feel peoples up North think they are better than us Southerners.”

Now she had sparked a nerve in Mrs. Hall. When white folk get frightened or mad, they turn red. Mrs. Hall's face was pink, her pinky finger trembling. Nadine had an effect on most people, and it was nothing positive.

“Carrie, don't you think people up North think they are better than us?”

“Nadine, I really don't care. I am happy we all can come together to celebrate Christ's birthday.”

“I guess you right,” Nadine said, and then added, “I suppose all peoples can get along if they try.”

Nadine was what one of my professors at school called an antagonist. She was always trying to find someone to go up against, and this time, it was Mrs. Hall. To change the tone of the conversation, I volunteered to help set the table. The kitchen in Mrs. Hall's place was larger than mine. She had enough space for six people at the table, but with the children and adults, all of us could not eat at the same time. So, she and I made the children's plates first. We spooned out mashed potatoes, sliced turkey, gravy, green beans and yams.

While Nadine's two children ate their Christmas meal, I fed Robert potatoes and green beans. He loved smashed table food, and he smacked his mouth as if it was his first meal. In the front room, Nadine had maneuvered a wedge in between Mr. Hall and Simon. She now had the attention of both men, and especially Simon, who occasionally blushed at whatever was being said. I peered at her from the hallway with a squint in my eyes. She looked up and bent her head as to ignore me. After the children were finished eating, Mrs. Hall collected the soiled plates, stacked them in the sink and wiped her wet hands on a dish towel.

The children traded places with the adults and we all gathered around the table: Simon, the merchant from the corner, Mr. Hall
and me. Just when Mr. Hall had asked us to sit down to eat, someone knocked hard on the door. Mr. Hall rushed to the front door. When he opened it, there was Adam Murphy. He stood smiling all wrapped up in a hat and scarf. It was cold. Everyone was expecting a white Christmas.

“Good evening, young man. I don't think I know you,” Mr. Hall said, and waited for a response.

“I'm Adam. Carrie invited me to the Christmas dinner.”

When I heard Adam's voice, I went to the door. He saw me and even a bigger smile blossomed across his face.

“Glad you could make it,” I said. “We were just about to start dinner.”

He took off his hat and coat and followed me into the kitchen, Mr. Hall right behind him.

When Simon saw Adam, his jaw twitched, but he didn't say anything. Strangely, Nadine was sitting next to him. I was on one side of Simon and Nadine on the other. Mr. Hall told Adam to have a seat across from me. Simon adjusted himself in his seat and reached over to shake Adam's hand.

“Welcome, Adam! It is Adam, right?” said Mrs. Hall.

“Yes, ma'am. Carrie invited me to dinner the other day. I hope it is okay.”

“We have plenty of food.”

I inhaled before I spoke. “Adam is one of my friends. We met when I was searching for a school. He is a student and can't go home for the holiday…”

“No need to explain. He is welcomed here,” Mrs. Hall said, without hesitation.

Adam pulled out a seat and joined us at the table. Mrs. Hall passed a hot towel around so we could clean our hands. It was something
new. We'd normally go to the washbowl and lather with lye soap, wipe our hands clean and eat.

After blessing the table for the second time, we began serving ourselves. Mr. Hall had blessed the table with the children just minutes before and had reminded them of the importance of celebrating Christmas; now he had done the same for the adults. For some reason, Simon held my hand especially tight, squeezing it. I don't know if it was Adam's presence or his love for me. However, it felt heartwarming.

“Adam,” Simon said, “how long have you been going to school around here?”

“I'm almost finished,” Adam answered spooning out mashed potatoes and topping them with gravy.

“You plan on staying around here, or moving back home?”

“I haven't decided yet. I'm not sure if I'll be working with the pastor or teaching at a school.”

“Do you have a woman?” Nadine asked him.

“No, I don't.”

Nadine peeped around Simon at me. “I don't understand why a handsome man like you is still single.”

Adam smiled. “I've got plenty of time to settle down.”

“I know somebody must have your eye.”

Adam glanced over at me. “Maybe,” he said.

“Yeah, you need a good woman like I have,” Simon interjected.

I smiled, knowing Simon had threatened Adam—told him to leave me alone.

Adam didn't comment. He continued with his meal, stuffing turkey and dressing on a fork.

Nadine had been smiling at Adam the entire meal. What started out as a flirtatious meal with Simon had become a get-to-know
Adam meal. She had glued her eyes to him, and was not going to move them. Mr. and Mrs. Hall appeared to enjoy the excitement of having people over for dinner. They took turns filling up our glasses with water and Bee's Knees, a popular drink of lemons, honey and gin.

“We must toast in the holiday. We have too much to be thankful for,” Mrs. Hall said. And all of us held up our glasses and saluted the Christmas season. Adam reached across the table and tapped his glass with mine, our eyes met, and I discreetly looked the other way. It would have gone completely unnoticed if it hadn't been for Nadine.

“I want you to touch your glass with mine, just like you did Carrie's.” I wanted to reach across Simon and yank her by the collar; instead, I put on my poker face and didn't murmur a word.

Adam reached across the table and touched his glass to hers. “This is especially for you, Ms. Nadine,” he said. Nadine's smile ripped from ear to ear. I didn't like it.

Simon put his arms around my chair. It was as if he had something to prove. I was his wife, not Adam's; he had nothing to prove to me. The only thing I wanted to know was who was he hanging out with so much that Pearl and Nadine felt I needed to pay attention.

The meal was quite tasty, and sharing it with friends was so special for me. Little Robert was taking steps and pulling up and had managed to pull up using Adam's britches as an anchor. Adam reached down and picked him up. “Hey, big boy!” he said, smiling at Robert. Robert smiled and wiggled until he put him back on the floor. Simon looked concerned and his jaw tightened as it did when he was agitated.

The merchant told jokes about his patrons and all of us broke
out in a hearty roar. The drink, Bee's Knees, had us all so relaxed we could barely stand. After dinner, while in a daze, I helped scrape the plates and assisted in washing the dishes. Nadine headed right back to the front room with the men and sat happily between Simon and Adam, her children sitting on the floor playing with Robert as if he were their Christmas doll baby.

Full of giggles, Nadine reached over and touched Adam on the leg. “You need to come see me sometime.”

Simon listened with a smirk on his face, his eyes heavy from the drink the Halls had served.

Adam inhaled and bit his lip. He gently moved Nadine's hand from his leg.

“What's wrong? You don't like girls.” He didn't answer.

She put her hand back on his leg, and this time he didn't say anything.

“How do you like that?” Nadine had begun to unravel. She was loose.

“I know how to make a man feel real good,” she said loud enough for us all to hear.

Finally, Simon said, “Nadine, you want a cup of coffee?”

“Hell, no! I want a man. You already taken and it look like Adam is for the taking.”

“Calm down, Nadine,” Simon attempted to persuade her.

“I just want to be nice. Simon, you know how nice I am.”

Adam got up from the davenport. “Dinner was delicious, Mrs. Hall. Thank you for having me.”

“You leaving, Adam?” Mrs. Hall asked.

“Yes, ma'am. The meal was the best. Thank you for opening your home up to me.”

He got his coat and hat. Nadine said, “I live across the street.
Stop by anytime.” Then she proceeded to walk him to the door.

Before he left, he walked over to me and kissed me on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, Carrie; thanks for inviting me.” He shook Simon's and Mr. Hall's hands. I hated to see him leave, but it was getting late. Nadine followed him to the door. I wanted to tell her to sit down, but Simon was watching me like a hawk. The store owner walked out with Adam.

After the door was closed, Nadine came back in and sat beside Simon.

“I like him,” she said, twirling her thick curls.

“Where's Jessie?” I asked.

In a slurred tongue, she answered, “I guess he is on a train somewhere. He supposed to be home in a few days.”

Mrs. Hall glanced over at me. I shook my head, and sat down in the chair adjacent to the davenport. Mr. Hall had started working on his dominoes again.