Becca stopped by Mrs. Brackett’s on the way home from the hospital. She leaned forward to hug the small woman after she opened the door, but she flinched ever so slightly. So Becca stood back upright without touching her. In response Mrs. Brackett extended her hands palm up. Becca offered hers and the old dry but soft cream-colored palms cradled her hands in a long embrace somehow more meaningful and intimate than the strongest hug or a collapse together from exhaustion or emotion. Becca left her hands in that cradle of safety and trust until the woman used the point of contact to gently pull her through the doorway then released her to the dim sanctuary beyond and shut the door.
Becca waited until Mrs. Brackett turned and shuffled off to her chair in front of the blank T.V. Becca followed and sat on the straight-back wooden chair that now seemed to have a permanent place beside the well-worn upholstered one. The two women looked at each other with shy glances in the room’s shaded light, almost like meeting for the first time or as if aware they shared a secret that neither was supposed to know. Becca decided she wouldn’t be the first to speak. If she sat there an hour in this charged silence then rose and left, so be it. She would still have what she’d come for.
“I knew they was out there,” Mrs. Brackett said while staring down at her beige poplin dress. “And I saw him drive by. But I never thought he’d get out. That’s the part I missed.”
“He told me he wouldn’t.”
“So why did he?”
“He said he thought it was safe.”
Mrs. Brackett shook her head slowly and clicked her tongue against the top of her mouth.
“Said he wanted to be sure Jonah was O.K.”
“Jonah wasn’t here. She’d grabbed him and took him away.”
“So he didn’t call from here.”
“Phone been dead all week.”
Becca nodded—all the chances missed, all the false assumptions made in the night. “You O.K.?”
“Same as yesterday, same as tomorrow.”
“Neighbors giving trouble?”
“Don’t pay them no mind.” She chuckled, the sound way down in her throat. “They say I’m the crazy woman shoot her kin to save a white boy. They never have no sense no how.”
That seemed as good an ending as any. The two women sat in a new and spreading pool of silence. Becca wondered if she should leave.
Jonah emerged from his bedroom and walked silently up to Becca’s chair. She greeted him with a surprised and delighted smile though he wouldn’t meet her eyes. He tucked his face into her shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him. Tears streamed down her face and splashed onto the top of his head and trickled past his ear.
He slowly pushed away from her embrace and handed her a folded piece of blue construction paper. “This for Soldier.”
She looked at the card. On the front was a bright yellow-orange sun, outrageous in its promise. Inside the card was a glowing red heart with two tiny drops of red falling to one side. On the back in thick, black letters was printed By Jonah. She smiled at him through her clouded vision. “He’ll love it, Jonah. Thank you.”
Jonah nodded while looking at his feet. “How he doing?”
“He’s lots better,” she said with sincere optimism. “His vision’s cleared up and the headaches are not as bad. He’s tired of the milkshakes, though. At first he loved the idea—listed off all the flavors he could try: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, banana, coffee, blueberry, even watermelon.” She checked the flavors off on her fingers. “Now he says he’ll never drink another milkshake after they take the wires out of his jaw.”
Jonah’s eyes got big. “He got wires in his jaw?”
Becca nodded. “To help it heal straight. They’ll take them out in a few weeks.”
“He be O.K. then?”
“They say good as new.”
Jonah nodded. “Soldier tough.”
“Has to be, with us to protect,” Becca said. “How are you, Jonah? How’s school?”
“It’s good. Miss Anders pick me up and take me home.”
“I know. She’s kind to do that.”
“I rather have you.”
“Why? Like my driving better?”
“Like you better.” He gave her a sly grin. “Plus don’t have to get up so early.”
Becca rubbed his head. “You rascal—want me just to get a few extra minutes of sleep.”
Jonah smiled shyly. “And you do drive better. Miss Anders always shouting at the other drivers and honking her horn.”
Becca laughed and shook her head. “We’ll keep that as our secret. I’ll start driving you again on Monday, if that’s O.K. with you and your Me-me-maw.” She looked to the old woman in her chair.
Mrs. Brackett nodded as emphatically as her staid demeanor would allow.
Jonah shouted, “Yay,” and threw his arms around her neck.
Becca hugged him back then stood. “I’d better be going—lots of chores to catch up on.”
Mrs. Brackett stood and walked with her and Jonah to the door.
Becca paused in front of the door and stared directly into the woman’s eyes. “Thank you for saving Zach’s life.”
“Thank you both for saving Jonah’s.” Her return gaze never faltered.