Awakening

15

The next day at the Stackhouse home, people were buzzing with low conversations, mostly older people, sad by the loss of Adele Stackhouse, knowing she had been friends with a lot of people, even if she lived in an isolated area.

"It was so sad"

"Those Stackhouse girls haven't come out of the kitchen"

"I heard the older one hasn't cried a single tear"

"You know she's been goin' around with that vampire"

"The younger one hasn't stopped crying, poor thing"

"Adele meant a lot to her"

"Of course she did. The girl doesn't have any blood relatives"

"She is adopted, remember?"

Morgan and Sookie were sitting at the breakfast table, the blonde having her back toward the entrance of the dining room, Morgan's gaze lowered to the floor, finding her shoes to be very interesting, as long as it kept her from looking at other people. Her tears hadn't stopped since she woke up that morning, constantly running down her cheeks as she stared at her shoes, wiping them away with a tissue she would occasionally twist in her hands. A small sniffle emitted from her, wiping her cheeks with her tissue, even though she knew more tears would fall, lowering her hands to her lap. Tara walked into the kitchen from the small back stairwell as Sookie turned to greet the bearer of a covered dish, which turned out to be Maxine Fortenberry, dressed in bright pink,

"Oh, uh . . " Sookie trailed off "Mrs. Fortenberry, you shouldn't have"

"You poor girls" she replied, a little melodramatically "I am so sorry for your loss"

"That's very kind of you" shaking her head slightly "um . . Gran often talked about you, so . . ." Tara took the covered dish from Mrs. Fortenberry and walked to another part of the house "thank you"

Tara is joined by Lafayette, who wearing a purple tie-dye pullover shirt and black babushka,

"Yeah, 'cause nothing says I'm sorry like a tuna cheese casserole" Tara commented

"Another one?" Lafayette asked, then looking over his shoulder "I ain't seen Jason. Is he here yet?"

"How the hell should I know?" shrugging slightly "I ain't his keeper" turning away from him

"Bitch" he commented

"Adele was an angel sent from Heaven, too good for this world" Mrs. Fortenberry said "we're all gonna miss her so much"

"Heard they almost cut off her head. I don't see any blood. I should have gotten here sooner. Maybe I should have brought my red velvet cake instead"

"Excuse me?" Morgan asked, standing up and looking at her with disgust, walking out of the dining room

Sookie stood up and walked out of the kitchen, but is almost immediately hugged by Arlene, who is crying,

"Oh, Sookie. I just can't believe it" she said "are you girls all right?"

"We're fine, Arlene" Sookie replied "thanks for comin'"

"Of course . ." nodding slightly "it's the least I could do. Oh . . you poor thing. I can't imagine what you're goin' through" offering a shy chuckle "now, if you girls need help with moving or anything at all . ."

"Uh, I'm . . am I movin'?" a surprised look on her face "I'm not movin'"

"But honey" she said "with it happenin'. . right here"

"Morgan and I have far more good memories of this kitchen than bad ones" shaking her head slightly

"Oh, what a good way to look at it" she smiled "you know, you really are smarter than anyone gives you credit for" seeing Sookie's look on her face "oh, sweetie. I didn't mean it like that!"

The refrigerator door opened, Sookie and Arlene turn toward it to see Mrs. Fortenberry with two pies in her hands, peeling the plastic wrap from one of them,

"Maxine Fortenberry! You put those pies down right now!" Sookie shouted

"What's goin' on over there?"

"Come here, she's losin' it"

Sookie stormed toward Mrs. Fortenberry, taking the pies from her hands, the shocked visitors, including Sam and Raven, peer into the kitchen from the dining room,

"These are Gran's pies!" Sookie shouted

She held a pecan pie, and a strawberry pie, one Gran had made especially for Morgan since she wasn't a fan of pecans. Gran would always surprise her with a strawberry pie, made of homemade strawberry glaze, homemade pie crust and the sweetest strawberries in Bon Temps. That pie would always bring a smile to Morgan's face.

"Well, I'm sorry" Mrs. Fortenberry replied "I was just makin' some room . ."

"Poor girl is crazy as a bedbug"

"We all know you killed your grandmother"

"After I spent all morning making this casserole . ."

". . . That she would even show her face in front of everybody"

Morgan cringed slightly, lowering her and grasping her head, hearing everyone's thoughts as if they were screaming them to her. Raven hurried over toward her, bending slightly to look at her face, seeing that she was in pain. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, her eyes bloodshot from all the crying she never intended to do, but she couldn't help it, her sadness overwhelmed her whole body. All Morgan wanted to do was crawl in a hole and never come out again, but she knew that couldn't happen. She also wanted all of these people to keep their thoughts to themselves, but again, she knew it couldn't happen, some people were just too nosey. Tara walked from the sink to where Sookie stood and escorts her from the kitchen,

"If you yall will excuse us . ." Tara trailed off "I need Sookie upstairs"

"Come on" Raven said softly

She wrapped her arm around Morgan's shoulders, following Tara and Sookie as pass the onlooking visitors,

"Just give us a little girl-time" Raven whispered to Sam, approaching the front stairwell "come on, Lafayette!"

Tara, Sookie, Lafayette, Raven and Morgan walk upstairs, Mrs. Fortenberry watched from the kitchen, making a puzzled look at Arlene, who is scratching her head slightly. Another sniffle emitted from Morgan, wiping her cheeks once more, this time with the sleeve of her cardigan, Raven gently rubbing her arm, silently letting her know that everything was going to be okay. And Morgan hoped so, she just wanted Gran back.