The Brooch

Daddy's Little Girl

Sweltering, summer heat surrounded that new Monday morning. It felt like the sun was scorching on them something fierce. Like frying bacon in a skillet, popping hot enough to burn it crisp just in one setting. And it had been hours since Maple questioned her Grandmama about what really happened to her Mama.

Waiting for the cool of the day, all the while, sipping on Mama's famous iced, tangy sweet, strawberry lemonade, they unwound on that rickety, front porch swing.

A tad gassy Daddy Wood, feeling incredibly exhausted, reluctantly returned to the office. And Mama Woods was tranquil like, occupying herself from her thoughts of her newly married daughters, by diligently working in the kitchen. She found herself doing as she always did around that time.. rustling up one of her famous homemade meals. Enough to feed an army.

The neighborhood was after all, quiet around then. Even sounds of the locusts were tamed, till the dusk night air. So you see, not much was going on around that time. It was perfect for Maple and Grandmama Hastings to convene....

Grandmama spoke. "Maple, yo Mumma, was some em special when she was younger."

"What do you mean by that grandmama?"

"She was carefree..." Grandmama Hastings smiled reminiscing. "That child was always on her toes! Playful one she was! Just as happy as can be. She's still happy mind you. But a different kind."

"Different?"

"Somethin, I can't explain. You know, her daddy was her life? She loved her daddy somethin fierce. There was no doubt she was a daddy's girl. You thank I'd be green with envy about their love. But I found myself more in love with the two of them because of it. They after all, gave me great joy." She smiled. "And when yo Uncle Jeffy arrived... Oh my cup runneth over."

"So whut happened?" Maple asked.

"The brooch." Grandmama Hastings gloomily replied sipping on her lemonade.

"You say it like it's uh bad thang, grandmama."

"No." She shook her head. "Just life changin." Grandmama Hastings uttered looking back.

It was winter... Just a few weeks before Christmas. Your mumma was little bit more than twelve. Her thirteenth birthday was to be in the New year. And oh boy was she beyond excited to be a big sister to your Uncle Jeffrey. I swear if I didn't birth that boy myself, then all woulda thought, Scarlet was his mumma, one in the same.

You see it was a happy time. The best. All seemed to change too quickly, with just one knock of the door. Course I don't have to who was on the other side of that door, from your expression. I think you already know. It was none other than Magnus herself.

While yo granddaddy Matthew, was in the back room sneakily wrapping up the presents, I was in another changing your uncle. I swear that boy sho did do a lot of stinkies around that time. So when that door knocked, yo Mumma was the one to open that door. And when she did, Magus got first sight of  Scarlet. And when she laid her eyes on her, well you would have thought, Magnus had a sweaty sock full of mothballs stuffed in her tight mouth. I caught her on the edge as she she stepped in that door, looking at my sweet daughter like she was infested with some em. Catching a glimpse of me, she straightened that face quick...

"But if that was the first time she ever laid eyes on Mumma, why did she give her such a nasty look?" Maple questioned.

"For one reason. And one reason only. Your granddaddy and my love." Grandmama replied.

"But I thought she had made peace with you around that time? Or was that a lie too?"

"No Maple, it wasn't a lie. Least I care not to thank so. But even calling truce, sometimes bitter remains. And for Magnus, the soon to be Mrs. Crowder, settin her sights on Scarlet, and those eyes, just like Matthew's returning to her, just reminded her of everythang she lost. From her daddy to yo granddaddy. You see, when she looked into the eyes of Scarlet, she saw it all."

"Whut she see?"

"The undeniable love, that was created between Matthew and I. And contrary to how she carried herself, deep down, she couldn't stand it. And I saw it rat there in her eyes."

"Then why did you let her in?" Maple fussed.

"Peace..." Grandmama said. "Sometimes Maple, as hard as it is, you have to be the bigger person, and let things go. Or so I tried for that time being. And I like to thank, despite whut was bubbling over, in Magnus's thoughts, she was trying her darnedest as well..."

"Hmph..." Maple uttered. "You're better than me, Grandmama. I would have kicked her high tail back to the city." Maple muttered. "So whut happened next?"

"Well.." Grandmama said in retrospect continuing her account...

As I said, seeing me from the corner of her eye holding your freshly cleaned uncle, Magus quickly changed her expression. She had managed to straighten her simpered glare. She even rustled up an actual smile towards Scarlet. But yo Mumma could see right passed her. Probably all the more why Magnus had a little bit of distaste for her. But Scarlet being Scarlet, and raised with her proper manners, elegantly acknowledged Magnus. Even though at the time you could see she really wanted to give her nothing but as a sour expression as she so snidely gave her in return. Instead, she graciously returned the smile back to Magnus, as she snobbishly walked passed Scarlet to greet me.

Course I didn't care for her company. But I was to be cordial myself. You can say pretendin to be delighted that she came callin. I did have my fingers and toes crossed after all. It was evident why she was there. I could see in her hand, she had an invitation to her weddin to Mr. Rusty Crowder. I didn't falsify that when I said Rusty and Matthew were well aquatinted. Nonetheless, I can't deny that yo granddaddy and I honestly didn't want to go. But for the sake of peace, we dared not decline....

And when Magnus, left that house that evening, there was no doubt yo mumma was beyond curious as she continued to question who that prissy sourpuss was.

Scarlet wouldn't let up her endless curiosity. She begged, strike that, insisted, yo granddaddy and I, to tell her all. Course I was gone save yo Mumma the misery of knowin. But she broke down her daddy with those big doll eyes of hers. I don't know why, but Matthew indulged yo Mumma. And for the sake of all, I honestly wish he hadn't. At least till she was older that is...

But against my wishes, He told her everythang about the story of the brooch. And your Mumma was so intwined and so invested in that brooch, that she practically became obsessed with it.

As I was rocking Jeffrey to sleep. I could hear them talking in the living room, just before bed...

"Whut do you want for Christmas daddy?" Your mama asked him.

"I already got everythang I need right here, baby girl." He winked at her while putting the presents under the Christmas tree."

"But there's gotta be some em you wont daddy." Young Scarlet said. "Besides us." She said. "Mumma, Jeffy and I..."

Matthew smiled. "Why don you tell me then my little sugar pie." He said wiggling her nose.

"I thank I know exactly whut you wont!" A confident young Scarlet replied.

"And what is that?" Her daddy laughed.

"The brooch." Young Scarlet boldly stated. "I thank you want it back."

Matthew's laughter ceased. He said not a word.

"See... rat there. I see that twinkle in yo eye daddy, when I said it." Young Scarlet declared.

"You can't always get whut you wont, sugar pie." He said purposely excusing himself to check on me.

After that night, yo granddaddy never brought up the brooch again. But it was already set in Scarlet's mind to get it back. She didn't know how exactly. But you of all people know, once yo Mumma makes up that mind of hers. Well there ain't no stopping her...