Dirty Faces - Book 2

Chapter 26: Doctor Talk

Chapter 26: Doctor Talk

Ginny knew when she woke up the next morning that she had slept later than usual, judging by the sun shining through the curtain in Mama's room. She still slept soundly. A cold chill rushed through Ginny as she found herself watching her mother to see if she was breathing. It had, admittedly, been the best night's sleep either of them had had all week, as they had only been awakened by Mama's awful coughing once throughout the night.

The house smelled like bacon and though her stomach growled, she lay there staring at the ceiling, not at all looking forward to joining Adam at the kitchen table. She had been ugly to him and she knew it. Eventually, though, she got up the nerve to face him, sat up, rubbed her eyes, and slipped out of the bedroom, careful not to wake Mama. When she got to the kitchen, she was surprised to find Aunt Betty standing over the stove. Adam was sitting at the table and she wanted to give him a dirty look for running to Aunt Betty about all this, but she gave him the benefit of the doubt. After all, news traveled fast around here, especially if it was bad news.

"Morning, Ginny," said Aunt Betty. "How's your Mama?"

"Still sleeping. She slept real good last night."

"That's good. We won't wake her up just yet, then."

The table was already set for two and Ginny sat down in her chair beside Adam, but didn't say anything to him. She felt like she should apologize for the way she'd acted the previous evening but she was too stubborn to actually do it. Instead, she sat there silently, feeling his disapproving eyes on her. Aunt Betty set the bacon, a bowl of gravy, and a plate of biscuits on the table and made herself a bacon biscuit. "If y'all need anything today, let me know. I'll check back in a little later but I gotta get back to the farm and help Bill. I told him with his back like it is he needs to rest, but he's been at it it since before daylight."

"Thank you for breakfast, Aunt Betty," said Adam.

"It's the least I could do. Now, I mean it. Y'all come get me if you need anything."

"Yes, ma'am."

With that, she left with her bacon biscuit. Ginny and Adam ate without speaking for a few minutes, then Adam asked, "Did you at least get her out of that bloody gown?"

Ginny nodded. "I did."

"Good."

"Was that Betty I heard?"

Ginny turned around to find Mama standing in the doorway. "Yes, ma'am. She cooked breakfast for us."

Mama smiled. "She's too good to us." She got herself a plate from the cupboard and joined them at the table. Ginny was thrilled she was obviously feeling much better than the day before, though she only put a biscuit on her plate and barely picked at it. After breakfast, they all washed up and got dressed. Ginny and Adam washed up the dishes while Mama put in a load of laundry and the three of them listened to a serial radio program. Afterward, Ginny unloaded the laundry and hung it out to dry. Mama didn't cough as much as usual, but by early afternoon she needed a nap.

She was back up and cooking supper by the time Aunt Betty came back. "Good to see ya up and about," said Aunt Betty. "Heard you had a pretty rough go of it yesterday."

Mama nodded. "I did. But I'm feeling a lot better today. Just sorta tired, ya know?"

"Whew, boy do I! I know all about tired!"

Aunt Betty stuck around and helped Mama as Ginny fumbled around the kitchen miserably attempting to do likewise. About the time supper was ready, a knock came at the front door. Adam answered the door and let in the Priest and directed him to the kitchen.