C A T C H 22 |BWWM|

Ch. 28 • Baby

Jackson, MS. February 1944
Saturday 1:00 pm

Deen

The car hummed quietly as Paislee and I were on the way to yet another one of our secret-kept journeys. She was in the seat beside me bopping her head to some sounds while I driving out of Jackson and to Meridian. This routine had become something like a weekly event. Whether it was on a weekend—like today—or a weekday where her folks were up at the church or town hall or even sleeping in her house.

"Deen?

I turned my head slightly to Paislee. "Yes, Lee?"

She remained quiet for a second as we passed a large plot of land and a small house that was disguised by forestry. Then soon it was back to large acres of land and tall grasses that were barren.

"I'm hungry," she said.

I let out a loud laugh. "Was that all you had to tell me?"

"Yep," she said proudly.

"Well, when we park I brought some ice cream in a cooler back there. The ice probably melted though."

"M'kay."

The minutes until we were riding on gravel roads and facing more empty land wasn't too long. The same meadow and forest that we had been to before was right in front of us. Per usual, I checked the scene thoroughly because of Paislee's paranoia. Though, I tried my best to protect her.

Setting the car in park in the gravel, I pulled the cooler from the backseat. "Hmm. . . Chocolate-cherry-cookie ice cream or plain mint?"

"Chocolate cherry? Deen you know I hate chocolate and fruit together," she whined.

"I know but just try it." She groaned and grabbed a metal spoon from out the wicker basket. "For me? It's good I promise you."

"Fine."

"I knew you would give in." I sighed contently. "And get over here. You're so far away."

Paislee scooted inside to the middle seat and closer to the side of me. Her body added warmth to my own and I would've wrapped my arms around her if they weren't holding pints of ice cream. I dipped a spoon into the creamy treat and held it to her lips.

"Oh gosh, this is corny. So corny. . ."

"You know you really are such a difficult woman to deal with. Just eat the ice cream and let me be corny if I want to," I urged.

She giggled and ate the ice cream carefully considering that she had a celeste blue dress on. Her eyes widened a bit as swallowed.

"It is good. You were actually right. . . I want more"

Being the person she was, she occasionally let me feed her small spoonfuls of ice cream and like a baby she accepted. She was on her eighth bite when she sat up and sat the carton of ice cream on the dashboard. Placing herself right in front of me, she played with the blonde strands of hair that fell onto my face. Her face was just close enough for me to lean in and kiss her; Her lips a shade of pink from the cold ice cream.

"What's up, Lee?" I asked.

"Sing me a song, Deen."

I groaned. "Every time we're together you beg me to sing."

She shrugged and ate another bite of ice cream. "It makes me happy. You really have a gift, Deen. I just want one short song and then I'll back off. Please."

Again, she sat in front of me and gave me that typical small smile. She knew how to jab at one's soft spot for sure. After a while of staring, I almost caved. Paislee had set away the ice cream back in the cooler and gave me her full attention. Her brown eyes seemed to blaze with something I couldn't name but the sun shining on them didn't help. I could never tell her enough, but she was so beautiful.