Keep Me Safe

Chapter Two

No one was in the living room. The windows had been opened and a slight breeze rustled the brown drapes. The dust, illuminated by sunlight, hung expectantly in the air, waiting for someone to make a move. One of their many cats was sat on the back of the couch and eyed them lazily.

Floyd set the trunk down on the floor- the resounding clunk echoing through the still room- and reached out to stroke the creature.

"Hello, Mittens," he cooed, an affectionate parent doting on a perfect child.

The black and white cat leaned into his hand and began to purr so loudly Agnes could hear it on the other side of the room. It was unlikely Mittens remembered him; she simply loved to be petted.

Lottie took a few steps towards Agnes. "You have a lovely house," she said.

Agnes, too awestruck to speak, could only nod in agreement. Her heart began to race as Lottie leaned in towards her, getting closer and closer by the second. Her perfect face was only a foot away.

Lottie removed the hat from its perch on her head and placed it on the coat rack behind Agnes, who was on the verge of fainting. Hair the color of a glass jar of maple syrup sitting in the July sun tumbled down. The waves were too gentle and subtle to be anything but natural.

Lottie's slender neck curved back and her chin lifted as her eyes drifted from the walls to the ceiling. She took a few steps back. "I think I'll like it here."

"I think you'll be real happy here, doll."

Agnes jumped as Floyd draped his arm across her shoulders and pulled her close. She groaned as he began to ruffle her hair and pulled away from him. A crimson blush seeped onto her cheeks when she noticed Lottie looking at her, and she began to frantically pat down her blonde hair.

Her brother began to pout. "You're hurting my feelings, Red."

She turned her back to Lottie, cheeks still red, and tried to steady her breathing. "Let's go find Mama."

Floyd gave her a sly smile, but didn't say anything else. He stepped back to allow her to lead the way.

Agnes walked out the back door and into the adjoining kitchen. She momentarily stopped on the threshold and watched the scene before her, unnoticed by her family.

Mama, sweat dripping down her leathered face, was bent over a chopping board full of vegetables from the garden. The fire next to her filled the room with its characteristic heat. She wielded her knife with the skill and accuracy that only comes from cooking one's entire life. Her foot was tapping against the weathered floorboards.

Franny was in the corner of the room breading the meat that would most likely be going to Mrs. Bell. Her muscled arms, the ones that had rocked baby Agnes to sleep so many years ago, flipped the container of breading and chicken meat.

Like usual, she was loudly singing whatever hymn she would be performing at her church on Sunday. Her voice was not beautiful by any standards- it was rough and untrained- but it had a hauntingly angelic side to it that drew in listeners. Her short, jet black coils were never out of place, and today was no exception.

Meredith and Ethyl were in the middle of the room, perched on two stools at the table. Modest Meredith, her hair braided and dress collar up to her neck, was gingerly slicing tomatoes and sprinkling salt on them. She would then pass them to Ethyl, who was laying them out on a rack. Occasionally, Ethyl would get distracted by the world outside the open window, and Meredith would give her a flick on the ear.

Agnes stood there for a while. She loved the kitchen, the happiness and familiarity of it. She couldn't cook to save her life, nor would she ever want to, but watching the other women do it made her feel comfortable. The floorboards always creaked, and there were always drying vegetables hanging from the ceiling. Agnes couldn't remember a time when the windows were shut; any critter or bug was welcome, so long as they didn't touch the food. The world could happen outside, but nothing ever touched the separate entity that was the kitchen.

Mama eventually looked up, her eyes immediately going to Agnes' basket.

"You're finally back," she said, patting her hands on her clothes. "I told you I needed those fish as soon as possible."

Agnes stepped over the threshold and handed it to her. "Sorry. I ran into someone on my way back."

Before Mama could ask what she meant, Floyd stepped into view.

Just like her daughter, she screamed and dropped the basket. Mama, who was short by any standards but weighed as much as a bear, had no problem tackling her eldest son.

He wasn't able to brace himself, and he collapsed like a fallen tree. His hardy laugh reverberated around the room and filled it with the very sound it had been lacking for so long.

Franny, Ethyl, and Meredith, once they realized why Mama was screaming, joined in. Floyd was quickly buried under the pile of women.

Agnes had already gotten over the surprise of Floyd, so she stepped back to allow the rest of the family to have their moment.

"Y'all seem to be very close."

Agnes turned around, a reply on the tip of her tongue, but instantly locked up when she made eye contact with Lottie. The sea hidden in her brown eyes washed over Agnes and she felt like she was drowning.

She quickly turned away and nodded her head. Lottie must think that she was being rude.

Everyone finally pulled away from Floyd, who was bright red and panting. His pressed shirt was now rumpled; his gelled hair never stood a chance.

"Why didn't you tell us you were coming home?" Ethyl scolded.

"I wanted to surprise y'all!" He gestured to Lottie. "Say hello to my future wife!"

Lottie demurely lowered her head and gave the slightest curtsy. "Hello."

The surprise over Floyd's return immediately turned to confusion for Ethyl and Meredith. They reacted just like Agnes had, with utter bewilderment.

"What?" they said in unison.

Floyd, patient as a saint, briefly explained who Lottie was and why she was there. He mentioned that they had only known each other for a few months, but couldn't imagine a life without each other.

Mama and Franny both did a poor job pretending like they were surprised, but the younger Miller girls were too intrigued by the woman before them to notice. They would have been upset to learn that Mama had kept such a secret from them.

While Ethyl and Meredith pulled Lottie out into the yard and towards the swing dangling from the great oak tree, Agnes leaned against the corner and folded her arms.

"I'm mad you didn't tell me about Floyd, Mama."

The older woman, who had resumed chopping her vegetables, pointed the knife at Franny. "Blame her."

Franny cheekily smiled, but didn't look up from her kitchen duties. "Your Mama's lying, girl. It was all her idea."

"It was my idea," Floyd chuckled, elbowing her in the ribs.

Mama smiled slightly when Agnes punched him. "One of y'all needs to go to town to get Papa. He'll want to know that you're here. Agnes, you go."

"Ma, I just came in from town. Make Floyd go. It's his surprise."

"Listen to your mama," Franny said. She placed her batter-covered hands on her hips and used her good eye to glare at Agnes.

Agnes groaned.

Floyd saw her reluctance and yelled over his shoulder, "Hey, Lot! You want to go to town with Red?"

Lottie, who had already begun swinging on the swing and talking to the girls, looked up. She glanced at Agnes with a gaze that was powerful from thirty feet away and flashed a stunning smile. "Gladly!"