Milk & Sugar, Honey

Prologue

Summer of 1978
  Adderdale, Alabama

The sun in Alabama was one of the worst. If the humidity didn't kill you, the mosquitoes sure did. School had been out for a week and the kids ran around freely while the adults worked. Mother's cleaned their sons, fathers took them fishing while the daughters sat on the lawns, giggling at the messy boys with their dirty faces and scraped knees, despite also rolling around on the ground in a game of soccer or racing to beat the train. It was a small town, it's income based on the railroad and trading for years and still somewhat is, technology not being common in the small country town.

With the Dogwood trees in bloom the town was at it's highest time for activity and yet, all anyone cared about was the new family moving in on Locke Street. The house was a pretty big white house with Dogwood trees infested along the front lawn, a white porch overlooked it all. There were no need for fences in Adderdale. The moving men were hauling in multiple boxes, furniture from the truck parked in the huge driveway. As the strong men brought in the family's things, a mop of blonde trotted along with them, carrying boxes bigger than they.

"You got it, kid?" The one man asked, sweat coating his face as he looked at the little girl helping them, who was also drenched in sweat but determined to help. She even got on a small pair of overalls that were missing a button and pockets were ripped, boots that were a little too big for her and a bandanna tied around her neck to blend in with the workers.

"I got it mister. Do you?" She asked with a toothy grin. The men behind the two chuckled as they carried in a couch, while the other man looked surprised before smirking. "I sure do, missy." and that was how the moving went until lunch came around. The blonde had lost her boots now, sitting on a tree with her legs dangling, one hand holding lemonade and the other holding a sandwich, while the men drank beers and ate their sandwiches out on the porch.

Meanwhile, across the road, a girl with a braid that flowed over her shoulder, sat on her porch, watching the family move in. She was surprised to see a girl in overalls and men's clothes, helping the men carry in the boxes. She found it funny when the blonde girl tried to arm wrestle the massive man, who's bicep must've been the size of her head. "Erin! Here, I've made those folks some of momma's special apple pie, why don't ya go over there and give 'em it? I heard they've got some kids of your age too." Erin's mother appeared behind her, holding the delicious treat. Erin nodded eagerly and jumped up, her boots echoing on the wooden patio as she grabbed the apple pie and dashed across the quiet, rocky street.

A blonde haired woman with a white blouse, blue vest and blue pants saw the child coming and waved with a smile. "Well hello there dear, and who might you be?" She asked as the brown haired girl approached. "I'm Erin Thomson, Ma'am. My momma wanted me to give y'all this pie as a welcome." Erin had lost her two front teeth so she had a little lisp to her speech, her big brown eyes looking around when the mother had taken the pie. "Oh, my daughter loves apple pie. Let me introduce you two." She smiled and guided the girl to the big Dogwood tree where the blonde girl was sitting.

"Rose? Rose come down here, we've got a guest now." The woman called up. Erin tilted her head to try and see through the big Dogwood flowers before some rustling caught her attention and suddenly a body was dropping down, right where tattered boots were laying. "Erin Thomson, this my daughter Rose Holland." Rose looked the girl up and down. She was wearing a white dress, it was pretty. Her braided hair was so neatly done yet so casual, Rose wanted to ask if it was just magically like that but instead, she said, "I'd shake your hand, but mine are all sticky." She raised her hand to show her jam covered fingers with a smirk that just screamed trouble. Good trouble.

Erin raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "That's okay." She smiled. Her momma taught her to always shake hands when offered, but she also taught her to never get her hands too dirty. Wasn't lady like. "Alright." Rose said before beginning to lick her fingers. That's when her momma stepped in. "Rosemary." She said in a strict tone, making Rose look up in confusion before frowning and putting her hands behind her to wipe them on her pants. "So, Erin, how old are you sweetheart?" And as if a light buld just went off. "Oh and where are my manners? My name is Evelyn Holland, sweetheart." She smiled and Erin smiled. Rose was busy trying to tighten her boots. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Holland." Erin replied. "And I'm seven ma'am."