The Other Parts

II.

When fall slipped quietly into winter, no one noticed. The beginning of November brought a bitter cold that only grew meaner into December. The holiday season seemed to soften the bite of Jim Crow, but it was still a difficult time. Olivia hated to leave her own warm home to warm another's. Her father left before sunrise to do janitorial work at the local high school, and her mother stayed behind in Pascagoula to tend to her grandmother. That was over a month ago. Despite her newfound freedom, Olivia missed her mother. Coming home to jazz playing and her father's easy smile helped though.

Olivia arrived at the Lassiter's home promptly before 7AM. Though Mrs. Lassiter was a mean woman, she was fair. She also had several domestics working in their large house, so Olivia wasn't bogged down with work like she was at the other homes she worked in. The Lassiter Christmas tree was out but bare. Having worked there almost two years, Olivia knew to get the ornaments from the old servant's quarters (now storage) and have the ugly silver tree decorated before the day was over. She sighed and headed to the kitchen. Eve had already started breakfast and, like always, had a cup of coffee waiting for Olivia. Eve was a pretty older woman who worked there well before Olivia started. The woman only cooked four days a week and special events, but Olivia knew she'd have a good day anytime Eve was there. 

"Morning baby," the woman greeted.

"Morning Eve."

"You sleep good?"

"Yes ma'am. Just cold."

"You do what I tell you?" Eve asked, referencing the bed warmer pan. Olivia laughed and sipped her coffee. It tasted, smelled, and felt good.

"Eve, no one knows those old slavery time remedies but you. I'm not gon burn up in the bed to keep warm. Where you find a bed warmer anyway?" 

"Slavery time?! I have you know I'm younger than Sadie! And I got two bed warmer pans, could've had you one. Shame she let you and Mose freeze in that old house," Eve replied. Olivia really laughed then at Eve's jabs at her mother. They used to work together till she got married to her father and became a housewife. Her mother actually told her Eve was "nothing but trouble", but Olivia loved Eve. She was funny, easygoing, and one of the smartest women Olivia knew.

Around lunch, the help were allowed a half hour break. Eve usually made them sandwiches while they sat in the old summer kitchen and talked. Since it was colder, Olivia took a quick nap in the home's old library. She had Eve wake her up to ensure she didn't oversleep.

"Olivia Lyn Hodge, get up girl. I got to go," she heard a voice in her sleep haze.

"Mama?"

"The Lord didn't see fit to bless you that abundantly," she joked. Olivia smiled and stretched.

"Where you going? It ain't near five yet."

"Got a baby to catch. I fixed your dinner. You know where to find it. I put a few of them molasses cookies Mose like to the side. Make sure Sadie don't get one crumb," Eve mock whispered. 

"Yes ma'am," Olivia giggled. "See you, Eve."

"See you, Livi Love. Keep warm," she said, pulling Olivia into a quick hug. Olivia grinned at Eve's nickname for her. She sat at the window seat and watched Eve get into the passenger side of a nice, dark green Chevrolet Bel Air. Having always left before Eve's shift ended, Olivia never got to see who picked her up. The White man wore a hat, but Olivia could see him clearly— Robin.

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When Olivia made it to the Lassiters, Eve had her coffee already fixed. She smiled and sat down at the table. Eve placed a small plate with a biscuit and two pieces of salt pork in front of her.

"You fretting about something," she remarked quickly. Olivia just stared at her. She hoped her eyes didn't reveal how much seeing Robin had unnerved her. The sight made her nervous, but not in a bad way. Olivia wanted to put her eyes on him and make sure he healed up nice. Instead of saying all that, she bit into her biscuit.

"Tell me before I start asking questions."

"The White boy that picked you up the other day—"

Eve chuckled and shook her head.

"What?"

"What you asking?"

"How you know him?" 

"How you know him?" Eve tossed back. Olivia coughed and took a sip of her coffee. Perfect. 

"I don't," she lied.

"Well, I reckon it's another girl round here name Olivia who tall as grown men and got a face pretty as a picture." 

"Robin say that bout me?"

Eve raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"Go on finish up. Anna having friends over for her ladies meeting at 11," Eve said, winking before she walked out of the kitchen.