"Yes?"
"It's a favorable time, a time for change," she said. She didn't have to tell me. I already knew.
Grandma Olivia's Rolls Royce was just leaving the house as Holly and I made the turn. The sight of the luxury limousine made my heart do flip-flops for I was afraid of how Aunt Sara would react to what Grandma Olivia was proposing. I was sure Uncle Jacob was ecstatic.
"I've made up my mind," Holly said as we pulled into the driveway. "I'll be leaving the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, no! I'll miss you," I said. She smiled and leaned forward to squeeze my hand and give me a kiss on the cheek.
"And I'll miss you too, sweetheart. You're a very nice girl, Melody, full of good energy, compassion, and love. Someday, you'll make a lucky man a wonderful companion."
I hurried into the house, worrying more about Aunt Sara than myself at the moment. May was in the kitchen washing out the pot in which Aunt Sara had made some hot oatmeal for Uncle Jacob. She was surprised to see me and obviously did not yet know what Grandma Olivia had wanted. She told me Aunt Sara was upstairs with Uncle Jacob. I waited for her to come down, but when nearly a half hour passed and she still hadn't, I went upstairs. The door to Uncle Jacob and Aunt Sara's room was closed. I hesitated and then knocked softly. They must have thought it was May and wondered why she was knocking.
Aunt Sara opened the door and looked out at me with bloodshot eyes. Uncle Jacob was dressed in a cotton flannel shirt and pants. Aunt Sara was helping him dress.
"Melody. You're home already?"
"Yes, I thought--" I looked past her at Uncle Jacob, who struggled to pull on one of his socks. He did look stronger, with more color in his face. I was sure the news Grandma Olivia had brought had cheered him. "I thought you might need me here more."
"She doesn't need you," Uncle Jacob snapped. "Everything's fine here."
"He insists on getting up and going
downstairs," she said mournfully.
"Did you ask the doctor, Uncle Jacob?"
"I don't need the doctor to tell me what I can do and what I can't," he said and pulled on the other sock. Aunt Sara hurried to kneel at his feet and help him put on his shoes. He turned to me as she did so.
"Good you came home early though. You can start packing," he said. "Your grandmother can send the car over for you earlier than she thought," he added, and Aunt Sara uttered a cry and then pressed her hand against her mouth as he glared down at her. "Now Sara, you heard it all and you know that it's best for everyone all around. We're just lucky to have my mother and father alive and strong enough to handle the problem."
"Is that how everyone sees me now?" I asked. "The problem?"
"She's never been a problem for me," Aunt Sara said. "And the children--"
"Everyone will be better off," Uncle Jacob insisted. "Especially the children."
"I'm not full of contamination, Uncle Jacob." "You're Haille's daughter," he said as if that explained everything. "We can't help what's been passed through the blood. It takes someone as strong as my mother to keep things right," he said.
"Yes, she's got a wonderful track record," I snapped.
"Now don't you be insolent and disrespectful. You ought to be grateful someone wants to take you into her home. You're the result of lust and sin and--"
"Jacob!" Aunt Sara exclaimed. She stood up and he turned his head away.
"I've got to get some exercise," he muttered, "so I can build myself up and get back to work."
He started to stand, wobbled, and sat down hard on the bed.
"Jacob!"
"I'm fine. Just a little bed weary," he said. When he started to stand again, Aunt Sara put her arm around his waist and he reluctantly leaned on her shoulder. "There," he said, standing. "That's a start."
Aunt Sara looked at me with eyes so full of sadness, I had to turn away.
"I'll go pack," I said.
"Good," Uncle Jacob muttered.