When I wake up the next morning, though, I stretch my arms over my head and sigh as I sit up and glance out the bedroom window. It’s almost nice to not see brick buildings and sky-rises in the distance, even though it’s what I’m used to.
I hear Uncle Huck’s heavy footsteps as he walks out of his room, then the soft rapping of his knuckles against my bedroom room door. I reach down for the soft sheet I used as a blanket, pull it up to my chin, and make sure I’m decent.
“Come in,” I call out in a groggy voice.
He peeks his head into the room a few seconds later, then laughs as he rests his head against the door. “That’s some serious hair you’ve got going there, Maddi,” he teases.
“Huh?” I reach up and use both of my hands to smooth my hair down, then feel myself become a dark shade of crimson when he looks away.
“Sorry,” I mumble quietly as I reach for the sheet again. I slept in a skin-tight cami last night, and since I don’t wear a bra when I go to bed, I wouldn’t be surprised if my girls were perked up in greeting.
"Don’t worry about it,” he says in a rush, “I should have given you time to get dressed. Anyway, breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes.”
He closes the door almost with a slam and I sigh as I drop the sheet. Day one and I’ve already managed to cross some kind of invisible line with him it seems.
I get out of the bed and rub the small of my back. The damn mattress was so stiff that I’m sure I’ll be sore for a good portion of the day, but I won’t complain ‘cause Uncle Huck could have turned me away the moment Momma dumped me on him.
I walk over to my duffle bag and pull a bra out. I think I’ve already given him enough of a show, and I’m damn sure he’s not looking for the encore.
Once I’m a little more decent, I head into the bathroom and wash my face before I brush my teeth. As I scrub the sleep away from my mouth, I glance around and smile as best as I can. Uncle Huck built this place himself and I think he did a damn fine job. Momma always said that he was good with his hands and I can’t help but think she was right judging on how nice and big this washroom is.
As soon as I’m all freshened up, I take one last glance in the mirror to make sure that I’m appropriate enough for breakfast with Uncle Huck and adjust my bra strap to line up with my cami strap before I walk out of the room and make my way down toward the kitchen.
I head toward the smell of breakfast cooking and stop just inside the doorway when I see Uncle Huck. He’s got his back to me as he cooks, and I decide to be as affectionate as I can. Since I’m barefoot, he won’t hear me coming and I think it’ll be a fun way to say good morning the right way this time.
I make my way quickly across the wooden floor and when I reach him, I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him.
“’Morning, Uncle Huck!” I say cheerfully. He stiffens slightly in my embrace before he gently shakes me off with a quiet chuckle. “Huck is just fine with me, Maddi. And good morning, darlin',” he replies as he takes a step to the left and reaches up into the cupboard for a couple of tall glasses.
I let out a sigh as I step away from Uncle Huck and make my way toward the refrigerator. I grab the carton of orange juice then walk back to where he set the glasses on the counter, filling each one half way before I put the carton back.
“Sorry about that,” I say softly.
“About what?” he inquires, glancing at me curiously.
I set my glass down and mime the good morning hug and he smiles. “That’s nothing to be sorry about, Maddi. I’m just not used to it yet, you know? Like I said yesterday, you were a little girl the last time I saw you and you never really did like to hug me then. I think I scared you actually,” he finishes with a laugh.
I reach for my glass and raise it to my lips looking at him with a critical eye. I don’t remember him being this damn tall, built, bearded, or scraggly haired either, but then again I don’t remember much from being a five-year-old anyway.
“You don’t scare me now,” I reply breezily to which he glances at me again and arches an eyebrow. “You kind of remind me of a caveman, really.”
He smiles again, shakes his head, and turns his attention back to breakfast. I take it as a sign that he wants to be left alone now, and I oblige him. It’s how Momma acts too when I’ve gotten on her nerves enough for one day, but she never smiles about it.
I walk into the dining room just off the kitchen, sit down on one of the wooden, handmade chairs and dangle my legs while I wait for Uncle Huck to come in with the spread.
There’s something I wanna ask him and I hope he won’t be too mad if I do.
Chapter Four
“This looks great!” I say enthusiastically as he sets down a large, cast-iron platter of vittles. There’s bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, the biggest pile of toast I’ve ever seen in my life, and even pancakes!
“Dig in, Maddi,” he encourages with a satisfied grin on his face. It makes me tilt my head and look at him for a moment. It’s almost like he’s not used to being praised for the smallest thing.
After I fill my plate with a little bit of this and that, I take a sip of my juice and clear my throat.
“Can I ask you something, Huck?” I begin conversationally. He shovels a forkful of pancakes into his mouth and nods without looking up.
“What happened with Aunt Brianna? Why did she leave?”