CHAPTER 16

Hae was removing food from a bag when Charlotte arrived at the group.

"Apple pie, mashed potatoes, green beans, hot buns, and meat loaf. How does that sound?" Hae asked.

"Yummy," Alice replied.

"Get the bowls," Haetel commanded. "You know what we have to do." In a matter of minutes Hae had everything transferred to her own dishes and warming in the oven. The diner's containers were stuffed into the bag and taken to the trash in the garage.

Charlotte found it puzzling. "Do you genuinely believe that you are fooling your son?"

Haetel slipped on an apron. "I tricked my husband for years or at least, he let me think I did. He and my son are wise enough to not rock the boat. They like to eat."

"But why the deception?"

Haetel's face took on a new expression of agony, pain, and heartache. Charlotte regretted not remaining silent. "I'm sorry. It is none of my business."

Haetel finished fastening the apron. "Alice, go check to make sure the trash can's lid is on."

"Kay, Grandma, but I know that I closed it."

Haetel turned to face Charlotte as Alice went. "You are correct. Although it's none of your business, I'll tell you because you're staying with us." She drew a breath. "I lost interest in a lot of things after I lost my son. One of them was cooking." She took another breath. "I know you think that I'm insane..."

"No, Hae, please I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything at all." Charlotte wanted to cry because she felt so horrible. She was wrong to inquire about this woman's life. Or anybody's.

Alice rushed in. "All done."

Mae handed her a plastic-foam container from the diner. "Mrs. Wilcott received this from Ginger. Take it to her, please."

"Kay."

After gently removing the dish, Alice moved towards the door. Suddenly she stopped. "I can't leave my prisoner, Grandma."

"I'll be watching her."

"Kay. She's not much trouble. I'll be right back if Mrs. Wilcott doesn't talk my ears off."

After Alice left, Charlotte apologized once more. "I am really sorry, I didn't..."

"Don't worry about it." Haetel sat down. "Nobody ever talks about my firstborn. They think that I'll experience another nervous breakdown."

Charlotte also sat at the table. She could tell Hae she'd also lost someone she'd loved very deeply and knew how she felt. But then she recalled how, after her father's death, it had always bothered her when people started sharing their own loss of a loved one, as if she could equate her misery with theirs. She didn't want to hear about anyone else's suffering at the time. Haetel most likely didn't either.

When Hae remained silent, Charlotte hesitantly enquired, "How long has it been?"

Haetel used her forefinger to make circular motions on the tabletop. "Forty years."

"Oh." That shook Charlotte. Did grief last that long?

"He was five years old and contracted meningitis." Hae examined the movement her finger was making. "He was gone in a matter of weeks, and it was the most agonizing pain I've ever experienced. I felt as though someone had extinguished the light in my world, and I had lost all desire to live. My husband didn't know what to do. Neither of us knew how to live without Patrick." Her hands were interlocked. "Then one day I heard an Elvis song, and I began to awaken from my malaise. I genuinely experienced joy. I kept listening to more and more. I may be smitten with Elvis, but it helps me get through a lot of difficult times."

Charlotte placed her hand over Hae's. She didn't say a word.

She didn't have to.

"I joined the living again and I had John." Haetel dabbed her tear away. "I shouldn't be disclosing all of this to a complete stranger. It's not even something I bring up with Gladys, but...but today is Johnny's birthday. I've been thinking a lot about him."

"Oh, Hae, May I call you Hae?"

"Of course."

"This has to be a rough day. I'm really sorry you had to endure my insolence.'

"We did bump heads. It actually pulled me out of the doldrums."

Charlotte smiled, happy to be of help. "Did you begin bringing food in secret after that?"

"Yes. I basically brought food from the diner and put it in my plates because I was never any good at cooking. Nobody said or knew anything. Since neither Ginger nor her mother have said anything, it has become a local secret. It is a Stark tradition. Her mouth twitched almost into a smile.

Charlotte patted Hae's hands. "Whatever works."

There was a brief period of silence. Charlotte wanted to do something to take Haetel's attention away from Johnny.

"Haetel, would you please help me with something?"

"If I can."

"Will you show me how to wash my clothes? I'll need something clean for tomorrow."

"Sure thing. Go get 'em, and we'll toss 'em in the washer."

For the next few minutes, Haetel instructed her on how to operate the device. Her top and bra both needed to be hand cleaned before being laid to dry on a towel. Hae threw other clothes in with Charlotte's capris to make a load. Hae paused when she picked up Charlotte's thong.

"What in the world?"

"They're panties," Charlotte explained.

"Lawdy. 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy.' What you young girls wear these days. If I got that stuck in my crack, it'd take me a week to get it out."

Charlotte burst out laughing and Hae joined her. And without a doubt Charlotte knew she'd made a friend.

Hae added more clothes, including John's briefs. There was something about their undies tumbling together that seemed indecent. Yet...delightful.

Alice came racing back and they prepared the table for dinner. Later, John entered casually and set his Stetson hat on a rack by the door.

Alice leaped into his arms. "The prisoner is doing fine," she told him.

His eyes met Charlotte's. She pondered why she couldn't turn her gaze elsewhere. She was unhappy with him, but in this cosy home filled with love and heartache, she had forgotten the reason for her anger."

Alice slid to her feet.

"Have you heard from your brother?" John queried.

In a heart-stopping second, it all came back. "No." She could see he wanted her out of his house, and that hurt. Again, she had to wonder why.