Lucinda gathered her wits and walked downstairs to the large kitchen where Emma served Spartan meals to her family and boarders. She had her hand on the doorknob when she heard Cassie and Emma talking loudly. Lucinda never knew if one of them were hard of hearing, or perhaps the late Mr. Lawrence was hard of hearing and they never broke themselves of the habit of talking loudly. Then again they might just be uneducated Texans who didn’t know any better than to holler.
“I think she’s sweet,” Cassie announced with a giggle in her voice.
“And I say there’s nothin’ worse than someone with an education and no common sense,” her mother retorted.
Lucinda decided she did not want to hear any further discussion of her character so she opened the door and entered. “Good morning, ladies. I’m sorry I’ve detained luncheon.”
“Cassie almost collapsed,” Emma pronounced as an accusation.
“Oh, mama.” Cassie rolled her eyes.
“You know how strange she can act; well, it’s even worse when she don’t git to eat on time.”
Lucinda noticed Shirley was on the verge of laughing when Nancy scowled at her. Bertha was trying her best to smile as though what was going on was normal. Lucinda sat next to Shirley, which, she noticed, did not improve Nancy’s disposition one bit. “It’s just that I’ve developed a terrible stomachache.”
“If you got the belly flu I want you out of my kitchen right now. I don’t want Cassie catching anything from you, and you’ll have to figure out how to get a lunch on your own.
“I understand,” she replied. “If only I could burp I think I would feel better.”
“Watch your language!” Emma’s eyes flashed indignation. “We never use common words like that around here!”
“Yeah.” Cassie slurped her chicken and stars soup. “Daddy always said belch.”
“Cassie, shut up, and you’re not supposed to started eatin’ until we’ve prayed over it.” She tossed a disapproving glare Lucinda’s way. “Well, you’ve been warned about lunch.”
“Yes, Mrs. Lawrence.” She knew when to be subservient. After all, she had been a teacher for more than forty years.
Emma bowed her head but did not close her eyes until she was sure everyone had followed her example. “Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you so much for Buster Lawrence who—unlike other husbands we know—provided us with a home and money to pay for vittles. And forgive them’s who too stupid to be grateful for what they got. Amen.”
“Oh goody, chicken soup with stars!” Cassie started slurping again.
Bertha sat staring at her sister, tears welling in her eyes. “Emma, I don’t know why you have to be so mean in your prayers. I know you’re talkin’ about my husband. Merrill couldn’t help it if he had kidney stones. His three operations took up all the money we’d saved.”
“Yes.” Emma arched an eyebrow. “Sellin’ cigarettes at that department store. And you two made such a big thing out of bein’ church members.” Smugly she put a spoonful of soup to her pursed lips.
“He couldn’t help sellin’ cigarettes. They said work at the tobacco counter or quit.” Her hands trembled so badly she couldn’t dip the spoon into the soup bowl without clanking loudly.
“I’m jest thankful Buster Lawrence made his livin’ sellin somethin’ good and nutritious like Moon Pies.”
“Moon Pies rot your teeth!” Bertha screeched.
“They do not!” Emma retorted. “Moon Pies is good health food.”
Bertha stood in righteous indignation and shook a finger at her sister. “I don’t see why you’re so proud of Moon Pies being healthful when you ruin your health with those cigarettes.” She turned from the table and headed for the door. “I ain’t hungry no more.”
After the door slammed shut, Cassie looked at her mother, her eyes twinkling. “Can I have Aunt Bertha’s chicken and stars?”
“Of course, you can.” Emma took another spoonful of soup. “Your daddy paid for it so why shouldn’t you have it?”
Lucinda felt a tightening in her chest. She forced a smile on face. “Isn’t it a lovely day? North Texas is always so nice in the spring.” She tried to eat the soup but couldn’t eat more than a couple of swallows down. “Perhaps after luncheon I shall take a walk outside. Perhaps fresh air will make me feel better. I love the smell of honeysuckle.”
Shirley tapped her arm. “Mrs. Cambridge?”
Lucinda turned and smiled. “Yes, Shirley.”
“You said you didn’t feel good. When I feel bad I suck on a throat lozenge. The cherry ones are good.”
“That won’t necessary,” She replied gently. “I don’t think I can put anything in my mouth with this upset stomach.”
“Sometimes eating a Tums will make my upset stomach go away.” Her little voice got even softer. “They have all kinds of good flavors.”
“Thank you. It’s very kind of you.”
Shirley looked at Emma at the end of the table then leaned into Lucinda to whisper, “I think what Mrs. Lawrence said was very mean.”
“You shouldn’t judge your elders, Shirley,” Lucinda replied. “It’s not very nice.”
“I know.”
“What are you two whisperin’ about down there?” Emma demanded. “Don’t you know that’s rude?”
“She knows,” Nancy snapped. She elbowed her daughter. “Now shut up and finish your soup.” After a moment, she looked at Emma, snarling, “And you leave my kid alone. She ain’t as rude as some of the people in this house!”
“She wasn’t even supposed to be here for lunch,” Emma muttered.
“School let out early for Good Friday.” Nancy finished her soup and pushed the bowl away.
“You shoulda told me ahead of time.” Emma matched her, glare for glare.
“I didn’t know ahead of time. Listen, old woman, you better start treating us better or I’ll call the fire marshal and tell him you haven’t made the changes he ordered.”
Emma stood and took her soup bowl to the sink. “Lunch is over, so get the hell out of kitchen.”
Nancy lifted Shirley by the arm pit out of her chair. “When are you going to stop making trouble around here?”
“Mommy, you’re hurting me.”
Nancy pushed Shirley out of the door. Lucinda picked up the rest of the soup bowls. She reached for the two bowls in front of Cassie, but she hovered over them. After depositing them in the sink, she went to the door to the back yard.
“Lovely luncheon.”