Mind Games

She walked outside to sit on the back porch swing. Not really quiet time with the kids shouting, the music playing, all the voices carrying out the windows.

But enough just to sit in the air.

A girl came out. She had a head full of braids with white beads on the ends. She wore a black skirt that brushed her knees and a white top with flowers on the collar.

Carrying a big red plastic cup, she sat right down beside Thea.

“I’m Maddy,” she announced. “It’s really Madrigal, but that’s a whole mouthful. My mama’s a friend of your grammie’s, and my daddy’s the sheriff.”

“Oh. I’m Thea.”

“I know. I’m real sorry about what happened to your mama and your daddy. I hope the man who killed them gets warts and boils on his pecker.”

The laugh just burst out of Thea, and Maddy smiled.

“Well, I do. My mama always says how you shouldn’t wish bad on others, but I bet she wouldn’t mind if he got those boils and warts. You want some of my lemonade?”

At Thea’s hesitation, Maddy smiled again. “It’s okay. I got rid of all my cooties. We’re the same age, so we’re going to be going to school together. Might as well be friends.”

Thea took the cup, sipped. Cold, tart, and just right.

Just like that, on the day she buried her parents, she met a lifelong friend.

From the kitchen window, Lucy watched them. Then reached back for her lifelong friend. “Look out here, Leeanne, look at our girls. Thea’s smiling again, and meaning it.”

“Maddy’ll shake the sads out of anyone. She just won’t quit. If she’s decided to be Thea’s friend, Thea doesn’t have a chance.”

“She needs friends. So will Rem. Good Christ, Leeanne, don’t let me be too old to do all this right by those children.”

“I’ll remind you, Lucinda Lannigan, I’ve got a twelve-year-old, too.”

On a light laugh, Lucy sliced more ham. It helped to keep her hands busy.

“I’ve been at it a lot longer.”

“That’s experience, not age. You raised a fine daughter and two fine sons. And when Zachariah left us, you did it on your own. I don’t know anyone in this world, Lucy, who’ll do all of this more right by them than you.”

“Thea needs a friend who’ll hold her up like you do me.”

“Trust me.” Leeanne peeked out the window again, watched Maddy and Thea on the porch swing. “She’s got one.”

It took a long time for the house to empty out but for family, and longer yet before it came down to only Waylon and Caleb.

Lucy’s friends had tucked away all the food left and cleaned the kitchen to a shine.

“Waylon, do your old mama a favor and get her a glass of that wine.”

“I don’t have an old mama, but I’ll get my beautiful mama some wine. Which? I think Stretch bought out a wine store in Atlanta.”

“If Stretch bought it, it’s bound to be good. You pick.” She let out a groan as she toed off her shoes. “I don’t know the last time I had dress-up shoes on for so long. Thanks,” she added as Waylon set a glass of wine in front of her.

She took a sip, glanced around. “They didn’t leave a thing for me to do. And didn’t Will see that the animals were tended. I’m not sure I know what to do when nothing needs doing.”

“You sit and drink that wine,” Caleb told her.

“Then I will.”

“Can I have some?”