Authors: Annie Jones
“
A hog on what?
”
Sarah cocked her head.
Her father laughed.
“
It means she
’
s quite content.
”
“
It
’
s a good thing,
”
Wendy assured her new friend, speaking with an air of expertise about Miss Lettie
’
s expressions.
“
Oh.
”
Sarah looked downhearted.
“
I thought maybe they had ice-skating hogs out here in the country. That sounded like something I
’
d like to see.
”
“
I wouldn
’
t mind seeing that myself, Sarah sugar.
”
Miss Lettie beamed at the child.
Dixie held up her hands.
“
Well, for heaven
’
s sake, don
’
t mention it to Grandpa, he might get ideas.
”
Immediately both girls
’
faces lit up.
Fulton winced.
From the back of the house Peachie Too began barking.
“
They
’
re back.
”
Wendy leapt up.
“
C
’
mon, Sarah, you have
got
to meet Peachie Too
’
s mama! You
’
ll know which one is her on account of they have the same color hair. And Grandpa Smilin
’
Bob—he can do magic tricks and he don
’
t act like any grown-up you ever seen!
”
“
Saw,
”
Dixie called after the girls scampering toward the back door.
“
They really aren
’
t that bad, I promise. They
’
re just full of—
”
“
Beans!
”
Miss Lettie interjected at the top of her hoarse voice.
“
I was going to say full of life.
”
“
Beans and vinegar, that
’
s what they
’
re full of.
”
Lettie rocked steadily
“
And silliness. Lah, dressing dogs up like they ain
’
t got no better sense than to do such a thing. Moving things around
in the drugstore out a sheer stubbornness and mischief, jabbing one another on the hind parts when a body is minding they own business under the dinner table...
”
Fulton cleared his throat.
Dixie muffled the laughter she felt building.
“
That
’
s not what it sounds like—
”
“
But you got to love them.
”
Lettie held her hand up as if giving her testimony
“
Yes, you do. They
’
s family, after all. We belong together. And you got to love your family
”
“
What
have those children done to my princess puppy- toes?
”
Aunt Sis
’
s shriek carried through the house with enough dramatic flare to do even her proud.
Wendy and Sarah glanced at one another, eyes wide.
Fulton scooted forward on the couch.
“
Girls, you didn
’
t do anything to hurt the little dog, did you?
”
“
Oh no, Daddy, no. We just dressed her up in her cutest outfit.
”
Sarah
’
s smile was pure joy.
Riley helped his mother into the parlor and onto the sofa.
“
Fulton, this is my mother, Verdi Walker. Momma, this is Fulton Summers, the man I
’
ve told you about.
”
They exchanged greetings while Peachie Too growled in the background.
“
Let me help you. Come to Mama, precious puppy.
”
The clicking of claws scrambling over the kitchen floor gave Dixie visions of Aunt Sis stooped over in her new chiffon- covered dress, chasing around in circles after that poor animal.
Peachie Too snapped.
Aunt Sis yelped.
Lettie laughed.
Riley joined her.
Verdi sighed.
The girls huddled together.
Dixie smiled at Fulton like nothing unusual was going on.
And then in walked the Judge, his chest out, head high, a carnation clearly appropriated from the club centerpiece in his lapel and a telltale smudge of rose-red lipstick on his cheek.
“
Grandpa, this is Fulton—
”
“
Yes, Miss Lettie
’
s grandson.
”
The older man grabbed Fulton
’
s hand and gave it a hearty shake.
“
I
’
d give you one of my cards, but I
’
m fresh out.
”
He made a show of searching the pockets in his jacket just the same, then leaned in, gave Fulton a wink and an elbow jab to the ribs.
“
Gave them all away to some female admirers, if you know what I mean.
”
“
Yes, sir.
”
“
Oh, no, none of that. Don
’
t call me
sir
, call me Smilin
’
Bob. Or better yet,
Uncle
Smilin
’
Bob. Your dear mother, Helen Betty, was my late wife Samantha
’
s half-sister.
”
“
Actually, I
’
m not sure that I
’
m comfortable with that—
”
“
Ah, but this little gal is your daughter?
”
He pointed to
Sarah, made some motions with his hand, and produced another carnation out of thin air.
Sarah gasped.
He offered her the flower.
“
You
’
ll call me Uncle Smilin
’
Bob, won
’
t you?
”
Sarah gave him a shy smile.
“
Thank you, yes. When are you going to teach the hog to ice-skate, Uncle Smilin
’
Bob?
”
“
The...
”
Grandpa
’
s face scrunched up in confusion.
“
We don
’
t have hogs, darling.
”
Both girls frowned.
“‘
Course, that don
’
t mean we can
’
t
get
some.
”
They brightened up again, and Dixie groaned.
“
I think one unpredictable poodle is quite
enough, Grandpa.
”
“
Gotcha!
”
Aunt Sis
’
s triumphant cry made Fulton jump.
“
Girls! Girls! I want you to please explain to me this unthinkable act you have perpetuated on my sweet Peachie Too.
”
Sis stomped into the parlor holding Peachie Too around the midsection, an arm
’
s length away. The poodle squirmed and wriggled and snarled, arching its back in an unmistakable effort to take a chunk out of Aunt Sis at all costs.
“
Th-that dog! It was so docile before.
”
Fulton looked down at the children clinging to each other on the floor like survivors in a life raft.
“
What did you girls do?
”
“
Nothing, Daddy. Honest.
”
“
Nothing but dress her up.
”
Wendy nodded.
“
Nothing? Dress her up?
”
Sis
’
s face flushed with her outrage.
“
The dog is really very calm,
”
Verdi leaned in to whisper to Fulton,
“
with everyone but her owner.
”
“
You dressed her up all right. In her
white
outfit, of all things. White!
”
She scanned the group as though she had just delivered the name of the real killer seconds before they condemned the wrong man.
“
We think it
’
s some kind of vibration she picks up from Sis that makes Peachie Too—
”
“
Don
’
t you see it?
White
? Before Memorial Day!
”
“
High-strung,
”
Verdi summed up.
“
Crazy as a loon,
”
Miss Lettie announced.
“
Like mother like dog, I always say.
”
The Judge hee-hawed at that.
Sis scowled.
Fulton looked like he needed some fresh air.
“
If you don
’
t like what the girls have Peachie Too wearing, just go change the outfit, Aunt Sis.
”
Dixie stood, her smile plastered on.
“
I can
’
t leave. It would be rude, I have not been properly introduced to—
”
She stepped toward Fulton, the agitated dog still clasped in her hands.
Riley intervened, taking the dog and dropping it down to the girls. He made the introductions, then asked Wendy and Sarah to go put Peachie Too in a more suitable outfit as a favor to Aunt Sis
’
s rattled nerves.
Dixie sighed.
“
If ya
’
ll will excuse me, I
’
m going to go get some tea for the new arrivals.
”
She started toward the kitchen, feeling a little shaken, but all in all quite content with the way things had gone. Though not every bump in the new and the long-standing relationships had been smoothed out, this initial meeting had gone a long way toward mending fences and making new friendships.
Riley hadn
’
t been able to patch things up with Marcia, but he was going to adopt Wendy. Fulton and Miss Lettie hadn
’
t worked out all their feelings or all the issues about their past and what they would do with their future, but Miss Lettie had her grandson back in her life. And a new great-granddaughter, too.
The businesses had a new boss in Riley, and Dixie knew he would keep things running well and move them ahead with confidence and character. Verdi was on the mend, and Grandpa had a veritable fan club. Everything had worked out so well for everyone.
Well, everyone but Dixie and Sis. Sis, because running the household still took her away from her more
creative
pursuits, as she might describe them, and Dixie...
Dixie glanced over her shoulder at the people gathered together. Her very being radiated with love for them all. And yet...
Despite her gratitude over everything she couldn
’
t deny the sensation that washed over her then. Loneliness. Pure and simple.
“
Isn
’
t this lovely?
”
Aunt Sis cooed.
“
After all these years our family is complete.
”
Dixie lingered at the door a moment longer then her eyes met Riley
’
s.
“
Not quite complete, Aunt Sis,
”
Riley said, not taking his eyes from Dixie
’
s.
“
Would you excuse me while I see if Dixie needs me for anything in the kitchen?
”
He came toward her, his gaze intense, and suddenly she felt her pulse race and her mouth go dry His mouth crooked with only the suggestion of that disarming grin that stole her breath away now just as it had the very first time she saw it.