Page 28 of Half Blind

“Yes'm,” the girls said at the same time. “Come on, Colette; let us show you around.”

Lemon looked at Pear and asked, “How raggedy is she?”

“She needs everything,” Pear said. “Her Uncle, not good. Not good at all. At least he said he was her uncle. We aren't sure.”

“Have you done a pregnancy test, STD screening, and the like?”

“We have. Don't think she's going to be able to have children. Life did a number on her,” Pear said. “Her Uncle was also a racist son of a bastard. Rebel Flags all over his yard and the N-word was used often.”

“Then why in the hell did you bring her here?”

“She needs mothering and a tender touch,” Pear said. “You know how to handle her as we just witnessed. This is where she needs to be.”

Pear's eyes went to Jared. The boxes from the delivery truck were open and Jared went to work on his truck. Item by item, he would install them on the vehicle to make it roadworthy, and by noon, he'd be gone. Pear pointed at him.

“He's leaving. He helped out after the storm,” Lemon said softly.

“He looks familiar,” Pear said, cocking her head. “Okay, here is a starter pack for her. Funds, ID, and the like. Don't know if she's ready for school and to be around other kids in a formal setting, so home schooling may be the path for the next year.”

Helen watched as Lemon didn't blink. Her focus, or at least her attention, was drawn back to Jared. Then suddenly, Lemon turned to Helen.

“I'm adding her to your roster. I have to be at work in twenty minutes and can't take the time off,” she said and jammed the envelope at Helen. “Get her to the store, get the items she needs, then help her set up the room. You said you know how to do that, right?”

“Yes,” Helen replied.

“Also, do an assessment to check her reading level and mental proficiency at simple tasks and following instructions. She is not allowed in my greenhouse or the lab,” Lemon said, sounding angry.

She stormed off, not looking back at Pear and Helen, whose eyes were wide in disbelief. This was a side of the woman Helen hadn’t seen. Initially, she was concerned that Bria and Ayanna didn't interact with Lemon a great deal, and now she understood why. Maybe with Jared leaving, things could get back to normal, whatever that was on the farm.

“Okay, and wow,” Helen said.

“Lemon is a bad muther...”

“Shut your mouth,” Helen said, looking over at her. “That is my first time seeing that version of her. I think I'm scared.”

“She is not one to fuck with, that's for sure. Rumor has it, she grew up on a farm next to the Archangel's grandmother. She and the Archangel have been friends, if you can call it that, since they were kids,” Pear said. “Her lab is deadlier than Mr. Merge's. Learn well from her, but when she tells you to move, duck, or run, don't question, just do as she says.”

“Noted,” Helen said, walking into the home. The entire energy of the place had changed.

Pear paused for a moment, “Cranberry, I wanted to say thanks for the work you did that night, trusting me, asking my advice. It felt nice to be seen. I appreciate you.”

“And I you,” Helen replied. “What we did that night couldn’t have happened without your unique skillsets. Just sharing the love.”

“Love accepted. Take care,” Pear said, leaving them alone. Her mind was full of thoughts and puzzle pieces to organize. The primary concern was Lemon.

The Lemon had soured. Helen wasn't certain if the lemon aid created for Colette would make everyone who sipped it a bit sick. The one thing she knew for certain was that she would take it slowly and cautiously with the woman called Lemon from this point forward.

****

“I'M HEADED TO WORK,” Lemon said to Jared. “I assume when I get home you won't be here.”

“Affirmative,” he said, continuing to tighten bolts. “Stayed as long as I could. Probably stayed longer than I should have. I'm grateful. Thank you.”

“And we leave it like this?”

“No other way to leave it, Doc Myrtle,” he said. “Again, I thank you.”

“Will I see you again?” she wanted to know.

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