Page 49 of One Sultry Summer

“Bless her heart. We love having her.”

“She loves spending time with you.”

“Same here, Sugar. Swing by for a visit before you head into the office.”

“Yes ma’am. See you soon.” I hung up the phone and placed it on the kitchen counter. I walk upstairs and gather a few things for Emily, mainly because I know she will run to my truck as soon as I tell her we’re going to visit her grandparents. Once her backpack is ready with a couple changes of clothes and her stuffed panda, I place it on the counter when I return downstairs.

I opened the back door and called Emily. She gathered her things and walked up the back steps. “Is it time for me to go to daycare?”

“Not just yet. We’re going to make a stop at Granny and Papa Chandler’s house first.”

She bounced on her toes. “Really?”

“Yup.”

“Can I stay there instead of going to daycare?”

“We’ll see.”

She headed to the door and waited. I grabbed my keys, and we exited, ready to start the day. As we stepped outside, the crisp morning air filled my lungs, and I took a brief moment to appreciate the quiet beauty of my property. The sun was shining, casting a warm glow on everything.

Emily jumped into her car seat when I opened the door; I put her backpack on the floorboard below her feet before buckling her in. I opened my door, hopped inside, turned on the ignition, then buckled my seat belt. As the engine purred, I shifted the truck into gear and pulled out of the driveway. The road stretched before us, and I couldn’t help but smile at the excitement in Emily’s voice as she chatted about the day ahead.

We drove along the winding road, passing fields and trees that seemed to glow in the morning light. Emily’s excitement grew with every passing moment. Her voice filled the car as she sang along to the songs on the radio. Ijoined her in the chorus. Our voices blended well together. There was a sweetness in that moment, especially one I didn’t have to share with anyone else. The familiar route to her grandparents’ house was filled with anticipation, and I couldn’t help but smile at the joy in her voice. As we pulled into the driveway, Emily’s excitement bubbled over, and I knew this day would be one to remember.

As my truck came to a stop, I was thankful that Emily couldn’t unbuckle herself. Knowing her, she’d try to jump out of my truck while it was still moving. Both Jenny and Jared came outside and met us. I opened my door and stepped out, taking a deep breath of fresh air. Jenny greeted me with a warm smile, while Jared reached for Emily, lifting her out of the truck. Her laughter echoed as she ran toward the house, already anticipating the joy of the day ahead.

“Are you going to stay for breakfast, Wyatt?”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“For God’s sake son, come on inside. You’re not intruding at all.” Jared patted my shoulder. His hair was short and salt and pepper. I noticed he had a slight limp in his gait.

“Jared, are you okay?”

He stopped and looked me in the eyes. “Oh this, it ain’t nothing.” He continued inside the house. A sigh escaped me, knowing his stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to check him out, so I followed him inside.

The smell of bacon wafted in the air. I heard Jenny’s voice from the kitchen. “Wyatt, I have grits ready to serve.”

“On my way!” I called out. I stepped further down the hall and into the kitchen, where the smell of bacon was much stronger. The kitchen was painted in a soft yellow, accented with white trim. At the kitchen table sat Emily with a huge smile and a bowl of grits, she hummed as she ate.

“You’d think I starved the child the way she eats.”

“Nah. I think it’s one of her favorite things to eat, that’s all.” A smile stretches across Jenny’s face. “Come, have a seat.”

“Yes ma’am.” I took a seat at the large wood table. She placed a bowl of grits and a spoon in front of me. She then brought butter and bacon over.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, please. Are either one of you going to sit down?” I scooped a pad of butter and put it in my bowl of grits and added crumbled bacon on top.

Jenny stopped, grabbed hers and my coffee, and sat down across from me. Her dark hair was braided and I could see bits of gray starting to show. She studied me before speaking. “What’s wrong, Wyatt?”

“Daddy likes a lady.”

We all looked at Emily. “Hold on, let me get some coffee. I need to hear about this.” Jared hobbled around the kitchen looking for the cream and sugar. “Fuck it! I’ll drink it black.”

“Jared, hush your mouth! There’s a little one here with tender ears.”

---