Page 32 of Healed
“Why?” Emmalyn asked.
“More sugars and nutrients in you,” Barron said.
“I’m about to eat squash and oysters. Don’t want Popsicles. Got grape pops right here.”
“Em, I know you want squash and oysters, but I’ll be surprised if you can hold them down. I’m surprised you’re holding down the grapes,” Barron said.
“I just won’t eat them until Momma gets back with medicine.” She ate another few grapes and put her head back on the pillow.
Barron looked over at Everly.
Everly nodded, then winked at Barron. “I’ll get juice Popsicles, and whatever else I think might help.”
“Thank you,” Barron said.
Somebody knocked on the door as Everly was getting her purse.
“Whoever that is, tell them to go away! Emmalyn does not need an audience,” Barron snapped.
“On it,” Everly said, going straight to the door. She pulled it open and did a little excited gasp. “It’s Daisy! Hi, Daisy. How are you, honey?” she asked, pulling Daisy in the house to both get her off the porch with all the flying nighttime insects, and to hug her tightly. “Come on in, Daisy. I’m running to the store real quick.” She hugged Daisy and kissed her cheek, then shouted to everyone else over her shoulder as she went through the door. “I’ll be back!”
Daisy looked around the living room. “Hi.”
Barron lifted his chin in greeting, then suddenly realized Daisy could help heal Emmalyn, at least take away some of her weakness.
“Daisy! Come on in,” Barron said, jumping up to better greet her.
“Hey, everybody. Uncle Bam,” she said, smiling at him as Barron guided her to Emmalyn.
“Hey, sweetie,” Bam responded as he flashed her a smile and finished slicing the yellow squash.
“Em, look who’s here, baby,” Barron said.
Emmalyn, who’d let her eyes fall closed, opened them and angled her head to look at Daisy without actually lifting it. “Hey,” she said, her voice weak and shaky.
“Why didn’t you let me know you were sick? I’d have come to heal you by now. I could have made you better.”
“Well, it’s not exactly sick, sick,” Emmalyn said.
“What do you mean? You’re either sick or you’re not,” Daisy said.
Emmalyn sighed sadly and tears started streaming from her eyes. “I’m pregnant, Daisy. And I can’t stop throwing up, and I’mso sick. And I’m not sure I should be doing this at all. I’ll be a horrible mother. I’m so screwed up, Daisy. What is my kid going to come out like?” she started sobbing.
“Oh, Em,” Daisy said, dropping to her knees right in front of the sofa Emmalyn was lying on.
Emmalyn threw herself into Daisy’s arms and Daisy immediately began soothing her, murmuring to her and stroking her back.
Daisy glanced over at Barron and smiled encouragingly at him.
“I’ll go help Bam,” he whispered.
Daisy nodded, then went back to trying to calm Emmalyn.
“You can’t really believe that your child will be anything other than spectacular, can you?” Daisy asked.
“Yes,” Emmalyn sobbed, pulling back to better see Daisy.
Daisy reached out and used her thumbs to wipe the tears off Emmalyn’s tear-stained face. “Can I tell you what I think?”
