House Divided (21 page)

I couldn’t stay for Sunday School. I
needed to get to the hospital to spring my aunt. She was more than ready to
come home, and I was completely ready to have her there. I said goodbye to
Brady’s family, minus his parents of course. They didn’t even approach us, but
Benjamin walked over there after he said goodbye to us.

When Kendra hugged me bye, she whispered
in my ear, “Don’t let the wicked witch keep you off the yellow brick road. War
Eagle.” That confirmed my suspicions that this was a coordinated plan today and
that Brady had talked to them about last night. “Let’s have lunch together
later in the week,” she offered.

“That’s sound fabulous,” I responded. 

Caroline squeezed me tight. “Don’t forget
you’re coming to my class on Tuesday,” she reminded me.

“Don’t worry, sugar. I wouldn’t miss it
for the world.”

We were stopped by the pastor’s wife on
the way out. “Ella,” she said almost nervously. “The women’s group has set up
some meals to be brought in for you and your aunt. You can expect one tonight.”

Normally, I would have said we had it
covered, but after the sermon, I felt like I should just be gracious and accept
it, which I did. Besides, my aunt deserved something better than I could make,
even though there was some cake left over.

Brady drove me home so I could get my own
car. He offered to take me to the hospital and pick my aunt up with me, but I
felt like baby steps were more appropriate. I wanted her to get settled in at
home before I sprung Brady on her again. He still seemed eager to get her
approval, so I supposed last night’s events hadn’t made him resentful of her.
His eagerness made me feel better. I wanted more than anything to have the two
people I loved most to love each other, or to at least like each other. At this
point I would settle for tolerance.

Once we were at my house, Brady walked me
to my car and kissed me goodbye like he wouldn’t see me in days. “Can I come by
later?” he asked.

“Yes …?” I said hesitantly.

He looked disappointed.

“It’s not because I don’t want to see you,
more than anything I want to see you. It’s just my aunt,” I immediately
responded.

He gave me that look of his and touched my
cheek. “Ellie, we’re a couple and we’re adults now. And honestly, darlin’, I’m
a little tired of our families trying to get in the way of that.”

I sighed deeply. “You’re right. I’ll see
you soon.”

He smiled that smile I loved so much and
helped me into my car.

When I arrived at the hospital, my aunt
was dressed and waiting impatiently for the doctor to come by and release her.
I kissed her cheek. “You look well.” She would forever be a beauty queen,
whether she would admit it or not. I just hoped I would have her grace and
elegance as I aged. Even sitting in a hospital room, she exuded perfection. I
sat next to her and held her hand while we waited. She kept looking at me
interestingly. I could guess why. “I suppose you got some phone calls this
morning.”

She gave me a wry smile. “You’ve always
had a knack for making people talk.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I was
offended by the accusation.

“You’re touchy this morning, sugar.”

I wasn’t touchy. I was trying to be amused
and not annoyed. That didn’t last long.

“Ella Lu, that isn’t a bad thing. People
have talked about you your whole life, how talented and beautiful you are. Of
course, you being with that Jackson boy only fans the flames. And having the Jackson boys sit with you at church today. What did you expect?”

“I knew there would be talk, but just for
your information, those Jackson boys planned that on their own.”

She gave me a hint of a smile.  It gave me
some hope.

“Tell me how dinner in hell was last night?”
she asked almost hesitantly.

I laughed at her choice of words. Hellish
described it perfectly and that’s what I told her. I think that pleased her. I
wondered if she was worried I would have enjoyed myself. I knew there wasn’t
any chance of that happening. I didn’t mention anything about Brady’s daddy. I
could only imagine what that kind of information would do to her.

Dr. Sandstrom finally came in and released
her. He was still lying through his teeth for me. He gave me a list of
instructions and medications we needed to have filled. He also gave me some
dietary guidelines he wanted us to implement. She was not thrilled at all with
that. He tried to nicely, but authoritatively, explain to her the importance of
changing her diet. I interrupted and said we would follow the plan. She gave me
her look. I just smiled.

“Thank you for the books and dolls,” Dr.
Sandstrom said as the nurse wheeled my aunt out.

“You’re very welcome. It was well worth
it,” I said quietly. I hope I was covert enough. “You don’t know how
appreciative I am of the staff here.”

He grinned knowingly. My aunt was not the
easiest of patients. He pulled out his card and handed it to me. “If you ever
need
anything
, please call me.”

It was a little odd, but I took the card.

My aunt fussed all the way to the car. She
wasn’t happy they wouldn’t let her walk down. I tried to keep my snickering to
a minimum. She was visibly relieved when we made it to the car, and as soon as
we got into the car, she took a deep breath. I think a week and a half in the
hospital was her limit. I could see a change in her countenance almost
instantly. I reached over and squeezed her hand.

She squeezed back. “Hurry home,” she
almost pled. “I think that doctor was very taken with you,” she said once we
reached the highway.

“Really? I thought he was married.”

“No, he’s divorced.” She looked over to
me. “So, what did you think of the handsome doctor?”

I smiled over at her. “I think he’s not
Brady.”

“No, he’s not,” she said it like it was a
good thing.

“Aunt Lu, if you didn’t want Brady and I
together, why did you work it out so we would be?”

She paused. “It’s not so much that boy as
it is his family.”

“Believe me, we’re in agreement about his
family, but Brady isn’t going anywhere. I love him, and I want you to love him
too.”

I could feel her look.

“I’m serious. If you just give him a
chance, I know you would. He’s a good guy, actually he’s a great guy, and I
think deep down you know that. You wouldn’t have even talked to him in the
first place if you didn’t.”

She didn’t respond, but I knew she knew I
was right.

When we got home, I pulled around to the
back and parked in the garage. I knew she wouldn’t like me parking in the front
like I had been. She thought that was tacky.

I got her settled into the family room and
went upstairs to change into some more comfortable clothing. I also grabbed the
new Christmas puzzle I bought her. Growing up, we always did a puzzle during
Christmas break. We hadn’t done one in a while, but it seemed like a good time
to start that tradition again. When I came back down with the puzzle in hand,
she seemed very pleased, which in turn made me very happy. I finally felt like
the holidays could begin.

I turned on some Christmas music on my
aunt’s large stereo. It played CD’s, but it was ancient. I put on her favorite,
Bing Crosby. Then I set up the puzzle table in front of the couch. We spent a
lovely afternoon singing our favorite Christmas tunes and putting the puzzle
together. I had a feeling the puzzle was going to take us at least a few days,
but that was ok in my book.

When evening came around, I lit the
Christmas trees.

“Ella Lu, the trees look lovely this
year.”

“Well you can thank Brady and Caroline for
that.”

She narrowed her beautiful brown eyes at
me. I just smiled in return. About that time, the doorbell rang. I assumed it
was someone from church with our dinner.

I assumed correctly, I was just surprised
who brought it. There at the door were all my favorite Jacksons: Brady, Kendra,
Benjamin and little Miss Caroline. They were all goofily grinning at me as they
said, “Surprise!” I laughed and invited them all in.

Brady was the first to get to me. He
kissed my cheek. “We thought we could have a family dinner tonight.”

“I hope we aren’t being too presumptuous
by inviting ourselves to dinner,” Kendra threw in. 

My heart was bursting. I placed my hand
over my heart. “Nothing would make me happier.”

I invited them, and the trays of food,
back. The food smelled absolutely delicious.

I led them back to the kitchen, which
happened to open up to the family room. We had a formal dining room, but I
loved eating at the round table in the kitchen’s breakfast nook. It was much
more cozy and warm. It matched how I was feeling at the moment. Having them all
there meant the world to me. I just hoped my aunt would also find pleasure in
it.

She was surprised when we all came back,
but she didn’t look unhappy.

Caroline took the lead and went straight
up to her and handed her a card. “I drew you a picture so you would feel
better.”

She was adorable. I could tell my aunt
thought so too. “Well thank you, sugar, I feel better already.”

Caroline giggled. “Miss Ellie, calls me
sugar too.”

My aunt looked up at me and smiled. She
even smiled despite Brady’s arm being around me. Aunt Lu looked back at
Caroline. “It must be because you’re so sweet.”

Caroline liked that. Afterwards Kendra and
Benjamin made their way over and sat on the couch and talked to my aunt for a
bit. Brady and I took the safer route and set the table and set the food out.
It looked like Kendra made grilled chicken, with some type of marinade, and a
green salad and homemade rolls again. She was definitely more domesticated than
me, but I was just fine with that. Benjamin was sure a lucky guy, though.

While in the kitchen, Brady snuck in a few
rated-G type kisses. Apparently he missed me this afternoon. The feeling was
mutual.

“Whose idea was it for you to bring dinner
over?”

“Kendra, of course. They wanted you to
know that she and Benjamin are on our side.”

Their support meant the world to me.

During the dinner prep, I kept looking
over at my aunt and Brady’s family. They seemed to be getting along famously.
Kendra was soon becoming one of my favorite people, and I really appreciated
Benjamin. I couldn’t imagine this was easy for him. He was even gentleman
enough to help escort my aunt to the table. My aunt seemed taken aback by it,
but she allowed him to do so. I wished I could have taken a picture of it.

I sat next to my aunt, and Brady sat next
to me. This was our first meal together. It felt momentous. When we were all
seated, we all looked at each other. We were making history in Kaysville, and
we all knew it. My aunt asked me to bless the food, and I couldn’t help but get
choked up as I thanked God for those that surrounded the table. Funny enough,
both my aunt and Brady touched me gently as I tried to get through the prayer
without completely losing it. I had a habit of crying when I was happy, and I
couldn’t be happier than I was that very moment.

After the blessing was over, Caroline was
confused by my show of emotion.

“I just cry when I’m happy, sugar.”

She tilted her head sideways. “That’s just
funny.”

Her momma tapped her cute nose. “Someday
you’ll understand.”

Caroline just shrugged her shoulders

Once the food was passed and dished, Brady
braved talking to my aunt. “How are you feeling this evening, Luanne?”

“I’m happy to be home.” It was stiff, but it
was progress.

I kept noticing the covert glances
Benjamin was giving Brady. He knew he had his work cut out for him. But
seriously, this dinner was far and above better than the previous night’s. This
was the way I imagined big family dinners would be, people laughing and talking
over one another and hands being held under the table.

One of the best parts was, I got to
provide dessert, a homemade dessert at that, and one that tasted like heaven.
My aunt couldn’t believe I made it. She knew all too well I lacked skills in
the kitchen; it ran in the family. When we were all thoroughly stuffed from
Kendra’s wonderful dinner, we retired to the music room. Brady had suggested I
play for everyone, and everyone liked the idea, especially my aunt, so I went
with it.

Benjamin once again escorted my aunt. I
think Brady was a little jealous that his brother had an easier time getting
along with her.

“Your time will come,” I whispered in his
ear as we walked down the hall.

He kissed my head in response.

Once everyone was situated, I asked
Caroline to pick her favorite Christmas song. She was sitting with me on the
bench. Brady sat near my aunt. I could tell they both looked uncomfortable, but
they were trying, and that meant a lot.

Caroline picked “Jingle Bells”. “Do you
want to help me play it?” I asked her. She shook her head vigorously, like I
knew she would. I sat her on my lap and took her tiny hand in mine and helped
her play the melody. We only played the top line as we sang together.