Cottonwood Whispers Read Online Free

you’re ruinin’ my birthday.”
    “I ain’t ruinin’ a thing. I’m askin’ a question, is all. When did my baby girl become a woman of the world?”
    “Harley!” Momma exclaimed. “You and me need to talk on the porch. Right now!”
    Daddy sighed long and hard. Though my momma wasn’t known to push him around, there were times when she meant to have her way, and this was one of those times. Her whole demeanor said so.
    “All right, Sadie,” Daddy finally said. He pushed his chair back swiftly, sending a squeal throughout the silent kitchen, and followed Momma out the front door.
    Luke was sitting back in his chair with his thumbs stuck under his suspenders, his head hung low. “I didn’t mean to upset him none with my gift.”
    “There ain’t nothin’ wrong with that gift. It’s perfect. He’s just bein’ ornery.” I looked at Gemma, and she gave me a weak, sympathetic smile. “You don’t think there’s anythin’ wrong with my jewelry box, do you?”
    “I think it’s right nice,” she said with a bigger smile this time. “You did a real nice job, Luke.”
    “I sure didn’t mean to upset anyone. . . .”
    His words tugged at my heart, but I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to make him feel better.
    Sitting as quietly as we were, we could hear Momma’s and Daddy’s voices as they argued on the porch. It was hard to hear particulars, but Momma and Daddy always paced when they fought, and I knew it would take only a minute or two for them to move up the porch toward the kitchen.
    Sure enough, it didn’t take long for us to hear my momma say, “Harley, she ain’t a little girl no more.”
    “That girl’s my baby,” Daddy replied. “Always has been.”
    My cheeks grew even hotter, and I lowered my forehead into my hand so Luke wouldn’t see.
    “She ain’t no baby,” Momma continued adamantly. “You best start realizin’ it now.”
    “She ain’t no grown woman, neither. I don’t want her gettin’ fancy gifts and wearin’ fancy things. It’s trouble, I’m tellin’ you.”
    Poor Luke looked mortified, and he hopped up from his chair, saying he needed to visit the bathroom.
    Even through the window, I could hear Momma sigh. “Honey, listen. If you go actin’ crazylike over natural things, Jessilyn is gonna feel all tied up inside. She ain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong. She’s just growin’ up. And our job as her momma and daddy is to help her do it, not keep her from doin’ it. You hear?”
    It was Daddy’s turn to sigh, and though I couldn’t see him, I could picture him rubbing the back of his neck and staring at his feet during the long silence that followed. That was what he always did when he was thinking about something he didn’t like to think about. Especially when he thought he might be wrong.
    I didn’t hear either of them say another word. Instead, I heard their footsteps go across the porch, heard the screen door clatter as it closed behind them. Luke wasn’t back by the time they came in. Momma gave me a soft smile when she caught my sad expression.
    Daddy just looked around the room sheepishly. “Where’s the boy?”
    “The bathroom,” Gemma answered for me.
    “I’m right here,” Luke corrected as he came back into the kitchen. “You need me, sir?”
    “Well now, I . . . I got me some explainin’ to do. I s’pose I just ain’t used to my girl growin’ up. I didn’t mean to make nobody feel bad.” Daddy came to me and placed his big hand on my head. “I didn’t mean nothin’ by it, baby. Don’t you go lettin’ my worryin’ bother you none. It’s just somethin’ daddies do sometimes.”
    “I didn’t mean to go upsettin’ nobody,” Luke explained. “I hope you don’t think that.”
    “Son, don’t go makin’ me feel worse than I already do. I got me a belly full of crow as it is, and you feelin’ bad will only make me feel fuller. You didn’t do nothin’ wrong, and I’m sorry I made you feel you did.”
    Daddy