The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,98
all used up makin’ syrup an’ jam out o’ the berries. But it’ll be worth it come winter. Nothin’ better’n wild blueberry jam on biscuits or blueberry syrup on hotcakes. Wait an’ see.”
Addie loved being included in Nanny Fay’s winter plans. “I don’t have to meet Emmett until one tomorrow, so I can help you in the morning.” Over supper, she’d told Nanny Fay about the coming crates, and the old woman expressed such excitement that Addie had almost been moved to tears.
“Oh, honey, this batch ain’t so much I can’t do it myself. Now, way back, that was a differ’nt tale. ’Cause back then I went pickin’ with Rosie. The two of us would gather so many berries one person couldn’t take care of ’em all. We’d work at the stove together, talkin’ an’ laughin’. I recall stirrin’ up berries while her little bitty gal slept in a basket on the floor or toddled around under our feet. Then we’d split the bounty, her carryin’ away for her family an’ me keepin’ what I needed for myself. Oh, lawsy.” A sigh left her throat, accompanied by a drowsy smile. “Those was good days.”
Addie tipped her head, searching her memory. Had Nanny Fay ever mentioned Rosie before? “Who is Rosie?”
Nanny Fay sent a confused look at Addie. “Rosie?”
Had the woman already forgotten what she’d been talking about? “You said you and Rosie—”
She waved her hand. “Took me by surprise, hearin’ her name on somebody else’s lips after so many years o’ not seein’ her. She was a gal who grew up here in the holler. Her maw was a mean-hearted lady, had a whole passel of young’uns, an’ for a reason Rosie couldn’t help no matter what, the woman just never cottoned to her. I kinda took her under my wing. Did my best to love on her ’cause she sure needed it.”
Addie’s heart rolled over. She could imagine Nanny Fay loving on a sad, neglected little girl. “How come I haven’t met her?”
Sadness pinched the old woman’s features. “Rosie died some years back. Catched a bad sickness in her belly. But her an’ me had drifted apart before that. When her little gal got big enough to do some talkin’ about where she spent her days, Rosie couldn’t risk her tellin’ her pap they was with me. It would’ve caused trouble. So she stayed away, ’cept for now an’ then when her little gal was at school an’ her man was away.” She chuckled softly, and her familiar soft smile returned. “But I hold my memories of her. All good ones.”
Maybe Addie should stay here tomorrow and help Nanny Fay with the berries. Let her relive the days when Rosie came and helped. “Nanny Fay, about your jam making…I’ll—”
“No, no, I’ll see to it. You got plans to go into Lynch, get them books an’ things, an’ you’ll prob’ly wanna take your Saturday night bath in the mornin’ before you go. Make yourself all fresh an’ purty for the trip to town.” She winked.
For reasons Addie couldn’t explain, heat filled her face. “Well, maybe…”
Nanny Fay chuckled. Then she yawned again and pushed herself out of her rocking chair. “I reckon you’ll wanna write to your friend, so I’ll let you have some time to yourself.” She moved toward her room, pausing beside Addie long enough to squeeze her shoulder. “You sleep good tonight, Addie, you hear?”
“Yes, ma’am. You, too.”
Nanny Fay closed herself in her room, and Addie retrieved her writing paper and pencil from the little stand in her room. She placed the items on the fresh-scrubbed dining table, took the lamp from Nanny Fay’s reading spot, and set it near her paper. Then she sat and picked up her pencil.
With Felicity’s letters laid out in front of her, she answered her friend’s many questions, then shared about her new life on Black Mountain. The open windows allowed in the night breeze, and a chorus of crickets accompanied a hoot owl’s call. The sweetly scented air and pleasant melody kept her company. Peace settled gently on her shoulders. Little wonder Nanny Fay stayed here by herself. But Addie couldn’t help smiling while she wrote, imagining Felicity’s shock when she discovered that Addie lived in a cabin with no electricity or indoor plumbing. Felicity probably wouldn’t find these surroundings peaceful, but—
The owl ceased its whoo-whoo, and the crickets fell silent. The sudden calm startled her as much as if someone had fired a rifle outside the cabin. Addie