more of the tune that filled her head.
When she entered the dining room, she found Mrs. Grady scurrying around setting food on the table and muttering to herself.
“Good evening, Mrs. Grady. I thought I was late, but I see I’m the first one here.”
“Good evening, Miss Marnie.”
Marnie noticed the table was only set for two.
“Should I not have come?” she asked, thinking Ruth or David might have banned her from the dinner table.
“What’s that? Oh . . . oh, no, you’re fine. It’s Miss Ruth who’s not coming. She’s decided to eat in her room from now on. Mary will take her food to her and then serve you and Mr. David.”
“That makes a lot more work on you.”
“Not me, it don’t. Mary’s the one ‘ats got to see to her majesty’s whims, she is,” Mrs. Grady retorted.
“Am I the reason she isn’t coming to the table?”
“Who’s to know? She’s been terrible flighty since Mr. Robert and Mr. John died. Miss Celeste can get her out of the house, and she does go to the country club some or out to eat with her women friends, but she’s spendin’ more and more time in her room.”
“I just hate to be the cause of more work for you and Mary and Alice. Everyone did so much for me when I was sick in bed, and I want you to know I appreciate it, Mrs. Grady.”
“Luv, that’s one thing you always done right, never tried to cause us any more work, and always told us thank you. Alice says it’s ‘cause you come from working folks yourself, and not from money.” She headed back toward the kitchen but stopped and faced Marnie. “I’m not saying everything you did was right, mind ye’. You ran with an awful wild crowd, if someone hasn’t already told you, and you didn’t treat Mr. David or your sweet little tyke like you ought to have, but you tried not to make any extra work on the help, and you always said thank you. Your mama raised you right, that way, at least.” With that she pushed through the swinging door.
Marnie wondered if she would be eating alone. She put her hands on the back of her chair to pull it out when she heard David on the stairs, and within moments he came rushing into the room.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” He was gasping for breath. “I got to playing with Jonathan and let the time get away from me.”
“That’s easy to do,” Marnie said.
“Mother’s not here yet?”
“Mrs. Grady said Ruth is taking her dinner in her room from now on.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” David said irritably as he pulled out Marnie’s chair for her. “Well, I’m not bending over backward for her this time. Let her eat there if that’s what she wants. She’ll come out soon enough when she wants to know what’s going on in the house and at the plant.”
“What do you mean?” Marnie asked as she spread the napkin across her lap.
David passed Marnie the plate of chicken as he spoke. “When she gets mad about something or doesn’t get her way, she goes to her room and pouts.” He took the plate back and served himself. “She’s mad you’re still here, that I haven’t thrown you out on the street.”
“Well, I’ve wondered about that myself,” she responded as she spooned some mashed potatoes onto her plate.
“You said it yourself. Keep your enemies close.” He grinned, so she didn’t know what to think about that statement.
They ate in silence for a few minutes before David spoke. “You did a good job picking things for Jonathan. He’s excited about the things you bought. I had to stay and discuss his town for a while, then play a few hands of dominoes. That’s why I was late to dinner.”
“Yes, I played with him, too. I enjoy seeing him so happy.”
David stopped eating and looked at Marnie. When he spoke, his voice was low and quiet. “I should have done that before—bought him some educational toys. Now that I look at it, he has, or had, very little to play with. Mrs. Tucker is good to watch him, but she takes no initiative in pointing out things he needs. She doesn’t like to drive, she doesn’t like to shop, and she doesn’t take him to places outside the house very often.
“On the weekends I try to take him out to the park or to the movies, but I probably should take him shopping sometimes, too,