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Lee stared at the doc for a long moment, his smile fading for a second. “Doc…you don’t understand. It’s my baby…”
“Yours?” The old doc frowned up at him.
“Yes, mine. Hattie and me…well…Well, we’re gonna get married, and be a real family soon. But this is wonderful news, doc. Is the baby okay?” Lee asked anxiously.
“My God, boy, what have you gone and done? You’re a white boy! What are you doin’ with a black woman? A black family? God forgive you…and you fought in the war! I’ll be leavin’ now.” The old doc shook his head and sent him a scornful glance. “You better rethink this boy, and get while the gettin’ is good. You don’t know the abomination you have brought upon yourself.”
“I love her,” Lee said calmly. “As far as abomination, God knows how I feel.”
“Good day, and don’t you be callin’ me no more. You’ve just become white trash to me. And I don’t serve white trash. You go to those city docs, don’t be comin’ round me.” The old man walked out of the house as Joe came into the room.
“Doc gone?” Joe asked.
“Yeah…he’s gone.” Lee firmed his lips. “How’s Hattie?”
“She’s sleepin’. How about you? How’d you make out?” Joe wanted to know.
“It was Tor. I found him; followed the blood trail. We fought and then I took him to town to the Sheriff,” Lee said dully.
“Well, for someone who got his man, you don’t act too happy. What’s wrong?” Joe asked.
“The doc, that’s what’s wrong.”
“That old man? Now what happened?” Joe asked, narrowing his gaze on Lee with questions.
“Hattie’s pregnant.”
Joe sat still for a minute, soaking in that news. He nodded. “Well, I guess that was bound to happen sooner or later, the way you two been goin’ at it. But…I take it you ain’t happy about it?”
Lee paced the kitchen, then turned a chair and straddled it, looking straight at Joe. “You’re wrong, I’m thrilled to be havin’ a baby with that woman I love so much. But…he thought it was your baby.”
“Mine?”
“Yeah…and I told him it wasn’t that, it was mine. He got all upset and left; he won’t be back.”
“Well sir, we don’t need him. We sure don’t. I’m sorry, Lee. I guess he put a real damper on your celebration.”
Lee felt tears stream down his face as he stood up. “I guess it’s hard to accept…people like that. But…Joe…I love her, Joe. I’ve always loved her. I can’t stop. She’s all I ever wanted for myself. And now we gotta baby comin’…I’m so proud I could shout it to the whole world. She’s havin’ my baby!”
Joe stood up and put his arm around Lee’s shoulder. “Don’t go thinkin’ I’m goin’ soft. But I guess I do have my moments. I never had no kids. Always wanted some. But you …and Dil…well sir, you’re the closest I’ve ever come. You do what’s in your heart, boy. People…well, people gonna talk and disapprove and call you names, especially here. But we’re goin’ to Texas…ain’t we?” Joe asked.
Lee glanced up at him, and felt his heart melt at Joe’s words. “Yes sir, we are. As soon as she can travel. So we’d best get to packin’ up. And Joe…you are a part of my family, always have been and always will be.”
Joe smiled slowly and nodded. “Yes sir, we gots to pack up. Does…does she know yet?”
“I don’t know…” Lee looked a little stunned. “We’ll tell her…”
“Yes sir, we will.”
Hattie slept ‘til the next morning and Lee didn’t have the heart to wake her. He knew she’d be in some pain and he didn’t want to see her hurt. He stared down at her that night and prayed to God. “Please take care of her. I love her so.”
The next morning, Joe and Lee fixed breakfast. The kids all gathered around the table. “Can we help, daddy?” Violet asked.
“You bet you can. Set the table, honey.”
Violet set about fixing the table while Lily and Daisy got the butter and syrup on the table as Joe was making flapjacks. The kids watched him because when he flipped them, he flipped them high in the air. The girls all giggled as he caught them with the pan.
As they all sat down, Lee smiled at them. “Want you all to know something.”
