Knitted Hearts by Amber Kelly

Sonia

Iwake up early Sunday morning and dress quickly in a simple cotton dress with a sweetheart neckline and tapered waist. I weave my hair into a side braid and slip on a pair of brown ballet flats since I’ll likely be standing most of the day.

Being as it’s one of the rare occasions that Walker will be gracing the church’s doors, he is picking his mother up this morning. It’s a service I usually do for him. It’s not part of my job description as a home health care nurse, but Walker is a friend, and Edith is a sweetheart, so I spend a little more time with her than I do my other patients.

I pour myself a travel mug of coffee and just get a splash of milk added when I hear the horn coming from outside.

I hurry down the steps with my mug in hand and out to my stepdad’s waiting SUV.

“Don’t you look as pretty as a picture,” Don says as I slide into the backseat.

“Thank you.”

Momma looks back at me and frowns. “Why didn’t you wear your hair down?” she asks.

“I figured it’d be easier in a braid if we are going to be out in the breeze all afternoon,” I explain.

“I like it better down,” she gripes.

“You see it down all the time,” I respond.

She fishes around in her purse and pulls out a tube of lipstick. “I bought this for you. I saw it at the pharmacy’s beauty counter and thought the shade would look amazing on you. The rose color will complement your peachy skin.”

She passes it back to me, and I take it.

“Thank you, I guess,” I say before dropping it into my bag.

“Aren’t you going to try it on?” she asks.

“Right now?”

“Yes, I want to see it on you,” she insists.

I hold up my thermos of coffee.

“Give me that,” she says as she takes it from my hand.

“Hey,” I protest.

“You don’t want to have coffee breath all day.”

“What’s wrong with coffee breath? I like the smell of coffee,” I whine.

“Not everyone does though. I think I have a breath mint in here somewhere,” she says as she begins to rummage through the center console.

“Momma! What is with you this morning?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

She is definitely acting odd. My eyes meet Don’s in the rearview mirror, and his expression says he hasn’t got a clue.

She shuts the console and opens the glove compartment.

“Kathy, I don’t think anyone is going to be complaining of Sonia’s breath at the service.”

He tries to help, but she continues to forage.

“Just stop. I’ll try on the lipstick for you if you calm down,” I tell her.

It must appease her because she closes the door and turns her expectant face to me.

I take my compact mirror and the tube from my bag and apply a generous coat of the lipstick. She was right. The color is perfect for me.

“Happy?” I ask as I snap the lid back in place and make a duck face for her.

“Yes. You look beautiful. Now, stop making that ridiculous face,” she orders before turning back around.

Don gives me wide eyes in the mirror, and I giggle.

“I believe I was promised breakfast,” I say as we pass Faye’s Diner.

“I brought you a country ham, egg, and cheese sandwich. It’s in the bag behind my seat,” she says.

Yum, my favorite.

I reach for the bag and open it.

“What is this?” I ask as I pull an apron from the bottom of the bag.

“Oh, that, use it like a bib. You don’t want to get anything on your dress,” she answers.

Is she serious?

“What am I five years old?”

Don chuckles and Momma swats at his leg.

“I just want us all to look nice for homecoming,” she says.

I toss the apron aside and take a bite of the sandwich.

I love my momma but she’s a nut.

The parking lot is indeed packed when we pull up to the church. People are milling around, greeting each other in their Sunday best. I spot Elle standing with her aunts—Doreen, Ria, and Madeline. Madeline is married to Jefferson Lancaster. They own Rustic Peak Ranch, and they took in Elle and her brother, Braxton, when they lost their parents in an automobile accident. Braxton is now married to Jefferson’s daughter, Sophie, who moved to New York with her mother when she was young. They met when she returned to Poplar Falls for her grandmother’s funeral. They have a baby girl, Lily Claire.

“I’m going to say hello to Elle,” I tell my parents as I break off in their direction.

“We’ll save you a seat inside,” Momma calls after me.

“Good morning, Sonia. Don’t you look pretty!” Doreen greets me.

I look down at my dress and flats.

What is with everyone?

“You don’t think I should have worn my hair down?” I ask in jest.

She looks my braid over and sighs.

“I do think it look gorgeous down, but the braid will do,” she says.

Elle gives me a confused look.

I shake my head.

“Bells here yet?” I ask Elle.

“She and Brandt are on their way. They’re stopping to pick up his mother,” she answers.

“Do we know what our duties are for this carnival yet?” I ask.

“Bells and I are on cotton candy and funnel cake detail,” she says.

“And me?”

We both look to Doreen, who is one of the ringleaders for the day.

“We have you down for the corn maze,” she says.

“Corn maze. Got it,” I say.

Walker arrives with his mother, and I follow them and Elle into the sanctuary. Don and Momma are seated a few pews back on the right side. She raises her hand to make sure I see them.

Reverend Burr opens up the service and introduces the guest speaker from a neighboring church. There is singing and celebrating for the church’s fortieth anniversary. They even show a slideshow of past homecomings. It’s all very touching, and I hear sniffles from the pew across from us, where Braxton, Sophie, and Lily Claire are seated, when all the photos of Gram Lancaster flash across the screen. Reverend Burr retakes the pulpit at the end to thank all the visitors and to invite them to stay for the dinner on the grounds and the carnival, explaining what all the proceeds will be used for.

As we file out one by one, he stands at the doors of the church to shake each hand. I notice from the corner of my eye when Myer, Walker, and Foster, sneak out the side door.

“Where are they going?” I whisper to Elle, who is behind me in the exit line.

“They were a little late this morning. They have to run and finish setting up some of the booths before they can eat.”

We move from the church to the fellowship hall for lunch. Every female member of the church made a dish, and the serving table, covered in a crisp white tablecloth, is spread with enough food to feed five thousand. Another table against the right wall is piled high with desserts.

Doreen and Ria are behind the counter that separates the rest of the dining area from the kitchen, and they are filling Styrofoam cups with crushed ice and setting them out for people to grab once they load their plates. Jugs of sweet tea, lemonade, and water are available to choose from.

Reverend Burr blesses the food, and then we all form a line to make our plates.

Elle, Bellamy, Brandt, and I are seated at one of the round tables, eating, when Myer, Walker, and Foster come in with Truett following them.

“I made you a plate,” Elle tells Walker.

“Thanks. I’ll go grab another one and be right back,” he says.

“Another one?” she asks.

“Yep. I’ll need another one, so I might as well get it now before I get comfortable.”

“Why do you need another plate?” she asks.

He points to the serving table. “Because, woman, that is church-lady food. One doesn’t eat just a single plate of church-lady food. When presented with church-lady food, one eats until they are bursting out of their pants,” he announces.

Emmett, Aunt Doreen’s fiancé, walks past us with two cups in his hand.

Walker looks at him and asks, “That sweet tea?”

“Yep,” Emmett answers.

“Both of those yours?” he asks.

“Yep,” Emmett answers again.

Walker turns back to us and says, “See, church-lady tea.”

Then, he heads to the table.

“He’s crazy,” Elle murmurs.

“You married him,” Bells and I say at the same time and start giggling.

Brandt slides his seat back and stands. “Sorry, ladies, but I have to agree with the crazy one this time. This church-lady food and tea demand seconds.”

We finish our meals and make our way over to the table, where Momma, Doreen, Ria, Dottie, and Beverly are sitting, selling tickets for the food trucks, game booths, and corn maze.

“Here we are, reporting for duty,” I say.

We each hand our bags over for safekeeping and take the boxes for holding the tickets we’ll collect.

Momma looks at me, and then she reaches behind her and hands me my purse back. “You need to reapply your lipstick. The color wore off when you ate,” she tells me.

“What is it with you and my lips today?” I ask.

“She’s right, dear; the color looked so good on you. It would help if you touched it up,” Doreen says.

I cut my eyes to her.

“Don’t you agree, Dottie?” she prompts.

“Yes, it is a lovely shade,” Dottie replies.

I snatch the bag from my mother’s clasp, take the tube, and smear the color on thick. Then, I chuck it back in and ask them, “Well?”

Doreen pulls a tissue from a box on the table. “Maybe blot it a bit,” she suggests.

I roll my eyes as I take the tissue and press it between my lips.

“That’s much better,” Momma praises.

“You guys need to stay away from the tea. The sugar is making you nuts,” I tell them.

“Oh, here come our first customers,” Ria singsongs, as a line begins to form.

That’s my cue to hurry to my station.