Free Daylight Comes by Judith Miller Page B

election since we all know Moses is gonna win.”
    Truth sighed. Miss Hattie always had to have the last word.
    As the day wore on, folks continued to gather, the guests becoming more boisterous as Truth’s energy waned. When Jarena arrived, she insisted Truth rest for the remainder of the day. Normally Truth wouldn’t agree to such a suggestion, but by midafternoon, her nerves were worn as thin as a threadbare dish towel. Being around Miss Hattie all day had taken its toll. She trudged upstairs and fell upon the bed.
    Daylight had faded when Truth awoke with a start. The sound of laughter and loud voices drifted into the bedroom. Disoriented, she shifted her legs and sat on the edge of the bed. What time was it and who was causing the uproar downstairs? As soon as she asked herself the question, she remembered the party. Taking only a moment to arrange her hair, she walked to the top of the stairs and was greeted by a throng of visitors. She searched the crowd for Moses and then spotted him across the parlor. After waving him toward her, she started down the steps.
    When she had nearly reached the bottom of the stairway, someone shouted, “Your husband has won the election, Truth! He left his opposition in the dust!”
    Her knees buckled and she grabbed the handrail, thankful for the support. Moses reached her side and held her by the waist as she lowered herself onto the tread.
    She looked up at him through a murky fog. “Is it true? Have they already announced your victory?”
    Before Moses could respond, Miss Hattie waved her parasol in the air and ordered the guests to move back and give Truth room to breathe. Truth wished Miss Hattie would heed her own advice and join the crowd. Instead, she hovered nearby, fanning the air while issuing instructions to breathe in and out. Did the old woman truly think she’d forgotten how to breathe? How else did one breathe except in and out? Truth leaned close to Moses and suggested they go upstairs.
    Miss Hattie gave the couple her unsolicited permission and advised she’d check on progress in the kitchen. “But don’ be up there too long. You’s the one folks is wanting to see, Moses.”
    Moses laughed and agreed, but Truth shuddered at the remark. “I do wish she’d quit interfering. You’d think she was a member of the family.”
    As they walked down the hallway and entered their bedroom, Moses stroked Truth’s hair as though she were a small child. “She means well.”
    Truth frowned as she settled into the rocking chair that overlooked the rear yard. “I know you’re anxious to get back to the guests.
    But I need to know . . . is it true that you’ve been declared the winner?”
    “It’s still unknown. The folks here in Nicodemus are speculating I’ve won because I’ve been declared a clear frontrunner in this part of the state.”
    Truth met his unwavering gaze. “But you believe you’ve won, don’t you?”
    “I do, but what I think doesn’t matter. It’s the votes that will elect me.” He traced his finger down her cheek. “You need not begin fretting just yet.”
    She enveloped his hand with hers and held it tightly. She wanted to tell him of her fears, but now was not the time. She could hear folks downstairs chanting his name. “We had best return downstairs before Miss Hattie comes up to fetch you.”
    When they reached the parlor, Moses embraced Truth’s waist and signaled for the throng to quiet. Much to Truth’s surprise, he explained he was delighted they had all come to join in the festivities, but since there would be no definite word until later in the week, he suggested they call a halt to the celebration at midnight. Though there were a few groans and exclamations of disappointment, their guests were mostly in agreement.
    However, Miss Hattie commandeered the group’s attention. “We’s all gonna come back here on Friday night. All you ladies bring some food so’s Truth don’t have to do no cookin’.”
    Before the invitation