Free I'll Stand by You by Sharon Sala

things to do yet today.”
    “But, Mama, I thought we were going to get some of that yummy banana pudding from the deli to take home.”
    “You’re always wanting to spend my money. If you were working for your money, you’d have a different idea about how to spend it, I can assure you. If you want banana pudding, we’ll make it at home.”
    Leigh was not pleased, but she knew that look on her mother’s face and didn’t argue. She glanced at Jenn and rolled her eyes, then followed her mother out of the store while Dori was standing in line to pay for diapers at the checkout.
    Dori waved at them as they passed by her, but they ignored her presence. She couldn’t remember when she’d felt this good.
    * * *
    Unlike Dori, Blessings’s youngest criminals weren’t feeling all that great. Because of their transgressions and subsequent arrests, their futures were still in free fall.
    The twins had been dropped from the track team.
    Lewis Buckley was no longer part of the basketball team.
    Coach Sharp had personally kicked his own son off the football team that he coached.
    And Peanut Butterman’s presence on behalf of Brooks Pine was keeping the parents anxious. They hadn’t voiced a single complaint about paying the medical bills and knew they would continue to be responsible for any and all medical treatments until Brooks Pine’s doctor had released him.
    They were certain Johnny Pine was going to sue them for damages and suffering, because if the shoe had been on the other foot, they would have done it to him. Because of the ages of the perpetrators, the district attorney had agreed to a closed hearing. The ruling disappointed the warring factions in Blessings. Fresh fodder would have done wonders for the fires of their indignation.
    * * *
    Two days later, Dori came home from work to find Luther Joe fussy and her granddaddy worn out. She apologized profusely that the baby had been a bother, took him out of Meeker’s arms, and told Meeker to go to bed. Meeker didn’t argue.
    By nightfall, it became apparent that Luther Joe was sick. Dori suspected an earache because he kept pulling at his ear as he cried. Shortly after midnight, Meeker was back up with her, and they took turns trying to comfort the baby throughout the rest of the night, but to no avail.
    Along toward daylight Dori finally got Luther to settle. He was dozing in her arms but whimpering in his sleep.
    “I’ll take him to the pediatrician in the morning,” Dori said and then looked at the clock and sighed. “Lord. It’s already morning.”
    “I can take him so you don’t have to miss work,” Meeker said.
    Dori frowned. “I don’t know, Granddaddy. I think I should—”
    “Honey, we’re in this together. I don’t clock in anywhere but here with my two favorite people. You go to work, and I’ll get him to the doctor. By the time you get off work, we’ll at least have one dose of medicine in him and you can take over from there.”
    Dori still felt guilty. “This is my responsibility,” she said.
    “And we’re still family,” Meeker countered.
    Luther Joe whimpered again and then let out a wail. Dori put him up on her shoulder and began patting his back and rocking him in her arms.
    “My poor little man,” Dori murmured and then caught her grandfather’s look and gave in. “Okay, you take him to the doctor, and I’ll take over when I come home. Tomorrow is my day off and that will give me two whole days to get him feeling better.”
    “That’s the ticket,” Meeker said. “I’m going to make coffee; then I’ll take over and you get ready and go to work. I’ll call after we get back from the doctor, okay?”
    “Yes, okay,” she said as the baby continued to fuss. She kissed him on the cheek and then started down the hall toward their bedroom. “Let’s go get a dry diaper, okay?”
    Less than an hour later, Dori was out the door and on her way to Granny’s Country Kitchen. She’d missed sleep before, and it would happen