Free The Spirit Tree by Kathryn M. Hearst

noise of children playing in the yard brought me to tears. No one should be happy today, yet life went on. Charlie always loved having a houseful of people and a yard full of kids, but it meant nothing without his laughter to punctuate the voices.
    Dottie and I sat on the porch swing holding hands. We moved in slow motion while the world and people around us sped by. Cousins brought us food. We didn’t eat more than a couple of bites. Someone else brought coffee, but it went cold in our hands. The metal chains squeaked and groaned above us, ignored like the voices around us.
    “Is Dr. Hicks here?” I searched the yard for an unfamiliar face.
    “No. He called, said he’d been delayed due to the elders making preparations for the gathering. He’ll be here tomorrow for dinner.”
    “What happens at the gathering? This will be my first.”
    “They choose a new medicine man. The candidates have to prove their skills, then there’s a vote.” Dottie held my gaze.
    I assumed whoever had tried to get Charlie’s book would be there, likely one of the candidates for the position. “Is it safe for us to be there?”
    “The elders won’t let anything happen to us.” Dottie’s grip tightened on my hand and tensed. Darlene headed our way.
    My mother squeezed between us on the swing and sighed. “It was a beautiful service.”
    Dottie nodded, and I turned my attention to a group of kids playing tag.
    “Do you plan to sell the house now that Charlie’s gone?” Darlene’s saccharin-sweet voice turned my stomach. “This place is too much to take care of now that it’s just you and Grandma.”
    “I haven’t given it much thought,” Dottie said.
    “I could stay here in one house and you and Grandma could stay in the other. I mean, I would be happy to help take care of the place in exchange for rent.” Darlene patted Dottie’s arm.
    I turned to my mother and narrowed my eyes. “You’d be willing to mow the grass and clean up after the chickens?”
    “Well, no. They would need to get rid of the chickens, nasty things. I’d see to hiring a lawn service.” Darlene smiled brighter.
    “Thanks for the offer, Mom, but we have things under control.”
    All eyes turned to the swing when Darlene jumped up and started to shout, “You don’t speak for Dottie. It’s her decision to make, not yours, young lady!”
    I steadied the rocking swing with my good foot. “Mom, let it go for right now. This isn’t the time. We are all grieving and need time to process.”
    “Look at Miss College Degree talking all fancy.”
    Despite my education, I had hung onto my accent and poor white trash dialect to avoid appearing snobby around my family. Times like this I felt like a fraud as a professional and as a hick. I simply didn’t belong. “You’re upset. Let’s take a little time and calm down. Would you like to talk about Charlie?”
    “Don’t you dare psychoanalyze me.” Darlene played it up for the growing audience.
    “I wouldn’t even know where to start.” I didn’t see the slap coming until the sound rang out and my cheek stung.
    “I birthed you, raised you, gave up my career. You’re an ungrateful little bitch. Who do you think you are?” Droplets of spit landed on my face.
    “Enough.” Mae inserted herself between my mother and me, as she had so many times in the past. “Party’s over. Time to get going.”
    People began to clean up paper plates and say their good-byes. Darlene stomped into the house. Mae kissed my cheek and walked to the bottom of the stairs. She accepted hugs and words of sympathy from the family. Mae stood watch like a four-foot-ten-inch guard, blocking anyone from getting too close until the last car pulled away.

Chapter 19
    “Tessa Marie, go get the big frying pan from Dottie’s. I took out some chicken. We need to get dinner cooking before the boys come calling.” Mae rubbed her hands together and took out flour, oil, and a dozen spices. Colonel Sanders didn’t have a thing on