Free Carrying Mason by Joyce Magnin Page B

liked it. Mama drank hers with milk. Ruby Day liked milk and sugar. I even made a cup for Daddy, without anything in it, just in case he changed his mind, and carried the heavy tray into the living room.
    “Now tell me, Luna. What in the world happened?”
    “Like I said, Mama. Aunt Sapphire happened.” I sat in the rocking chair.
    “Family matters,” Daddy said. “I don’t want to get involved in family matters.”
    Ruby Day started to talk but Mama hushed her. “Ruby Day, you just stay calm and drink your tea. Let Luna tell the story.”
    I sipped my tea and started to tell them what happened.
    “And then I showed you that picture,” I said in the end.
    Mama took the picture, and for a minute it looked like she was praying over it. Then she looked into Ruby Day’s frightened eyes. “Is this where you lived, Ruby Day?”
    Ruby Day nodded and smashed her glasses into her face.
    “And this is where you think Aunt Sapphire wants you to go?”
    Ruby Day nodded.
    “Oh, Mama,” I said. “We can’t let it happen.”
    Daddy snatched the picture from Mama’s hand. “Louise, I’m telling you, family is family. Can’t mess in family business.”
    “Now, Justus,” Mama said, “this ain’t right on any account. I heard about these places.” She removed her hat and set it on the coffee table. “Dreadful. Just dreadful.”
    “What can we do?” Daddy said. “We can’t keep Ruby Day here if her family has other plans. They probably know what’s best for her.”
    “But Daddy, you said I couldn’t carry Mason and I did. I did that just fine. You said I’d never bait a proper hook, and I do that like a champ because Mason taught me. Ain’t you the one who is always saying, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me’? All things, Daddy, not just some things. Even fight Aunt Sapphire and her fancy foxes and big car.”
    “But some things are not ours to fight,” Daddy said.
    I swallowed and looked at Mama. “I have to try.”
    Mama patted Ruby Day’s knee. “When is Sapphire coming back? Do you know?”
    “Tuesday. She said Tuesday.”
    Mama stood. “Okay. There is not much we can do today.” She pinned her hat back in place. “Come along, Justus. We can still make Communion.”
    “Will you come back after church?”
    Mama touched my cheek and then kissed me. “How ‘bout if you and Ruby Day come for Sunday supper? I’m making chicken and dumplings.”
    “Okay, Mama.”
    There were only a couple of things in life more inviting than Mama’s chicken and dumplings—Christmas and a good book.
    I walked them to the door.
    “See you at two,” Mama said. “And don’t worry too much about Ruby Day. Just go about the day as usual. Let her work in the garden or read her a story. She likes that.”
    Daddy put his hand on my shoulder. “You might not win this battle, Luna.”
    “But I’m gonna fight it, Daddy.”

CHAPTER 14
    A fter Mama and Daddy left, Ruby Day hardly said a word, just tinkered in her garden and in her room until it was time to leave for Mama’s house.
    She’d left the shoebox on the dining room table. I passed by it three or four times until I finally decided to take another look through the contents. There had to be something inside that would explain why Aunt Sapphire was so bent on taking Ruby Day back.
    I made sure Ruby Day was still in the backyard before I opened the box. Nothing jumped out at first. Not until I dropped the lid. When I picked it up I found a white envelope with something scribbled on the front in black ink taped to the underside. I only recognized the first letter, D. But before I could open it, Ruby Day wandered into the dining room.
    “Whatcha doing, Luna? Looking for more pictures?”
    I held the envelope behind my back. “N-n-no, Ruby Day. I was just cleaning up. I guess we should be getting to Mama’s now.”
    “Okay, Luna. I’ll go change back into my Sunday dress. Will you help me zip up the back?”
    I folded the white envelope