Free Hope Reborn by Caryl Mcadoo Page A

holding Mammy’s hand? May hated that name. So many colored women had that moniker hung around their necks. Why, it was almost as bad as calling one of the colored men Boy.
    “Miss May, would you care for some coffee or tea, before we get started?”
    May looked across the table at the seventeen-year-old. “Thank you, but no. We can get right to work, unless you have something else you need to do.”
    The girl stood. “I’m all yours.”
    Following an initial flurry of questions and instructions, Mary Rachel worked in silence. May returned to the rewrite, thankful the girl wasn’t a chatter box.
    After what must have been two hours, she capped her ink well and studied on Henry’s baby girl. Could a mother ask more than for her daughter to turn out just like Mary Rachel?
    The girl looked up. “What? Am I doing something wrong?”
    “No, no. I was only thinking what a wonderful young lady you were. Your mother must have been so proud of you.”
    Mary Rachel sniffed then her lips turned down, like she was trying to keep from crying. “I hope so. It’s so strange. It’s been six years, and I still miss her every day something terrible.”
    May held out her arms. “Oh, sweetheart.”
    She scooted out of her chair and fell on May’s neck. For the longest the distraught girl let herself be hugged then pushed back. “Forgive me, ma’am. Having you here. Well, no one has sat in mother’s chair until today.”
    “Oh, no. I shouldn’t have been the one. Why in the world did –”
    “No, Daddy told us he wanted you to have it. He bought it special for her because she sat in it and said she’d never been in a more comfortable chair. He didn’t get it right then, he waited and surprised her with it on the anniversary of when she came and asked him to help her get her cotton to market.”
    The girl wiped her cheeks and stood. She walked to the window and looked out. “That’s when they fell in love, on that trip down the Jefferson Trace. I think it’s wonderful you sitting in her place.”
    Mary Rachel turned back and faced her. “You have no idea the difference in him since you came. No one’s sat in her chair at the table, either.”
    What a romantic the man was. Could Henry be interested in her after all? She turned back. “He’s never let anyone sit in her place at the table either, has he?”
    “No, ma’am. Rebecca’s always on his left when she’s here, with the Major next to her, then me. Mammy’s where Chester was.” Mary Rachel smiled. “He’s funny about some things, like sitting according to age.”
    Well now, this changed everything.
    Or did it?
    The young lady returned to the table, and picked up her quill, but then twisted back toward May. “Would a personal question be out of order, ma’am?”
    She smiled. “Depends on how personal.”
    “Is it too personal to ask if you’ve ever been married?”
    “No, and no.”
    “Engaged?”
    May grinned. Was the child or father asking? “Afraid not. I’ve never even been asked.”
    “Really? That is so hard to believe.”
    “No, you just don’t know me very well yet. I’m fully aware of how difficult I can be; if not for my Chester, I’m certain I’d have no one at all.”
    The girl’s brows arched higher, and she gave a little understanding nod. “My mama? God rest her soul. Now she was plenty hard to get along with at times. Don’t get me wrong. She was absolutely wonderful.”
    “I’m sure.”
    “She loved with a passion, and treasured her relationship with the Lord. Enjoyed having fun with us so much, but Mama had a temper on her and had to have everything so perfect. No one could ever do anything good enough in her estimation, except for Daddy.” She grinned. “Sometimes not him either.” She shook her head. “You just haven’t met the right man, that’s all.”
    May resisted the urge to say more. Instead, she shrugged. “That’s possible, I suppose, but I’m pretty used to doing exactly what I want whenever I want