It was a terrible death, but understandable, obvious. He could see Daniel’s injuries, the blood, broken bones. But Mary’s death had been so different. She hadn’t had a mark on her. Maybe that’s what made it so hard to take.
“You have cookies?” Mims asked.
“Did you make me any cookies?”
“You know, I’m not going to do this forever, right? Come over here and make sure you got enough to eat and that you’re eating it? You’ll have to do this on your own soon.” But he knew she was all talk. And she was right—he should do this for himself. He couldn’t rely on his family forever.
“Just give me until Christmas.” Or maybe the New Year, he silently added. He knew. He knew one day he wouldn’t feel quite the same heartache and loneliness like he felt then, but he couldn’t say when that time would be.
Mims started the coffee and began opening the cabinets one by one. Upper for flour and sugar, lower for the mixing bowls and cookie sheets, then into the icebox for butter.
“What are you doing?”
“Speaking of Christmas,” Mims started, “are you going to decorate any at all?” She didn’t say as much, but he understood the unspoken You know Mary would’ve at least put up some pine boughs on the fireplace mantel. Nothing like fresh pine and a few sprigs of holly to put a person in the holiday spirit. “Making cookies.”
Levi sucked in a breath; this was Mims. Busy, nosy, bossy, busybody, sweetheart. “I’m not going to decorate for Christmas. And isn’t making cookies a little much like work for a Sunday?”
She already had half the ingredients dumped in the mixing bowl when she turned around and gave him a sly grin. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell. And wouldn’t you like to have some snickerdoodles this afternoon?”
And there was the cinnamon. He might be able to handle the sentiment, but pine boughs and cinnamon would definitely do him in. No, he wanted to pretend that Christmas wasn’t coming.
“Snickerdoodles sound wonderful,” he said. It was the truth and a lie all at the same time, but he wouldn’t hurt Mims for anything.
She continued to smile as she turned back around and attended the dough she was mixing.
“Remember that time that you and I went to the woods to get some mistletoe?” She laughed a bit at the end.
Levi couldn’t help but chuckle a little himself. “Mamm was so mad.”
“She thought you were going to use it to try to kiss people in town.”
He shook his head. “Wonder why she would think that?”
Mims shot him an innocent smile. “I have no idea.” Just like that, he once again knew his sister had set him up.
Chapter Seven
Maybe if she found herself a husband . . . But since Mims was approaching thirty, he might have to find one for her.
Levi watched as his sister flitted around the kitchen. When snickerdoodles weren’t enough, she started on chili and a pot of stew.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” he said. “I have enough food for the week in the icebox already.”
She waved away his protest and continued to stir the two bubbling pots on the stove. She tapped the handle of the wooden spoon against the rim and laid it across the top. Then she grabbed a pot holder and peeked at the cookies inside the oven. “I can’t have my only brother starving to death.”
Levi shook his head. “That’s hardly going to happen.”
Mims pulled the tray of cookies from the oven and set them on the hot pad waiting on the counter. Even with as much of a pang of nostalgia as the aroma of the cookies gave him, he had to admit they smelled delicious. The hardest part about snickerdoodles was waiting until they were cool enough to eat. “They’re calling for storms, you know.”
He had heard some talk of the matter at church but hadn’t paid it much mind. Some men chose the color of their shirt depending on which way the wind was blowing. He wasn’t one of those. He kept up just enough to keep his soybeans and peanuts growing. Other than that, the weather was up to God.
“That’s what they say,” he said.
“Well, if it storms, I won’t be able to get out here to feed you. And then you will starve to death.”
He shot his sister a look. “I’m a grown man, and I can get myself something to eat when necessary.”
She shot him a cloying smile. “Of course you can.” Her voice was syrupy sweet. “I’m just trying to make it a little easier for you.”
Levi sighed. It was an argument he wasn’t going to win. In fact, not many arguments with Mims were won by the other party.
“I just love you, you know.” She had the cookies served up on a plate and at his side. The playfulness was gone from her tone, and in its place, a look of worry and concern.
“I know.” He touched her hand. “I love you too. And I do appreciate all that you’re trying to do for me. But it’s too much.” Too much on a lot of levels. Too much for one person to take on, too much traveling back and forth between her house and his, and too much time that forced him to spend with others.
The sparkle returned to her blue eyes. “It’s not enough,” she said. “Now eat up.”
Mims three, Levi zero.
* * *
She made it. Tillie bit back her heavy sigh as her father pulled the buggy down the drive. Behind her she could hear Hannah and Aaron in their buggy. Gracie and Matthew had opted to go home. Henry was in trouble again, but as far as Tillie could tell it wasn’t anything unusual. He seemed to be something of a stinker. But
