Miss Carmelia Faye Lafayette Read Online Free PDF

can’t even think straight.  I hope he know what he getting hisself into.  Pretty ain’t always practical. 
    “You know,” Miss Margaret said, leaning over to whisper in Miss Carmelia’s ear.  “Buford Tee been talking ‘bout you right regular ‘round here.  I couldn’t wait to meet you.”
    “Miss Margaret!” Buford Tee shouted softly.
    “What?  It’s true,” Miss Margaret said, Miss Carmelia snickering.  “He act like he don’t want you to know, but we been telling him he need to settle down.  It’s time for a man his age to find a wife.  A good woman to make him happy.”
    “Miss Margaret.  Stop.  She don’t wanna hear that,” Buford Tee said.
    “Oh, yes I do,” Miss Carmelia said quickly.  “Tell me more.”
    “Oh, no you don’t.  She don’t need to get tight with you just yet.  You might tell all my secrets,” Buford Tee said, taking Miss Carmelia by the hand and leading her into the parlor.
    “Why you didn’t want her to talk to me?” Miss Carmelia asked, letting go of his hand and poking him lightly in the side.  “You scared she gone tell me something good.”
    “Well,” Buford Tee paused, his back to her.  “She do know how I feel about you.”
    “And how do you feel?” Miss Carmelia asked.
    “How do you feel?  About me?” Buford Tee asked, catching her off guard.
    “I…I…I guess I like you, somewhat,” she replied, not sure if she should say anything yet.
    “Somewhat?” Buford Tee said, turning to her.
    “I mean, I like you,” Miss Carmelia said, growing slightly anxious.
    She couldn’t lose control again.  She couldn’t allow herself to fall for this man.  That’s the last thing she needed.  Another broken heart.  One in one lifetime was enough for her. 
    “I…I like you too,” Buford Tee said.  “I don’t know why that is so hard to say.”
    “It’s hard for me too,” Miss Carmelia said, wanting to open up more, but was cautious not to.  “Why’d you bring me here?”
    “I always come here for breakfast,” Buford Tee replied.  “Miss Margaret make some of the dangdest salmon cakes.”
    “You ain’t answering my question,” Miss Carmelia said.
    “I wanted you to meet my family,” Buford Tee said.  “I wanted the people closest to me to meet you.  I’ve told them so much about you, and I wanted them to meet you in person.”
    “You did?” Miss Carmelia said, impressed by his honesty.
    “Yeah,” Buford Tee replied.
    “I think they are great people,” Miss Carmelia said.  “But I don’t think your grandpa care for me too much.”
    “Why would you say that?” Buford Tee asked.
    “I read people,” Miss Carmelia said.  “I can tell.”
    “Naw, it ain’t nothing like that.  He just gotta warm up to you,” Buford Tee said, trying to reassure himself more than Miss Carmelia.
    “Uh huh,” Miss Carmelia said, a nonbeliever.
    “I like you, and that’s all that matters,” Buford Tee said, kissing her deeply on the mouth.
    Miss Margaret and August sat in the kitchen talking about this new woman in Buford Tee’s life.  Miss Margaret liked her from the start.  Any woman that got Buford Tee talking about settling down impressed her, Miss Margaret trying to marry off Buford Tee ever since she married August.  And Miss Carmelia had Buford Tee wanting to settle down, have a horde of children, and grow old with her.  She, however, didn’t necessarily have those same visions of her future.  August believed that to be the case also.
    “What you think about Buford Tee’s lady friend?” Miss Margaret asked.
    “Nothing,” August replied nonchalantly.
    “Nothing?  You ain’t got no opinion about the chile?” she asked, not believing his words.
    “Nope,” he said, sipping on his coffee.
    “Alright, what’s wrong with her?” Miss Margaret asked, knowing August was holding something back.
    “Did I say something’s wrong with her?” he replied.
    “That sour look on your face says it all,” she