Yellow Crocus Read Online Free PDF Page B

to the divan. Miss Elizabeth kept her face hidden in the crook of Mattie’s neck, though she tentatively peeked out at her mother. When Mrs. Ann tickled her leg Miss Elizabeth smiled at her mother. Slowly Mattie shifted Miss Elizabeth until the baby faced her mother.
    “Patty-cake, patty-cake,” Mrs. Ann began. She chanted the familiar rhyme and clapped her daughter’s warm hands together. Moving both of their hands through the gestures, they both smiled when they got to the end. Miss Elizabeth turned around to make sure Mattie approved of the game as well. Mattie nodded and smiled reassuringly at the child.
    Grandmother Wainwright interrupted the game. “As soon as my grandson is born, you will suckle him. We have purchased a new girl to be with Elizabeth.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Mattie replied.
    “It will not be for a few weeks yet,” inserted Mrs. Ann, “…and it may not be a son.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Of course it shall be a son,” Grandmother Wainwright declared without hesitation.
    Mattie was composed through the rest of the visit, but she was deeply shaken by this news. She had anticipated suckling the new baby, but she did not think it would force her away from Miss Elizabeth. As much as she had desired to keep her special feeling only for Samuel, she had come to love this child. This caring, little white girl had captured her heart. And she was going to lose her too.

     
    The coming weeks felt like the days leading up to Miss Elizabeth’s birth when she waited to leave Samuel to come in. Each morning Mattie wondered if this would be their last day together. And then each night she thanked God for the gift of that day and asked for one more. It was an anxious, bittersweet time.
    Mattie knew it would be an easier transition for Miss Elizabeth, and for herself, if they nursed less in preparation for the change, but she did not deny the child her breast. Whenever they settled in together for a feeding, Mattie had a heavy heart knowing this might be the last time she held Miss Elizabeth so close.
    One late Sunday evening, Mattie was staring out the window of the nursery hoping to catch sight of Samuel. She had been standing there since she returned from her visit to the Quarters. For many hours on that lovely May afternoon Samuel had squealed in delight as Mattie ran after him. His tight-fisted hands pumped back and forth as she chased him then he would suddenly freeze, allowing himself to be caught in his mother’s arms and twirled around. After a few spins he used his limited vocabulary to ask for, “Mo, mo,” and she happily began the game all over again.
    Miss Elizabeth sat near Mattie’s feet, occasionally pulling herself up on Mattie’s long skirt or crawling off to retrieve a ball Mattie pushed away with her foot. The door to the nursery opened as Mattie’s toe was about to strike the ball again. Quickly Mattie turned from the window, reached down to Miss Elizabeth’s outstretched arms, brought the child into her arms, and said, “Good evening, ma’am.”
    “Labor has begun,” declared Mrs. Gray. “No need for you to come to the birthing room. When the child is born Emily will bring him to you and take Miss Elizabeth to her new room.”
    “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.”
    With that, Miss Elizabeth and Mattie were left alone for the last time. Mattie sat on the rocking chair with the one-year-old on her lap. Her voice shook as she explained to the child, “You gotta be with that new Charlotte now. I gonna be with your new brother or sister. Charlotte was brung over to take care a you. She seem fine enough.” Her voice caught. “You gonna be all right.”
    Mattie pulled Miss Elizabeth close for a cuddle, but the active girl wanted none of it. She pushed her body away and slid her legs down to the ground. The child quickly crawled to the ball by the window, adeptly transitioned to a sitting position, and threw the ball toward Mattie. It rolled past her. With a sad smile she