Read Online Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts - Free Book Online Page A

to see you again, darlin’. Won’t you come in?”
    “Thank you.”
    Novalee stepped into a room of yellow—yellow lamp shades and flowers, yellow curtains and throw rugs, and the yellow shirt of a small bald man standing just inside the door.
    “Darlin’, I’d like you to meet my gentleman, Mr. Sprock. Jack Sprock.”
    “How do you do,” he said as he took Novalee’s hand in both of his own.
    Jack Sprock smelled of baby powder and cinnamon and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like they had been painted with white enamel.
    “We were just getting ready to have some cold buttermilk and cornbread. Of course, you’ll join us.”
    “Oh, no. I just came by to ask—”
    “You just came by because I asked you to. Invited you to come to my house and be my guest. And here you are and I can’t think of what would make me any happier than this. To have you and your child and my lovely Mr. Sprock here with me this beautiful afternoon.”
    “Beautiful afternoon,” Mr. Sprock added.
    Then Sister Husband smiled and led Novalee to a chair at the kitchen table. Mr. Sprock sat beside her while Sister Husband brought tall yellow glasses to the table and filled them with buttermilk from a Where the Heart Is
    yellow pitcher. She put a plate of cornbread, sliced like pie on a yellow platter, in the middle of the table, then she sat down and took Mr. Sprock’s hand in one of hers and Novalee’s in the other. Mr.
    Sprock fumbled for Novalee’s other hand and they were joined, the three of them, when Sister Husband bowed her head and began to pray.
    “Dear Lord, we are thankful for this communion of souls here today. We pray, Lord, for the safe delivery and a healthy child for this sweet darlin’ who graces our table this day. And we ask forgiveness, Lord, for the fornication that Mr. Sprock and me have committed again. Now, we pray that you will bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. Amen.”
    Mr. Sprock said amen, then smiled at Novalee as he passed her the plate of cornbread.
    “So, what do you think of our town, darlin’? Are you getting acquainted?”
    “Yes,” Novalee said as she wiped buttermilk from the corners of her mouth.
    “Oh good. I think that’s good.”
    “I met someone new just today. At the library.”
    “That would be Forney Hull,” Sister Husband said.
    “Yep, Forney Hull,” Mr. Sprock seconded.
    “Oh, he’s a brilliant man. Just brilliant. If he’d of had a chance to finish his schooling, why there’s no telling what he’d be.”
    “Nope. No telling what he’d be,” Mr. Sprock said.
    “You see, darlin’, Forney’s sister’s the librarian, but she’s never in the library. She’s an alcoholic. Stays upstairs all the time. Never leaves her room. So, Forney takes her place downstairs in the library.”
    “Oh, he didn’t say nothing about that.”
    “No, he wouldn’t. Wouldn’t want you to think bad about his sister, God love her. More cornbread?”
    Novalee had two glasses of buttermilk with four slices of cornbread, Sister Husband smiling at every bite she took. Finally, Novalee decided it was time.
    “Sister Husband, I have a favor to ask of you, but it’s okay if you say no. I’ll understand.”
    “Why whatever is it? You just go ahead and ask.”
    “Just go ahead and ask,” Mr. Sprock said.
    “Well, this is gonna sound pretty strange, but I have a tree I’m needing to plant.”
    “Then we’ll help you.”
    “No, that’s not it. See, the place where I’m living right now . . . well, they won’t let me put a tree there.”
    “Oh, isn’t that mean.”
    “Mean.” Mr. Sprock shook his head and sighed.
    “So, what I was wondering is . . . do you think I could plant it here?
    Just till I settle someplace permanent. Then I’ll come and take it up.”
    “Plant it in my yard?”
    “Yes, ma’am, but just temporary like.”
    “I can’t—”
    “And I’ll take care of it, too. While it’s here. It’s not too pretty right now, but I’m gonna doctor it