Mustard Seed by Ibrahim Laila

Author:Ibrahim, Laila
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542045568
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-11-07T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

LISBETH

Charles City County, Virginia

Lisbeth and Mother Johnson were preparing the midday meal while Sammy and Sadie tended to the animals with Uncle Mitch and Poppy. The kitchen in this old farmhouse was very outdated. Lisbeth would no longer take her stove and pots for granted. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the simple pleasure of cooking.

“What time is our guest arriving?” Lisbeth asked.

“Around noon,” Mother Johnson explained. “Thank you for allowing Miss Thorpe to impinge on your visit. We rarely have even one guest, let alone two—not that you are guests. It was quite a surprise when our minister asked us to host her for a meal during her travels.”

Lisbeth replied, “I think I shall find her interesting, and I am curious to learn more about the freedmen’s schools. Besides, I think it will be good for Sammy to see that there are White people working on behalf of the emancipated slaves.”

The older woman asked, “How has your visit been with your parents?”

To her surprise Lisbeth teared up at the question. She looked at her mother-in-law and said, “It’s been . . .”—she searched for the right word—“challenging. I’m honored to care for my father at this time, but it is gloomy. My mother’s attitude continues to confuse me. One day she is warm, and another she is hostile. She has no interest in knowing my children, which pains me. Julianne and Jack have taken a liking to Sadie, but I fear their influence conflicts with our values.” Lisbeth’s voice broke. “And Sammy seems to be very disappointed in me after seeing where I come from.”

Mother Johnson patted her hand.

“I am managing, but I miss Matthew. And I don’t know how much longer we will be away from him. But that’s enough about me. Do you have any news from Michael or Maggie in California?”

“The letter from this week said they had a lovely crop of apricots that fetched a good price in San Francisco,” Mother Johnson said. “Apparently the climate in Oakland is very suitable for the many kinds of fruit they are growing. They report that the community has changed in the two years they have been there; soon there will be ten thousand people living there.”

“You must miss them,” Lisbeth said.

“Aurelia and Emma have grown so much,” Mother Johnson said. “We treasure their letters, but it is not the same as being together.”

“I’m sorry all your grandchildren live far from you,” Lisbeth said, imagining the pain of being so far from her own children.

“We can manage travel to Ohio, but . . .” Her voice tightened. “I fear we may never see Aurelia and Emma again.”

Lisbeth’s chest swelled in empathy.

Mother Johnson’s eyes welled up. “California is so very far. They have encouraged us to resettle there, but we cannot imagine abandoning this home, our siblings, Mitch . . . visits with your family.”

“The changes in our nation are tearing families apart,” Lisbeth said.

Mother Johnson nodded, then mixed her biscuits in a sorrowful silence.

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