The house was quiet. June walked downstairs and stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. She missed the smell of coffee brewing, pancakes, and most of all her dad. Melody was still sleeping. Which was good. She needed the extra rest. June had kept her at the hospital late into the night. It was so hard leaving her dad alone. Not knowing. She gave him extra kisses and hugs. But it still didn’t feel right leaving him by himself. But June had responsibilities to take care of. She had ignored them for way too long.
She grabbed the stack of mail that was piling up in the corner of the kitchen counter. Junk, junk she said to herself as she threw them into a throw away pile. But there was one letter she couldn’t disregard. She knew what it was even before she opened it. It was from the bank. She reluctantly unsealed the envelope. It read:
Breach of Contract Notice
Pursuant to the contract titled Home Equity Loan and dated January 13, 2015, you have conducted yourself in such a way that has breached this Agreement due to the following actions: loan is in default due to non-payment.
While we prepare to file a lawsuit against you based on the aforementioned breach of contract, it is hopeful that a mutually acceptable resolution outside of a publicly filed litigation can be achieved.
Foreclosure. She knew it was only a matter of time. The money was running out and June couldn’t keep up with the chores on the farm. The idea of losing everything was too much to handle. This was her home. What am I going to do?
She heard small footsteps scampering down the stairs. “Mommy!” Melody jumped up into her mother’s arms. “What’s for breakfast?”
June folded up the letter and stuck it in her pocket. “I don’t know kiddo. Can you give me a second?”
Instinctively, Melody sat at the bar as she had done so many times before watching her Grandpa cook pancakes every morning. June stared at the pots and pans, unsure of which one to use. Then, she looked inside the cupboard. Nothing looked easy. “Where’s the cereal?” All she saw was flour, sugar, baking powder, and some spices. “I’ve got an idea. How about we get dressed and go into town to eat?”
Melody looked excited. “Can I order chocolate milk?”
June nodded.
Without another word, she hopped off the stool and ran upstairs.
Mally knocked on the door. “Mamma,” June yelled. “You don’t have to knock for Pete’s sake…you live here!” Mally stood there, waiting for June to let her in.
June flung the door open. “This is ridiculous!”
Mally walked in and looked around. “Where’s Melody?”
“Getting dressed,” June said. “We’re going into town to get some breakfast. You want to come?”
“No, you two need some time together. I’d only get in the way.”
“Are you mad at me?
Silence.
“What did I do?”
Mally raised her eyebrows. “Nothing. You did nothing.”
“So, what is it?”
“It’s nothing. You two have a good day. I’ll be here when y’ all get back.”
Melody came barreling down the stairs. “I’m ready, Mommy.”
June looked at her mother. “You sure you don’t want to come with us?”
Mally leaned down and gave Melody a gentle hug. “Be a good girl for your mamma.”
With a toothy smile, Melody nodded.
Mally turned around and started to walk away.
“No hug for me?” June asked.
Mally sighed and slowly turned back around and faced June. “Sorry, I’m tired.” She walked a few steps, and her right knee gave out. She started to fall to the ground, but June caught her arm in midair and pulled her up.
“You don’t seem okay.”
“I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well, that’s all. Y’all go…have a good time.”
June leaned in closer, hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Call me if you need me. I plan on stopping by the hospital this afternoon if you—”
Mally interrupted before June could say another word. “No, I can’t.”
“Okay, Mamma…but if you change your—”
“I won't.”
June swept her hair behind her ear. “All right then. I love you.”
Mally started to walk away. “Love you too,” she murmured with a low wave.
June didn’t know if she should pry some more or just leave it alone. She knew her mom was hurt. Maybe she didn’t feel included these days. But June hoped in time her mamma would come around. She’d always done so in the past.
“Come on,” June said. “Let’s get you some breakfast.” She took Melody to a place called Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant which was located in the Historic Downtown in Franklin, Tennessee. Looking up at the old, tan, brick building brought back a flood of good memories. It had been years since she’d been there. Maybe it was on purpose that she had avoided her past, but today it sat unchanged smack dab in front of her. When they walked in, it was just how she remembered it to be. Wooden tables, string of lights dangling from the exposed ceiling, bright yellow walls with old black and white pictures of the town, shelves of merchandise lined the walls and in the center was her beginning…a wooden stage platform with rustic wood planks backdrop, guitars hanging, and a chalkboard in the center featuring the next band.
“Table for two?” the hostess asked as she gathered their menus.
It took June a minute to answer as she was taking it all in. The nostalgia. “Um…yes, two of us.”
The hostess looked up. “June Waters! It can’t be!”
“Well, now I’m June—”
The hostess grabbed her arm and yanked her over to the bar where one of the owners, Buddy was serving up drinks. “Look who it is! Can you believe it?!”
“Well now…Where’ve you been?”
June felt a tightening in her stomach.
Melody pointed. “Look, Mommy. Your picture is on the wall.”
June raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Ha, yeah it sure is.” She took a seat at the bar and Melody followed her lead.
Buddy leaned down. “So?”
“I’ve been home for about a year now, helping my daddy with the farm.”
“Well, why the heck haven’t I seen you? You know better than to not come around. We’re your family too.”
June gave an uneasy smile and looked around some more. Melody took out all the sugar packets and started building a house with them. June didn’t know how to answer Buddy. It wasn’t her intention to ignore her friends. One day kept turning into the next, and before she knew it…all her days were looking the same. Feed and clean the animals, plough fields, sow seeds, spread fertilizer, harvest, and maintain the farm equipment. All of it consumed her.
But here she was, with her daughter whom she loved so much and around old friends. Something about it just seemed right. She found herself laughing at Buddy’s awful jokes. It felt as though her old life had pulled up in a car and said, “get in” and when she did…it was the best ride of her life.
After June paid their check. Buddy came around the bar and gave June an enormous hug. “We miss you around here.” He paused, then looked at the stage and then back at her. “Say, I’ve got an opening gig tomorrow night. I can’t pay you like you’re used to, but how about one thousand and hey I’ll throw in a free meal. Whatcha say?”
June thought about the Breach Letter and losing the farm. It wasn’t much, but maybe it could help. Then her mind roamed to Nick. Would he return if she started to sing again? Part of her wanted him back so badly. She wanted her family to be together. But then there was the thorn in her side, Alice. Could she ever forgive Nick for leaving, cheating and worst of all starting another family with someone else? The thought of it all made her mad. This was her life after all, not Nick’s. So why did she care so much? The turmoil in her head was ruining her and holding her back. No longer.
“Yeah,” she said. “ I’ll do it.”
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