Carnal Innocence

families, Birdie. Jobs and homes of their own. Wouldn’t it be foolish of them to travel all this way if Darleen’s just kicking up her heels?”
    “Miss Della?” Winnie sprinkled herbs into a pot on the stove. Her hands were small and dainty. She was a quiet women, given more to doing than to talking. But when she spoke, her voice was cool and smooth, like cream. “I’m going to brew this up like a tea. I ain’t making it strong, just enough to ease.”
    “Let’s have a look.” Della joined her at the stove, where they muttered and sniffed. Birdie ignored their conversation. As a doctor’s wife, she didn’t think it quite proper for her to approve of folk medicines.
    “There’s nothing more I can do here.” Josie wipedher hands dry on a tea towel. “I’m going out to hunt around some myself.”
    “There’s more than a dozen men taking care of that,” Birdie said. Her tone was sharp enough to have Josie lift a brow, but Birdie had to put her frustration somewhere.
    “Men don’t always know best where to look for a woman.” Josie picked up her purse. “I’m going to check on Cousin Lulu first, Della, then I’m going to ride over to see Billy T. If he knows anything, he’d be more likely to tell me than he would a man.”
    “Don’t see as that’s anything to brag on,” Della muttered.
    Josie shrugged. “Fact’s a fact. Besides, Happy’s better off knowing whatever there is to know sooner rather than later. She’ll make herself sick if this goes on too long.”
    No one could think of an argument to that. She left by the back door. Moments later they heard the roar of her car engine springing to life.
    “If that Billy T. knows where Darleen took off to—” Birdie began.
    “If he does, Josie’ll find out sure as God made little green apples.” Della handed Winnie a cup for the sedative she’d brewed.
    “He went off to sleep just like an angel,” Happy said as she walked back into the room. Her famous smile was ragged at the edges. “Not a thing like his mama. Why, she used to fight sleep like it was Satan come to steal her soul. I must’ve walked a million miles of floor with …” Rubbing at her eyes, she trailed off.
    “You sit on down here, Priscilla,” Della ordered, using Happy’s given name to get her moving. “This is just making you sick, is all.” Using her big, broad hands, she pushed Happy into a chair. “You let us do the worrying awhile. Nobody better at it than a room full of women. Winnie, bring me that cup.”
    “It’s a might hot, Miz Fuller. You gotta blow on it first.” Winnie set the cup in front of her, then stayed, resting a hand on the back of the chair. Winnie had gone to school with Happy’s eldest daughter, and Belle Fullerhad been the first white girl ever to invite Winnie into her home to play with dolls.
    “What is it?”
    “It’s what’s good for you,” Della said, and waved Winnie aside.
    “I don’t want one of Winnie’s magic potions,” she said petulantly. “I’m not sick, I’m just—”
    “Scared and miserable,” Della finished. “By the look of you, you didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. You know Winnie wouldn’t give you anything wasn’t helpful. You drink up now and get some rest.”
    “What I need is coffee.” When Happy started to rise, Della shoved her back.
    “Now you listen to me. Being stubborn’s not gonna change a thing. God willing, your Darleen’ll be back here preening herself over the ruckus she caused. But right now you’ve got a child upstairs sleeping who’s going to need you one way or the other. What good can you do him if you’re worn out.”
    “I just want her back.” When the tears started, she laid her head against Della’s cushioning breast. “I just want my girl back. I was so hard on her, Della.”
    “You never gave her nothing she didn’t need.”
    “She was always so fretful. Even as a baby, the minute she got one thing she wanted something else. I wanted what was best for her, but I never could seem to find it.”
    Needing to help, Caroline stepped forward. “Here, Happy.” She lifted the cup. “Drink a little.”
    Happy took a swallow, then two, before grabbing Caroline’s hand. “She doesn’t think I love her, but I do. Somehow you always love in a special way the one who gives you the most grief. All I can think is that when she was here yesterday, wanting me to side with her about what happened with Junior and that Bonny boy, I couldn’t do it. She was