Chapter 2
Hortense found me rewrapping my foot with a dish cloth. I had cleaned his shirt with soap and full boiling water. Sensing the emergency was over, my son reverted to practical matters. “I’m hungry, Ma. Did Greatgran eat yet?”
I sliced headcheese and tore chunks of bread for both of them. I skipped eating. How my body was sore from a foot wound, I could not explain it. My foot felt somewhat better by supper. I made a stew. Hory helped to wash the dishes. I cleaned up Grandpa after dinner. He grabbed my breasts. Hory caught him at it.
“Don’t touch her, Gramps!”
Regis took his hand off my dress and sulked. Hory put his great-grandfather in his room early. He latched it shut and came to me.
“You will sleep with me, tonight.”
Blood rushed to my face. “I’m sorry I couldn’t go into town.”
“You will give me a fuck every night until you can.” My son whispered. Had he learned what Regis knew?
The words he used last night had been reserved. A day later they had turned foul. “Son, you mustn’t put your seed in me. Let me-”