Sugar Coated

Holiday festivities were well underway for the Moore’s. The sun was high in the sky, giving way to how late in the afternoon it had become, and the wind blew strong, carrying the sound of children’s laughter through the air. Annie always loved that sound. She always wanted her girls happy and smiling and fed well, but that last one had still not occurred.

They were off schedule much to the woman’s dismay.

It seemed like everything was going wrong today. The first problem started early. She’d had the hardest time wrangling Alice, their youngest girl, this morning; The four-year-old hated getting her hair done, and she would only sit still if she was being bribed. That had prompted Elijah to step in and pay the little girl off with a promise of buying her a whole bag of bubble gum for herself. She sat long enough for a few plaits and proceeded to flaunt the fact that bubble gum was in her near future. When the middle and oldest girl found out about it, it sent the whole house into a frenzy of what was fair and what wasn’t, causing Elijah to settle a few more debts and make resolutions.

After she finished Alice’s hair, the second problem snuck up on her. In the middle of cooking, their oldest daughter, Dorothy, stumbled into the kitchen to ask which plates needed to be taken outside to the dining table. It was a simple question, but it had taken Annie’s mind clean off of the task at hand. After getting the fine china off the top shelf for the twelve-year-old, Annie realized her first batch of catfish had been burned to a crisp.

The third problem was that she was sharing the kitchen with her husband. Elijah was a wonderful cook, and he could cook macaroni and cheese and collard greens like nobody’s business. But when she shared a kitchen with him, it also meant she was sharing a kitchen with Lena. Their middle child was a rambunctious little thing, always following behind her papa, always trying to be bigger than her age. Annie loved that about her, but frying fish and manning several other dishes with a seven-year-old running around was a recipe for disaster. The kitchen was a mess of flower and dirty dishes, and Lena needed a change of clothes before the rest of the family even showed up.

But everyone was late.

Supper was supposed to start at 3. It was enough time for the sun to be high in the sky and for the kids to run around for a little bit while they could, but when 3 o’clock came and went, the couple knew it’d be at least thirty minutes before folks started trickling in.

“Might as well leave that food in the oven ‘til they get here,” Elijah considered, stirring his greens while looking over his shoulder at his wife. The oven had been off for a while, but the heat would keep the food from going cold. He wasn’t too worried about it, but he could see the expression settling deep onto his wife’s face.

She was overstimulated—understandably so. She’d been up and moving all damn day, ducking and dodging their three girls, cooking a hell of a whole lot of food, and solving every problem as it arised. He’d been there beside her all day and had been watching to make sure she stayed sane, but everyone being late was taking her over the edge.

While their responsibilities were pretty much divided—Annie handled the meats while Elijah handled the sides, Annie did the girls’ hair while the man made sure they were clothed, Annie cleaned inside while Elijah took care of the outside—the woman took things to heart in a way he didn’t.

Smoke prided himself on staying cool under pressure and being that solid rock his family needed. Annie was normally that as well, standing firm right beside him, but when they were hosting dinners or parties at their home, she was a whole different person.

Annie could get real strict trying to maintain order. She wanted you on time, looking sharp, smelling good, and with some type of offering in your hand for her table. As he observed the tension in her jaw as Annie overworked a dish that was past done cooking, the man knew that if he didn’t do something soon, everyone who stepped foot inside their home would get chewed out.

“Sweetheart,” Elijah eased his way in, trying to settle her a little by adding sugar to his tone. Annie rolled her eyes, whisking the dish extra hard to get her frustrations out. She couldn’t care less about what ever her husband had to say; The comforting scent of homecooked food and the lovely sound of their daughters’ laughter were working together to add to her overstimulation. It was too much going on, and she didn’t need Smoke adding on to it.

“Baby,” the man pressed firmly, walking over and standing behind her. He placed his arms around her waist, holding her there. “I know you hear me, woman. What can I do to get you to calm down some, huh? You gon’ stress yourself half to death.”

“I don’t need no help doin’ nothing, Elijah,” she tried to argue, but the words came out like honey as he kissed along her neck. His lips were cool and soft, easing that rough fire that was beginning to blaze underneath the surface. The woman wanted everything to go perfectly this year, and she hated when there was even a single hitch in her plans. She could have just as easily had a nice, quiet dinner with her husband and their three girls, but she valued her family, and she wanted the holiday to be about their love for each other.

But they were pissing her off mighty bad.

Elijah rubbed her hips, knowing that standing too long made her hurt there. He kissed around her hairline, pulling the developing headache away from her. His hands teased up the side of her pleated dress, feeling the ruffles of fabric, seeking out her soft skin underneath.

“How you want me to relieve yo’ stress, baby,” the man repeated, allowing his breath to run down the back of her neck. Annie’s breath hitched, body bending into his confident hands as small, exhausted whimpers left her mouth.

Elijah pulled her strap to the side, sucking on her skin to encourage her to answer him with words.

Annie’s mouth opened to let out a quiet moan as she readied herself to ask for what she needed.

“I know y’all ain’t doin’ no freaky shit over the candied yams,” Stack barged through the kitchen door, stunned in place at the sight of Smoke and Annie’s bodies too close for Jesus to have any room between them. The pair broke apart, Smoke staring his brother down and Annie gathering herself. The one second I get to relieve my stress, and of course it gets interrupted, she thought, whispering angrily under her breath.

“Elias,” the man grumbled, irritated at the intrusion.

“Don’t go barkin’ my name, nigga,” the younger twin laughed off, moving deeper into the room to set down two brown paper bags. He chuckled at the look Annie threw him, a scowl set on her lips, but Stack could never not let a joke leave his mouth. “I come bearin’ gifts,” he pointed toward the bag, “and all I get is you sayin’ my name like I did something wrong and Annie cuttin’ them eyes at me like I ain’t just watch her almost give it up over the food.”

“Shut yo’ ass up, boy;” “Fuck you, Stack,” the couple said at the same time, insulted and embarrassed all at once. He was definitely right. If Elias had walked in five minutes later, he would have been welcomed with an entirely different sight.

“If you was on time,” Annie began, forcing her anger down, “maybe we’d be much more pleasant toward you, Elias.”

“Well, looks like I’m the first one here, sister-in-law,” the younger twin chuckled, looking over into pots and rubbing his hands together as he imagined fixing his plate. “I could at least get a few points for that.”

As the two went back and force, Elias trying to convince Annie to let him make a plate while they waited, Elijah moved over to the bags his twin brought.

“You brought moonshine to family dinner,” Smoke scoffed incredulously at the gallon-size glass jug full of clear liquor staring right at him. Annie chuckled behind them, crossing her arms under her chest in disbelief.

“Mhm,” Stack nodded with pride. “I also brought something for my sister and my nieces,” he concluded, pushing his brother to the side. Going into the second bag, Stack pulled out one large bouquet of flowers and three single roses. “For you, Anne,” he presented the woman with the bouquet. He bowed slightly, pulling a laugh from her chest that replaced the scowl she’d given him just minutes ago. “Moonshine for the menfolk, and flowers for the ladies,” he nodded like somehow it made sense. He pointed in the direction he was walking, turning his nose up at his next words. “I’m headin’ out back, so make y’all freaky asses decent, please.”

Stepping out onto the backporch, Elias called to his three nieces who were playing just beyond the tree line. The yard was huge with lots of places to explore. Looking over to the side, he saw the dinner table halfway set up.

When the three girls saw their uncle, they wasted no time in bolting his way, stumbling over each other to be the first one to welcome one of their favorite people.

“Uncle Stack,” Alice yelled, looking just like her mama.

The man stepped off the porch and into the yard, opening his arms wide to hug his nieces.

“Ain’t y’all looking pretty today,” he complimented, getting down on one knee so he could see them head on. They all had on dresses of the same style but in their favorite colors. “Y’all ready to get y’all eat on?”

“Yes,” Lena shouted ecstatically, bouncing on her feet as she rattled off her thoughts. “I helped Papa with the greens today,” she smiled real bright, grin looking just like her uncle’s when he was feeling proud.

“Look at you,” he applauded her, tickling her sides. “And what about you, Doe? You feelin’ alright?” He always made sure to check in with the oldest girl. Dorothy was just like his brother—quiet, reserved, burdening herself with watching over her sisters. Unlike Elijah and Elias, she had the chance to just be a kid, but that didn’t stop the younger twin from making sure she was alright.

“I’m feelin’ good Uncle Stack,” she smiled lowly. “I’m ready for Mama’s turkey!”

“Girl, you and me both,” he high-fived her, rubbing his stomach at the thought of his turkey and greens touching on that plate.

In the middle of his daydream as the two older girls laughed at him, Elias felt something tugging on his shirt sleeve. Spooked, he looked down to find Alice’s big, brown eyes looking right back at him.

“Is them for us, Uncle Stacky,” she asked, pointing towards the flowers. She had the cutest little southern accent, and her affinity for calling him Stacky always pulled at his heartstrings. He followed her glare to the roses, holding them out.

“Well,” he smiled brightly, watching as the three girls all perked up, becoming antsy with what he’d say, “as a matter of fact, they are.” Stack never came over without bringing them something. Be it a flower, some candy, or a rock shaped like something stupid and familiar, he always made sure his nieces had something to look forward to from him.

He handed a flower to each girl, and one by one, they all thanked him politely with wide grins.

“Papa, can you put these in some of them vases,” Lena asked her father, holding up her and her sister’s flowers. She handed each one of them to him individually, notating whose flower is which so they didn’t get all mixed up. Elijah nodded along to each word, putting on a serious face because in a house of girls, it was just that serious.

“I got you, puddin’,” he smiled, kissing her forehead. He turned toward the cabinet, pulling out three small vases and filling them with water. Lena watched as he popped a flower into each vase, reciting to her whose flower was whose. “You gon’ and run along,” he instructed with a chuckle when she seemed satisfied with what he’d done. “I’ll put ‘em in y’all rooms in a minute.”

Like the polite child they had raised, Lena listened to his order, thanking her father and kissing her mother on the cheek before returning to her sisters and uncle outside. Annie laughed as the little girl ran out the back door, shaking her head in amusement.

“Them girls too spoiled for they own good,” she whispered funnily, peering out the back door as all three of them tackled their uncle to the ground. Stack pretended they had the upper hand as they tickled him, getting his nice clothes covered in grass stains.

Smoke watched alongside her, leaning against her as he whispered into her ear.

“You sayin’ that like you not spoiled, too.” He meant it as a gotcha to her, but they both knew that a spoiled Annie was only a gotcha to Smoke. The man would fight whole wars and rip through whole cities to make sure Annie had what she needed. He’d done it before and he’d do it again.

“Mhm,” Annie hummed, sidestepping the man on her way to the kitchen and swatting at his chest.

About 15 minutes after Stack had arrived, in came Sammie, Pearline, and Delta Slim—all decked out in their Autumn finest, all carrying various items. While Annie and Smoke had cooked the main dishes, the others were tasked with bringing deserts and drinks. Delta Slim brought his family’s sweet tea because he swore by the recipe, and the young couple brought an Italian Cream cake and two sweet potato pies.

Five minutes later, Cornbread and Therise waltzed in with their two youngins. They brought with them two pecan pies, a chocolate cake, and lemonade. And within a few minutes, Bo, Grace, and Lisa arrived. They only brought with them a few things to really kick the dinner into gear—upon request from the lady of the house, of course.

The couple had given Annie and Smoke a special deal on the catfish and turkey, so all they were asked to bring was ice, table cloths, and empty bellies. Bo, of course, snuck in a deck of cards and a wad of cash so he could play the men out of their money after dessert.

Finally it seemed that supper could begin, and at 4:15—an hour and fifteen minutes off schedule—they began fixing plates and sitting at the table.

“Alright, now,” Delta Slim sat his plate down in front of him. “How ‘bout we say what we thankful for before we eat, hm?” The long table was right up under a large oak tree, the last few leaves of Autumn shading them from the sun. It was never too cold this time of year in Mississippi, and supper outside felt refreshing to everyone’s hearts.

“Man, I’m tryna eat,” Stack grunted, stuffing his face with catfish already.

Smoke rolled his eyes as he helped his baby girl into her chair. The man didn’t play that kid’s table mess; He wanted his babies to feel included and safe. Making sure his wife and daughters were good and settled, Elijah turned towards Delta Slim before taking his seat at the head of the table.

“That sounds good to me, Slim,” the older twin agreed, shooting a look Elias’ way when he started to argue. Smoke cleared his throat, laying his elbows on top of the table cloth as he prepared to speak.

Everyone turned their eyes toward the man. His energy commanded the entire table from the oldest to the youngest.

“I’d like to say that I’m thankful for my wife and my children and my beautiful family,” Elijah began, looking around the table. He was surrounded by all the people he loved most. Annie sat to his left, grabbing his hand and tangling their fingers. His daughters sat next to her, smiling widely with pride. “There’s a lot of lonely people in this world,” he continued, “and while I’ve been through a world of trouble and pain, I’ve never truly been alone.” His eyes turned towards his brother who sat to his right. “So I’m thankful for this little life that I got with the most amazing woman at my side and three beautifully smart little girls and a brother who works my nerves and all you fine folk.”

The table chuckled at the final statement, speaking how much they appreciated the man right back.

Elijah looked toward his wife, passing the floor over for her to tell of her gratitude.

“I’m thankful for peace and wisdom,” she spoke earnestly, squeezing Smoke’s hand. “So much is goin’ on in this world, and I have been through some things. I’m just happy to have the knowledge that I have. I’m happy to see smiles on my babies faces everyday. And I’m happy for my Elijah.”

They went around the table like that for a few minutes, each person saying different variations of simply being grateful for life and family.

When it had gotten to Dorothy, she said she was grateful to her parents for their love and for giving her her little sisters.

Lena said she was thankful for being able to play outside all the time, adding in her family on the back end after rambling on for a bit.

And little Alice said she was thankful for her mama and her papa and her big sister Doe and her other big sister Lena and her Uncle Stacky and her flower from Uncle Stacky and her mama for doing her hair and her papa for helping make her plate and a whole bunch of other random things that had the table ready to cry from her cuteness.

“Family is so important, y’all,” Annie spoke as supper was drawing to a close. All the children were off playing, and dessert had already been handed out and scarfed down. Conversations seized on the later end of the table, and the group traded agreements, focusing only on Annie without any question. “I’ll admit that y’all had me ‘bout ready to choke y’all for making us late eatin’,” she confessed, making the table erupt in laughters and short apologies about the day being hectic. Elijah reached over. He had a bright smile on his face, heart swelling in adoration. “But family is everything. So even if I wanna kill y’all sometimes, I love y’all something serious.”

“We love you, too, girl,” Pearline yelled, pretending to reach over the large table to grab her friend’s hand.

Stack, Cornbread, Therise, Grace, Bo, Slim, and Sammie all added on their love, thanking Annie and Smoke for the food and for hosting. More apologies were sent for their tardiness, but Annie waved them off. All was good now. She was surrounded by the people she loves and the sun was setting in a fine day.

Elijah sat beside her, looking at her like she owned the whole world. He loved seeing her in this environment: when all the stress proved itself to be worth it in the end; when she was happy with the people that surrounded her and the sound of their girls playing in the background was like music to her ears again.

Annie met his eyes, a content yet tired smile taking over her face. She was certainly exhausted, and while the stress had left her mind, it still lingered in her body as back pain and aching feet. But she knew her Elijah would take care of all that in due time. The couple retreated into their own little space, tuning out the sound of folks shouting over the table as they leaned in for a much-needed kiss.

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