Running late again. Dang, I'm always burning myself on that pot lid. It gets so darn hot once the water starts to boil! Every day I stand over this stove making hot grits for my baby girl. I don't why I even bother. Tradition, I guess. I figure Lila would be just as happy with a bowl of Cap'n Crunch each morning, but I wasn't raised that way so neither will my baby. Things were easier when her grandmother was around to help. Now I'm all alone.
Shoot! These daggone grits formed lumps again. These instant grits cook too darn fast and I can't get them smooth to save my life.
{Lila! Lila! It's time to get up baby girl.}
Lord that child loves to sleep. I love to watch her sleep. That child looks exactly like her daddy. Not a day goes by that I don't think about that man. My first love.
{Lila! You up?}
Lord, I hope this child doesn't make me late for work again. I can't stand that supervisor of mine. If she wasn't related to the owner I doubt anyone would hire her evil tail.
{Come on gal, we're running late!}
If Lila's daddy was still alive I wouldn't have to accept this abuse. Cleaning up behind other folks messes. What kind of living is that! It's funny. I used to dream about being a teacher when I was a little girl. Then Leon swept me off my feet. I couldn't stand him when I was growing up. He would tease me to death. Then one day in high school we were walking home together from the game and seemed to bond instantly. When we got to my front gate he leaned down and lightly kissed me on my lips. I was stunned. I had never been kissed so tenderly before and his lips were soft soft. I melt inside each time I think about it. I'll never forget that day. After that we were inseparable.
{Lila, baby come on. Your grits are getting hard.}
If Leon had been a member of the union I could have gotten some insurance money and wouldn't be rushing off to the work right now. I still can't believe he's gone. I always thought we would grow old together and be grandparents to Lila's children. Maybe even have more children of our own since we were both still relatively young. Leon thought the job on the mainland building the resort would be our first class ticket to easy street. Who would have ever imagined that I would be working in the same place where I lost the love of my life. I place fresh flowers on a weekly basis in the spot where the scaffolding collapsed. My supervisor tells me not to. She says it might scare the guests if they know what happened. But no one seems to care about how I feel. Heck, it scares me to think that I might be doing this job for the rest of my life.
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Reviewed by Cathy Montgomery
3/26/2002
You've got me now...gonna have to read part 3 again!
Soldier's Gap is a non-traditional mystery with literary elements. The high school principal is brutally murdered, but Deputy Sheriff Dave Jenkins's search for meaning and love is a much more significant theme.
"Murder isn't usually this fun
Running late again. Dang, I'm always burning myself on that pot lid. It gets so darn hot once the water starts to boil! Every day I stand over this stove making hot grits for my baby girl. I don't why I even bother. Tradition, I guess. I figure Lila would be just as happy with a bowl of Cap'n Crunch each morning, but I wasn't raised that way so neither will my baby. Things were easier when her grandmother was around to help. Now I'm all alone.
