Agnes Limerick: A reunion and a goodbye

An arrangement of liles adorned the front door as the three of them walked into the red-bricked house. A black gloom draped the house in sadness as Agnes brought Norman and Grace to the place she'd called home until sixteen months ago. Not even the endless arrangements of hydrangeas, calla lilies, geraniums, and spring tulips friends and family had sent could mask the morbid spirit that descended on Agnes like grasping ghosts.

What a way for Mama to meet Grace, her only granddaughter. Grace was, what, eleven months old now? Yes, born August 20 and today was July 31. Almost a year old. Hard to believe the time had passed so long with Gracie, but she and Norman had decided, they needed to come back to Philadelphia. Now that Roosevelt was president, happy days were here again, so Norman could start thinking about getting a real job again. When Victoria sent the telegram to Norman, they knew the time had come. The telegram read: "A. K. Limerick died last night. S. asks, please come home."

Norman, wearing a black suit and black tie, followed Agnes into the parlor, carrying Grace, who wore a little pink dress with matching bonnet. Victoria had made it for Grace's first birthday, but gave it to her this morning. Agnes saw her mother's back, her brother's profile, and Uncle Collin. She clutched her stomach. What would he say to her after more than a year's absence? After she'd left the church and had a baby? It'd been Granny who'd protected her from their wrath -- and now, as Agnes looked over at the open coffin.

Uncle Collin was reading prayers. Mama turned to see her and started to cry -- but not for Granny. She and her mother-in-law had never really gotten along, even after living together thirteen years. Mama cried, Agnes knew, because she was there. With Norman and with Grace. In the brief look, before Mama put her head in her hands, she saw reproach in her eyes.

After Uncle Collin finished prayers, Agnes went directly over to the coffin. There was Granny, red hair combed and pulled tight above her head, a pallid, plastic expression on her face -- not the Granny she knew. But the red hair, black laced dress, and white cameo at her neckline, they were all Granny's.