Helen cut him off, her voice thin but steady. "John, stop talking like that. If you hadn't taken that iron box on your legs, I'd be paralyzed right now. The doctor said it was close. Come on and eat with me."
Jessie backed her up until John finally gave in. He ate some of the softened cornbread but pushed the eggs toward Helen and Jessie.
Jessie knew her father loved them. She also knew he was still the kind of man who let his mother lead him around by the nose.
There were three beds in the room. Her parents each had one. The third was empty.
In the last life she'd never left the wheat fields long enough to come here, so she'd never known about the spare bed. Seeing it now settled something in her chest. She could sleep here tonight.
After they finished eating, Helen frowned. "Jessie, we're right in the middle of harvest. Why aren't you home helping? What are you doing in town?"
Jessie didn't try to soft-pedal it. Tears came before she could stop them.
"Mom, Dad… I had heatstroke today. Fainted right in the wheat. I just wanted to go home and rest a little. Grandma wouldn't let me. She hit me. The neighbors had to pull her off. Then she turned it around and told everyone I hit her. Everybody saw what really happened. They know it was her."
She held out her arms. The bruises were dark and clear.
Helen's face crumpled. She started crying. "John, I told you your mother shows one face to you and another to everybody else. You never believed me."
John still tried to smooth it over. "Jessie, your grandma's got a sharp temper. Your mom and I are laid up, we can't help with the wheat, so she's taking it out on you. Just bear with her a little longer."
Jessie felt the old sadness rise, but she kept her voice even. "Dad, she's hit me more times than I can count. She always told me if I said a word she'd take it out on Emily instead. I'm telling you now because I'm done taking it. Emily's only six. She's not even as tall as most four-year-olds, and Grandma makes her cook for the whole house. At noon she was standing on a stool trying to add water to the stove and nearly fell in. If I hadn't gotten home when I did…" She shook her head. "I don't care if I get hit or go hungry. I won't stand by and watch something happen to Emily."
John's fists clenched on the blanket. He'd never imagined his own mother would do that. "Jessie, once I'm out of here I'll talk to her proper. You stay here tonight. First thing tomorrow you head back and help with the wheat."
Jessie felt the familiar helplessness settle in. She let the subject drop. No point bringing up dividing the family yet. A few words wouldn't make her father break with his mother.
John still had no idea Margaret had no intention of paying the hospital bills. He was about to learn that the hard way.
Helen didn't argue with him out loud. She just looked at Jessie. "After you came to in the field, what did your second uncle and your grandpa do?"
Jessie gave a short, tired smile. "Pretended they didn't see or hear a thing. Kept their heads down and kept cutting."
"So they just let her do whatever she wanted to you." Helen's voice stayed controlled, but anger sat under it. "Do they support her making Emily cook?"
"Uncle Ray more than supports it. He said since the oldest brother and sister-in-law aren't home, the two kids should take over the chores."
Helen's temper finally snapped. She turned on her husband. "Did you hear that? We're not home to do the work so the children have to. And why aren't we home? Because of your brother. If he hadn't tripped you, I never would've run in to cover you with my own body. If it weren't for him, would we even be in this hospital spending money we don't have? We paid this price for him, and look how he treats our kids."
John still defended Ray. "Helen, he already told me it was an accident. He was trying to dodge the bricks and just stumbled into me. And while we're not home the kids do need to help more around the house—"
Jessie couldn't listen anymore. "Dad, I'm not going back tomorrow. I'll come home when you and Mom are discharged. I'm afraid if I go back she'll beat me half to death. She's a kind mother to you. To Emily and me she's a different person entirely. We've taken enough. I never told you before because I didn't want to make trouble. If you don't want me here looking after you, I'll leave right now. But I will not go back to that house."
John looked torn. He glanced at the window. It was already dark outside. He sighed. "It's late. Not safe to be out. We'll talk about it in the morning."
Helen took Jessie's hand. Guilt filled her eyes. "Jessie, I'm sorry. I didn't protect you and Emily the way I should have. I put up with your grandmother for your father's sake and let you two lose your place in that house. It won't happen again. I can't stop your father from being filial, but I will never let her bully you and Emily like that anymore."
Something warm settled in Jessie's chest. "Mom, it's not your fault. I was the one who kept hoping Grandpa and Grandma would love us if I just worked hard enough and never complained. I'm done expecting that. As long as the four of us are okay, that's enough."
She knew she'd played a part in how things got this bad. Rebirth had at least opened her eyes.
John sat quiet, looking like he couldn't quite believe it. The mother who had always been so good to him treating his children this way behind his back. The younger brother he'd spoiled his whole life showing no care for his niece and nephew.
Jessie saw the disbelief in his face and spoke softly. "Dad… want to make a bet?"
He looked up. "What kind of bet?"
She tapped the stack of unpaid bills on the bedside table. "I bet Grandma won't claim those once she sees them."
John waved the idea away. "Impossible. I'm her oldest son. She'd never turn her back. She told me there was still money at home, enough for your mother and me to get treated."
"That was when she was still scared Uncle Ray might get charged with negligence. The whole thing's been smoothed over now. Tomorrow send word that you need money. Tell her you don't have the full five hundred, but two hundred right away would help. Watch and see if she still pays for your and Mom's treatment."
John wouldn't hear it. The challenge in his daughter's voice pushed him. "No need to wait until tomorrow. I'll call the village office right now and have them tell her to send the money first thing in the morning. I'm still her favorite son."
Jessie almost laughed from pure frustration. Margaret had said those exact words to John for years. In truth, the one she really favored had always been Ray.