204 - Second Line
204 - Second Line
She was always there with a cryptic message and an encouraging word. Sometimes they were mixed together. Other times you would never understand until well after they could have helped you. Then she would just grin at you and tell you that it was time to let it go. I’m going to miss that crazy old bat. - Rosie
The day after Momma Dee’s death and internment, Darkness woke up next to Camille in one of the guest rooms of the Cajun’s clubhouse. It had been an emotional day and today would also be emotional and draining. Yet he was looking forward to it.
Noah stirred in the portable crib that Zydeco had found for them. Camille shifted and slid out of bed. She paused by the crib and smiled at him as he cooed up at her.
“You, my sweet little man, are going to have to wait. We no longer have an attached bathroom and before everyone else gets up, I’ve got to pee.”
Darkness chuckled. “Bring him here and I’ll get him ready for nursing.”
“Oh!” She picked him up and gave him a giant smile. “Your big strong daddy is going to change your big stanky ass.”
He watched his wife walk around the bed as she carried their son to him. Darkness held his arms out and the three-month-old was placed in his arms. Camille settled the baby and then kissed Darkness on his lips before kissing Noah on his head.
Camille walked out of the room and headed to the bathroom at the end of the hall. He stood up and grabbed the diaper bag off the top of the dresser. As he was pulling a new LSU onesie declaring Geaux Tigers! onto the small body, Camille’s laughter filtered in from the hallway. A moment later, the door opened and she stepped inside.
“Apparently,” Camille laughed as she shut the door and moved towards the bed to nurse the baby, “Opa got drunk last night.”
“Oh, God.” Darkness tried not to laugh but at the look on his wife’s face, he could not hold it back any longer. He handed over the baby and then fell back on the bed with laughter. Swiping away tears, he smiled at the woman as she nursed their son. “How bad?”
“Everyone that was on the ground floor got to hear my dad declare he was going to tear up his wife’s pussy.”
“Did he keep his clothes on?”
She looked at her husband as she fought her own laughter, “What do you think?
He chuckled, “No. He did not.”
Camille shook her head, “No, he did not. Annnnd, neither did my mother.”
“Oh, God bless. Please tell me that the kids were not still up.”
“They were still up, but when Dad started calling for Sid, they literally ran for cover. Peanut said that they should have known that the kids knew something.”
Chuckling, he turned his head to look at her, “I’m guessing he now has the image of your half naked parents seared into his brain?”
“Worse, he saw old people having sex.”
Darkness was still chuckling when they headed downstairs after Noah finished nursing and they both got dressed. Walking into the day room, he saw half the club trying to avoid looking at Trigg and Sid. Vin, Nicki, and Mitch looked at their parents with amusement in their eyes and barely holding back their laughter.
“It’s about time that you guys got up,” Trigg said as he held an arm out for Camille.
She snuggled against him and accepted his morning hug. “Dad, you got drunk last night. If you want details of what happened…”
“Nope, I can piece it together.” He kissed the top of her head and then looked at Darkness, “Sid said that we’re wearing purple today?”
The younger man nodded as he handed the baby over to Zydeco. “White for the internment and purple for the second line.”
“Not to sound rude, just ignorant,” Trigg gave a small smile. “Are we having a funeral?”
Darkness shook his head. “Just the second line and cook out.”
As if they had been waiting for a sign, the door opened and old ladies began walking in with bags of food. They paused to give Darkness their condolences as they passed on their way to the kitchen. After hugging the last woman, he turned his attention back to his father-in-law.
“Momma Dee said that she had attended plenty of funerals in her life. She had no intention of attending any after her death. We’ll do the Second Line and then lots of food. Hang out, tell your memories, listen to some stories, everyone else might have a beer. You two,” he motioned between Trigg and Sid, “are not allowed to have any alcohol.”
“Darkness,” Rosie called out from the kitchen, her eyes were still red from tears. “Will you get the tables and pots out for a boil?”
Tugging his wife away from her father, they went to the kitchen to help where they could. At noon, members of the brass band began to arrive. Tables were set up throughout the bottom floor and around the wide wrap around porch. More food arrived with every carload of friends and family.
At ten minutes before two, Gator began gathering everyone in the very full parking lot. Listening to his former president give the mile and a half route that would loop around and come back to the clubhouse, Darkness looked out at the faces in the crowd. There were a lot of nurses and staff from the assisted living center that Momma Dee had spent more than a decade at. Cajuns, the Texas Renegades, and their old ladies were there.
Mixed in the crowd was David, Jenna and their two kids, Damien and Laura. Jenna shifted and placed her hand at her lower back, trying to relieve the pressure that her pregnancy was placing on her back. He caught himself grinning when she saw him and gave a small wave.
Just after two, the brass band followed the family as they led the large group out of the parking lot. Per Momma Dee’s request, they would start and end with When the Saints Come Marching In. Not because it was her favorite song, but because she always swore that as long as you knew that song in Louisiana, you could survive.
Darkness held Camille’s hand as the happy song behind them brought tears to his eyes. She moved in closer to her husband as Nicki grabbed his other hand. Vin linked his fingers with his sister and Camille held her free hand out for Mitch.
The intersections where they crossed off the private road and onto a public road were blocked off by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department. As they passed in front of the deputies, they popped to attention and gave a slow salute.
When they made it back to the clubhouse, Darkness felt lighter. She was gone, and he was at peace with that. He insisted on making a plate for the dead and laughed when Boudreau took off with it.
“Zy!” Camille called out. “Your buddy wants a beer!”