Call Your Daughter Home

The following morning, Retta thinks she sees her daughter running through the camp playing hide and seek. She dismisses the vision as simply her imagination and goes about her chores of preparing breakfast for the Coles men. She overhears Edwin telling his sons that he must court the mayor and alderman from Charleston to get a valuable highway contract to run through their land. Lonnie points out that the Sewing Circle is bringing in money, but Edwin refuses to listen. He places more importance on the land and demands that Lonnie and Eddie both socialize with the politicians too: “I want men of power to understand who the Coles men are” (287). Later, Retta tells Gertrude that everybody is afraid to come by to visit Annie because she’s so sick.

That evening, Retta supervises the dinner buffet, where she meets Clelia McGowan, Molly’s employer in Charleston, and Clelia shakes Molly’s hand. Edwin is offended by this friendly gesture toward the help. He assumes Clelia’s husband is the alderman, but she herself is the politician he hoped to impress. When Clelia goes outside to use the bathroom, Retta shows her the way and imparts a private message. She asks Clelia to tell Molly, “You tell her, her mama knows everything. She finally knows” (293). Retta also adds that Annie is very sick and that this might be Molly’s last chance to see her. Clelia agrees to convey the message.

Gertrude is helping serve dinner and overhears the table conversation as it turns to the Sewing Circle. Clelia is impressed by how many jobs have been created for local women. Lonnie brings two sample shirts for the mayor and Clelia’s husband to try on. They are both pleased with the fine quality, which displeases Edwin. Instead, he steers the conversation to the new highway, but the mayor says the contract has already been awarded. Gertrude is appalled to learn that the land in question belongs to Otto. The highway deal will make him even richer.

The following morning, Gertrude is ordered to bathe and dress Annie so she can sit outside on a bench and greet the governor. Lonnie enters the bedroom and pleads with Annie to take an interest in the sewing business. He fears that Edwin wants all the money from Sewing Circle for himself, but Annie still doesn’t respond. With her morning chores complete, Gertrude goes to the tabernacle to listen to one of the guest preachers. He tells a story from his boyhood. He used to tease a little pet chicken. She was docile until she had chicks of her own, and then she scratched the preacher’s face to defend her young. The preacher compares the mother hen to God’s love. Beyond a certain point, God won’t let the devil harm his children. Gertrude can relate to the sermon.

When the service ends, Gertrude sees the sheriff at the back of the tabernacle coming toward her. She assumes that he’s come to arrest her, but the sheriff brings surprising news. People saw Alvin drunk on Friday night near the river, and it is assumed he drowned and was later eaten by an alligator. Further, Otto and his new bride died during the diphtheria epidemic. With Alvin gone, Gertrude is Otto’s next of kin, so she will inherit his property.

At that moment, Gertrude learns that Alma can’t be found because she wandered off on her own. Retta is beside herself, knowing the harm that might come to the child. Gertrude goes searching for her daughter and finds her in the woods with Edwin: “He points to something in the trees and when Alma looks up, he slides his hand under the back of her skirt. She jumps back, but he laughs and holds out a nickel like he’s found it under the folds of her dress” (306). Gertrude catches them, and Edwin covers by saying that he was about to show Alma a turkey nest. Gertrude can’t help but notice his erection. She hands back the nickel, and Edwin walks away.

The next morning, the camp feels the first autumn frost. When Retta wakes, small things start to go wrong, and this is the day of the governor’s visit. She is philosophical and accepts that big days always bring problems. Then, she sees a cardinal fluttering around the tent rafters and thinks it is another omen of death. She refuses to accept it: “‘Not today,’ I tell my Maker. ‘We ain’t doing this today’” (310).

Gertrude struggles to get Annie ready for her big day, but she still refuses to wear any clothing. As noon approaches and the governor is expected, Edwin and his sons come to help. Failing, Edwin and Eddie storm out. Lonnie stays behind and begs Annie to rally. “Is this all a cruel joke, M-Mother? You brought m-me this far, to what end? Why won’t you fight him? All these years he’s treated us poorly but you r-refused to see [...] We need our mother” (314). Lonnie leaves, but his words have their intended effect. Annie starts to dress herself and asks for a glass of milk.

Annie cautiously drinks her milk. Her body is unused to nourishment and might reject it. Retta enters with a plate of grits, overjoyed when Annie eats a spoonful. She finally rises and prepares to meet the day.

Downstairs, Retta is delighted to find that Molly and Sarah have come to see their mother. Annie is now seated on a bench outdoors with Edwin, her head resting against his shoulder. Everybody is making a big fuss at the sight of Annie.

Annie notes that all those who show concern for her are trying to gain Edwin’s favor. The governor, Tom, arrives and comes to speak to Edwin and Annie. Edwin is playing the part of the devoted husband, but Annie is through with the pretense. He expresses his concern for her health, and she replies: “That’s the price you pay when you marry a monster” (322). Annie goes on to disclose Edwin’s pedophilia to the shocked governor.

Edwin passes off Annie’s accusation as the ravings of a mentally unstable woman. The governor moves away uneasily, and Annie thinks, “Men can’t bear what women must” (324). When Edwin makes a move to shuffle Annie back indoors, she spits in his face. As curious people gather, Annie continues to speak the truth. She tells everyone that the Coles family has no money. At this point, Molly and Sarah run forward to embrace their mother.

Gertrude is watching this scene from the porch and thinks back to a panther hunt in which she participated with her father and brother. It reminds her that trapped prey is dangerous, and Gertrude guesses that Edwin is going to cause trouble soon. On a hunch, she tells Edna to fetch her shotgun and warns Retta to stay inside the cabin. The girls say they are taking Annie home with them. At these words, Edwin unholsters his pistol, and Retta launches herself into the yard.

The housekeeper stands between Edwin and his children and confronts him about his past abuse, calling him “an abomination” that belongs in hell. Lonnie tries to intervene, but Edwin pistol-whips him and then shoots Retta. Gertrude grabs the shotgun from Edna and walks out into the yard. By this time, Edwin has taken Annie by the hair and is trying to drag her back inside. Lonnie charges his father, and Edwin is about to shoot him when Gertrude fires her shotgun.

Retta feels herself being loaded into a wagon to get her to a doctor. When the wagon stops beside the Edisto River, she senses that all the people are gone, and she stands up. She finds Odell walking toward her on two legs. In his arms, he is carrying their daughter, Esther. Retta’s family is finally reunited in death.

Edwin is dead, but dozens of witnesses attest that Gertrude shot him to save Lonnie, so no charges will be brought against her. A few days later, Gertrude and her daughters return home to find that the residents of Shake Rag have repaired her roof and restocked her pantry. She learns from her neighbors that Odell died on the trip home. Gertrude and her daughters mourn with the rest at the Shake Rag community church and see the Bootles family laid to rest together. Gertrude intends to pass on the fortune she inherited to her girls. She then goes to visit her missing daughter, Lily. Gertrude concludes her tale by saying, “None of us get what we deserve. We make the best of what we got” (334).

Annie has returned to Charleston to live with her daughters. Because her grandchildren have been told their grandmother is dead, she is known to them as Aunt Annie. She muses about her past mistakes, but her sad thoughts end when her granddaughter calls her to dinner.