Where The Watermelons Grow

By the time Miss Lorena returns, Della has eaten so much honey that her stomach feels funny. She wonders if it will help if she doesn’t have any inner strength. Miss Lorena asks Della what happened, and Della finally breaks down into deep sobs. Della confesses that it’s her fault Mama is like this, explaining how Mama’s schizophrenia started when she was born. She laments that she ran away instead of helping. Miss Lorena assures Della that it’s not her fault and explains that the schizophrenia would have eventually been triggered by something else. Della wishes Mama could be “normal,” and Miss Lorena explains that everyone has their burdens. She says, as a mother, that she knows Mama wouldn’t have done anything differently if it meant not getting sick.

Della says she’s worried she’ll one day get sick like Mama. Miss Lorena tells Della that they can never really know what’s going to happen. She and her husband discussed the possibility that he’d get cancer like his father when they got married, and they were ready for that when it happened. Miss Lorena reminds Della that she’s tough and can shoulder the burden of that fear. She tells Della that she can always come to her and many of the other mamas in town if she needs to.

Miss Lorena figures that Della returned the book of poetry because she felt guilty about reading while Mama was sick. She gives the book back to Della to keep. Books help Miss Lorena in hard times, so she wants Della to have one to turn to. Miss Lorena asks if she can take Della up to Daddy and Mama at the hospital. Della is scared but agrees. Della reads an Emily Dickinson poem about hope and wonders what she’ll say to Mama.

Della eats lunch and naps at her grandparents’ house before Daddy takes her to the hospital to see Mama. Della is nervous. Daddy tells Della that Mama may not seem like herself. He looks tired.

Mama is excited to see Della. She’s been worried: She believes someone took Della and was going to hurt her. Della assures Mama that she’s fine. Mama begins to rant about her fears. Della tries to summon strength within, but she’s just scared and upset seeing Mama this way. The nurse reassures Mama that her babies are safe. Della tells Mama she loves her. She wishes the honey had worked, but she feels just as upset as before and Mama is still sick. The nurse says Mama is better than yesterday, but she’ll need to give Mama medicine to calm her now. Daddy tells Mama to get better soon because they miss her. Della hugs Mama and wishes it felt as warm and normal as the hug from Arden’s mom.

In the car, Daddy apologizes to Della for how he’s acted in response to Mama’s illness. He knows he put too much responsibility on Della. Della asks if Mama will get better. Daddy tells her she’ll improve but will never be rid of the illness. Della asks why they decided to have Mylie after Della’s birth caused Mama’s illness. Daddy tells Della she didn’t cause it and explains that he and Mama love Della so much that they wanted another baby. They consulted with Mama’s doctor every step of the way and were prepared to face any consequences because they love their children. Della and Daddy both hope Mama comes back to them soon.

Della and Daddy sleep at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. The rain starts up again overnight. Della puts the watermelon honey on her grits the next morning. Daddy plans to visit Mama alone. He and Della return to the farm until visiting hours. Grandma and Grandpa give Della a warm send-off.

On the way home, Della dips her finger in the honey again. She thinks about how she’d hoped she could fix Mama before losing her, but she failed and has no Mama now. However, she realizes that that’s not necessarily the truth. She thinks about Grandma, Arden’s mom, and Miss Lorena. Della realizes that she has lots of moms looking out for her. Della also recognizes how hard Daddy has been working to take care of everyone. She knows he’s doing his best. Della begins to feel optimistic about the fact that Mama will be home again, and their lives will continue. She knows their family can get through this, and she understands Mama loves them, even in her sickest moments.

Della appreciates that she and Daddy don’t have to deal with this alone. They’ve had so much help from others, and she feels their strength giving her strength. Della feels she can face all the worries she has about the future with this strength. The honey helps her feel this deep down. The sun begins to peek through the clouds.

It rains for almost a week. Della busies herself helping Daddy on the farm. When Della sees Arden for the first time, she’s nervous about their prior argument, but Arden embraces Della. Ladybugs land on the girls. Della knows nothing will ever really come between her and Arden.

Daddy and Arden’s dad pick up some supplies so the girls can rebuild their playhouse, this time with supervision. Della can tell Daddy is feeling better. Daddy treats the watermelons for fungus and pulls up the dead ones, but there are still enough good ones for the family to enjoy. When Della bites into watermelon for the first time since Mama’s hospitalization, all the images of that first night with Mama picking the seeds out of the watermelon flood back. However, this time she tucks them away and reminds herself that Mama is healing.

Daddy visits Mama every afternoon, and says Mama is getting better every day. One day, Mama asks if Della will visit. Daddy seems apprehensive and expresses that Della doesn’t have to go, but Della agrees to see Mama. They leave Mylie with Arden’s family. Arden’s mom gives Della some scones.

Before walking into the hospital unit, Della takes a moment to summon her inner strength, thinking about the watermelon honey. She isn’t sure when Mama will be healed enough to come home, and she isn’t sure how today’s visit will go. Della knows there’s a chance she’ll end up like Mama someday. However, she remembers how Arden’s mom said everything was going to be okay, and Della believes that to be true. She knows things won’t always be easy, but she’s ready. She and Daddy go inside.