in the Philippines, and the British have theirs in India, and the French in Algeria, and so on.’
‘When you put it that way, the Japs don’t seem so unreasonable!’
Joanne said firmly: ‘They’re not unreasonable, but they’re wrong. Conquering an empire is the nineteenth- century solution. The world is changing. We’re moving away from empires and closed economic zones. To give them what they want would be a backward step.’
Their food arrived. ‘Before I forget,’ Gus said, ‘we’re having breakfast tomorrow morning aboard the
Chuck said: ‘I’m not invited, but I’ve been detailed to get you there. I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty and drive you to the Navy Yard, then take you across the harbour in a launch.’
‘Fine.’
Woody tucked in to fried rice. ‘This is great,’ he said. ‘We should have Chinese food at our wedding.’
Gus laughed. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Why not? It’s cheap, and it tastes good.’
‘A wedding is more than a meal, it’s an occasion. Speaking of which, Joanne, I must call your mother.’
Joanne frowned. ‘About the wedding?’
‘About the guest list.’
Joanne put down her chopsticks. ‘Is there a problem?’ Woody saw her nostrils flare, and knew there was going to be trouble.
‘Not really a problem,’ said Gus. ‘I have a rather large number of friends and allies in Washington who would be offended if they were not invited to the wedding of my son. I’m going to suggest that your mother and I share the cost.’
Papa was being thoughtful, Woody guessed. Because Dave had sold his business for a bargain price before he died, Joanne’s mother might not have a lot of money to spare for a swanky wedding. But Joanne disliked the idea of the two parents making wedding arrangements over her head.
‘Who are the friends and allies you’re thinking about?’ Joanne said coolly.
‘Senators and congressmen, mostly. We must invite the President, but he won’t come.’
‘Which senators and congressmen?’ Joanne asked.
Woody saw his mother hide a grin. She was amused at Joanne’s insistence. Not many people had the nerve to push Gus up against the wall like this.
Gus began a list of names.
Joanne interrupted him. ‘Did you say Congressman Cobb?’
‘Yes.’
‘He voted against the anti-lynching law!’
‘Peter Cobb is a good man. But he’s a Mississippi politician. We live in a democracy, Joanne: we have to represent our voters. Southerners won’t support an anti-lynching law.’ He looked at Chuck’s friend. ‘I hope I’m not treading on any toes here, Eddie.’
‘Don’t mince your words on my account, sir,’ Eddie said. ‘I’m from Texas, but I feel ashamed when I think of southern politics. I hate prejudice. A man’s a man, whatever his colour.’
Woody glanced at Chuck. He looked so proud of Eddie he might have burst.
At that moment, Woody realized that Eddie was more than just Chuck’s pal.
That was weird.
There were three loving couples around the table: Papa and Mama, Woody and Joanne, and Chuck and Eddie.
He stared at Eddie. Chuck’s lover, he thought.
Damn weird.
Eddie caught him staring, and smiled amiably.
Woody tore his gaze away. Thank God Papa and Mama haven’t figured it out, he thought.
Unless that was why Mama had invited Eddie to join in a family dinner. Did she know? Did she even approve? No, that was beyond the bounds of possibility.
‘Anyway, Cobb has no choice,’ Papa was saying. ‘And in everything else he’s a liberal.’
‘There’s nothing democratic about it,’ Joanne said hotly. ‘Cobb doesn’t represent the people of the south. Only white people are allowed to vote there.’
Gus said: ‘Nothing is perfect in this life. Cobb supported Roosevelt’s New Deal.’
‘That doesn’t mean I have to invite him to my wedding.’
Woody put in: ‘Papa, I don’t want him either. He has blood on his hands.’
‘That’s unfair.’
‘It’s how we feel.’
