Give Me Tonight

'Oh, I couldn't take something you've never-'

'I’ve decided it's too young for me. It'll be the perfect thing for you. Come try it on. '

Addie followed her down the hall to her bedroom. May and Russell slept in separate bedrooms in order to keep from having more children. After becoming aware of that, Addie had questioned Caroline about it, unable to imagine a man as robust as Russell going without a woman for the rest of his life. Caroline had blushed slightly. 'I suppose there must be someone he visits occasionally,' she had said.

Addie had been disturbed by the thought. 'But how strange. It seems as if he and Mama still love each other. '

'Of course they do. Even though Daddy might go to bed with another woman, he loves Mama as much as he always has.'

'But for them not to share a bed together-'

'It doesn't mean anything, really. He can love Mama with his heart even though he might love another woman in a physical way.'

'No he can't,' Addie said, her brows knitting together. Fidelity wasn't something to be compromised on.

'Why not?'

'Because he just can't!'

Thinking about that conversation now, Addie peered at May's pristine yellow-and-white bedroom, and then watched her sort through the dresses in the closet. 'Mama,' she asked carefully, 'if two people are going to get married, do you think it's important for them to feel passion for each other?'

May turned around, looking surprised, and then she smiled. 'My goodness, sometimes you're even more outspoken than your daddy. What brought on that question? '

'I was just thinking about marriage, and love.'

'The two should go hand in hand. It's important to love the man you marry. But it's even more important to have interests that are compatible with his. As for passion, that's not as necessary as you might think. Passion fades. Love will always be there, and so will compatibility. Does that answer your question?'

'Partly,' Addie said thoughtfully. 'You don't think passion is a bad thing, do you?'

'In some ways, yes. It blinds people to what's really in their hearts. They're more easily swayed by passion than reason, and that's a bad thing. It's an empty emotion. '

Addie didn't agree at all, but she held her tongue rather than argue. In the silence, May turned back to the closet and located the dress she'd been looking for. 'Here it is, Adeline.' She laid it on the bed with a flourish,' and Addie went to look at it.

'It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen,' she said, touching a fold of it reverently. The turquoise dress shimmered and glistened in the daylight. It had a heart-shaped neckline, elbow-length sleeves trimmed with ruffles, and an elaborately draped skirt ornamented with gauze and moss roses. She could hardly wait to try it on.

'If you like it, it's yours.'

'I love it,' Addie exclaimed animatedly, and they both chuckled as she scooped it up and went over to the mirror to hold it against herself.

'It'll be beautiful on you, with that honey-colored hair and those pretty brown eyes,' May observed, her face glowing with pleasure.

'Why do you look so happy?' Addie demanded with a laugh. 'I'm the one who's getting the dress.'

May came up to her and gave her a quick hug from behind. 'I'm your mama. I'm always happy when you are, sugar. Haven't I told you that before?'

A queer sensation went through Addie as she saw their two faces in the mirror. For a split second she saw a child posing in front of that same mirror in finery borrowed from May's closet, and then the image disappeared, leaving her shaken. 'Yes, you have,' she whispered.

'Adeline, what's wrong?'

Slowly Addie turned to look at her, and something inside clicked into place, like the missing piece of a puzzle. Suddenly May looked familiar to her, in a different way from before. Addie was stunned by the dearness of that face, the ache of love that had taken hold of her heart in just an instant. The sight of May's concerned expression brought forth another image, much clearer than the first. Addie could see herself as a little girl, tearful and guilt-ridden, seeking May's forgiveness. Mama, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…

'I just remembered something,' Addie said huskily, her gaze becoming distant. 'A long time ago I borrowed something of yours without asking. A gold bracelet, wasn'tit? And… I lost it, didn'tI?'

'That's all forgotten.'

'But it did happen,' Addie pressed.

'Yes, but it's not important now.'

But it had happened.

Remembering that was enough to make Addie believe. I've just got to be her daughter. May is my mother. I know she is. Her eyes stung, and she wiped at them fiercely. Her throat ached as she tried to speak.

For so many years I've wanted you … never even hoped…no reason to hope.

May held her arms out and gathered her close, her expression clouded with confusion. 'What? What's wrong?'

Addie rested her head on that soft shoulder, trembling with emotion. 'Nothing. Nothing at all, Mama.'

The land surrounding the Fanins' main house swarmed with people, animals, and vehicles. The house seemed more like a hotel than a home, large enough to accommodate countless guests and visitors. After the barbecue this afternoon and parties tonight, the wedding would be held tomorrow morning, followed by a dance and two days of festivities.

'I didn't expect there'd be this many people,' Addie whispered to Caroline, who laughed dryly.

'Looks like Mrs. Fanin invited a few hundred of her closest friends. I suppose she thought a turnout smaller than this would've made her look stingy. Look-over there on the veranda. She's makin' a point of receivin' everyone. How would you like to coo over five hundred people in a row? That's what I call hospitality. '

Peter and Russell helped the women out of the carriage, while Cade caught sight of a friend and ran off to join him. Addie averted her gaze from Russell's as she took his hand and stepped down to the ground. Before she could turn away, he stopped her with a quiet warning.

'I'll have my eye on you most of the time. Don't let me catch you anywhere near that Johnson boy. And I mean that, Adeline.'

'I thought a cease-fire had been called.'

'It has. But that doesn't mean the war's ended. And I don't want you to give anyone of those fence-cutters so much as a howdy-do. Got that?'

'It's not my war.'

'Yes it is. You're a Warner.'

She nodded shortly and turned away from him, joining May and Caroline as they went to greet Mrs. Fanin.

'Mah goodness, how long it's been!' Mrs. Fanin exclaimed in a syrupy drawl, her dark eyes almost disappearing as she bestowed a brilliant, crinkling smile on them. 'Oh, Adeline, how beautiful you are! I 'spect we'll be at your weddin' next, won't we?'

Adeline smiled uncomfortably. 'I don't know about that-'