He explodes into laughter.
I blink, confused.
“Jerald, I don’t think that would be a shock to anyone. The look on your face! Your Mother and I have made friends with the Kearns. Over the summer we were at their house quite a lot. Fred barbecues with a sauce that makes my stomach ask for seconds before I step foot on his property. They’re good people, both your mother and I think so.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Not sure how that tipped off my feelings for May.”
“Perhaps the first some twenty plus letters may have done the trick. Or the thirty-eight that arrived while we were there. No no, that’s not it. It was…”
I wave for him to stop. “Alright, cut it out.”
He chuckles, “My boy, I envy you your passion. Your Mother and I have…a tamer love. We respect one another, and it was a given we’d marry when our parents set it up. It was a love that grew on both of us. You see, in politics things are often decided with ambition ahead of heart. I was just lucky we got on so well. I know she was relieved. She’s told me so.”
“I didn’t know this, Pops.”
“How would you? It’s not something you tell your children. But you’re a man now, Jerald, and I suppose seeing your ardor for that sweet girl touches my heart.” He pauses to sip, licking his lips for the warmth. “Not so sure of her father’s blessing, however.”
“Seems he lost all love for me tonight.”
“You looked like the wolf greeting Little Red.”
I stare at Pops, and we both start laughing. “Well, I’ll be. Guess I got myself into a jam.”
Suddenly the drawing room door opens. Or tries to. That rug bars the way and mom calls through the crack, “Raymond, if you think I don’t know you’re smoking a cigar!”
He stamps it out, muttering, “Guess rebelliousness runs in the family!”
40
JERALD
“Ray, I believe you planned this in advance!”
“How could I know exactly when our son would return home?”
I stroll into the foyer and grab my fedora from a hook on the wall. Been a long while since I wore one of these. “I take it we were supposed to go to your church this week, Ma?”
“Goodness, aren’t you handsome? And yes, once again I expected to show you off at my church, but because your sweetheart just happens to be at your father’s congregation, he wins again!”
“Frances, I don’t believe devotion should be a competition.”
This flusters her, and she stammers, “Well, I didn’t say that it was! But don’t forget, you asked to switch last week, and here we are the following week, which makes three in a row!”
I chuckle at my fathers smirk, and we all walk outside together with me trying to change subjects. “Sure is a hot one!”
“I stand by my original argument. When I asked to switch, I couldn’t have known precisely when Jerald’s fleet would return. This is purely innocent, I assure you.”
Her heels click away as she throws him a glance over her right shoulder. “Don’t think I am not aware that you have inside information on such things.”
Pops laughs, and throws me the keys. “If you can steer a submarine, you can steer my Lincoln.”
I whistle my way around the spotless hood of his pride and joy. “How long did it take to dry out?”
“Never bring that up again!”
Ma eyes him as he opens her door, then climbs in the backseat and gives her the front. “A guilty man’s gesture!”
“Woman, I have opened every door you have ever walked through since the day I proposed.”
As I pull away from the curb, I ask, “How about before?”
“We had a rather infamous argument regarding his refusing to open my door on occasions when he’d lost his temper.”
“A fact she will never let me forget.”
“I don’t see how you could!” After two blocks she confesses, “I am curious how Fred will behave today. He seemed quite out of sorts when we left.”
From the backseat comes a huge guffaw. She turns around to demand, “What’s so funny?”
“What if Fred treats Jerald like a king? What then? I daresay you would be disappointed!”
“What an appalling thing to say about me.” She faces forward and clicks her tongue.
The Catholic Church isn’t far from our house, another personal affront. She’s often teased Pops that he chose that house to sway her to Catholicism from sheer proximity and ease alone.
As we drive up, she leans close to the windshield and observes, “Quite a turnout!”
On a dirt patch not meant for parking I slow and poke my head out the window to make sure we don’t hit this oak tree. “Wait here!”
Ma watches me stroll around to open her door, a pleased smile shining from behind her window. She takes my offered hand, “Why Jerald, how delightful!”
Father climbs out next, and mumbles something about leaving his fedora here rather than putting it on and taking it off again the moment we get into church.
“You mean like every other man must do, Raymond?”
Pops grumbles and grabs his hat, slapping it onto his head. “Fine!”
“Oh look, there they are!”
I’ve already spotted May, a walking sunbeam. She waves at me and her Father takes her by the elbow, hurrying her inside.
My folks exchange a look.
I slide my hands in my pockets, stopping to stare at the nineteenth century architecture. If there is a God, he’ll help me get a ring on May’s left hand. He knows how I feel about her and that’s gotta count for something.
41
MAY
When you walk inside it always feels darker initially. But never here. Especially not when Jerald is back in Georgia to stay.
Father warns, “Don’t look so moony-eyed!”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t look sorry.”
Wiping the smile from my face, I force earnestness. “I’m awful sorry.”
He swipes his hat off, hand swinging it ferociously as he limps inside. Mother takes my arm, pausing by the Holy water to whisper, “Do be patient with him. He feels you’re
