A Modern Day Persuasion (6 page)

“Okay! I’m going.” Louise shoved the remaining bite into her mouth and then spanked her mother playfully before leaving.

“Incorrigible brat!” Mrs. Musgrove chuckled. Then with a smile she added, “I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

Mrs. Musgrove went to the sink to rinse her hands, then grabbed a handful of veggies to place them into a pan. “You have a way with people, Anne,” said Mrs. Musgrove. Anne smiled as Clara continued, “…especially with the children. I haven’t seen them this well behaved since, well, since you were last here.”

Anne looked surprised, “But that was last summer!”

Mrs. Musgrove reached for additional veggies and checked to see if Mary was nearby and thus might overhear. “You’d think as a grandmother I’d wish to have the children over more, but the way they’re being raised…so rambunctious and unsupervised.” Anne lowered her head, embarrassed for her sister’s sake. Mrs. Musgrove grabbed the last few celery and carrot bits and began seasoning the dish. “I don’t think your sister likes to bring them over here much, either. She says I give them too many sweets.” Anne had to smile at hearing that, remembering her sister’s earlier comment. “Well, honestly, Anne, how am I supposed to get them to behave if I don’t have a few bribes up my sleeves? Let’s be realistic, vegetables just don’t do the trick. Besides, the boys are skinny as it is.”

Anne laughed. No matter how blunt or opinionated Mrs. Musgrove was, she loved her for it.

Chapter 9

The party sat salivating at the table with grumbling stomachs as the aroma of a promised dinner escaped from the kitchen. They had waited as long as they could for Charles to arrive but fearing the dinner would soon become ruined, the family decided to begin without him.

Mrs. Musgrove brought out a steaming plate of pot roast to the sounds of “oohs” and “awes”. The array of tender potatoes, carrots and celery, and moist beef lay nicely displayed on the beautiful silver serving dish.

“It looks wonderful!” Etta said.

After placing the delicious looking food on the table, Mrs. Musgrove sat and laid her napkin on her lap, then looked towards her husband. “Honey, will you say the blessing?”

Stanley Musgrove nodded and they bowed their heads and prayed over the food, remembering to bless the hands that prepared it. In unison, the group said ‘Amen’ and began passing the food around the table.

“We always love it when guests come. That’s about the only time Clara cooks a feast these days,” Stanley complained. The group laughed at this announcement as Mrs. Musgrove blushed and came to her own defense.

“I admit it!” Then glancing at her daughters she continued, “But it’s only because my girls are so picky. I’ve just given up.” There was more laughter to be heard as Louise and Etta agreed with their mother.

The sound of the front door being opened interrupted their laughter. “It must be Charles!” exclaimed Mrs. Musgrove in anticipation. She turned in the direction of the entrance and shouted, “We’re in the dining room!”

Charles entered and saw the open seat next to Mary, but his wife’s face held an unwelcome expression due to him being over an hour late. He came up beside Mary to kiss the side of her head, but she pulled away. The rest of the family looked down in embarrassment at witnessing this, and sheepishly Charles proceeded to sit.

Anne’s brother-in-law was a nice-looking man of average height. He had that sportsman look about him and always appeared to have a five o’clock shadow that covered his strong jaw and upper lip. He was kind and outgoing, the type of friend one could count on to be there in a crisis. Anne loved Charles like a real brother.

“It’s good to see you, Anne,” he said, recovering.

“You too, Charles,” she replied.

Mrs. Musgrove began piling food onto her son’s plate. “Sorry, we couldn’t wait any longer. Your dad’s stomach was speaking full sentences!”

“How was hunting today?” Mr. Musgrove asked.

Charles looked bummed. “Didn’t get a stinking thing.”

“Nothing?” Clara asked with surprise.

“My Chuck said he didn’t have any luck either,” Etta commented.

Etta was the quieter of the two Musgrove girls, though still quite outgoing. She possessed an untouched sweetness about her and a lively glow to her cheeks which was nicely framed by her cute bobbed golden brown hair. At times, Etta was known to be rather indecisive and relied heavily on Louise to help her make decisions. Now having a steady beau, Etta liked to update everyone on
her
Chuck and to express his many opinions on subjects. Her brother Charles acknowledged Etta’s comment with an explanation.

“It’s all due to that development on the other side of the hill. It’s scaring away the game,” Charles said with a hint of frustration.

“What type of development?” Anne asked.

“Residential contractors are getting hungry for land. They’ve used up all the flat plains on the west side and are now moving into the hills.” Charles said, perturbed.

“That’s too bad,” Anne said.

“You’re telling me!” Charles responded. “Pretty soon there’ll be no wilderness left.” Charles took a mouthful of beef and then looked sweetly at his unhappy Mary, hoping a tender look might change her irritable, foul mood, but to no avail.

Not long after dinner, Mary chose to take the boys home early in her car so she could put them to bed. This left Anne to drive back with Charles in his Subaru Outback. The two had known each other for years, and they talked like old friends. Anne was the type of person whom people could easily confide in and share their thoughts. Now being ‘brother’ and ‘sister’, their bond had grown even closer.

“How’s life treating you? Is your card business going well?” Charles asked as he adjusted his seatbelt.

“Yes, very well. In fact, Hallmark is even considering giving me my own signature line.”

Charles smiled with genuine happiness. “Anne, that’s wonderful!”

Pleased, Anne responded, “Thanks…and how about you?”

“Fine. Business is booming actually.” Anne could tell by his tone however that something was bothering him. It was confirmed when he looked over at her with a more serious face. “If only a family could be as easy as business…but you probably didn’t need to be told that. You saw your sister tonight…she thinks I don’t help with the children. And when I do, Mary says I spoil the boys. I could manage them very well if it were not for her interference. And lately, Mary’s
complaining about being ill all the time, but so far, the only thing I see that makes her truly sick is me.” He looked at Anne and noticed her discomfort. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you with this, but you’ve always been so easy to talk with. It seems everything gets better somehow when you’re here…” Charles paused, looking gratefully at Anne. “I’m glad you’ve come, Sis.”

Later that night, while brushing her teeth, Anne couldn’t help but overhear an argument between Charles and Mary.

“…how would you know, you’re never here!” yelled Mary in accusation.

“Maybe I’d be home more if I’d find a clean house and a happy wife waiting for me,” Charles retorted.

“Unbelievable!” Mary shrieked, “You just don’t get it, do you?! How is that supposed to happen when I never get any help!” Immediately afterwards, a door could be heard slamming.

A few minutes later, Anne heard a knock. She quickly spit out the toothpaste and paused. Soon realizing it was not the bathroom door, but instead the one recently slammed, she relaxed. Anne heard Charles say contritely, “I’m sorry, Mary. Please open up.”

Anne’s heart was softened by the hurt sound in Charles’ voice, thinking her sister would surely succumb to his plea. However, only silence ensued and eventually Anne heard dejected footsteps pad softly down the hallway. Once Anne finished her toiletries and was certain the coast was clear, she quietly exited the bathroom. Sleepy after her tiring day, Anne got into bed, sitting there for a moment before leaning over to turn off the nightstand lamp. A knock at the door startled her.

“Aunt Anne?” Anne heard Nicholas’ frightened voice through the door.

“Come in,” she responded. Nicholas slowly turned the knob and entered. “Is everything okay?” Anne asked, melting
at the sight of her small nephew in his oversized nightshirt.

“Can I sleep with you?” Nicholas whispered. “I’m scared.”

“But what about your mommy and daddy?” She knew her sister would be hurt if she found out Nicholas had come to her instead of his mother.

“Mommy doesn’t let me sleep with her.” The quiver in Nicholas’ voice caused Anne’s heart to break a thousand times over. She patted the bed and Nicholas came leaping in. Helping him under the covers, Anne allowed him to cuddle up next to her.

Wrapping her arms around him and kissing the back of his head, she stared at the ceiling, engrossed in thought.
Poor baby. Does my sister know what she is doing to this family
?

Chapter 10

Anne awakened the next morning to discover the sun streaming through her bedroom window and the green grassy meadows beckoning her. She glanced over at her nephew to find him still in a deep sleep. His sweet, innocent face brought a smile to her lips, and she hoped that someday, God willing, she’d have children of her own. She softly stroked his hair, and was tempted to stay in bed all morning but realized she must get up, as she knew a big day ahead of her. Anne had promised the boys an adventure, and their aunt always kept her word.

Packing a lunch for her nephews was a no-brainer: string cheese, a big bag of Cheetos, plus peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crusts cut off. With that task accomplished, Anne was ready to take on the world, or at least a few insects or any reptiles they might encounter along the way. The trio left in high spirits with an agenda to have fun, taking their bikes to explore the surrounding woods. Two enjoyable hours later, the threesome found themselves with satisfied tummies, dirt-stained knees and full of giggles.

Leaving their bikes temporarily behind, they strolled through a meadow of yard-stick high grass, their wild imaginations beginning to transport them from the countryside to a land far away. In this adventure, the threesome believed themselves to be famous explorers on a scientific venture, classifying rare insects and animal life.

“What do you think we should call him, Aunt Anne?” Little Charlie asked, holding a green amphibian in his hand.

Anne studied the wild bull frog she and Little Charlie had captured. The boys were terribly excited with this new find and were determined the frog was to be their new pet.

“What about the name Freddie?” Anne suggested.

Little Charlie laughed, “No! That’s a dumb name. How about Superman?” Now it was Anne’s turn to laugh.

“Look! There’s Grandpa,” Nicholas said, prompting Little Charlie and Anne’s immediate attention. “But who’s that with him?” he asked inquisitively.

Anne squinted to get a better look. Her eyesight couldn’t quite compete with that of her young nephews, but there was something about the man—his walk and mannerism seemed to strike a chord deep within her—yet Anne couldn’t make sense of it. As she continued to observe the stranger engaged in conversation with Mr. Musgrove, she began to feel faint as her heartbeat accelerated. Dropping instantly to her knees, she took shelter within the tall grass.

“What’s wrong, Aunt Anne?” Little Charlie asked with concern.

Nicholas chimed in, “Are you okay?”

With a shaky voice, Anne answered, “I, ahhh, I’m not sure…” Maintaining her surveillance of the men through the dense grass, she found herself overwhelmed by a sudden, unexplainable anxiety attack.

“Should I go get Grandpa?” Little Charlie asked Nicholas who nodded his agreement.

Seized with fear, Anne exclaimed, “No!” and grasped Little Charlie’s arm to keep him from moving. The last thing she wanted was her nephews calling attention to Mr. Musgrove and the stranger. “Umm…” Anne stalled, quickly trying to strategize all routes of escape, “Ahhh…your Aunt Anne isn’t feeling very well and needs to go home right away.”

Nicholas and Little Charlie exchanged confused glances, mingled with disappointment at having their fun cut short.
Anne swiftly scrambled to formulate how she could turn a quick ‘get-away’ into a fun game the boys would buy into.

With a disgruntled look, Little Charlie started to stand upright, but was quickly jerked down to a prone position by his panicked aunt.

“Listen up, guys,” she said in a conspiratorial voice, “We need to go home in a very special way,” and then, using her best ‘secret agent’ look, Anne finally managed to secure her nephews undivided attention. She followed this line of intrigue by asking them to recall a show they had viewed the night before. “Remember watching
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, and how Anakin and Ahoska had to hide from General Grievous and make their way back to their space shuttle?” The boys nodded eagerly. “Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to pretend to do. This means we have to be really, really sneaky and quiet.”

“But who will be General Grievous?” Nicholas asked, threatening to be difficult.

“Your grandpa, of course,” Anne answered, and not waiting for Nick’s reply, she took his hand and began showing the boys the art of squat-walking backwards through the tall grass while maintaining eye contact on the men. “If you see them look over this way, we must all fall flat on our backs as to avoid detection, okay?” The boys nodded, but each had further questions.