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Authors: Ernest Hill

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Chapter Twenty-nine

A
t Grandpa Luke's house, I removed the luggage from the truck and placed it on the step then knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” Grandpa Luke yelled.

“It's me, Grandpa Luke,” I said. “Maurice.”

“Just a minute,” he said.

I heard his feet moving on the floor. Then I heard the chains on the door rattle. The door swung open and I saw Grandpa Luke look at me, then at the luggage, then back at me.

“Me and Mama had words,” I said.

“Words!” he said.

“Yes, sir,” I said. “Harsh words.”

He looked at the luggage again then back at me.

“She put you out?”

“No, sir,” I said. “I left.”

He pulled the door open wider and stepped aside.

“Well, come on in out the cold,” he said.

I put the luggage inside and closed the door and followed Grandpa Luke to the living room. There was a fire in the fireplace and I went to the fire and warmed my hands, then turned back toward Grandpa Luke. His pipe was on the stand next to the sofa. He lit it, took a long puff, then sat in the recliner.

“Is this about your lady friend?”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

I looked at the fire a moment, then back at him.

“I don't mean to bother you with this, Grandpa Luke,” I said, “but I was wondering if I could stay here for a few days.”

“You always welcome here,” he said. “You know that.”

“Are you sure you don't mind?” I said. “I don't want to intrude.”

“Don't be silly,” he said. “I got plenty room. Put your things in that room back yonder. You know where it is.”

I gathered my luggage and placed it in the far bedroom, and when I was done, I returned to the living room. The television was on but Grandpa Luke wasn't watching it. He was sitting quietly next to the fire, smoking his pipe, and staring deep into the flickering flames. It had been a while since I had actually been in his house. In fact, I had not been inside since Grandma had passed. But as I looked around, I could see that very little had changed. The small living room was exactly as it had always been. The sofa was still on the wall next to the door. Grandpa Luke's recliner was still next to the fireplace. Grandma's sewing basket was still in the far corner next to the television. And the same three or four potted plants were sitting exactly where Grandma had placed them.

I crossed the room and sat on the sofa. Grandpa Luke had put the tree up, and it, too, had been placed before the window in the precise spot it had always been. I looked at the tree a moment, then at Grandpa Luke.

“It looks nice,” I said.

“Did the best I could,” he said. “Of course, I ain't had much experience decorating trees and such. That was always your grandma's department.”

“I guess Grandma really loved this time of year, huh?”

“Loved life in general,” he said. “She was a good woman.” I saw him looking at the tree again. “A real good woman.”

I looked at the tree a moment more then back at Grandpa Luke. He was sitting in his recliner, but he was no longer looking at the tree, instead he was gently rocking back and forth staring in the direction of the television. But he wasn't looking at the television. He was contemplating something. What, I do not know.

“You ain't working today?” he asked me.

“No, sir,” I said. “Silas came back today. Daddy gave him his job back.”

I paused and looked at Grandpa Luke. He was staring deep into the fire. I began fidgeting with my hands, and after a moment of silence, I spoke again. “Omenita and I set a date,” I said. “We're getting married this Thursday by the justice of the peace.”

“Is that what you and your mama had a round over?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” I said, then waited for him to say something else, but when he said nothing, I continued. “Mama just won't accept Omenita,” I said. “And if she won't accept Omenita then I don't reckon she can accept me either.”

“That's what you told her?” he asked me.

“Yes, sir,” I said. “It is.”

“Hadn't never known you to sass your mama.”

“Didn't think I was sassing her,” I said.

“Kind of sound that way to me.”

“Then I guess you think I was wrong.”

“Don't matter what I think,” Grandpa Luke said. “What do you think?”

“I don't know what I think,” I said.

“Well, I guess you gon' have to figure it out for yourself,” he said.

He lifted the pipe to his mouth again and took another puff. I watched the little rings of smoke rise into the air, then disappear. I looked at him, but he was no longer looking at me. He was looking into the fire again.

“I don't know what she wants from me,” I said.

“Maybe she want you to think about your future.”

“Omenita is my future,” I said. “I've explained that to her.”

“Thought the law was your future.”

“I'm going to be an engineer,” I said. “That's what I went to school for.”

“Guess I understood that to be one of the things you went for,” Grandpa Luke said. “But not the only thing. I thought you had your mind set on going to law school.”

“I can go later,” I said.

“Ain't your scholarship for now?”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“Then what's all this talk about later?”

“I had to make a choice,” I said.

“Between the girl and school?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you chose the girl?”

“I love Omenita,” I said. “And I have the right to marry her if I so choose. Right now, Mama don't want to see that, but she's going to have to because Omenita and I are getting married. And there's no doubt about that.”

“Maybe your mama see more than you give her credit for,” he said. “Her eyes old. And they done seen a whole lot more of this world than you and that girl of yours put together.”

“Grandpa, you think she's right?” I said. “Don't you?”

“Ain't for me to say,” he said.

“Mama just don't like Omenita,” I said, “and that's all there is to it.”

“Is that what you think?”

“Some way or another, she's got it in her mind that Omenita is standing between me and where I'm trying to go.”

“Is she?”

“No,” I said. “Not really.”

“You don't sound too sure of yourself.”

“I'm sure,” I said.

“You better be,” Grandpa Luke said. “Marriage is a serious thing.”

“That's what Daddy said.”

“Well, he telling you right.”

“I love her, Grandpa Luke,” I said.

“Why?”

“Sir?”

“Why do you love her?”

“I don't know,” I said. “I just do.”

“That's your answer?” he said.

“Yes, sir,” I said. “I don't know what else to tell you.”

“Well, I hope you think of something,” he said. “ 'Cause it's been my experience that when hard times come, folks who couldn't tell you why they should get together, usually can't figure out why they should stay together.” I saw him look into the fire again. “And believe me, son, sho' as there is a tomorrow, hard times is coming. And you and that girl of yours can count on that.”

“We'll be alright,” I said.

He had been looking in the fire. Now, he looked directly at me.

“What kind of wife will she be to you?” he asked. “What kind of mother will she be to your children? What kind of in-law will she be to your folks?”

I didn't answer. I couldn't.

“Love is just a word,” Grandpa Luke said. “The way folks live is what give it meaning. You understand that, don't you, son?”

“Yes, sir, Grandpa Luke,” I said. “I understand.”

“Maybe your mama don't think you do.”

“I'm a man, Grandpa Luke. Mama still thinks of me as a boy. I'm a man, and I'm old enough to make my own choices.”

“Age don't make you a man,” Grandpa Luke said. “And a man ain't defined by his ability to make choices. He's defined by the choices he make. And there ain't no greater choice that a man will ever make than the woman he choose to spend his life with. And if he lucky, when it's all said and done, he can look back and say that the woman he chose wasn't just his wife but she was also his friend.”

He paused. And all of sudden his face changed. And I saw him look away. But before he did I could see that his eyes had begun to water, and I thought he was going to cry. But he did not. Instead, he just stared into the fire. And I knew he was thinking of Grandma. And I wanted to say something, but I did not know what to say. Suddenly, he looked up again.

“Son, I'm a old geezer now. And maybe a lot of things done passed me by, but when I was young, a man used to find a woman he could build a life with then he married her. And love came later. But now days, folks marry for love and let life come later. Seem to me like they got it backward.” He paused and stared deep into my eyes. “Will she stand by you, son?” he asked. “Come hell or high water. Will she stand by you?”

“I believe she will,” I said.

“Well,” he said, “that's what's important.”

I saw him looking deep into the fire again.

“This Thursday, huh?”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

Suddenly, I saw him smile.

“The twenty-third.”

“Yes, sir,” I said again.

“The day before Christmas Eve.”

I frowned.

“I hadn't realized that,” I said.

I saw Grandpa Luke smile again.

“Ain't nothing nicer than a Christmas wedding,” he said.

“It's not going to be much of a wedding,” I said.

He didn't respond. Instead, he paused and stared into the fire again.

“Your grandma and me eloped,” he said.

“I didn't know that,” I said.

“It was right about this time of the year too.”

“Is that right?” I said.

“We went to the preacher's house just before daybreak on Christmas Eve. He married us right there in his living room. Just me, your grandma, the preacher, and his wife.”

“I didn't know that,” I said again.

“That was fifty years ago.”

“And you and Grandma stayed together all that time?”

“Yes, we did,” he said, and there was a far-away look in his eyes. “We had our trials and tribulations, but with the help of the good Lord, we made it.”

“Grandpa Luke,” I said. “Do you think I'm doing the right thing?”

“Can't tell you who to marry and who not to,” he said. “You the one gon' have to live with her. But I can tell you this: If a woman loves you, she'll honor you. And if you love her, you'll do the same.”

I was silent. He paused and looked at me.

“You had your dinner?” he asked.

“No, sir,” I said. “Not yet.”

“Well, come on,” he said. “Let's eat.”

Chapter Thirty

A
fter we finished eating, Grandpa Luke and I put the dishes away, and when that was done, I excused myself, then went into the back room, stretched across the bed, and fell asleep. I must have slept for at least two or three hours, for I was unaware of anything until I heard the sound of the door creaking open and I saw Daddy pop his head through and look.

“Hi, Daddy,” I said. I tried to read his face, but I could not.

“Hi, son,” he said. “Didn't mean to wake you.”

“That's okay,” I said. “I was about to get up. Just felt like taking a little nap.”

“Mind if I come in?”

“No, sir,” I said. “I don't mind.”

I sat upright and he entered the room and sat on the bed next to me. He was still wearing his work clothes, so I assumed he had not gone home but instead had come straight to Grandpa Luke's house. It had been a long week and he looked tired.

“I guess Mama told you what happened,” I said.

“She did,” he said.

“I'm sorry,” I said.

“No need to be,” he said. “These things happen.”

“Guess she's pretty upset with me,” I said.

“Not you,” he said. “The situation.”

“Well, I guess I did say some things to her that I shouldn't have said. I guess I was just a little angry. I didn't really mean 'em.”

“In due time, I'm sure you'll make it right.”

“Yes, sir,” I said. “I will.”

“Well, that's all I ask,” he said. “She is your mother. And you must always remember that. Son, she did something for you that no other woman can ever do. She gave you life. She's your mother,” he said again. “Always honor her.”

“I'll apologize for what I said. But not for what I'm doing.”

“Fair enough,” Daddy said.

In the other room, I could hear Grandpa Luke tinkering with the fireplace and I assumed the fire was getting low and he was putting on another piece of wood. I listened for him for a moment, then I spoke again.

“You been by the house?”

“No, not yet. Reuben dropped me off here. Your mama called the diner and said you said for me to come by and pick up the truck.”

As he spoke he was not looking at me. The shades were up and he was looking at the large branches of an old oak tree moving back and forth in the cold, brisk wind.

“I'm sorry about all this,” I said again.

“Ain't your fault,” he said.

I looked at him.

“You think Mama will come?” I asked.

“To the wedding?” he asked me.

“Yes, sir,” I said.

I saw Daddy shake his head.

“I don't know, son,” he said. “I just don't know.”

I saw him looking off again. And I knew he was thinking.

“I wish she would,” I said.

“I'll see what I can do. But I can't promise anything.”

“I know,” I said. “I just wish that she would. That's all.”

I rose from the bed and walked to the window, then looked out.

“Can I ask you a favor?” I asked.

“Sure, son,” he said. “What?”

I turned and looked at him.

“Will you stand with me?” I asked.

He looked at me. And I realized he had not understood.

“Be my best man,” I said.

He smiled.

“Of course, I will,” he said. “I'd be honored.”

“It won't be anything fancy,” I said. “Just me and Omenita, a few family members, and the justice of the peace.”

“That doesn't matter,” he said. “What matters is the vow you take. Not where you take 'em. And not how you take 'em.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, then I looked away.

“What is it, son?” he asked me.

“Just thinking about Mama,” I said.

He rose and walked next to me.

“Son,” he said, placing his hand on my shoulder, “don't worry about your mama. She'll come around in time.”

“I hope so,” I said.

“She will,” he said. “Now, she may never agree with your choice. But in time she will respect you for having had the courage to make it. You're a man. And you've cut the apron strings. And that's always hard on parents, especially on mothers.”

“So, you're alright with this?”

“If you are,” he said.

“I am,” I said. “I love her.”

“Then I love her too.”

I paused and stared at the ceiling.

“I can't believe I'm getting married,” I said.

Daddy smiled.

“I'm happy for you, son,” he said. “Real happy.” He paused and looked away, emotional. “I've thought about this day for a long time. And I had a lot of things prepared to say to you when it came. But now that it's here, I can't think of any of 'em.”

“Well,” I said, “I wish you could.”

Daddy took a deep breath then looked me in the eye.

“Always pay your bills.”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“If you give a man your word, keep it.”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“Raise your sons to be men and your daughters to be ladies.”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“Teach them to give respect to others and demand respect for themselves.”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“Remember to tell your wife you love her. Women need to hear that.”

“Yes, sir,” I said.