Lucius
invited Dollie to the movies. He's had a long, filthy day at work.
When he gets home, his mother is frantic with worry about something.
"Did
you find him yit?"
"Find
who, Ma?"
"Your
pa. Sam was s'posed to talk to you."
"Ain't
seen Sam all day. I been out fencing. What's wrong?" He led his
mother to the porch steps and persuaded her to sit.
"He
run off in the night and ain't been back. It's not like Earl. He'll
drink hisself into a stagger, but when he's home, he's home. He don't
run off and not come home. Not never, in all this time!"
"He'll
turn up. He was mad as a hornet last night. What got him so peeved?"
"He
was riled about Will finishing up his house. Now he'll marry that
city girl and be lost for good."
"He's
not lost, Ma. He's still around. Don't he still come up and see us
when Pa's not home?"
"It
won't be the same. She'll keep him away."
"No,
she won't. I promise. And I won't stay away neither...."
"You?
What have you to do with this?"
Lucius
explained as calmly as he could about his interest in Dollie. Instead
of being happy for him, his mother drew back her arm, slapping him
hard. His ears rang and he saw stars. He knew his mother was yelling
at him, but he couldn't make out words at first.
"—as
bad as your brother! You'll drag off Sam next, then who'll take care
of us when your pa's gone? He'll drink himself to death and where
will I be then? Had your heads turned by a couple chippies!"
"They
ain't chippies, Ma. You love Dollie and Patty and they love you. They
won't keep us away, they want to be here as much as we do. I plan to
court Dollie and ask her to marry me. I love her and I won't let you,
Pa or the entire state of Kentucky stand between us. And, just so you
know, I still plan to work this place. I promised, didn't I? I'll
build us a little house up the holler and Dollie'll bring the babies
down to visit every chance she gets."
"Ain't
got babies yet, boy." She smacked his chest, but she smiled a
little.
"We'll
have us a passel."
"Best
check what Dollie thinks of that. That poor girl ain't go no idee
what's what between men and women. You'd think her mama would've
explained."
"Patty
says their mama's real straight laced. Her daddy's a preacher. She
didn't tell the girls nuthin'. What Patty knew, she found out from
her auntie on her daddy's side."
"Then
she'd best explain to her sister what's what. If she don't, I will."
"Ma!
You can't tell the woman I love about—that."
"And
why not! You think I'm squeamish cause it's my son she'll bed? I
finished Patty's education, let me tell you. What she knew was
precious little." She made a disgusted sound, waving it away. "A
girl needs to know what goes on in the marriage bed afore she gets in
it. You wanna tell her?"
"Oh,
no, ma'am!"
His
mother laughed. "Go get cleaned up. You stink. I put water on to
heat. Sally and Jenny fotched the tub. You have a wash in the bath
house."
"Thanks,
Ma." He knew that was a lot of work on the part of his mother
and sisters. Despite her annoyance with him, she'd done something
kind.
After
a hot bath, Lucius felt and smelled a lot cleaner. He wished for
indoor plumbing like Will had, but knew his parents would never
agree. One thing he planned to have in the house he built for Dollie,
was an indoor bathroom so she could bathe in comfort.
He
shaved his cheeks carefully and trimmed his beard. Most men he knew
had a full, bushy beard. He preferred a neater look. Having seen
portraits of men from the middle ages, he'd found a goatee. Liking
the style, he'd worked hard to maintain his. He also had a mustache
that met the beard, ringing his full lips in soft hair. Most of his
friends thought it was silly to spend that much time on something
that came in naturally, but to him, it was important. The women
seemed to approve and several had commented on how attractive it was.
Satisfied
he looked his best, he went down to pick up Dollie. She wasn't quite
ready, so he sat and talked with Patty. She told him that she and
Will had finally set a date.
"I
got a call out to Mama today. Mama said the soonest they can get here
is first weekend in August. So, I guess in about two months, Will and
me are getting married!"
"Got
some planning to do. Any way I can help, you let me know."
"I
sure will. Helping Will finish up the house would be the best thing
you can do just now."
"I
can do that," he agreed with a grin. "I'm right happy for
ya." He squeezed her hand. "You'll make him a fine wife."
"I
sure hope to try. I'm so happy!"
Dollie
came out a moment later. She was dressed in a crisp blue lawn dress
scattered with tiny white flowers. Her dark curls were held back in a
sleek bun that must have taken hours to get right. Her lipstick was
more a purpley red than a true red. It complimented her dark eyes and
fair skin.
Lucius
could hardly breathe. He stood up, smoothing his shirt front. Feeling
much the country bumpkin, he stepped forward, taking her hand in his.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes Dellani
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