Luke's
friend, Albert, tells him that he understands about his problems with
his father. He offers to listen if Luke ever needs to talk about it.
It
took a few moments for them to realize that adults and students alike
stopped what they were doing and cheered them on. The sound
eventually penetrated their little bubble of joy. Boys especially
clapped, cheered and wolf whistled. Lucius set her down, mortified.
Dollie took one look at him and completely lost her embarrassment.
Instead of blushing, she held Lucius' hand and took a bow.
Encouraging him to do the same, she took another bow. After her
third, he finally joined her, laughing at his own mistake.
"Reckon
I'll have to marry you now, Miss Dollie," he said with a laugh.
"Folks will talk."
"I
don't care one whit. I love you and I don't care who knows it."
"I'm
thinking of your reputation, Dollie," Lucius said quietly.
"Lucius,
you and I know, love's all that matters." She tugged on his hand
until he met her eyes. "How's your mama?"
"She'll
manage. 'Spect it'll be hard for a while. Young'uns didn't take it as
bad as I thought, 'cept Sally. Samuel—well, he took a few licks
hisself over the years."
"How
about Jacob?"
Lucius
took his head. "He's still too young. Daddy didn't cuff me till
I was eight or nine. Jake ain't barely that. Mostly me and Sam
protected him. The only good to come of this is my baby brother will
never have to learn to hide from his daddy." He shoved his hands
in his pockets, digging his toe into the dirt. "Dollie, I got to
thinking."
"Oh?"
She started walking downhill.
Lucius
walked with her. She took his arm as they made their way down the
dirt path.
"Am
I gonna be a mean old bastard like my daddy? What if I raise my hand
to our children?"
"You
won't." She hugged his arm, bringing him close. "You'd
never hit a child or me. You're not that kind of man. Only time you'd
raise a hand would be against someone who deserved it."
"How
do you know that, Dollie? What if I'm as bad a man as he was?"
She
turned to face him, hands on her hips. "Lucius, do you drink?"
"Once
in a blue moon, Dollie. You know that."
"Then
you're already twice the man your daddy was. I believe the only time
you'd hit someone is if they drove you to it. And they'd have to back
you into a corner or threaten your life for you to do it."
"Not
just my own," he said quietly, taking her hands. "If anyone
came against you, I'd shore tear him apart with my bare hands."
Dollie
sniffled, blinking back tears. Lucius wanted to kiss her again. She
looked so beautiful and vulnerable. He didn't dare repeat his earlier
performance. He'd hear about it from his mama when he got home, sure
she'd already know about it.
Unable
to pull himself away, he walked her to her office. As there was no
one else around, he risked another kiss. Feeling slightly better, he
set out to find Patrick so he knew what his job was for the day. He
found his boss squatting by the swimming pool, examining the electric
pump.
"Damn
thing is plumb tuckered," Patrick said, rocking back on his
heels. "I can't kick no more life into it."
"Want
me to look at it?" Lucius offered.
"Don't
see how it'll do no good," Patrick replied. "Best go see
Mr. McDowell in Harlan. Told me last time I was there he had a
rebuilt one he'd sell us cheap."
"Sure.
I'll take Will's truck. He needs it back anyhow."
"Then
how'll you get back?" Patrick asked him, a twinkle in his eyes.
"Will
can bring me. Reckon he'd like to be up here anyhow."
"True.
All right. You go on and do that and I'll yank this 'un here out."
"You
got it, boss."
Lucius
stopped by the office to let Dollie know he was heading into town.
"Does
Will know?"
"I
hope the sheriff told him. If not, reckon I'll tell him."
"Do
you want me to go?"
He
shook his head. "You got things to do. I'll be fine, Dollie.
Don't worry none."
"But
I do worry, Luke. Can't love someone without a worry or two."
He
chuckled, kissing her hands. "I'll be back in a couple hours, I
reckon. I'll try to stop by."
"I'll
come up to the house later. I want to pay my respects to your mama."
"That'd
be grand," he replied. Wanting to kiss her, he forced himself to
leave.
The
drive to Harlan provided him with the opportunity to yell and vent
his anger like Albert suggested. He didn't cry. He knew eventually
he'd shed tears for his father's passing—if not for the man
himself—in time.
Will
wasn't home, so Lucius tracked him down at work. His brother worked
at the jeweler next to Mr. McDowell's shop. Lucius stepped in to
speak to the mechanic before going in to find his brother. When Will
saw his younger brother, he stopped talking to the man next to him
and ran to Lucius' side. He grabbed his brother in a bone crushing
hug.
"Thank
God you're all right," he said with a happy sigh. "Tell me
what happened."
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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