It was midnight when Joe ventured downstairs to get a piece of pie and a glass of milk. The house was dark, so he carried his own lantern with him. He tiptoed through the house so he wouldn't wake anyone. The sweet smell of Ole Jen's pies invited him. She had them lined up on one table and covered them with a large cloth. Joe uncovered them and turned them all so he could see what flavor each one was in the dark. He held one up to his nose and inhaled the fresh aroma. After he sliced himself a piece of lemon meringue pie, and a full glass of milk he started tiptoeing away. He was about to leave when a light shone behind him.
The goosebumps up his neck told him it was Ole Jen. He was going to have to face her.
"Another piece of pie?" Ole Jen’s voice sounded sardonic, her face a wad of frowns as she carried a lantern at her side too. "Can’t sleep? I wonder why?"
The way she said that had Joe turning to face her.
"You caught me red-handed, Ole Jen." Joe smiled as he approached her.
"In more ways than one." Her frown deepened as her hands fisted on her hips.
"You know…" his voice lowered, his eyes held the guilt.
Ole Jen’s eyes flashed through the darkness at him. "Why shore I know. I raised the two of you. I ain’t stupid. You cain’t fool Ole Jen and you knows it. I don’t know what this is about, but I do know you are headed for trouble. Lies only borrow more lies. I thought I taught you better than that."
He flinched from the tone in her voice.
Joe set the pie down on the kitchen table and then the milk; he looked up at Ole Jen with a long-breathed sigh. "Are you going to tell them?"
She looked away, and then restlessly moved about the room.
"Nope, ain’t my business what you’re up to. Besides, I know how you feel. I don’t see nothin’ wrong with it except lyin' to Miss Melanie. Your father would see something wrong in it. You knows that, but I don't. I know why you are lyin', and in some ways I understand, but…it don't make it right." She stopped and looked him in the eyes. She was holding tears in the corner of her eyes. "Cept…for Miss Melanie. When you gonna tell her? She's the innocent one."
Joe turned away, not wanting to see the censure in Ole Jen’s black eyes. "After we are married…I’ll tell her the truth, if she doesn’t guess it, by then."
"Hmm, I expected you won’t tell her until you's married, and she cain't do much about it." Old Jen shook her head. "That's the real reason you ain't tellin' her right now."
"You don’t understand. This is my one chance to live the life I’ve wanted all along. And it's my brother's chance too. Please, I beg of you, don't spoil it for us."
"I been told, 'be careful what you wish for'. You are gonna live to regret this, if'n you don't tell Miss Melanie." Ole Jen's eyes got big and round.
"Can you blame me? You know my father. This is the only way for us to be happy."
"No sir, it's the only way for you to be happy. I never taught you to be selfish. And this is selfish." Ole Jen’s head hung for a moment. "Yes sir, you is right about your father. Your daddy would never understand. And until today, my thoughts and prayers have been with you all the way. But this ain’t right and you know it. I didn’t raise you to be cruel and mean, and lie and cheat. Yor Mama died not long after the two of you were born. Why I had to give you milk myself from my own breast. You were my babies too. And I raised you boys like my own. I taught you from the good book. And now look at you."
"It’ll all work out, Ole Jen, you’ll see. What is in my heart is real and true. I'd never hurt her, you know that."
"She's gonna marry you, and not even know you. Don't you think that will hurt in the long run? And what will happen when she does find out?" Ole Jen fretted her hands folding and unfolding.
"I love Melanie with all my heart. How can that be so wrong?" Joe shook his head and stared at Ole Jen. "You've known my feelings for her all along."
Ole Jen nodded her head and huffed. "I knowed you do. I knowed it all along. Well…ain't my business. But you be good to that girl, or else you'll have me to answer to, understand? Miss Melanie is a fine young lady, and I love her like my own."
"I love her too…And she will grow to understand in time."
Ole Jena stared him down until he looked at her once more. "A lie between you is never a good thing. I knows you love her. Else I'd be tellin' her myself, right now. I’ve knowed it fer a long time, how you felt. I seen it in your eyes. I can understand you not tellin' your daddy, but Miss Melanie…it jest ain't right. She deserves to have a choice."
"It’s for her own good. Ole Jen, I promise, I won't hurt her. If father found out right now…all hell would break loose. You know that too."
"You got that right. Shore I knows how you feel. But you're gonna be sorry."
"I’ll never mistreat her, Ole Jen, I love her too much," Joe admitted.
"Yes sir, Mr. Joe. You’re afraid to tell her." Ole Jen eyed him with contempt. "You're afraid she won't love you back. Well, sooner or later, when she finds out, what is she gonna say and do?"
"I guess I am afraid of that too, Ole Jen. At least right now. Sooner or later, I will tell her and take the consequences. If she really doesn't love me by then, at least I will have had some time with her."
"You could be messin' up both your lives…" Ole Jen fretted but the smiled at him sadly.
"We agreed to this, Ole Jen. We both wanted it, this way. And maybe father will never know…"
"I’m surprised she didn’t guess when you kissed her."
Joe smiled. "I realized that quickly. But it felt so right. I've been gone a long time Ole Jen, and all I thought about as I rowed that ship in the bowels, was seeing her again."
When Ole Jen made a face, Joe tried to smile.
"There's nothing to fear, Ole Jen, I love her."
"Then tell her the truth, boy. And then you’ll be a man….a free man." She turned to leave. "I know all about bein' free, you know?"
"Just give me a little time…please."
Ole Jen studied the serious face staring at her, and her heart went out to him. "I won't say a word."
"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
"I won't, but you will have to eventually."
"Yes, I suppose you are right. I've just got to find the right time."
Joe thought about that. It didn’t leave him feeling too well about the deception. He knew it was too soon to tell Melanie. He needed some time first. Before she left the kitchen, he turned to look her in the eyes.
"I’ll think on it Ole Jen, but thanks for your silence…."
"Don’t you be thankin' me. You best be talkin’ to the Lord—"