Jamie knew something was up when Simon and family drove all the way from Louisville on Sunday. They were long overdue for a visit, but the way Simon twitched all through dinner as though his chair had barbs suggested something more than a pleasant afternoon with Mother. While Jamie didn’t know why, he had no doubt he was the reason for Simon’s agitation.
After their mother cleared the dessert dishes away, Simon nodded toward his wife. With a sympathetic glance at Jamie, Estelle suggested taking the children outside for some sunshine. “You can help me keep an eye on them, Mother Bianca, and you too, Marianne.”
His mother knew something was up too, but nothing trumped time with her grandchildren. So whatever the reason for Simon’s visit, she was simply glad they were there.
She did direct a look at Simon before she picked up little Keith to follow Estelle outside. “I expect you boys not to fight.”
“We’re not children, Mother.” Simon didn’t bother hiding the irritation in his voice.
“You’ll always be my children and you haven’t outgrown listening to me. Not now. Not ever.” Mother wagged her finger at Simon.
Uncle Wyatt spoke up before Simon could say anything else. “Now, Simon, one must never ignore the wise counsel of one’s mother no matter one’s age.” He pushed back from the table and stood up. “I think it’s time for my Sunday nap. Jamie, if the phone rings, I’m not home.” Then he shrugged. “Unless I am.”
Jamie knew what that meant. Uncle Wyatt never refused to go when he got a call. “Maybe nobody will get sick.”
“We can only hope, but it’s not likely. Some foolhardy child will climb a tree and fall out or something of that sort.” Uncle Wyatt smiled. “So good to see you, Simon. Glad you took time to come see your mother. She misses Louisville.”
Mother stopped before she went out the door and looked back at Wyatt. “That’s not true, Wyatt. I’m perfectly content here in Danville. It’s a lovely town with lovely people. Nobody acts as if they need to see one’s bank statement before they invite you to tea.” She smiled toward Simon. “Of course, everyone loves your uncle Wyatt.”
“No need to butter me up, Bianca. You know you have a home here as long as you need one.” He looked from her to Jamie. “You and your children.”
Simon waited until Wyatt was out of the room before he muttered, “He’s always throwing it up at me that I didn’t open my house to all of you. But I had to consider Estelle in her delicate condition with a baby on the way.”
Jamie frowned. “I don’t think Uncle Wyatt meant that at all. He likes having Mother here.”
“I’m sure.” Simon sounded as if that were the last thing he could believe. “You know an old bachelor like Wyatt is simply thrilled to have three people move in to upset his routine.”
“So it seems.”
“Don’t be so dense.” Simon scowled at Jamie. “You heard what he said about Mother missing Louisville. That was a definite jab at me.”
“If he’s upset about us being here, he hides it well.” Jamie rattled the ice in his tea and tried to shift the conversation. “Would you like some more tea?”
“No.”
Jamie studied the ice melting into the amber tea. He liked the way the condensation formed on the outside of the glass. If film wasn’t so expensive, he’d take a picture, maybe several pictures, to capture that look of refreshment. Maybe he should go into advertisement. That sounded better than teaching.
With each day that passed, the dread of being shut up in a schoolhouse all day grew. He had little trouble imagining a roomful of young people with no interest in learning to conjugate sentences. But a job was a job, and a man had to have a job.
“Shall we move into the parlor?” Simon asked.
Jamie sat back in his chair and propped the glass on his thigh. “We’re fine here. You might as well be out with whatever it is you’ve come to say.”
“You’re right.” Simon leaned forward in his chair. “It’s my duty as your older brother to keep you from doing something foolish.”
“And what is that, brother dear? Teaching? While I can’t say that has been my lifelong dream, it is a paying position.”
“This has nothing to do with you taking a teaching position but sounds as though you should develop a better attitude before school starts. You’ve always been a dreamer. But you’re not a kid now. You’re what?”
Jamie didn’t bother answering. Simon knew how old he was.
“Twenty-two? By the time I was your age I was already married and supporting a family. While the current economic crisis has hindered my earning ability, I am still finding a way to support said family. A growing family, I might add.”
Jamie could have mentioned Estelle’s family money, but he didn’t. Instead he rubbed his thumb through the condensation on his glass to make a P. It didn’t have to be P for Piper. It could be P for pray that Simon would get whatever he wanted to say said without Jamie wanting to punch him. Another thing P could stand for. Punch.
But his mother had asked them not to fight. Not that he ever started any fights with Simon. He grew up wanting to be like his big brother. His father said be like Simon. So did his teachers. But he wasn’t Simon. Instead he was pathetic. Another P word.
The P could stand for those other words, but it didn’t. Piper had danced through his thoughts continually since he’d missed seeing her by mere hours. Not expected back until the end of summer. He’d spent months trying to push her completely out of his mind rather than risk rejection.
Now he couldn’t imagine what he had been thinking. He could blame his father’s death. He could blame the loss of their home and everything that had once defined the Russell family, but the person really to blame was him. He’d been the one not to answer Piper’s letters. He was the one who had stood in that hotel garden too cowardly to go inside and demand a dance with Piper. He had been the one to watch Braxton Crandall put his arm around Piper as though she belonged to him and had made no move to prove it not true.
He should push Piper out of his thoughts again. She hadn’t promised him anything. He hadn’t promised her anything. Her father was right. He had nothing to promise her. Nothing but his love.
Simon was still talking about his work and how he had held on through these hard times and managed to make progress. Jamie nodded and muttered something now and again to make Simon think he was paying attention.
“Are you listening to me?” Simon raised his voice. “I come all the way to Danville to talk sense into you and you’re daydreaming. Are you ever going to grow up, Jamie?”
“I heard you. You’ve worked hard. You have opportunities.” Jamie rubbed what was left of the P off his glass and looked straight at Simon. Time to act serious or contrite or whatever it was Simon wanted. He did love his big brother, but he couldn’t turn into the person Simon wanted him to be.
He’d tried that when he was nineteen, before their father died. He’d sat at a desk, added up numbers, and died a little inside every day. It was a terrible thing, but he was almost glad for the economic crash that took their factory. While it had destroyed his father, the crash freed Jamie from the dreary accounting desk.
Even while grieving his father and helping his mother move out of the house she loved, he couldn’t quite lose the grateful feeling of not having to go back to that desk and try to make numbers add up right. That was shameful, but no use lying to himself. Sometimes a person had to look the truth in the face and pray for forgiveness and mercy.
From the look on Simon’s face, no mercy was forthcoming from him. “I will not let you spoil my chances to get financing for my new factory.” Simon glared at Jamie. “Not over some juvenile idea about love.”
So that was it. Simon must have found out about his visit to Piper’s father. Probably from Mr. Danson himself. A man like Danson wasn’t one to leave things to chance. That was what Jamie did. He’d left too much to chance. That may have cost him Piper, while pursuing her might cost him his brother.
“I’ve done nothing to harm your venture, Simon. A radio factory is a wonderful idea and I hope you get it off the ground.”
“I will get it off the ground and it will be a success.”
Simon sounded as though he was not only trying to convince Jamie but also himself. He must be running into some difficulties, but Jamie didn’t ask. He simply needed to deny being a difficulty himself. With Jamie here in Danville and Piper off somewhere in Eastern Kentucky, that seemed to eliminate any problems for Simon. Whatever problems he might be imagining.
“Good.” Jamie set his tea glass back on the table and stood up. As far as he was concerned, they had said all they needed to say.
“I’m not through with you.” Simon jumped up and stepped closer to Jamie.
“What do you want from me, Simon?” Jamie faced him.
“I want you to stay away from Piper Danson. Her father says she’s been promised to Braxton Crandall.”
“Been promised? By who?” Jamie fought the sick feeling rising inside him. It couldn’t be true. He couldn’t lose Piper. “We don’t live in the Dark Ages. A woman can make her own choices.”
“What makes you think she hasn’t made her choice? She’d be crazy not to jump at the chance to marry Crandall. With him, she will never have to worry about lacking money for a new dress.”
“There’s more to life than new dresses.” Jamie wanted to believe that was true. Desperately.
“Yes. There’s food on the table. Money for the right schools for your children. A comfortable life. All things you have no way of giving Piper or any other girl.” Simon’s eyes narrowed as he went on. “And don’t bother mentioning love. Love is a poor substitute for security. Especially with the way things are now. You’re witness of that with Mother.”
“I’ll keep what you say in mind.”
It was useless to argue with Simon. Anyway, he was right. Jamie couldn’t offer Piper that security Simon mentioned. Plus, he couldn’t be sure she hadn’t already chosen Braxton Crandall. The two had seemed very chummy the night of her debut. That didn’t mean Jamie had to let her step to the marriage altar with Crandall without first hearing him tell her he loved her. If she then said she wanted to marry Crandall, he’d wish her well.
Simon poked his finger into Jamie’s chest. “Do more than keep it in mind. Stay away from her and from all the Dansons. I won’t have you ruining my chances of getting financial backing from the Crandalls. Do you understand?”
Jamie knocked Simon’s hand away and stepped back. “I understand perfectly, but I doubt the Crandalls make financial decisions based on romantic arrangements.”
“Don’t be naïve. Everything is based on connections in the business world.” Simon scowled at Jamie.
“Then it’s good I don’t plan to be part of that world. I’ll just putter along teaching school.” And dream of making money with my words and pictures, he added silently.
As though the confrontation was over and he’d won, Simon threw an arm around Jamie’s shoulders. “You’ll be a great teacher. Teaching English, did you say?”
“English.” Jamie didn’t move away from Simon. That was just how his brother was. Once he thought he’d brought Jamie in line, he was ready to be best buddies again. It used to work when Jamie was a kid. But he wasn’t a kid now. He was his own person, and whether Simon realized it or not, he hadn’t promised anything. He wouldn’t promise anything. He wasn’t sure when he might see Piper again, but he would before she made the mistake of walking down the aisle with Braxton Crandall.