Chapter 18

“Go,” Thomas insisted. “This arguing is making me tired.” He’d eaten better today, and she was pleased to see the color returning to his face.

“I don’t want to leave you, especially today. A person is supposed to be with family on the holidays.”

“The Franklins would enjoy having you for Thanksgiving dinner. You know Roberta is an incredible cook.”

“I know. Every time Aaron brings groceries by, he brings something his mom’s baked and sometimes I eat it all. Sorry,” she apologized, lacking remorse. Thomas smiled and that made her happy. “I imagine Erma will be there?” Gracie said as if she were counting pros and cons.

“Go. I’ll be fine.” Thomas reached for the paper on the edge of his bed and began reading.

“Okay I’ll go, but only if you promise to eat the whole plate of turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes that I bring back to you.”

“I’ll try,” Thomas promised.

Gracie didn’t want to make it obvious to her grandfather, but she wanted to get out of the house, not as much to spend Thanksgiving with the Franklins, but more so she could stop by Mr. Foster’s house on the way there. He’d called to tell her he had a bundle of mail for her and hadn’t had a chance to run it to her. She’d asked if there was a return address from Louisville, Ky. He’d said, “Yes.”

* * *

On their first Thanksgiving, Gene had cooked for Olivia. He hunted a big turkey and fixed enough sweet potatoes, dressing, and cranberry sauce for a family of six, though it was only the two of them. Watching Willy drown his turkey and dressing with gravy and Barney stuff his face with sugar-and-spice-cooked apples, Gene thought they acted as if they hadn’t eaten since the day that he had left for Hartington earlier in the week. He had an appointment with Robert Myers, the lawyer who had handled the divorce. Meyers now had a partner and was located in a fancy building downtown with signage over the door reading Meyers & Murphy. Gene’s visit consisted of a night’s stay in a hotel with a shower and flushing toilets, a spicy steak at a restaurant with a name he couldn’t pronounce, and a meeting in an office with chairs cushier than his own bed. Finally, he had driven home to Ridgewood with his cigar box by his side, empty.

* * *

Roberta Franklin set the mashed potatoes on the table, steam rising to the ceiling from the bowl. Ben Franklin was home from the service for the holiday, and Aaron’s mother had prepared a feast in honor of her brother. Ben, in a gold cardigan and slacks, still stood as if he wore his dress blues. Gracie figured that once a person had shaken the hand of President Kennedy it was hard to act like a normal person again.

Erma offered to help her sister with dinner but immediately started telling Pastor Ted a long story about her donation of canned goods to the church for the annual food drive.

“Pastor Ted, I just knew when you were speaking last Sunday that you were talking directly to me,” Erma said and leaned forward, dramatically placing her hand over her low-cut white blouse.

Pastor Ted nodded and added making conversation, “It was so kind of you to donate several boxes. We surpassed our goal, doubling what we collected last year.” Pastor Ted was dressed more casually than his usual church attire. It was rare that Gracie saw him without a tie.

Erma continued, “I couldn’t be more pleased to contribute to such a worthy cause. I think of those children without food on their plates, the little ones starving, and I just want to cry.” Erma put two fingers to her forehead and closed her eyes, as if the thought was too much to bear.

“Yes, it is sad,” Pastor Ted agreed. His eyes followed Erma as she swayed across the room to perch on the edge of the upholstered wing backed chair.

Picking up her cup of hot tea from the end table, Erma crossed her legs and tugged at her burgundy satin skirt to raise her hem to her knees. She’d overdressed for the occasion. She lifted the cup and blew on it, shifting her eyes from the tea to Pastor Ted and back again. “Were you offered some tea?” Erma asked in a cooing tenor.

“No, but no, thank you,” Pastor Ted replied focusing on the elegant décor in the living room. “That’s a beautiful vase.” He motioned to Gracie for her to look.

Gracie nodded. The home, decked with collectables and antiques, resembled a quaint museum. Where the walls in Gracie’s house were dull with only a few, simply-framed photos hanging, Aaron’s home was adorned with ornate mirrors the size of the front window of Gracie’s house and with large signed portraits.

“Oh yes, it was our mother’s,” Erma said as Aaron called everyone to the dining room.

Whereas Gracie was accustomed to passing the dishes, Roberta walked each dish around the table allowing the guests to take their portion.

“Ben, when is the big day?” Pastor Ted asked after the blessing.

Ben, thought Gracie, though the conversation continued about his deployment to Vietnam scheduled for the day after Christmas, Gracie thought of only her “Ben”. Gracie peeked into her purse to see the letter from Kage. Although she’d already read it, she wanted to make sure it was still there, close to her.

“Gracie, how is your grandfather today?” Roberta interrupted.

“Better. Aaron has been kind to bring by the groceries. I know I owe him for those. I wish he would let me pay,” Gracie said and turned to Aaron.

“Oh, no. We are glad to,” Roberta insisted.

“Excellent squash casserole, and love the turnip greens,” Pastor Ted complimented.

“Do you like the rolls?” Erma asked. “I made them.” She fluttered her lashes and took a small bite of the yeast roll with her front teeth. “Is it okay if I call you Teddy?” Erma asked almost knocking over her tea cup; it dropped to the saucer with a loud clank. Her cheeks flushed. Gracie could have sworn that Erma’s blouse was open an additional button.

“I always pictured Ben as a match for Gracie, but,” Erma glanced toward Aaron and Gracie. “but you two make such a cute couple.” Erma took a gulp of her tea rather than the earlier lady-like sips.

“Erma!” Roberta shot a glance across the table.

“Well, they do. They’d really have cute babies, you know. Aaron and Gracie both with that dark hair and as smart as Aaron is, they’d have such good genes.”

Aaron and Gracie blushed in unison.

“Erma, that’s enough,” Roberta broke in.

“Oh, dear me.” Erma pulled her hand to her chest covering the exposed cleavage. “I am sorry. I just believe that when two people are meant to be together, the forces are too strong for them to be kept apart.” And with those words Erma looked directly at Pastor Ted who jolted in his seat as if something had bitten him under the table.

“Erma Franklin! May I see you in the kitchen?” Roberta ordered.

Erma placed her fork on the china and held the edges of the table as she fished beneath with her leg. Then she bent over, her blouse fell open providing a clear shot for Pastor Ted and Aaron. Aaron’s eyes darted open, while Pastor Ted stood from his seat and placed his napkin on the table, excusing himself.

Raising her head from under the table, her hairdo disassembled, Erma held her left shoe in her hand. “Found it.”

“No, Pastor, stay please,” Roberta insisted following Pastor Ted to the door. Erma was on their heels jabbering about the nice evening.

Gracie snickered as she and Aaron traded glances, both realizing that Erma had slipped off her black, patent leather, high-heeled shoe and stroked Pastor Ted’s leg with her stocking foot.

Ben leaned over toward Erma’s tea cup, sniffed and said, “Something a little extra in that tea!”

* * *

Kage kept playing the conversation with Barney over in his head. Once, when his boss wasn’t watching, he picked up the phone to call Gracie. After two rings, he caught his boss’s evil eye and hung up. Kage stared at the clock on the wall as if it were a ticking bomb, counting down the minutes until he would explode from anxiety.