Post holiday dead of winter was not a good time to be in the nation’s capitol. Lighted buildings and traffic noise did little to sweeten the bitter season, and although Geneva had found some solace in reconnecting with old friends and a new church, she found herself wondering if her move back had been a wise one. She prayed constantly for guidance, but none came. Even God seemed to be withholding His warmth from her in this damp, inhospitable place.
On this January evening, sodden with icy rain, she was so lonely that she once again sorted through the letters she had received from home over the last few weeks. She did not want to read John’s or Rachel’s letters again. They were too awkward, too artificially cheerful, and too full of poorly-hidden disappointment—and of bad news. Sammy had been hit by a car and killed. Moe had developed feline leukemia. Only Sally Beth’s letter felt comfortable, although she found it difficult to pick her way though it. Her handwriting was typical of the untutored dyslexic: illegible and full of misspellings and scratch-outs. She seemed not to know the difference between b’s and d’s, or q’s, p’s, and g’s. Sometimes she would write a number in the place of a letter. But the sentiment conveyed was warm and friendly, full of the most inane details of daily life, as comforting as warm, fresh bread on an icy morning. She puzzled her way through some sentences that had stumped her earlier.
“I’ve deen learning how to braw, and I think it would 5e fun to desiqn cloths. Mrs. Halverto3 and I are learming to seew. Mr. Hawkinns has a new sonp, it’s even detter than Lucille!”
But the real shocker was that Lilly had up and moved to Las Vegas in search of a Sugar Daddy.
“Mama was fit to de tieb at first, but she’s 3k now.”
There was a knock at the door, so Geneva set the letter aside to answer it. A pale and worried Howard Graves stood in the doorway. He clung to the door frame, leaning his head against his hand.
“Howard?”
“My mom has been in an accident. Will you come with me? I don’t want to face this alone.”
They were at the hospital within half an hour. She sat with him during the four hours of surgery, and although more of his friends gathered to be with him, she knew how alone he felt. His father had died five years earlier, and he was the only child of two only children. Her own vast, backwoods family seemed like an embarrassment of riches, or—she couldn’t help herself the small pretension—sometimes just an embarrassment. She tried to share the joke with Howard, but he didn’t find it funny. “I love your family, Geneva,” he said solemnly, just as the doctor came to give him the good news that his mother would live—without a spleen and with a metal plate in her head and four screws in her leg—but she would live. Howard put his arms around Geneva and wept.
They returned to their apartment building at two in the morning. The rain had frozen in puddles in the parking lot. “Careful,” said Howard, taking her arm. “You could break your neck,” he warned, just as she felt her feet slide underneath her. He grabbed her to steady her. She did not recoil at his touch; he was warm and reassuring, but when he kept his arm around her waist as they navigated the frozen parking lot, she began to feel uneasy. He was vulnerable now, and she did not want to give him any false hopes. She pulled away as soon as they were inside.
“Thank you for coming with me,” he said at her door.
“I’ll pray for her,” she replied.
“Oh, yes. Please do. And Geneva? Please pray for me, too.” He touched her hand briefly and left.
The weeks that followed were the happiest of her winter. Geneva stopped bothering to look for a job. Howard still kept his eye on her investment portfolio, and since her living expenses were next to nothing, she seemed to be making more money than she was spending. Now she began Lamaze classes, and she spent her days with Howard’s mother who was healing slowly. She came to understand how being around people in need appealed to Sally Beth: it was nice to be a source of comfort to someone in pain and to appreciate the subtle dignity in her suffering. The two women grew close during the bleak hours.
Howard was proving to be a steady and helpful friend. When she finally worked up the nerve to tell him about her baby, he looked saddened, but he took her hand and kissed it before smiling and shrugging. “I guess this takes me out of the picture, then, doesn’t it?” She dropped her eyes. “But I knew that anyway. Nothing wrong with hoping, though.” He stood up briskly and suggested they go for pizza. When she hesitated, he put up his hands. “No strings. Friends can hang out together,” and so they fell into an easy camaraderie that suited Geneva just fine. But sometime later she caught him looking at her in a certain way and a tickle of unease crept across her skin, and when he sent her twenty-five roses for her birthday, she could no longer deny that he still had feelings for her. His mother, too, had become attached to her, and showed it by making subtle suggestions that the two get back together. Mindful that she had already hurt enough people with her selfishness, she tried to distance herself by asking her mother to come for a visit and serve as a buffer between herself and them.
Gaynell came to monopolize her time for a week, but after she left, the loneliness descended again and the long darkness settled into her spirit. She closed herself off, waiting for the spring thaw to dissolve the thorns of winter and for her womb to reaffirm the season of blooms.
By February, she was feeling homesick, lonely, and disconnected, but the baby grew and quickened and gave her a solitary joy. She often reminded herself that she was not going back to the hills, that return would be impossible, but she couldn’t stop imagining her little girl running through the meadows, and finally she began to beg God to take away the awful desire to go home. God’s voice remained inaudible, and the Scriptures did not comfort. It seemed that she could not get away from the verses proclaiming the fulfillment found in the land, the abundance of the hills. She copied out the verse from Genesis, Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land, and taped it to the refrigerator, then took it down again when she realized the impossibility of the promise it seemed to imply.
Spring came at last, bringing song and scent upon the crest of the warming breezes, and April ripened into May. Geneva’s child grew, and with the swelling of the buds and the child, her spirits lifted. Her mother would be back in three days, and after the baby came, Rachel would come for a weekend. She thrilled with the anticipation and tried not to think about the challenges of the next year, the challenges of the rest of her life. God had been providing all this time, and He would surely continue to do so. She counted the hours until she saw her mother’s face again.
The ringing telephone startled her. “Hi, honey!” came Gaynell’s voice, brittle and too bright. “Mama!” she exclaimed. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, honey! My bursitis is acting up, and my shoulder is just frozen up.” Geneva groaned. “I know. I’m going in for a cortisone shot on Monday, but I won’t be able to lift a thing for a while, and I can’t drive.” Geneva felt the misery in her voice. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but I will be worse than worthless. But Daddy can come, and Rachel might be able to get away for a few days. Sally Beth said she would take some time off to take care of the children.”
Geneva fought back the tears. “Oh, mama, I’m so sorry!” and the brutal homesickness severed her heart. She missed her mother, and the only thing she wanted was for her to be with her when her own baby came.
Gaynell’s voice wavered. “It would be really nice if you just came on home. Daddy will come up to get you, and we can move a bed back into the den, like we did when you were hurt. Daddy even said he’d build you your own wing if you’d come home and stay. And Rachel keeps arguing with me because she wants you there, too.”
Geneva thought. “Does anybody know about the baby, mama?”
“No, just Sally Beth and us. But, Geneva, you’ve been away long enough now that people will probably think the daddy is in DC. We can tell them you had a boyfriend, or a husband, and things didn’t work out.” She pleaded, “Come on home, baby. You can’t be happy there all alone, and we really want you here.”
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. The words rippled under the surface of her mother’s voice. Her capitulation was sudden and complete.
“Okay, mama, I’ll come home. But I can drive. Don’t be sending Daddy up here to get me. I need my car, anyway.
“No, indeed! You are nine months pregnant, and I won’t have you driving all by yourself all the way here. Daddy can be up there tomorrow.”
“I’ll think about it. Maybe I can drive just behind him, but I really want a car if I’m there.”
She got off the phone, then went to Howard’s apartment. He was just leaving for work when she stopped him in the hallway.
“My mom called. She’s having a bout with bursitis, so she isn’t coming after all. Dad’s coming to get me, so I wanted to tell you goodbye, and to thank you for all you’ve done for me. You’ve been a good friend, Howard, and I really appreciate that.”
“You’re leaving? Just like that?”
“Well, yeah. Daddy will be here tomorrow. I wanted to let you know so you can take care of Peanuts. I probably won’t be back for a while, and when I do, I’ll be moving into my old place.”
“Wait a minute. Your dad is driving out here to get you?”
“Yeah, they don’t want me driving by myself this far along.”
“I can drive you.”
“What? No! There’s no need for you to do that. And I really want my car.”
“No, really. I have business in Chicago next week. I can drive you home, then catch a plane out of there, and I can fly directly back here from Chicago, so you can use my car for as long as you want.” He chuckled. “Your car. I haven’t forgotten that it’s really yours,” he said, referring to the Jaguar. “If you can get me to the airport closest to Tucker sometime on Monday, that will work out just fine. Besides, it would be nice to spend the weekend in the mountains. Hey, free place to stay, and I could use the fresh air.” He smiled in a friendly way, and Geneva wanted to believe he no longer loved her. If she accepted, would this be taking advantage of him?
He seemed to read her mind. “Don’t worry. I really do just want to get some good mountain air. I got to where I like it. And there’s nothing wrong with letting a friend drive you somewhere when you are nine months pregnant, okay? You’ve done plenty for me over the last few months.”
Despite her concerns, it seemed like a sensible solution, so Geneva accepted the offer, with the exception that they take her Mazda rather than the Jag. She spent the rest of the day packing and finding a sitter for Peanuts while Howard called his travel agent to change his itinerary. It all happened so smoothly that early the next morning, they threw suitcases into the car and headed west. Both Geneva and Howard were in high spirits, and somewhere along Interstate sixty-six, she remembered why she had been in love with him. He was fun and funny and considerate.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome. I’m having a good time.”
“Me too, but thank you for more than this. Thank you for being such a friend, despite all I’ve put you through. Thanks for sticking with me.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you, and I’m the one who screwed up. You have been my friend too, and good to my mother. She loves you, you know.”
“She’s a sweet lady. With emphasis on the lady.”
“Yeah.” He drove silently. “I had a good long talk with her last night. She’s doing really well.” He was still for a short time, then spoke again. “Geneva, are you going to marry Howard?”
“No. I’m not even going to tell him about the baby.”
“Why not? If I can ask,” he added hastily.
She looked straight ahead. “He’s in love with someone else. It wouldn’t do any good to complicate his life.”
“He’s in love with someone else? Uhmm, I don’t think so. If he is, he got over you awfully quick.”
“Yeah, well, he did.” Her back was beginning to ache, and she wanted the conversation to end, so she shifted away from him and looked out the window. The houses and fields drifted by.
“So you’re going to do this all alone?”
“‘Fraid so.”
“And you’ll be coming back to DC soon?”
“Yes. I’ll need to find a job one of these days. Or maybe I’ll sell my place and move somewhere else. It’s a cinch I won’t be living in Tucker. Not too much call for retail designers in the backwater.”
“I’d hate to see you go.” He paused. “You don’t have to.”
“Maybe not. We’ll see. It would be nice to get my old job back, or something like it.”
“No. I mean, you could marry me. And stay, and not bother with getting a job, if you don’t want to.”
She looked at him, incredulous, and a rush of warmth filled her. “Oh, Howard! You are such a gallant darling! Here I am nine months pregnant with another man’s baby, and you are offering to marry me! You deserve a medal or something.”
“I’m serious,” he said. “If I hadn’t been such an idiot and let you go, this could have been my baby.” He shrugged, then glanced at her. “I can make this one mine. And Geneva, I still love you. I realized that I had never stopped loving you when I saw that boar rushing at you. Even before then, really. You’ll never know how I felt when I saw you on that cabin porch, so full of life and all lit up. I had spent the night stumbling around in the dark, worrying about you, wondering if you were alive or dead, and I knew then that I really loved you, that I would always love you. Why don’t you marry me and let me prove it to you? This baby deserves a father and a decent life.”
She wanted to weep for him. “Howard, I love you, too. I always will, as a friend. But there is only one man who has my heart, and even though he doesn’t want me, I guess I will live out the rest of my life hoping for him, at least until God gives me some sort of release from him. But right now, just having his baby is enough for me.” She searched for the words to say it without hurting him too much. “I finally know what real, deep love is, and I don’t even want to think about sharing that with anyone but Howard. Can you understand that?”
He nodded grimly. “My mother will be disappointed. She’s jealous that you’re having a baby and she doesn’t get to be a grandmother.”
“She is welcome to claim being a granny.”
“And how about me? Can I claim anything at all? Honorary Uncle seems kind of tawdry, considering our past.”
“Maybe you can be best buddy.”
He glanced over and smiled. “I’ll take it.”
The May morning dawned milky and soft. Geneva rose early—it was impossible to sleep late with her bladder making incessant demands, and her back still ached from yesterday’s ride. She tried to stretch it out, then slipped into the bathroom just as the eastern sky blushed a lovely rose-gold. Thank you God for this day! Thank you that my baby is healthy and strong. Thank you for life! She couldn’t stop humming lullabies as she brushed her teeth and her hair, grown long and vibrant steeped in pregnancy hormones.
In a sudden fit of girlish preening, she put on her prettiest dress and applied a hint of makeup. There was only so much she could do to detract from her huge belly and her swollen ankles, but she felt she owed it to everyone to try not to look too hideous. Smiling into the mirror, she decided she wasn’t too bad, considering. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Howard suddenly showed up and declared his undying love to me? came a whisper. But she set that fantasy aside and went to make breakfast. Might as well give everyone a chance to sleep a little longer.
She had a big breakfast nearly on the table when Wayne wandered in carrying Phoebe. “Up early, I see. How do you feel this morning?”
“Just great. Of course, I’ll be tired as all get-out by this afternoon, but right now I have enough energy to run a marathon. Want some bacon and eggs?”
“Smells good. A burst of energy is a good sign you’re ready to deliver. When you start moving furniture around, we’d better head to the hospital. I’ll pour orange juice.”
“Rachel up yet?”
“Yes, she’ll be down in a minute,” he said, just as Rachel and Hannah made their appearance, sleepy-eyed and tousled. They were beautiful.
“Hey, sis,” smiled Geneva. “Sit down. Orange juice, bacon, eggs. Oops! Toast has popped up. Butter it, will you? Hannah, Phoebe, I made Mickey Mouse pancakes for you.”
“Howard still asleep?”
“Guess so. He had a hard drive coming through the rain, so I bet he’s pretty worn out.”
“So what are you going to do today?” asked Rachel.
“Could be eventful. Geneva is full of energy this morning,” teased Wayne.
“Uh-oh. I’d better get dressed,” commented Rachel. “Has she been chopping wood or anything?”
“Not yet. Say, didn’t you want the closets cleaned out? Now might be the perfect opportunity. We could turn Geneva loose on them, and maybe you and I can go riding. Geneva could watch the children, clean the house, chop the wood, and oh, I dunno, maybe wash the cars?”
“Oh, you had to mention the babies! That woke them up.” Rachel set her orange juice down and jumped up, followed by Wayne. “Go ahead and start, Geneva. We’ll be right back.”
Geneva took the hands of each of her nieces and said, “Who wants to pray for us this morning?”
“I do!” said Hannah, beaming at her. She closed her eyes, then opened them. “Phoebe! Close your eyes!” Her little sister squeezed hers shut, and Hannah prayed, “Thank you Jesus for this food and my aunt Geba and Mommy and Daddy and Ginny and L’ora and Phoebe, and for everybody in the world. Amen.”
“Amen” repeated Geneva and Phoebe, then they tucked into their breakfast. Geneva thought her heart would burst with gratitude.
There was a knock. Geneva looked up to see John standing behind the screen door. She felt a sudden, heavy shame when she saw his earnest face. “Hey,” he said genially, opening the door and easing inside. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I saw your car in the driveway last night and figured you were back.” He glanced at her belly, and she folded her hands over it protectively. She couldn’t help but wallow in a moment of self-pity. The last time he had seen her she was beautiful. Now she was a blimp, dowdy, slovenly, grotesquely pregnant, unwed. She lifted her head and smiled defiantly.
“Hey yourself,” she said. “Come on in. You’re just in time for breakfast. If you want to eat well, just have a pregnant woman cook for you.”
He did not hesitate, but got himself a plate and silverware and sat down at the table beside Phoebe. “Hey, Pheebs. Can I have a bite of that pancake?” The little girl nodded and offered him a forkful. “I am eating this with relish,” he said, his mouth full of pancake. “Do you know what that means?”
Phoebe shook her head.
“Relish. Like pickles and olives and things. But it also means that I like it a lot. So it means two things. One is kind of funny. Pancakes with pickles.” Phoebe giggled.
“Geba eats pickles,” spoke up Hannah, and John laughed. “I bet she does!” and he smiled directly at Geneva, flashing her that look she once found dazzling. Now she found it painful. She decided to get it over with.
“I came home to have the baby. Mama’s pretty crippled up with bursitis, so she couldn’t come, and well, Rachel has her hands full.”
He nodded. “You need your loved ones with you.” He paused, toying with his eggs. “I take it you aren’t going to marry Howard?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s pretty clear he doesn’t want me.” She shook off the pain and smiled.
John sat quietly for a moment. “Looks like you’re getting close. What’s the word?”
“Any day now. I’m so close I can’t even drive. Howard—Graves, that is—drove me down.”
“Oh,” he said. “Nice of him.” The silence deepened, and he shifted in his seat. Ever so slightly, he began to swing his leg nervously. “So, what are your plans?”
“Don’t really have any, at least for the moment. Guess I’ll just have this baby and get on with my life.”
“You’re okay with not having a daddy around?” He looked at her earnestly.
“Not really, but I guess I’ve made my bed, as the saying goes.”
The leg swung a little more vigorously. “Uh, Geneva, I know this is sudden, but you don’t have a lot of time. I just want you to know that, well, I’ve been thinking, and to tell you the truth, I have been pretty selfishly hoping that you wouldn’t marry Howard. The fact is, I…”
“Save yourself the grief, man,” came a voice from the hallway. Howard Graves walked into the room. “I’ve already been through the same song and dance, and the lady is smitten.”
John seemed to grow larger in the chair. “I think it would be appropriate if the lady told me that herself. I don’t need any advice from you.” He glared at Howard.
“Come on, you two,” sighed Geneva wearily. “The last thing I need is for you to get all macho on me.” They both looked at her with such sternness and concern that she suddenly laughed. “Oh my goodness! You both are such darlings! I am blessed in that I have not one, but two gallants looking out for me! Thank you for making me feel cherished. But Howard, you are right. I am in love with Chap, and this is his baby, and even though we will never marry, I am going to raise her all by myself. I won’t have either of you making the big sacrifice here.”
They both deflated suddenly, and Howard smiled ruefully. “I know it’s tough, man, but we just have to live with it. You’ll get used to it. In the meantime, let’s agree to play second fiddle.” He stuck his hand out to John.
John looked at him for a heartbeat, then capitulated. “Yeah,” he said, smiling warily, “I guess we both lose, huh?” He grasped Howard’s hand firmly, then punched him in the arm.
Wayne entered the room with Genny. “I see your fan club has arrived,” he said mildly.
Geneva laughed. “I’m the fan of these two. You’ve never met two more extraordinary gentlemen, gentlemen in the classiest sense. They both are looking out for my honor, and my welfare. I’m a lucky girl.”
Wayne put Genny in a high chair and sat down. He forked bacon and eggs into two plates just as Rachel came in with Lenora. She put Lenora into a high chair and attacked her breakfast. Howard took a plate and began as well. Geneva suddenly felt overwhelmed with love as she looked at the faces around the table. I am complete, she thought, or nearly so. I should not ask for more!
Wayne spoke up, “Since you two are here, I need some help. Part of the barn roof got torn off in the storm last night. Care to have a go at it with me?”
John brightened. “Sure,” he said, but Howard looked doubtful.
“Come on, dude, we farm boys will show you how to patch a roof,” John said, slapping him on the back. “We’ll take a look at it with you, Wayne. Need us to go to the lumberyard?”
“Yeah, a whole section blew off. If you go to the lumberyard, I’ll start on trimming it back,” he said between bites.
“Great,” spoke up Rachel. “Mom and Dad are on their way. Daddy’s made a kettleful of his Brunswick stew, so we’ll have a big crowd for lunch. I’ll make some cornbread, and there’s plenty of stuff for a salad in the garden.” She turned to her girls, “Are you up for a big party today? Want to see Granny and Grandaddy?”
“Yea!” shouted the little girls. They jumped up from the table to throw their arms around their mother.
After breakfast was cleared, the men went to the barn to assess the damage, then John and Howard left in John’s jeep for the lumberyard. Geneva took a basket to the garden where there were plenty of greens for a salad, and the squash was already ripening. She gathered enough for a crowd, then, since there were a fair number of weeds making serious headway, she stooped to pull a few until, after wrestling with a particularly stubborn oak seedling, her back began to really hurt again. Shoot, she thought. I don’t like this! I am taking the rest of this day off! And soon, she found herself lying in a nest of pillows, watching the sun shimmer through the apple blossoms. The last thing she remembered was how soft the air felt and how beautiful the day was, before the gentle rocking of the swing and the motion of the light hypnotized her into a cloudy daze.
She did not hear the car in the driveway, or the car doors slam, nor the voices murmuring on the spring breeze, but she felt something niggling in the corners of her consciousness, and she opened her eyes drowsily. Lenora had just stepped through a swirl of dust motes dancing in the May light. Jimmy Lee was right behind her. Lamentations trailed along, nudging Jimmy Lee’s leg and trying to push his head up under his hand. Geneva heard the bees buzzing in the apple tree, and enveloped in the warm haze of the morning, she smiled lazily at Lenora as the old woman reached the top step and paused. Jimmy Lee bumped into her, then he caught sight of Geneva, and he suddenly sat down on the porch step, staring, all the color drained from his face. In her drowsy state, Geneva felt like she was in a dream where she had no control, but she did not care. She was happy to see Lenora, even happy to see Jimmy Lee. A fuzzy notion that Howard might be close by crept over her like a soft fleece.
“They Lordy, girl! You done surprised the whiskers offa me,” said Lenora, smiling broadly. “I did not know you wuz in the family way!”
“Hello Lenora, Jimmy Lee,” Geneva smiled and blinked. She glanced around, hoping Howard was just out of sight. “I didn’t know you were coming. I would have…” she trailed off, seeing Jimmy Lee’s sad state. She wondered if she ought to apologize to him.
Lenora looked at Geneva compassionately. “Sorry. We shoulda called first. We wuz jist in town, and thought we’d drop by, see them babies.” She looked crestfallen, embarrassed. “We’re intrudin’. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s okay, Lenora,” Geneva said, as the fuzz began to retreat from her head. “Have a seat. Jimmy Lee, can I get you a drink of water? Really, come and sit down. You’d be finding this out sooner or later anyway,” she added, indicating her mounding belly. When neither of them moved, she thought about standing up, but she was too comfortable. “I’ll get you something to drink,” she said, but she didn’t move.
“No, child,” said Lenora, suddenly gentle. She came close to Geneva and patted her on the shoulder. “We’re jist fine, and we’re real sorry we jist dropped in like this. Ike about cut his thumb off this mornin’, and we tuk him to the hospital to git it stitched back on. Chap’s there with him, and me and Jimmy Lee, well, we just thought we’d run by since we wuz in town and see th’ babies. Yew stay settled, and we’ll plan on comin’ back another time…”
“No,” interjected Geneva, glad that the comforting old woman was here, glad that some connection to Howard had arrived, glad the news was broken. “I’m happy you’re here. Maybe you can give me a few pointers. She laid her hand on her stomach and smiled. “This one will be along any time now.”
Lenora’s face lit up. “Law, girlie, I gotta tell ye, it does me good to see another life about to come in the world. Your sister’s babies, they was the last I delivered, and seems I cain’t git enough seein’ ‘em and watchin’ ‘em grow. Now maybe I git to see another ‘un.” She laughed her clear, childlike laugh, then added wistfully, “Maybe I kin even be here when yer time comes?” She caught herself. “Oh, of course, ye’ll be havin’ this in a nice hospital, won’t ye?”
Geneva did not know what made her speak. The words were out of her mouth before she even thought them. “Lenora, I’d love for you to be here for me, for this baby. After all, it is your great-grandchild.” She stopped, suddenly wide awake, the dream vanished in a vapor. Had she really said that? Her hand flew to her mouth and she shrank back into the pillows.
Lenora gasped, then gaped, and blinked twice. Then she turned toward Jimmy Lee and suddenly whacked him over the head with her purse. “Jimmy Lee Land! I am ashamed of you, boy! What do yew mean, gittin’ this girl in the family way and lettin’ her git this far gone and never a by-yer-leave!” She hit him twice more before Geneva could react and before Jimmy Lee gained the presence of mind to throw up his arms to shield himself from the blows.
“Ow, Grannie!”
“No!” shouted Geneva. “Not Jimmy Lee! Oh, stop it! He’s not the one!”
Lamentations grew fidgety, growling and looking over his right shoulder.
“Grannie! Ow! Stop it! Lamentations!” Jimmy Lee was torn between cowering beneath Lenora’s blows and stopping Lamentations before he could go into a full frenzy. He kept one arm over his head and gingerly reached out toward Lamentations with the other.
“Who, then?” demanded Lenora. “By God, I’ll see he does yew right. Which one of my boys has got you in this shape?” She stood up to her full height, and although it was just short of five feet, she seemed huge and formidable. Her face blazed with anger, and Geneva could swear her hair stood straight out from her head. She swallowed, deeply regretting her lapse. Oh Lord, please get me out of this! Wide eyed, she cowered before Lenora’s wrath.
But Lenora was not moved. She was so mad she hit Jimmy Lee several more times with her voluminous pocketbook, and although it was made of soft, quilted fabric, Geneva grew more alarmed as Jimmy Lee tucked his head under his arms and howled. Lamentations started to bark and snarl.
“Which one of those good fer nuthin’s wuz it?” She turned back to her grandson. “Jimmy Lee?” Lenora’s face shone red with rage.
Panicked, Geneva jumped up, blurting out, “Oh, stop hitting him, please! It’s not Jimmy Lee! It’s… it’s—” and then she clapped both hands over her mouth. She was too horrified to cry, but she sat down abruptly in the porch swing and cowered in the corner. She was certain Lenora would turn on her.
But the old woman did not. She stopped suddenly, and stood perfectly still for a second, eyes drilling into Geneva’s, and then spoke through her teeth while still staring at Geneva. “Jimmy Lee. Yew git on the phone and yew call that there horspital, and yew tell Chap to git hisself here right now. Right now, yew hear me?”
“No, Lenora! Please! He doesn’t know! And it wasn’t his fault. It was mine! Entirely mine. He doesn’t know.”
Lenora was unmoved. “Yew heard me, Jimmy Lee. Right now.”
Rachel came around the corner of the house, babies in their stroller, older daughters trailing behind.
“Oh!” exclaimed Rachel when she saw the scene laid out before her. Then she fell silent. For a few seconds, the only motion in the tableaux was Lenora’s nostrils twitching and the only sound was her breathing. Then, without a word, the old woman spun on her heel and stormed into the house. Jimmy Lee had moved down a step and had flung an arm around Lamentations’ neck. He looked at Geneva with a pale and mournful expression that tore at her heart. Would she never stop hurting people?
Wayne appeared and assessed the frozen spectacle briefly. “Well, Jimmy Lee, looks like you have stumbled into quite a drama here.”
Rachel demurred. “I think they may have brought the drama. Geneva? You okay, honey?” She moved up the steps to enfold Geneva in her arms. The children, oblivious to the situation, had discovered a kitten in the yard and were teasing it with a twig. Geneva stared at the kitten, rolling on its back and batting at the twig, and all she could think of was help!
The screen door banged open, and Lenora stormed out. “They done left the horspital.” Catching sight of Wayne, she directed orders. “Git me the number of that place on forty-four. Heyday Diner. Ike said he wanted to go there.”
“No, Wayne,” broke in Geneva. “Don’t you dare call him. Lenora, please, this is not really Howard’s business. He doesn’t know a thing…”
“Don’t yew tell me it ain’t none of his business,” spat out the old woman. “If this ain’t his business, then I’m the President of the United dang States. Now, git in there, Dr. Hillard. And I ain’t pullin’ yer laig.” She turned to Geneva, softening just slightly. “Girlie, you stop tryin’ to protect that boy. Yew jist sit right down, and we’ll git this straightened right out.” Geneva sat. She simply had no fight left in her. After a brief moment, when Wayne looked questioningly at Geneva, he mounted the steps and went into the house.
No one spoke. They all watched the little girls and the kitten. A tear slipped down Jimmy Lee’s cheek, but it was not followed by another one. Geneva gritted her teeth and swore she would not faint or cry or make a bigger fool of herself than she already had. Genny squirmed to get out of the stroller, and Rachel took her out, then sat down beside Geneva in the swing and held the baby’s hand while she stood and wobbled. Everyone sat quietly, the swing moved back and forth, squeaking softly. Phoebe and Hannah rolled an acorn in front of the kitten.
The silence was broken by the sound of a car turning into the driveway. It was Howard Graves and John, returning from the hardware store. All eyes turned to them as John parked the car and they got out with the supplies. Howard caught sight of the group on the porch first. He faltered, then stopped. “Did I do something?” he said.
“Come on up,” said Rachel. “We have a little situation here. Seems Lenora has found out who the daddy is.” That was all she needed to say. Both men looked from Rachel to Geneva. Howard’s eyes lingered on Geneva’s face for a second, then moved on to Jimmy Lee. He nodded to the younger man.
“Hey,” said Jimmy Lee, voice full of misery, but he lifted his free hand and gave a little wave. John strolled over to Jimmy Lee and offered his hand, then sat beside him on the step. Howard’s eyes settled briefly on Lenora’s marble face before he eased himself up the steps to perch on the porch railing as far away as possible. His face was bright with curiosity.
Geneva wallowed in self-loathing, self-pity, and abject fear. She tried to pray, but her mind, numbed with shame and dread, refused to function more than enough to allow her to breathe.
Wayne appeared at the door. “I got hold of them. They’re on their way—but, uhm—they’ve got Sally Beth with them. Seems she was visiting someone at the hospital and couldn’t get her car started. They’re giving her a ride home.”
“Did you tell them to drop her off first?” demanded Rachel.
“Uh, no. That would take an extra forty minutes, and uh…” He trailed off. No one else spoke for a long time, until Hannah ran up to her mother, “Mama, can I have some lemonade?”
Rachel gently eased Genny into Geneva’s lap and stood up. “Sure, honey. Why don’t you and Phoebe come inside and help me make it? I’m sure everybody could use some.” She took Hannah’s hand and carefully made her way across the porch. “Come on, sweetheart,” she called to Phoebe. “Come help Hannah and Mommy make some lemonade. I bet everybody is real thirsty.” She shot a sympathetic look to Geneva. “Want to help, Geneva?”
“I will,” offered Wayne hastily, snatching little Lenora up from the stroller and hastening to open the door for Rachel. Geneva desperately wanted to get away, but she was overcome with inertia, her mind unfocused, as if to distance herself from the surreal scene going on around her. Jimmy Lee looked soft and far away. Howard stared at her with concern in his face, so she winked at him and closed her eyes, retreating into a misty sea of languor. Occasional dull pains intruded into her consciousness that made her think of stones floating in water around her, bumping into her, annoying her. She wished she could say something to ease the tension everyone else was surely feeling, but she was very tired, and the pain in her back kept her from saying anything coherent. She also felt a little nauseated, but she pressed her lips together, snuggled Genny close, and simply waited with everyone else.
Presently, she heard some conversation around her. John was doing what he could to make the situation a little more relaxed. He asked Jimmy Lee about his leg, about Lamentations, and when it became apparent that Jimmy Lee was in no mood to talk, he turned to Lenora, who ignored him completely. Geneva opened her eyes to see Lenora staring at her intently. She tried to smile, but another pain wrenched in her back and the smile evolved into a grimace.
“You awright, girlie?” the old woman asked her, concern in her voice.
Geneva roused herself, “Oh, yes, we just got here yesterday, and the ride was hard on my back. It’s bothering me some.” She took a breath and stretched, and the pain subsided. She deliberately kept her mind from turning to Howard and how bad things would get when he arrived. She would stop time. He would never come, and soon she would wake up from this nightmare. The swing creaked in the breeze.
Lenora nodded, but continued to watch her closely. Geneva noticed Howard was doing the same, so she smiled again and made an effort to get up. It was hard to do with Genny in her arms, so she settled back down into the cushions. Howard was at her side in an instant. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“Oh, I thought I would get up, but I can’t move with Genny in my arms. Just help me up.” She struggled to her feet, Howard’s hand at her elbow. There was a sudden pressure in her bladder, and suddenly she was jolted back to reality. This was real! This was not a dream! Howard was on his way, and she was totally out of control of her own body, of everything around her. In an instant, she was wide awake, urgently needing to pee. She hurried inside to the bathroom, and then, rather than go back and face the drama on the front porch, she wandered into the kitchen, where Rachel and Wayne scurried around, looking frazzled. “Need any help?” she asked, as brightly as she could.
“No, we’ve got it,” answered Wayne. He looked at her again. “You okay, Geneva? You seem a little… off.”
Geneva chuckled ruefully, then felt the tears sting her eyes. She made a little joke. “I think I’m doing pretty good, considering that my baby’s daddy is on his way here to walk into a hornet’s nest. I don’t know which will do him the most harm, finding out about this baby, or Lenora, who is spitting mad. You got here after she beat up poor Jimmy Lee. With her pocketbook.” She forced a tired smile. “That family is pretty violent with soft things. She beat up Ike with her hat the night the twins were born.”
Rachel snorted. “You’re taking this pretty well.”
“Yeah, I’m sort of resigned. And I’ve got this awful pain in my back. I hurt it this morning pulling weeds.”
Wayne walked over and put his hand on her stomach. “You might be in labor,” he said. “Back labor can feel like muscle spasms sometimes.”
“No, it’s just a muscle spasm. I felt it when I was weeding and pulled too hard.” She moved toward the tray of glasses. “I’ll take this lemonade outside. No need for you to have to be in on this. I’ll send Howard and John in, too. They’ve been the unlikely heroes in all this, and they don’t need to be subjected to any more.” She faltered. “This will probably be ugly.”
“No, let me,” said Rachel. That’s heavy, and I need to be there for moral support. Wayne, I’m leaving you in charge here. If you want, you can give them some Sesame Street. She hoisted up the tray and led the way onto the porch. Walking behind her, Geneva felt her heart lurch the moment she crossed the threshold and glimpsed Howard’s rickety truck turning into the driveway. She had not seen him in six months, but the distance of time had not prepared her for the way her sinews, even her bones, dissolved at the sight of him. She wished she could protect him from what was coming, but for the first time in her life, she felt that her body was not up to the task to shield anybody from harm. She was as weak as one of the kittens, and the pain in her back and in her heart were so intense she had to fight to keep herself from a writhing collapse.
The truck stopped. He had not seen her standing in the shadows. She held her breath as Ike, then Sally Beth, then Howard got out of the truck and made their way toward the house. Sally Beth was in the lead, walking beside Ike and talking earnestly. Ike’s left hand was swathed in a bandage and bound up close to this chest. Howard hung back, making his way more slowly, but he was the first to see her. When she saw his eyes fly open in surprise, she stepped backwards, trying to hide her belly, but when the color drained out of his face, she knew he had seen all of her, even in the gloom. She closed her eyes against the tears and clung to the door, swaying as all the substance in her head seemed to evaporate.
Sally Beth and Ike also stopped at the bottom of the steps. Rachel sang out, “Hey, y’all. Welcome to the party. Come on up and have some lemonade.”
No one moved for a moment, then Sally Beth took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Why, that’s real sweet of you, Rachel, And Geneva, you’re here! And my goodness, just look at yew! About to pop with that sweet little baby. I was hopin’ yew’d come home for the birth, ‘cause we all want to see it jist as soon as it gits here!”
Geneva did not know whether to be upset or grateful with Sally Beth’s immediately addressing the elephant in the room. At least the preliminary awkwardness was not going to be drawn out. Now the fireworks could begin. She smiled wanly and sank into the swing.
Howard’s eyes were riveted to her belly, but he eventually dropped his head and looked away, and the color came back into his face in a rush. She could see the high cheekbones bloom with anger, and hope fled from her. This was the moment he would walk out of her life and never return. She had lied to him, had failed another test, had done this all wrong. He would never forgive her.
Lenora spoke up. “There’s no need abeatin’ around the bush here. Missy,” she said, looking at Geneva, “let’s git this over and done with. Yew tell us all right here and now who the daddy of this baby is.”
Silence. Geneva looked at the ground, afraid and ashamed. A tear dropped between her feet.
“We’re awaitin’, girlie.” Lenora’s lips were a thin, gray line, but her eyes flashed. “And yew might as well git this over with. We ain’t got that much time.”
Geneva gave up. There was no way out of this. Both she and Howard were already humiliated, and he was already lost to her forever. She might as well take Lenora’s advice and get it over with. She continued to stare at the ground. “It’s not his fault,” she muttered. “I’m real sorry.” She could not look at him.
“Sorry, nuthin’. Who got yew in this shape?”
Suddenly John spoke up. “Don’t torture her, Mrs. Knight, and don’t make her say it. We all know how much she is in love with Howard, and it is his baby. Now, let’s just leave her alone.”
Geneva gaped at John, and then she immediately turned to Howard. “I’m so sorry! I tried to tell you…” But he was not looking at her. Within the space of a single breath, he had leaped upon the porch and had moved to the place where Howard Graves sat on the porch rail.
“Yew sorry bastard. I’ll kill yew!” he said, and hit him in the face. Howard Graves tumbled off the porch and into the hydrangea bushes below.
“Hey, whoa!” shouted John, as Geneva screamed, “No!” But Howard had leaped over the porch railing, into the hydrangeas, and had picked up Howard Graves by the collar. He shook him like a terrier shakes a rat.
“Yew let her git this far gone and ain’t married her? What kind of somebitch are yew?” He was about to hit him again, when the bleeding Howard held up his hand and shouted, “No! Not me, you idiot! You!” And John, at the same time, leaped over the porch railing, completely demolishing the hydrangeas. He grabbed Howard’s arm and yanked him backwards.
“Whoa, buddy!” said John. “Take it easy!”
Howard Graves shook his head and pushed at Howard’s chest. “Cool it,” he said brusquely. “You think I haven’t begged her to marry me? And I would, in a heartbeat. You sure don’t deserve her.”
“Hey, get in line,” broke in John. If anybody deserves to marry her, it’s me. I’m the only one who hasn’t dumped on her. She deserves better than both of you.”
Jimmy Lee sat up straighter and tentatively put his hand in the air, like a schoolboy who wanted to contribute to the discussion but wasn’t sure he would be recognized. “Hey,” he said timidly. “Kin I throw my hat in th’ ring?” He looked anxiously at Geneva. “I’d be proud, ma’am.”
Geneva had not been able to respond to any of that. A sudden contraction had gripped her hard, and she found herself unable to breath. “Ohhh!” she finally gasped. “Howard, Chap! I’m sorry! I know you hate me, but I couldn’t tell you!”
Everyone looked at Howard Knight. He glared at each of his rivals, the unspoken question burning a deep red on his face, and John and Howard each shook their heads in turn. “I wish,” said John. “Me, too,” muttered Howard. Jimmy Lee blushed, but said nothing. Howard swiveled his head toward Geneva, and just as the contraction let go its tentacles, she looked at him with all the love in her being. “I know you’re in love with somebody else. I couldn’t do this to you.” She began to sob.
He leaped up and over the porch rail, and was at her side in five long strides. Everyone stepped aside as he brushed past them, and then closed in again to surround him and Geneva as he sat beside her. “What the hell are you talking about, woman?” he demanded. “Is this my baby?” He looked deep into her eyes, and when she nodded mutely, his face suddenly transformed. Light suffused his eyes, and they glistened with sudden tears. “Really?” A sudden grin spread across his face. “Really?” he repeated. She sobbed louder and nodded.
“B-but I couldn’t tell you. I know you don’t love me.”
“Don’t love you? Lord, woman, I do!”
“No, I know you don’t. You’re just sa-sa-saying that.”
He threw his arms around her. “Oh Geneva, darlin’, I love yew! I’ve loved you since the minute I laid eyes on yew, and I tried to go after yew, but ye’d already gone back to him.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of Howard Graves.
“What are you talking about?” demanded Geneva.
“I went up to DC to beg yew to come back, but yew were with him.”
“No I wasn’t!” exclaimed Geneva. “Why do you think that? When?”
“After yew left here and went back. I drove up there, and went to yer apartment, but yew weren’t there, so I waited outside, and then the two of you drove up and went inside together. I waited all night, and the next morning, you came back out together.” His misery was written all over his countenance.
Geneva was stunned. “When was this again?”
“In January. I went up there after yew. On a Saturday, it was.”
Howard Graves spoke up. “The night of my mother’s accident.”
Realization dawned on her. “Oh, Howard! You darling idiot! We weren’t together! I live in the same building as Howard. We had gone to visit his mother at the hospital. And the next morning I took him to church with me. We weren’t together! Not at all!” She appealed to Howard Graves. “Tell him, Howard!”
Howard Graves shrugged. “It’s true, much as I hate to say it. She’s been my friend, and she helped me through a tough time when my mother was in an accident, but that’s all there was to it.”
Howard Knight looked doubtful, but slowly he seemed to grasp the possibility. He looked hopefully at Geneva. “He had his arms around yew.”
Howard Graves gave him a look of disgust. “The parking lot was icy. She was pregnant. Somebody had to take care of her, and you weren’t there.” He crossed his arms and looked away. His eye was blooming red and purple.
Geneva wanted to get to the real issue. “But it’s you who are in love with someone else. I saw you with that woman.”
He looked puzzled. “What woman? Honey, what woman?”
“That one at your place, who you hugged, and spun around, and who sat in your dad’s lap. When I went to tell you about the baby.”
Howard looked baffled. “When was this?”
“Just before Thanksgiving. I went to tell you about the baby, and this beautiful woman came, and jumped in your arms, and you spun her around, and, oh, I could tell you loved her!”
There was a silence while Howard searched his memory. “Do you mean Bethany?” ventured Ike.
All heads swiveled to Ike, then back to Howard, then Geneva, expectantly.
“You mean Bethany?” repeated Howard, earnestly looking into Geneva’s eyes. His own were filled with light.
“Who-who’s Bethany?” sniffed Geneva, but suddenly she grimaced and doubled over, grabbing her belly. Another contraction had come on strong.
She panted, “I think I’m in labor! Oh no! This is not happening!”
“Oh, yes it is, sweetheart,” said Wayne. I could see that contraction from over here. We need to get you to the hospital. I thought I saw one earlier, about ten minutes ago.”
Pandemonium exploded in the air. Wayne and Lenora rushed to her. Howard and John ran up the steps and nearly ran over Jimmy Lee, who had jumped up as well. In the melee, someone stepped on Lamentations, and the dog began his pre-hysteria barking and growling. Ike broke out in a loud prayer.
“Lordy mercy!” exclaimed Lenora. “We got us a baby a’comin’! Somebody go git a preacher! I ain’t havin’ no bastard grandchild comin’ in this world!”
“Preacher, nothing!” said Wayne, his hand on her belly. “We need to get her to the hospital, and right now, or else we may have a baby on this porch.”
“Wait!” exclaimed Howard. “Grannie’s right. Somebody git us a preacher. We’ll git to the hospital, and he can meet us there. I’m amarryin’ this girl! Right now!”
The contraction eased, and Geneva caught her breath.
“No!” repeated Geneva. “I’m not marrying you. I know you don’t love me. You’re just doing this because you think it’s the right thing to do. You already told me you couldn’t love me. Back last summer, when you gave me this.” She took the pendant from under her shirt and held it out to him. “And who’s Bethany?”
“Oh, darlin’, she’s my sister-in-law. She and my brother and their kids came for Thanksgiving, but Sam and the boys got here the day before. They were just in the barn when Bethany got there. How did you… ?”
“I went to tell you about the baby, and I got there, and she had just pulled in, and I parked the car above the house, and I saw her. Oh, Howard, she’s your sister-in-law? She’s so beautiful!”
“Oh, baby!” Howard drew her close into himself. “If only you had stayed another minute. You’d have seen Sam and the boys come out, and you would have seen for yerself. Geneva, I do love yew!”
Sally Beth suddenly spoke up. “Right, yew two. We ain’t got time to be foolin’ around here. I need both of you to release me from my promise. And right now!”
“What?” asked both Howard and Geneva.
“Yew both have been spillin’ yer guts to me, and both of yew made me promise not to tell, and we cain’t clear this up ‘til I can speak. So do you both relieve me of my promise?”
They stared at Sally Beth, and then nodded. “Okay,” said Geneva in a small voice.
Wayne spoke up. “Really. We have to get to the hospital.”
“Shut up, Wayne,” said Geneva. “I want to hear what Sally Beth is talking about.”
“Make it quick, Sally Beth,” muttered Wayne. I haven’t delivered a baby in the usual way in about five years.”
“I have,” said Lenora. “Speak yer piece, Sally Beth.”
“Okay,” sighed Sally Beth. “Yew both have been whinin’ for the last few months about how much yew loved each other, but both of yew have been jist too darn stubborn to go talk to the other. I managed to talk Geneva into goin’ to see yew, Howard, but then she ran into yer sister-in-law, and that stopped that, and then, Howard, I finally got yew to come here to talk to Geneva, but yew dragged yer doggone feet so long, she had awready moved back to DC by the time yew got here, and I had to talk yew into going up there, and, oh, Lord, he saw yew with that other Howard. Then yew both were convinced that yew loved somebody else!” She leaned toward Geneva. “Honey, Howard was sure ye’d gone back to Howard over there,” she waved a hand in Howard Graves’ direction, “and I didn’t know who that Bethany person was. And my lips were sealed, so I couldn’t say a word to either one of you.” She looked at each of them and drew a deep breath. “Anyways, the quickest upshot of it is that yew both have been pinin’ fer each other all this time, and if yew don’t git married right now, we’re gonna have us a baby out of wedlock.”
Another contraction came on Geneva in a rush. “Ohhh!” she screamed. “Oh, Lord, I am going to have this baby! What am I going to do? Oh, Howard!”
“Lord God!” exclaimed Howard. “Marry me, honey! Right now! Granny’ll kill me if we have a bastard, and I want to be this baby’s official daddy before he gits here.”
“Oh yes!” wept Geneva. “Oh Howard! Chap! I want to marry you! And I think this baby is coming! Somebody go get a preacher! Quick!”
“Wait a minute,” said Wayne. “This is getting too close for comfort. Lenora, get Geneva in there and check her. I’m calling Geneva’s doctor. There will be a chaplain at the hospital.”
“Come on, honey,” said Lenora, beaming with joy and pride. “Let’s see how much time we got. Chap, yew cain’t come in here. I don’t need yew passin’ out on me.” She paused to smile at her grandson. “I’m right proud of yew, boy. Rachel, help me git this girlie inside.”
Rachel led Geneva to her bedroom, where she helped her onto the bed while Lenora washed her hands and rolled up her sleeves. “Now I’m jist gonna check yew, honey, and see how much time we got afore this baby comes into this world. Jist relax, I ain’t gonna hurt yew…” she fell silent, then gave a low whistle. “Honey, yew ain’t got the time of a mosquito in the freezer. I think we got us a little ‘un that ain’t in the mood to wait.” Kin ye sit up? If ye walk around a little bit, it might make it a little easier.”
“What?” exclaimed Geneva, sitting upright. “No! I’m not having this baby yet! I want to get married first!”
Rachel tried to soothe her. “Sweetheart, there isn’t time to go get anybody. Wayne’s calling an ambulance right now.”
“Howard! I want Howard! Ti—!” shrieked Geneva. And suddenly Howard was at her side, crooning into her ear, “I’m here, darlin’. I’m gonna be right here forever and ever. I jist love you so much. And we’ll git married, but we got to git yew to a hospital so yew can have our baby…” he stopped suddenly as Geneva grabbed him by the collar with both hands and hauled herself out of the bed and into his face. She was in no mood to be crossed.
“Howard,” she said through gritted teeth, because another contraction was coming on. “Yew git us a preacher in here right now! I ain’t goin’ nowhere, and I ain’t havin’ this baby until yew make me your wife!”
There was a stunned silence. Howard licked his lips and said nervously to nobody in particular, “Does anybody know how to git in touch with a preacher?”
“I’m a preacher,” came a soft voice from the doorway. “I reckon we can do this, even though yew don’t have a marriage license or anything. But I got a Quaker certificate here in my Bible.” Sally Beth patted her voluminous purse. “And we can worry about a license later.”
Wayne entered the room. “The ambulance is on it’s way. Lenora, how are things?”
“I dunno, doc,” said the old woman. “We ain’t got much time. She’s comin’ along pretty fast. Come on, let’s git up and walkin’.”
Geneva was feeling giddy and deliriously happy. She began to laugh and sob. “Rachel, I need a veil. And some flowers. I’m going to marry Howard right now! Oh, Rachel, make me preeetty!” A contraction make her shriek the last word.
There was another shocked silence, and then the room suddenly exploded. Rachel ran out, Howard jumped up and shouted, “Innybody got a ring? I need a ring right now! Oh Lord! I’m agittin’ hitched and I ain’t got a ring!
Ike poked his head in the door. “I’m prayin’ fer yew, Geneva,” he said softly, and Geneva felt such a rush of love for the old man who held his hat in his hand so humbly as he offered to lift prayers on her behalf. She rushed to him and flung her arms around him. He flinched as she pressed herself against his injured hand, but his pain did not stop him from encircling her back with his good arm.
“Oh, yes, Ike! Pray for me! Pray for us all! We’re getting married!” and she danced out into the hallway and screamed for Rachel to hurry. The little girls came running at the commotion, and so did the rest of the crowd. Geneva marched into the living room, meeting Rachel coming down the stairs holding her own wedding veil.
“Girls! Run out and pick some flowers for Aunt Geneva! She’s getting married!”
“And get some for yourselves, too!” shouted Geneva after them. “I need flower girls! Oh, Rachel, come on, and fix my hair!” She rushed toward the stairs to Rachel’s bedroom, nearly bumping into Howard Graves on her way. He was holding little Lenora in his arms. John was behind him, holding Genny. Jimmy Lee was kneeling with his arm around Lamentations, who trembled amidst the tumult.
Two more faces appeared. Gaynell and Ray stood at the door, looking puzzled. Ray held a huge pot in his hands. “What in Sam Hill is going on?” he demanded.
Geneva threw her arms around both her parents. “Mama, Daddy! I’m so glad you’re here! I’m getting married! Right nowwwwww!” Another contraction had taken hold. That was enough to set off Lamentations who had been simmering for the last hour.
“Git that dog outta here!” shouted Howard Knight, and Jimmy Lee and John both tackled the mongrel and subdued him enough to tie a handkerchief around his mouth. They carted him outside.
Hannah and Phoebe ran into the room with armloads of flowers, and Geneva, recovered from her latest contraction, made her way up the stairs and into Rachel’s bedroom. “Hurry, Rachel!” she gasped. I think Lenora’s right. We don’t have much time.” And she threw herself into a chair to let Rachel attack her with a hairbrush and makeup. Gaynell sat beside her, holding her hand, soothing her during the pains that were coming regularly and fast.
Twenty minutes and three contractions later, she emerged on Ray’s arm, feeling radiant. She could not believe she was about to be married to the man she had been longing for all these months, the man who had stood before her on the mountaintop and sang of his love and his desire for her. She began to weep for joy, but then realized she was making the mascara run, so she simply thanked God for this glorious moment and turned her smile upon her beloved.
They walked outside into the May sunshine, toward the petals of the apple blossoms floating in the soft breeze. Sally Beth and Howard stood under the tree, waiting for her. He had found a white shirt, tie and jacket in Wayne’s closet, and although the jacket was a little too large, he looked gorgeous. His hair had been brushed back, and his eyes were shining. Geneva did not believe she would be able to survive her joy. Already her heart was near to bursting. Rachel had put on Beethoven’s Ode To Joy, and everyone present wept openly. Jimmy Lee sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve. John squeezed her hand as she passed by him. Howard Graves kissed her on the cheek. His eye had swelled shut and was already turning black, but he still had all his teeth. Geneva was glad for that. She was glad for everything. She was in love with this day and everyone present.
As she stepped up to Howard and Sally Beth, she faltered and leaned on her father to get through another contraction, but as soon as it was over, she smiled and straightened, and walked to stand by Howard.
Sally Beth smiled shyly at Geneva and Howard and began:
“The right of joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priest’s or magistrate’s, for it is God’s ordinance and not man’s. We marry none; it is the Lord’s work, and we are but witnesses. So, dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of God to witness the joining of this man and this woman in holy matrimony.” Geneva’s spirit sang and laughed. She flung her arms around Howard.
“Not yet, honey,” said Sally Beth gently. “We have to git through the ceremony first.” She continued, “Now, hold hands, please.” Howard snatched up Geneva’s hand and kissed it.
“Geneva, say this,” prompted Sally Beth. “In the presence of God and before these our families and friends…”
Geneva repeated the words.
“I take thee Howard, to be my husband, promising with Divine assistance…”
Geneva was overcome. She brought Howard’s hand to her lips, then touched his face as she spoke his names, “Howard, Chap, Ta li.”
“To be unto thee a loving and faithful wife so long as we both shall live,” breathed Sally Beth in a rush.
Geneva began the words, getting to “faithful wife” before she had to stop and breathe as the next convulsion began. It wracked her belly and spread throughout her whole body, but it felt like bliss, because Howard held her through it. As soon as she was able to stand alone again, Sally Beth prompted, “so long as we both shall live.”
“So long as we both shall live,” panted Geneva.
“Now Howard, say this: I take thee Geneva, to be my wife, promising with Divine assistance…”
Howard laughed and cried and pulled Geneva to him. “I take thee Geneva, Digvnasdi Atsilv Hawinaditlv Galvquodiadanvdo to be my wife. He covered her face with kisses as he said the words. “Promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband, and a good father,” he added, as he kissed her belly.
“So long as we both shall live,” urged Sally Beth
“Hallelujah!” shouted Ike.
Everyone laughed, and there was a chorus of “hallelujahs,” before Howard said the final words. Then there were shouts and laughter and tears, but Howard suddenly stopped, “Wait! You didn’t do the ring part!”
Sally Beth replied, “Yew don’t need a ring, and we don’t have one anyway.”
“Yes, I do,” he replied, and from his own neck he took a pendant exactly like the one that Geneva wore. Her heart lifted high and joyous when she saw it. He had loved her all this time! He had worn this symbol of her next to his heart, even as he denied his hope for them. The tears flowed from her eyes as he wrapped the chain around her wrist and looped it around her fourth finger. The little red and yellow comet dangled from her hand. She turned it over, laying the bejeweled thing in her palm. “I give yew this, Geneva, as a sign of my everlasting love for yew. Thank yew for being my wife.”
And in turn, Geneva took the pendant from her neck, wrapped it around Howard’s wrist and looped it around his fourth finger. “I give you this, Howard, as a sign of my everlasting love for you. Thank you for being my…”
She stopped as a sudden “pop” resounded within her, as loud as a champagne cork leaving its home, and before she could fathom what it was, water gushed from her and spilled all over the ground, baptizing Geneva’s feet with the water of new life. Lenora laughed out loud, “I reckon yew’ve been pronounced man and wife, now and fer certain!” and she hustled the stunned Geneva into the bedroom, leaving everyone else to gasp and laugh and cry. Howard was on her heels.
The ambulance arrived, but there wasn’t much the paramedics could do. Lenora had taken control; she did not even let Wayne assist her, allowing only Rachel and Gaynell be on hand to comfort her. But it was Howard Geneva wanted, and she reached for him every time the waves came crashing over her, crying out his name over and over again while he clung to her. She tried to remember the training she had gone through weeks earlier, breathing carefully, concentrating, putting all her energies into her small, tight core, and willed her body to relax and do what it was meant to do. She stared at Howard’s face, and she felt herself lifting, rising out of herself, and floating into his eyes, feeling beloved, feeling she knew the answers to the mysteries of life. She delved into his love, and sank there, drowning in beauty. She did not want to move, to even breathe, afraid this moment would pass too soon. But then came the overwhelming need to push, and her body separated itself from her mind, and simply took over. She had no control, nor did she wish it. Her body was performing miracles all on its own, and all she could do was lie back and be awed by it.
Later, when the babe was wrapped in a soft blanket and handed to her, she felt the song of gratitude and praise rising out of her heart, Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, my soul! I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
The Lord answered her, Peace and love be unto you, my precious child.
And when she looked at Howard and their new son, she knew this promise would be kept.