Chapter Thirty-Eight
Miss Perkins lets herself into the new apartment.
Wearing her white silk robe and slippers, Mrs. Davis is already drinking a cup of coffee at the breakfast table. Miss Perkins has never understood why a person would wear a garment to bed that needs ironing, but she has to admit that Mrs. Davis looks lovely.
As they exchange greetings, Miss Perkins relaxes. The morning feels like old times, she thinks. She pours herself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove. She prefers tea, but over the years she’s drifted into this American morning habit. She’s settled at the kitchen counter, when Mrs. Davis surprises her by picking up her cup and saucer and walking across the room. She sits down on the stool next to Miss Perkins.
In all the years of Miss Perkins’ employment, Mrs. Davis has never once joined her for coffee. If she can change, I can change, Miss Perkins promises herself. I will try to keep my opinions more to myself. I won’t say anything when she buys a new dress. I…
Mrs. Davis trains her clear eyes on Miss Perkins. “We’ve had our differences.”
Expecting the worst, Miss Perkins sets down her coffee cup. What will she do if she can’t be with Sam?
“But I want you to promise me that you’ll help me raise Sam.”
Miss Perkins lets out a sigh of relief. “Gladly.” This is the most wonderful request that Mrs. Davis could have made. Miss Perkins feels honored and included. Why, it’s almost as if Mrs. Davis has decided not to resent her anymore. “I think Sam’ll go to college and...”
“It’s not going to be easy,” Mrs. Davis cuts her off.
Miss Perkins reminds herself that for once she needs to listen.
“Last night, Sam asked me a funny question.” She looks sharply at Miss Perkins. “What did you tell him about Mr. Jordache?”
“Why, nothing,” Miss Perkins protests.
Mrs. Davis continues to train her gray eyes suspiciously on Miss Perkins.
“You have my word,” Miss Perkins says.
Mrs. Davis sighs. “Sam always knows more about my business than I think he does.”
“You’re right about that, ma’am,” Miss Perkins says.
Tears collect in Mrs. Davis’ eyes. “Mr. Jordache promised that when we got married, Sam could have all the tutors that we wanted. That he could go to college. I wish Sam could forget Mannville ever happened.” She pauses. “That awful director and his golf.”
Mrs. Davis made a mistake, all right. She underestimated Sam, her own son. Shut him up in a place that she refused to visit. She put her own life ahead of Sam’s. And now Mrs. Davis needs to apologize. But if Miss Perkins tells her this, she’ll just make Mrs. Davis angry.
“I need to talk to him,” Mrs. Davis finally says. “I should tell him that I’m sorry.”
Miss Perkins studies her coffee to hide her smile.
Mrs. Davis takes one last sip, dabs at her lips with her napkin, and sighs heavily. “Even when I was going to expensive restaurants in London, I missed Sam. I wished he were there. He’s all the family I have.”
***
Sam has caught only snatches of the conversation between his mother and Miss Perkins. But one thing he did hear—his mother missed him!
His heart is so full that it feels like it’s going to burst. His mother missed him. As far as he knows, no one has ever missed him before.
His mother is standing in the doorway in her white robe.
As beautiful as an evening star,34† Winnie says.
“MMom,” he calls.
Her house shoes shuffle towards his bed. “Someday, you’ll understand that even adults can make big mistakes.”
Sam nods.
“But right now,” his mother continues, “I just want to tell you that when I saw that big bully hurting you, I realized that if anything happened to you, I would die.” She leans over the bed and stares into his eyes. “From now on, I promise that I am going to protect you. You can stay with me always.” His mother clears her throat. “Now, do you have any questions?”
Sam, who is an expert on how much words cost, knows that she has paid dearly for this question. It’s the first that she’s asked in months and months. “No, MMom,” he says.
___
† Reprinted with permission of Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, from MY EARLY LIFE: A ROVING COMMISSION by Winston Churchill. Copyright © 1930 by Charles Scribner’s Sons; copyright renewed© 1958 by Winston Churchill. All rights reserved.