Wednesday Nights With Jamie

by Daisy Dexter Dobbs

  “Oh now that’s just plain ridiculous,” Lyla said. “You’re just letting your big old wounded macho pride do the talking. Trust me, Jamie, I’m not fool enough to try to handle something on my own if I really need help. If you would have punched Charlie things could have gotten really serious. I saw an opportunity to prevent that and acted on it.”

  “Ah yes…revenge by staple gun.” Jamie let out a deep, low chuckle. “Remind me never to cross you.”

  “And don’t you forget it, buster,” Lyla teased. She sucked in a deep breath when Jamie parked at the curb in front of her sister’s house. “Oh boy. Mom’s here already. There’s her car in the driveway.”

  “Lyla?”

  “What?”

  “Will you let me hide behind your skirt when your mother starts in on the massacre?”

  Lyla burst out laughing. “Deal.”

  “I don’t know…I think I need more incentive to go in there and face all that motherly hellfire and damnation. After I’ve been sliced, diced and chopped will you make me feel all better tonight with that pretty pink tongue of yours?”

  Lyla skimmed her hand up Jamie’s thigh and covered his groin. “I’ll pleasure that beautiful cock of yours like it’s never been pleasured before, Jamie.”

  “Mmm, that sounds good, baby.” Covering her hand with his, he nuzzled her neck. “And maybe, since I love you enough to face your dragon mama tonight, you’ll take pity on me and treat me to that little show you promised me with your vibrator, huh?”

  “Oh yeah, like I’ll really be in the mood for that later.”

  Jamie grinned. “Excellent!”

  Lyla elbowed him in the ribs. “I was being sarcastic.” She shook her head and laughed. “Men.”

  They sat in the car a long moment, both clearly hesitant to face Virginia. With a resolute nod, Jamie finally opened the door and soon they were standing at the front door, ringing the bell.

  When Dawn’s husband David opened the door and ushered them in, the first thing to hit Lyla’s ears was her mother’s belligerent whine.

  “I can’t believe you let your in-laws take the baby tonight after you invited me here for dinner. I was looking forward to seeing Megan, Dawn. I don’t mind telling you I feel terribly wounded and offended by your actions.”

  Lyla, Jamie and David exchanged knowing looks.

  “She’s in rare form tonight, Jamie,” David said. “You guys ready?” He looked from Jamie to Lyla and they both nodded, then he gave Dawn the high sign.

  “Well, look who’s here,” Dawn said loudly, clearly happy for the interruption. She rose from the living room sofa and came to greet her sister and Jamie. “It’s Lyla, Mom…and Jamie.” She smiled at her sister and Jamie, giving their hands a reassuring squeeze before leading them to the loveseat across from the sofa.

  “Lyla and who?” Virginia said, lowering her reading glasses as she looked up from the stack of Megan’s newest baby pictures. As soon as she set eyes on Jamie she gasped. “What is he doing here?” The frightful expression on her face was a cross between a sneer and a scowl.

  “It’s nice to see you again too, Mrs. McGraw,” Jamie said with a smile.

  “Mom,” Lyla began slowly, regulating her voice so that it was as quiet and non-threatening as possible. “I have some really good news to share with you.”

  Virginia’s eyes grew wide. She dropped the photographs to the coffee table and slapped her hand to her chest. “I hope you’re going to tell me you’re talking about a job promotion,” Virginia said cautiously.

  “Not exactly, Mom. You see…Jamie and I are—”

  The back of Virginia’s hand flew to her head and Lyla knew they were in store for one of her mother’s supreme B-movie-queen performances. Too bad Lyla and Jamie couldn’t sit in the audience as impartial viewers rather than feature players.

  “Oh dear God,” Virginia wailed. She breathed in loud wispy pants, as if she were about to expire right there on the sofa. “Someone get me my purse. I feel a sick headache coming on and I need my medicine.”

  “Mrs. McGraw,” Jamie said, only to be cut off by Virginia’s hand jutting out like a crossing guard’s.

  “Lyla, tell me this is not what I think it is,” Virginia said, her hand still aloft. The room was silent. “Tell me, goddammit!”

  “Well…I guess that depends on what you think it is, Mom,” Lyla stalled. Virginia’s nostrils flared and Lyla winced. “Jamie and I are engaged,” Lyla blurted as quickly as she could.

  “That sonuvabitch got you pregnant?” Virginia’s arm dropped. “I knew something like this would happen.” She shot Jamie a venomous gaze. “You won’t have the baby, of course. We’ll make arrangements for you to go for an—”

  “Whoa! Hold on there, Virginia!” David cut in. “Stop right there. Watch where you’re going with this. Don’t say something I can assure you you’ll later regret.”

  “Mother,” Dawn said, “Lyla isn’t pregnant, she—” Stopping in mid-sentence, she looked back at her sister. “You’re not, are you?”

  Lyla threw her hands up in frustration and growled. “Of course not. You know I would have told you if I was.”

  “Just checking.” Dawn smiled. “Mom, Lyla and Jamie are in love and they want to get married. End of story.”

  “He’s a good person. A wonderful man, Mom,” Lyla added. “I’m sure once you get to know him you’ll agree.”

  “This?” Virginia motioned to Lyla and Jamie with one hand as she grabbed the fabric of her shirt just over her heart with the other. “This is why I was invited here tonight?”

  “Yes, Mom.” Lyla nodded, glad there were no severe casualties as of yet. “Dawn and I thought this would be the best way, a nice, quiet little family dinner together.”

  “Family!?” Virginia coughed out. She glared at both couples in silence for a moment before she rose from the sofa and marched to the closet. Coat and purse in hand, she headed for the front door. “I’m going home,” she announced calmly. “Dawn, let your sister know that I do not want see or hear from her again until she comes to her senses and gets rid of that negro. Until that time, I have only one daughter.”

  Chapter Nine

  David leapt from his chair, heading Virginia off before she reached the door. “Sit down, Virginia,” he commanded.

  “I said I’m leaving,” she answered without bothering to look at her son-in-law as she sidestepped him and clasped the doorknob. When she’d opened the door a few inches, David slammed it shut.

  Both Lyla and Dawn started. Lyla had never seen this side of David before.

  “David! What’s gotten into you?” Virginia barked, this time looking square in his eyes.

  “Five years, Virginia,” David spat, his face no more than six inches from hers. “Five long years I’ve put up with your crap—your constant pissing and moaning and bitching and complaining—until I have had it up to here!” he bellowed, his fingers striking beneath his chin. “Up. To. Here!”

  Virginia flinched but didn’t back away. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, David, but I can tell you right now I do not appreciate you screaming in my face. Now back off, stop bullying me and let me leave before I really give you a piece of my mind.”

  “If you walk out that door now, Virginia, I promise you you’ll never see your granddaughter again as long as I’m alive.”

  “Oh David…” Dawn gasped from the other side of the room. She sat back against the sofa when her husband telegraphed a warning glare while Lyla and Jamie exchanged wide-eyed glances.

  “I’ve held my tongue all this time for Dawn’s sake, Virginia,” David went on. “Because she begged me, pleaded with me not to confront you. But this is the last straw.”

  “You can’t possibly be serious,” Virginia scoffed. “You would never do that to me. I’m Megan’s grandmother.” She hiked her chin in defiance. “She needs me. Dawn,” she looked to her daughter, “you’re not going to just sit there and let your husband talk to your mother like this, are you?�
��

  Glancing up at her mother from beneath her lashes, Dawn gnawed on her bottom lip. “David’s right, Mom,” she said in a near whisper.

  “What Megan needs is unconditional love, Virginia,” David explained. “A concept you don’t seem able to comprehend—at least from the way I’ve seen you treat your daughters. While it will be a shame for her to grow up without both her grandmothers in her life, I can assure you that Megan will get all the love and support she needs from the rest of us.”

  Lyla was impressed. She didn’t know David had it in him. She was half-tempted to leap up, grab him and sprint around the room in a dance of joy.

  “But why?” Virginia asked in her best martyred voice. “Why would you do this to me, David? Are you telling me you’d choose a colored man you don’t even know over your own mother-in-law?”

  “Yes.” David grinned, nodding enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  If the moment hadn’t been so serious and intense, Lyla would have guffawed at the cartoon-like look of utter astonishment on her mother’s face.

  “So the choice is yours, Virginia,” David continued. “Disown your daughter because she’s going to marry a black man, and then I disown you and forbid you to see my daughter. Or sit down and do your best to keep a civil tongue in your head while we all try to enjoy a pleasant dinner together.”

  After what seemed an eternity, Virginia’s shoulders slumped. Draping her coat over the nearest chair, she sat down quietly, hands folded in her lap. “I’ll stay,” she muttered, her gaze never leaving her hands.

  Both Dawn and Lyla let out breaths they’d been holding with audible sighs of relief. Lyla was flat-out amazed that Virginia caved that easily without an ugly scene.

  “You made the right decision, Virginia,” David said, returning her coat and purse to the closet.

  Silence cloaked the room like a shroud.

  “We’re having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, Jamie,” Dawn said quickly in an obvious attempt to break the tension. “The meatballs are David’s own recipe.”

  “That sounds wonderful, Dawn.” Jamie nodded and smiled. “I love Italian food.”

  “I didn’t know your people ate that sort of food,” Virginia said, gifting Jamie with a brief, chilly glance.

  “Well, I put in my request for black-eyed peas, fried catfish, chitlins and greens,” Jamie said, “but, regrettably, Dawn was out of those ingredients, Mrs. McGraw.” Everyone but Virginia snickered.

  “I hope you have antacids in the medicine cabinet, Dawn,” Virginia whined, discounting Jamie’s sarcasm. “Your spaghetti always gives me heartburn.”

  More silence.

  “Dawn told me she made her famous triple chocolate flourless cake,” Lyla added. “You’ll love it, Jamie. It’s scrumptious.”

  “Sounds great.” Jamie nodded again. The room fell silent again. “Really great.”

  “It has a million calories,” Dawn said with a nervous chuckle. “But it’s—”

  “This all seems rather sudden,” Virginia said, sitting forward, her hands clasped on the arms of the chair. “Dawn, please ask your sister why she feels the need to rush into things. Ask her if she doesn’t think it would be more prudent to wait.”

  Both Dawn and Lyla groaned sighs. “Unless you want David in your face again, Mom,” Dawn cautioned, “I’d drop the ignoring act if I were you and speak to Lyla directly.”

  Virginia chanced a quick glance at David, fidgeting in her seat when she noted his warning look. “Well, Lyla?” Virginia said without looking at Lyla. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  Lyla wasn’t used to seeing her mother squirm. It was a beautiful sight to see Virginia flustered. As soon as this was all over, Lyla decided, she was going to enlist Dawn’s help and find a good man for their mother. As much as Lyla hated sexist stereotypes, Virginia obviously needed a forceful man who could tame her and keep her in her place—if it didn’t kill the poor guy first, that is.

  “It’s just the way things happened, Mom,” Lyla answered, covering Jamie’s hand with hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. Virginia’s gaze zeroed in on the action, her expression turning even more dour. “Jamie and I found that we have a great deal in common, we respect each other and we love each other very much. We haven’t set a wedding date yet, but I don’t think either of us wants to wait too long.”

  “I understand your apprehension, Mrs. McGraw,” Jamie said. “In fact, my own family—”

  “Do not for a moment, Mr. Donlon, presume that you understand my feelings. I can assure you that you do not.”

  “You’re right,” Jamie said, nodding in agreement. “I apologize. I don’t understand what’s going on in your mind, Mrs. McGraw, anymore than you do mine or my family’s.”

  With an impatient glance at her watch, Virginia asked, “Will we be eating soon?”

  “Everything’s about ready to be served,” Dawn said. “You, David and Jamie can have a seat in the dining room while Lyla gives me a hand in kitchen.”

  Before following her sister, Lyla glanced at Jamie. He smiled and winked. Fortunately, the kitchen was just off the dining room so Lyla would be able to hear most of their conversation.

  “So, Mr. Donlon,” Virginia said once they’d been seated at the table. “Since you’ve asked for my daughter’s hand in marriage I do believe it would be a reasonable request for me to inquire as to your background, would it not?”

  “Absolutely,” Jamie said. “I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions. And, please, call me Jamie.”

  “First of all, Mr. Donlon,” Virginia went on, disregarding his request, “I don’t see an engagement ring on my daughter’s finger. Are you unable to afford one?”

  “I can well afford one, ma’am. We’ll be getting formally engaged this Wednesday. That’s sort of our special day.”

  Listening from the kitchen as she got the garlic bread ready, Lyla smiled to herself.

  “So tell me,” Virginia plowed on, “did you grow up in the projects? Do you have a father? Brothers? Sisters? How many people do you have to support? Have you or any of your relatives ever been arrested for dealing drugs or for any other criminal offense? Have you ever been a member of any street gang?”

  “Jesus,” David mumbled. “You forgot to ask the man if he’s ever been a pimp.”

  Lyla peeked out of the kitchen for a moment, in time to catch her mother arching a penciled eyebrow.

  “You heard Mr. Donlon give me his permission to question him,” Virginia pointed out.

  “Right. By all means don’t let me keep you from your interrogation,” David said, gesturing with a bow of his head.

  “Have you?” Virginia asked Jamie. “Ever been a pimp, I mean?”

  A gracious smile in place, Jamie proceeded to answer Virginia’s questions. “I grew up in the suburbs, Mrs. McGraw—in an upper-middle-class family. My mother and two sisters still live in our family home. Neither the maid nor cook are live-ins. My father passed away five years ago. He was an attorney and senior partner in his firm. My grandfather was a waiter who made a fortune in the stock market and my great-grandfather shined shoes and sold newspapers to support his family.”

  “Well, it seems that your people have done rather well for themselves,” Virginia said. “Considering.”

  Dawn and Lyla came into the dining room with the food. “Tada!” Dawn announced with a grin as she placed the first filled plate in front of Jamie. “Pasta ala Hogan.”

  “And here’s the garlic bread,” Lyla added, setting red and white-checked napkin-covered baskets at either end of the table.

  “Chianti?” David asked, presenting a classic bottle, half wrapped in straw. “This one’s very good.” Everyone at the table answered in the affirmative and David poured the red wine.

  “This has got to be about the best spaghetti and meatballs I’ve ever had,” Jamie said after taking a few bites. “I hope you’re willing to share your meatball recipe, David.”

  �
�Sure thing,” David said.

  “You didn’t answer my questions about having a criminal record or being in a street gang, Mr. Donlon,” Virginia said.

  Lyla dropped her head back and groaned. “Mother!”

  “It’s not a problem, Lyla,” Jamie assured with a smile. “When I was five I stole a pack of bubble gum from the grocery store. When we got home my mother noticed me chewing it and asked where I got it. I took the other half of the package from my pocket and showed her, telling her what I’d done. After she boxed my ears she marched me right back there and made me apologize. She had me pay back the money from my allowance. That’s the extent of any criminal activity I’m aware of in my family, Mrs. McGraw. I promise I’ll do my best not to be a repeat offender.”

  Everyone at the table chuckled except for Virginia. “Apparently you find the situation amusing, Mr. Donlon,” she said. “If this is your attempt to make a good impression I’m afraid you’re failing miserably.”

  “Sorry, ma’am, I was just trying to lighten the mood.” Jamie gave Virginia a full dimpled smile, the same one that never failed to make Lyla feel all warm and tingly inside. It didn’t seem to have the same effect on her mother, however. “No street gangs,” he continued, “and I’ve never been a pimp. I was too busy going to college to earn my MBA and then buying and selling real estate before I began my own firm.”

  “I imagine your mother is elated at the prospect of her boy bettering himself by marrying up,” Virginia said after sipping from her wineglass. “I think a cabernet would have been a better choice, David. Chianti can be so acidic.”

  “Not as acidic as some things in this room, Mother,” Lyla said with a tsk. She sipped from the wine and smiled at its clean, dry flavor. “Delicious, David. A perfect choice.”

  “That was terribly rude, Mom,” Dawn said. “In fact, everything you’ve said to Jamie has been unforgivably bad-mannered. Please try to remember that he’s our guest. And David specifically chose this reserve wine with you in mind because of its smooth quality.”

  “I didn’t ask to be here,” Virginia offered, slicing into a large meatball. “If it were up to me I’d be at home right now nursing this headache, but your husband has blackmailed me into staying. Since I have no desire to socialize with Mr. Donlon or his kind, I shall use the forced opportunity to learn all I can about him. As to David’s choice of beverage, I apologize for bringing to everyone’s attention that he isn’t knowledgeable about wine.”