The Virtuous Woman

by Gilbert, Morris

  “A lot of historians say that Dickens changed his world with his books.”

  “I’d still rather read a nice love story with a happy ending.”

  “You’re an incurable romantic.”

  The two now made a ritual out of their mealtimes. Grace used to think mealtimes were simply for eating, but Francis had taught her that it was a good time to talk and had managed to teach her to slow down and stop eating in a feeding frenzy.

  After they finished the meal and washed the dishes, they turned on the radio in the living room and then went outside and sat on the porch steps. They listened to the song coming through the open windows. “All right,” Francis said, “name as many of the constellations as you can.”

  “Why do I have to do that? They’re pretty, and I like them, but who’s ever going to care whether I know the names of constellations?”

  “You never know what you’ll need. That’s what education is. You learn a lot of stuff that seems useless, like algebra, but sooner or later you use what you have. Now, what do you see?”

  “Okay ... there’s Orion ... and Ursa Major and Ursa Minor ... Cassiopeia ...”

  After she named about ten constellations, he said, “That’s good. I don’t brag on you much, Grace,” he said with a smile, “but you’re doing well. I’m proud of you.”

  Grace felt her face glowing. “Thank you, Francis,” she murmured. “That’s good to hear, but I know I’ve got a long way to go.” She hesitated before going on. “I’m not treating you fairly.”

  “Why not? What are you talking about?”

  “What about your book? You spend so much time teaching me.”

  “Oh, I work on it while you’re at the Green Lantern.”

  “How’s it going?”

  “Much better. I’ve got most of it done in my head now. Sometimes it’s hard to get it from your head to paper.”

  They grew silent and listened as the music came floating out onto the porch.

  “Let’s dance,” Grace said.

  “I’m not much of a dancer.”

  “Well, I’m a great dancer. Come on.”

  She pulled Francis to his feet, and he put his arm around her waist and took her hand. She sang along as they danced to a popular tune. “Hey, you’re not a bad dancer at all.” She was very aware that her face was only a few inches from his. “How are you and Babe getting along?” she asked suddenly.

  “That’s ancient history.”

  “She still likes you, though. I can tell.”

  “I like her too.”

  “Were you going to marry her once?”

  “We never talked about it.” He seemed hesitant and then finally said, “She was the first woman—and the last—that I ever knew well. She had a lot more experience than I had with relationships. We fought all the time.”

  She was curious and wanted to ask him more, but a slower song began and she decided to let her question wait for another time.

  “Grace,” he said suddenly, “I’m afraid I’m going to do something you won’t like.”

  They stopped dancing, but he was still holding her in his arms. “What do you mean? What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to kiss you, so you’d better slap my face now and get it over with.”

  Grace smiled. “Why don’t you just do it and we’ll see what I do.”

  He pulled her closer, and she put her arms around his neck. She had wondered how he felt about her, and now to her pleased surprise, she felt a possessiveness about him. She held his kiss for a time and then pulled away. “Is this where I slap your face?”

  “I guess so.”

  “I don’t think I will this time. No harm in a little kiss.”

  “You know, Grace, there’s a sweetness in you. I’ve always sensed it there, but now I think everyone can see it.”

  She did not answer, for memories of her sordid past welled up in her mind. She thought of the awful things she had done—the drunken parties and the men—and she felt terrible. “I guess I’ll go in now,” she said quickly.

  “But it’s early yet. I thought we could work some more on your lessons.”

  “Not tonight.” She went inside, leaving Francis bewildered. Maybe it’s something I’ve done.

  Grace went to her room and lay down on the bed fully dressed. She struggled with her memories of life on the road with the carnival. I wish I had been different. I wish I hadn’t done all those things. She lay there for a long time feeling worse and worse, and finally she told herself heavily, “I can’t go back and change the past.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Lucy’s Reluctance

  Babe looked up from her desk, which was cluttered with papers. Her green eyes took in Lucy as she entered the office. “What are you all geared up for?”

  Lucy flushed. She was wearing a pair of light blue slacks with a tan blouse, and her hair was tied back with a dark blue ribbon. “Kev is going to take me up for a flight.”

  Babe leaned back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest, and studied Lucy silently. She had always been overly protective of her younger sister, whom she had practically raised after the death of their parents. She had guided Lucy through measles, acne, and all the other perils of childhood and adolescence—including the heartbreaking loss of a boyfriend with flaming red hair at the age of thirteen. She remembered what her last mechanic had said about Lucy: “That sister of yours is a looker. You better be careful some sneaky fella don’t snatch her away when you’re not lookin’!”

  Fortunately for Babe, Lucy had never given her the slightest reason for worry. She always seemed to have a built-in desire to do the right thing, and although Babe herself was not religious, she was glad that Lucy walked the straight and narrow—she was even baptized and went to church every Sunday.

  “Seems like you’ve been making quite a few of these flights lately.”

  Color touched Lucy’s cheeks, but she held her head up almost defiantly. “Maybe I have,” she said.

  “You never liked to fly with me all that much. You’re not getting sweet on scarface, are you?”

  “Don’t you call him that!”

  Babe started at Lucy’s sharp reply. “What’s going on between you two?”

  Upset, Lucy ran her hand across her hair. “I think you’re awful! Kevin’s had enough trouble with people. They stare at him all the time. I’d like to poke their eyes out!”

  “Take it easy, little sister!”

  “I won’t take it easy, and don’t you ever call him that awful name again! You hear me?”

  Babe was shocked at Lucy’s rare outburst. “You’re right,” she admitted. “It’s bad enough without people making remarks.” She rose from her desk and put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Are you really serious about this guy, Lucy?”

  “I ... I like him a lot. He’s the most gentle man I’ve ever known, and he’s got such a good sense of humor. He keeps it hidden because he’s been hurt so much by people. But I have a better time with him than I’ve ever had with anyone else.”

  “Does he ever try to get fresh with you?”

  “No!”

  “Well, that’s a good thing. The way you’ve softened up to him, I believe he could get anything he wants from you.”

  Lucy colored, then said firmly, “He’s never been anything but a gentleman with me, Babe.”

  Babe felt a sharp pang in her gut, and she drew her lips together into a straight line. “I should’ve met a few guys like that—or at least one.”

  “You like Kevin, don’t you, Babe?” Lucy asked quickly.

  “Sure I like him, and he’s a good pilot too.” She smiled and said, “Don’t get to liking him too much, though. I understand he comes from a rich family, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes, the Winslows are well off.”

  “Sure, and rich people are all alike. They don’t want their baby boys marrying up with women like us.”

  “Kevin’s not that way.”

  “Maybe he’s not,
but what about his parents?”

  “From what he’s told me, they’re very sweet.”

  Their conversation was interrupted as Kevin opened the door. “Interrupting anything?” he asked cheerfully. He was wearing his usual flying outfit: leather jacket, tan slacks, and a pair of well-worn soft brown shoes.

  “No,” Lucy said almost breathlessly. “Is the plane ready?”

  “All juiced up and ready to go.”

  Lucy went out the door with Kevin, who waved cheerfully at Babe.

  She called caustically, “Don’t wreck the plane—or my baby sister!”

  “I’ll be careful with both. Don’t worry, Babe.”

  As the two stepped outside, Kevin asked, “What’s the matter with Babe? She forgot to cuss me out. Were you two having a serious discussion?”

  Lucy hesitated, then smiled cheerfully. “No, we were just talking. Where are we going to fly today?”

  “Well, we’ve seen about everything around here from the air. You don’t mind a repeat performance, do you?”

  “Doesn’t matter to me. It’ll just be good to be up.”

  The two made their way to the plane that was painted a crimson so brilliant it almost hurt the eyes.

  “Wonder why this thing is painted so bright,” Lucy commented as Kevin helped her in.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe the original owner wanted to make sure everyone could spot it if he came down in the middle of the desert.” He laughed and then got into the seat beside her. She watched as he worked through his preflight check, then started the engine. He waited until it warmed up, then pushed the throttle forward. The small plane moved under his touch, and he taxied out onto the runway. She noticed that he looked carefully in all directions before taking off. Babe had told her that Kevin was one of the most careful pilots she had ever seen, and the comment had pleased her.

  “Here we go.” Kevin pressed the throttle forward while keeping his attention riveted to the strip ahead of him. Lucy enjoyed the sensation as the plane lifted off the ground. She watched the earth fall away, and it gave her a thrill, as it always did. Kev climbed steadily to ten thousand feet, then banked the plane. “Let’s go look over the Crescent City again today,” he suggested loudly enough for her to hear over the engine.

  “All right.”

  As they made their way toward New Orleans, Kevin kept his attention on flying but at the same time asked her a great many questions about nursing school. It was one of the things she liked about him. He was actually interested in what she did. As she told him about one of her supervisors at the hospital who had behaved in an unprofessional way, he nodded sympathetically. “I usually don’t talk to anybody else about my work,” she told him. “Babe doesn’t care what I do.”

  “Sure she does. She’s just busy trying to keep this business from going down the drain.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” She looked down and said, “Look, Kev!”

  “What is it?”

  “That mansion down there. Isn’t it beautiful?”

  He banked the aircraft and circled the area below, tilting the wings toward her side to give her a better view of the old plantation. “How’d you like to live in that house?” he said with a grin.

  “Oh, I don’t know. It’s one of those ideas that sounds good, but I’m not sure it is. I’d rather just read about it in a book.”

  “You wouldn’t like to live there?”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Well, that’s okay by me. A person doesn’t have to live in a big house to be happy.”

  He leveled the plane and brought it down low over one of the many swamps in the area, pointing out huge crocodiles sunning themselves on logs. A group of pelicans flew in the distance, and she said, “I’ve always loved to watch pelicans. They’re so homely, aren’t they? They stick out in front and nothing at all behind.”

  “They’re pretty smart, though. And good at formation flying. Look at that perfect V they made.”

  “I guess birds are pretty smart, aren’t they,” she said.

  “I guess so. Especially parrots. Whoever would think of teaching Scripture to a parrot!”

  “Francis is a pretty unusual guy, I guess.”

  “He sure is. That blasted parrot still hates Grace, though. Jealous as can be.”

  “That’s funny that a bird’s jealous.”

  “I guess birds have a right to be jealous just like we do.”

  “Have you ever been jealous of anyone?” Lucy asked quickly.

  “No, I never have. Of course, I never had anyone to be jealous of. My face got ruined just about the time I was getting interested in girls.”

  He said no more, and the hum of the engine filled her ears. She wanted to ask him some questions, but his attitude was not exactly an invitation.

  They spent an hour over New Orleans, and they took turns pointing out the French Quarter, the cathedral, the zoo, and a great many other sights. “We’ll have to take in some of those on the ground,” he said as he turned toward home.

  “That would be fun.”

  “I expect you’ve seen most of them.”

  “I’d like to see them again, though ... with you.”

  They flew west, looking down at the cultivated fields as he brought the plane in for a landing. He taxied to the hangar and cut the engine, then turned to her and said, “I’m anxious for you to meet my family, Lucy. Have you given any more thought to going north with me?”

  She could not speak for a moment. She had agreed to meet his family but hadn’t seriously thought about doing so anytime soon.

  He took her silence in a negative way. “Maybe you don’t really want to meet them after all.”

  “Oh yes ... yes, I’d like to very much, Kev, but ...”

  Kevin couldn’t understand why she was reluctant. “What’s the matter?”

  “I’ve thought about this a lot, and I’m still not sure they’d like me very much.”

  “What makes you say such a thing? Why wouldn’t they like you?”

  “Because I’ve never been around their kind.”

  “Well, that’s crazy!” he exploded. “They’re not stuck up at all. Oh, my sister Paige is a bit, but it doesn’t matter about her.” He hesitated, then said, “I know my parents would love you, Lucy. I want them to meet you soon.”

  She smiled, deciding to trust his judgment. “When do you want to go?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  A New Kevin

  “Oh, fuzz! I landed right on Boardwalk!”

  Phil leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand. His eyes sparkled as he looked across the table at Cara. “You owe me exactly two thousand dollars.”

  “But, Phil, I don’t have it!”

  “That’s tough. You lose.”

  The two were outside on their patio playing Monopoly—the new real estate game that had become an instant hit in America. It was strange that it had struck the fancy of the American people when most Americans were struggling to get enough money together for a loaf of bread and a pound of pinto beans for the evening meal. Monopoly was all about earning thousands of dollars in order to build houses and hotels and buy railroads—big-time finances. Yet for some reason people loved it. Perhaps it was a way for people to dream of a better life.

  The Phil Winslow family had been very blessed indeed to have kept their fortunes intact during these trying times. To them Monopoly was just a fun game, an enjoyable diversion for an evening.

  Phil grinned and said to Cara, “Two thousand dollars cash, please.”

  “But I don’t have it.”

  “Then you’ll have to sell all your property and give me your money.”

  Cara pouted at her downfall—a most pleasant sight for Phil, for she had a beautifully shaped mouth, and a pout was just right for kissing. “Couldn’t I pay it out over time?” she pleaded.

  “There’s no mercy in this game, woman. Two thousand dollars or else I’ll throw you out on the street.”

  �
��You’re so mean!”

  Phil laughed and leaned across the patio table to kiss her. “All right. You win. You can pay me a hundred dollars each time around the board.”

  Cara kissed him again. “You’re so sweet! Now I know why I married you.”

  “So you’d have somebody to beat at games, I suppose. But the next time—”

  He did not finish his sentence. “Listen,” he said. “I hear an airplane, and it sounds like it’s close.”

  Suddenly the roar of the plane filled the sky.

  “Look at that!” he yelled. “It must be a stunt pilot.”

  The two watched as the plane banked steeply and circled the estate. Then Cara gasped. “Look, he’s going to land out there on the lawn!”

  “Why, the crazy fool, he’ll kill himself. There’s not enough room.”

  The two stood on the edge of the patio, not even daring to breathe as the plane got lower. The wheels slammed down on the grass, and the plane shot forward but stopped just short of some hedges.

  “It’s got to be Kevin!” Phil said. “Come on, Cara.”

  The two ran toward the plane. By the time they’d reached it, the door was open and Kevin was jumping to the ground, whipping off his cap and greeting them with a broad smile. He embraced his mother, lifting her off the ground, then slapped his dad on the back and hugged him.

  “Have you lost your mind, son?” Phil demanded. “You could have killed yourself.”

  “Nope. No chance of that. I know every square inch of this place. I practiced this landing before I left Baton Rouge. I marked off a spot on our landing field the same size as our lawn. It was a piece of cake.”

  “What are you doing here? I’m so glad to see you. Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” The words tumbled out of Cara’s mouth as she held on to Kevin’s arm.

  “There’s somebody I want you to meet.” Kevin pulled away and helped a young woman out of the plane. He brought her forward and said, “I’d like you to meet Lucy Delaney. Lucy, these are my parents, Cara and Phil Winslow.”

  “I’m so glad to meet you, my dear.” Cara hugged the girl while Phil stood behind her.

  “You must be very brave,” Phil said, “letting this crazy aviator put you through a stunt like that.” He was very impressed with the young woman. She looked clean and fresh, and there was an honesty in her sparkling brown eyes.