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, so
meone 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.
The Women of Jacob’s Mountain Boxed Set Page 44
