The Governor's Sons (23 page)

“Next time he falls asleep while you’re playing with him, you put him in his crib,” Betty Jean scolded.

“I would’ve done that today, but since I was feeling kinda lousy, a nap seemed like a good idea to me, too.”
 
Thomas walked to the closet and pulled out the vest and jacket of his brown herringbone suit.

“Are you really well enough to go out tonight?”

“Betty Jean, I’m fine.”
 
As Thomas buttoned his vest, Harland babbled robustly.
 
“See, the baby agrees!”

While bouncing Harland, Betty Jean shook her head and smiled.
 
“Well, it’d be better if you stayed home and had soup.
 
You don’t need to be going to Eugene’s Place for steak.
 
But I suppose your mind’s already made up.
 
They have soup.
 
Just get that—and some Jell-O.”

“Look, I woke up with my head pounding and a stomach ache.
 
That was a long time ago.
 
When I was playing with Harland I felt better.
 
Now I’m fine, and ready for a big, juicy steak.”

“You know, Thomas, it won’t kill you to miss one of your monthly get-togethers.”

“Betty Jean—I’m feeling great, okay?
 
And I’d rather be at Eugene’s than around here when that cracker comes knocking at the door.
 
If I see Kroth, I can’t guarantee I won’t rip his head off.
 
It’s bad enough him coming here, at all.
 
But since it’s only once a month, on the same Saturday night I have dinner with my buddies, I guess I can tolerate that—for now, anyway.

Thomas paused for a few seconds.
 
“I’m having second thoughts about him visiting Harland.
 
I’m starting to think it’s not such a great idea.”

“Thomas, Ash wants to, and he’s doing the best he can for his child.
 
And—I think—under the circumstances--”

“Look, honey, just forget about it now, okay?
 
We’ll talk about it another time.”

Betty Jean sighed.
 
“Fine, but I hope you don’t make yourself any sicker by going out when you just need to stay home.”

“Betty Jean,” Thomas slipped on his jacket, “stop worrying about me.”

She finally gave up.
 
It was useless arguing with him.
 
“So, who’s coming tonight?”

Thomas smiled.
 
“All the usual suspects,” he said, in reference to his five law school friends that he met with on the first Saturday of each month.
 
“Everybody plans on being there tonight.”

“I don’t think you’ve missed a Saturday since the tradition started two years ago.
 
But what are you gonna do when we move to Atlanta?
 
You better not plan on making a special trip back here each month!”

“No, honey, but maybe once in a while I will.”
 
Thomas looked at his watch.
 
“I’d better go.”
 
He kissed his wife and child goodbye.
 
“I’ll be in a better mood if I don’t run into that cracker on my way out.”

****

Ash slowed down his car as he approached the red brick duplex where Betty Jean and Thomas lived.
 
Their building sat secluded at the end of a cul-de-sac in a colored neighborhood.

After parking out front, Ash grabbed both stuffed toys and climbed from the car.
 
Once he’d shut the door, he thought better of it.
 
He didn’t want to indulge the child too much. That would only damage his character.
 
He’d save the sad-eyed bear for the next visit.
 
Ash opened the car and tossed the panda onto the passenger seat.

When he strode to the front entrance, he was just in time to greet the colored widow, a Mrs. Lowe, who owned the property.
 
A tall woman in her sixties, she was leaving the building and looked dressed for an evening out, wearing a rust colored suit with a wide brimmed black hat.

Ash nodded to her.
 
“Good evening, Mrs. Lowe.”

“Evening, Mr. Kroth,” she said pleasantly.
 
“Just what have you got for that baby today?”
 
  
When Ash held up the large bear, she smiled.
 
“If that Teddy isn’t the cutest thing. You certainly are a generous ex-employer, bringing Betty Jean’s boy a toy each time you pass through town.”

Ash smiled.
 
“It’s the least I can do for Betty Jean.
 
She and her sister did some fine work for my family.
 
And her late aunt was employed by us since before I was born.”

“Well, Betty Jean says you’re some fine people.”

“That’s good to hear, ma’am,” Ash said.
 
“Now you have a good evening.
 
You look mighty nice.”

“Why, thank you, Mr. Kroth.”
 
She adjusted her hat.
 
“And you enjoy your visit.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ash waved as she walked to a waiting car, then he opened the door to the duplex.
 
He bounded up the stairs, two at a time.
 
Casually attired in navy blue pants and a blue and white striped shirt, Ash was dressed comfortably enough to play with Harland on the floor.

Betty Jean and Thomas lived on the second story, and when he reached their door, he could hear the saucy rhythm of Duke Ellington’s “Babe, Maybe Someday” on the radio.
 
 
He hid the bear behind his back, then pressed the doorbell.

“Be there in just a minute,” Betty Jean called.
 
“Harland,” Ash heard her say, “It’s Mr. Ash!”

She must have turned off the radio because the music stopped.
 
Seconds later she opened the door with a bright eyed boy in her arms. Ash smelled the baby fresh scent of talcum powder.

“Well, hello, Mr. Ash!” Betty Jean exclaimed happily.

Since her marriage, Ash didn’t think Betty Jean looked nearly as dowdy as she used to.
 
Today she wore a red dress with large white polka dots, and her wavy dark hair spilled over her shoulders.
 
Although Kitty once said Betty Jean was the pretty one, Ash had never thought so.
 
Now, however, even holding a baby and wearing those thick glasses, she didn’t look half bad.

But Ash’s main focus was Harland.
 
He appeared bigger and rounder than last month.
 
Thick, reddish brown curls covered his head, and his brown eyes sparkled, just like Kitty’s.
 
Betty Jean had told him the baby was always happy, and that on a daily basis he smiled more than cried. “Harland is what mothers called an ‘easy baby,’” she’d said.

Ironically, Ash wished Harland’s existence could be an “easy” part of his life, rather than a difficult one, he had to keep hidden away like a dirty secret.

Ash smiled.
 
“Hey, Betty Jean!”
 
He gently squeezed Harland’s pudgy cheek.
 
With the bear still behind his back, he said, “And how’s my boy?”

Harland gurgled happily.

“I told you it was Mr. Ash!”
 
Betty Jean said, as the baby squealed with delight.
 
“You say we should invite him in?
 
What a good idea!
 
Come on in, Ash; make yourself comfortable.”
 
She led him to their small living room and laughed while Harland continued to make happy baby sounds.

“I brought you something,” Ash said to the boy.

Betty Jean clicked her tongue.
 
“You spoil him too much!”

Ash revealed the bear and watched Harland’s eyes light up.
 
When the baby grabbed for it, Ash asked to hold him.

“You love being held by Mr. Ash, don’t you?” Betty Jean said, handing Harland to him.

While Ash held him close, Harland squeezed the bear with his big baby hands.

“You know, Ash, he’s always happy to see you—not just because you bring him toys.
 
He remembers you.”

“You think so?”

“I do.
 
He knows you’re someone special in his life.”

“I hope so.”

When Ash held Harland high, the baby still clutched the bear, but seconds later it dropped to the floor.
 
Harland didn’t mind.
 
He smiled looking down at Ash, while his feet dangled near Ash’s chest.

“Run,” Ash said.
 
Immediately, Harland’s large baby feet climbed up his father’s chest in a running motion.
 
“Look at that, Betty Jean, track and field--along with football.”

“You’ve got his whole future all planned out, don’t you?”

“Hey—just offering some guidance.”

“You never hold back on giving advice, do you?”

Ash smiled.
 
“Never.”

Still holding the baby, Ash grabbed the bear from the floor, then sat down in an overstuffed armchair with a tub shaped back, covered in dark green upholstery.
 
With Harland on his lap, Ash said, “Mr. Bear’s gonna get you!”
 
When he playfully thrust the Teddy at Harland’s face, the baby whacked it happily, then laughed.
 
“Good boy!
 
You’re not afraid!”

A large blue blanket was spread on the floor with toys.
 
Ash put Harland down on it to play, along with the brown bear.

“So, what’ll you have, Ash, iced tea or lemonade?”

“Water’s fine.”

Betty Jean started for the kitchen.
 
“Would you like some chocolate layer cake to go with that?”

“No thanks.”

“You ever gonna stop being so health conscious?”

“Only when I die; and I plan on living a mighty long time.”
 
While Betty Jean was gone, Ash pulled out an envelope enclosed with $200.00 cash.
 
He put it on the end table next to his chair. If he discreetly placed it somewhere, he wouldn’t have to argue with Betty Jean about accepting it.
 
She claimed they didn’t need it, but Ash insisted it be used for Harland’s food, clothing, education and future athletic expenses.

Betty Jean returned moments later with a tall glass of ice water and gave it to Ash.
 
Afterwards, she sat down on the sofa across from him. Its shape and textured woolen fabric matched the chair.

Ash took a long drink, then placed the glass on the oval coffee table between them.
 
“He’s a handsome boy,” Ash said, getting down on the blanket to play with him.

“I think he is, too.
 
But maybe we’re just biased.”

“Not a chance.” Ash laughed, as he let Harland grab a finger from each of his hands.
 
When Ash tried to pull away, he was surprised by the baby’s strength.
 
“You’re just as strong as you can be.”
 
He looked toward Betty Jean after he managed to twist his fingers from Harland’s grasp.
 
“So, y’all started packing for Atlanta yet?”

“No.”
 
She exhaled. “I’ve got boxes in our basement storage unit, but I’m putting off the actual packing as long as possible.”

“When’s Thomas gonna start working at his friend’s law firm?” Ash asked while watching Harland push a wooden truck.

“As soon as we move and get settled there next month.
 
Ash,” Betty Jean ran a hand through her hair, “life’s been crazy around here lately.
 
Thomas finished up classes and got his law degree at the end of August.
 
Then he went to Atlanta to find an apartment.
 
All three of us were there last week trying to learn our way around the city.
 
And on top of everything else, Thomas is busy preparing for the Georgia bar exam.”

“Life’s busy right now, but you’ll get through it.
 
This time next year you won’t even remember all you had to worry about.”

Betty Jean smiled.
 
“I hope so.”

“Even though ya’ll are gonna be in a different state, I still plan on going over there to see my boy.
 
I can’t have him forgetting about me.” Ash covered his eyes and played peek-a-boo, making Harland laugh.

Betty Jean sat quietly watching them play for a moment, then said, “Ash—are you—are you seeing someone?”

“No.” Ash didn’t take his attention from Harland.

“Well—I know it’s just a matter of time--before you
do
start dating again.
 
And--when you do meet that special someone—I just need to know if you’ll—keep visiting or not.”

Ash looked toward her, stunned by what she’d said.
 
“Betty Jean, I plan to keep visiting.
 
Why are you asking?
 
Do you
want
me to stop?”

“No, Ash—of course not!
 
And--when the baby’s old enough to understand—you’ll want him to know the truth—right?
 
You told me that right after Catherine…but that was a long time ago.”