The Heavenly Fugitive (16 page)

“I can’t explain it, but I know that in my heart He’s just as real, just as alive, as anything in the world to me. Why, He’s more real to me than this flesh of mine.”

Rosa grew quiet and cast a quick glance at Phil. She felt humble and hardly knew what to say. Finally she said haltingly, “I . . . I’ve been reading the Bible that Phil gave me. I don’t understand much of it.”

“That’s good that you’re reading it. Stay in the Gospels. Read about Jesus, and the time will come that He will speak to your heart. Ask Him, and He will show you the way.”

****

By the time Phil and Rosa returned to the Morino place, the sun had gone down. Phil got out of the car, helped Rosa out, then heard her say, “Thank you, Kenny, for taking us and for waiting so long.”

“No problem at all, Miss Rosa. Anytime.”

Phil turned and walked along the gravel pathway, saying, “I’m glad you went with me, Rosa. My grandmother gets lonely, I know. She was very much in love with my grandfather. I never saw anything like it.”

“What was he like?”

“A fine, handsome man. Back in the early days he was pretty tough, but never with her or with any of his children or grandchildren. The thing is, they were just as much in love at the end of his life as they were at the beginning. Grandmother often told me that he’d write her little poems and love letters even when he knew he would see her that day.”

“I think that’s so sweet,” Rosa whispered. They had reached Phil’s bicycle, and suddenly she put out her hands. Phil took them automatically. “Thank you for taking me, Phil.”

Phil held her hands and looked into her eyes, luminous under the moonlight. The moon was low in the sky but shed its silver beams over the earth. He was aware of the firmness of her hands, the perfume she was wearing, the pleasant contours of her face. He was also uncomfortably aware of
her womanliness as the moonlight touched the curve of her shoulders and the soft lines of her body.

Rosa’s hands tightened on his, and she leaned toward him. “Phil, please let me help you go to law school.”

“I couldn’t do that, Rosa.”

Her face had a pleading expression. “I want to do something for you, and you won’t let me.”

Phil saw that her full lower lip was trembling. He had not dated much and felt a sudden sense of awkwardness. But it was an awkwardness touched with desire, and without meaning to, he leaned forward and saw her respond, taking a step toward him so that she was almost touching him.

Quickly Phil shook his head and gave a strangled half laugh. “You’ve done a lot for me,” he said, and he knew by the look on her face that she had expected him to kiss her.

This can’t be. It just can’t be,
he thought, almost in a panic. “I . . . I’ve got to go, Rosa. Thanks for going with me to my grandmother’s.”

Rosa Morino watched as Phil wheeled around and picked up his bicycle. She stood absolutely still as he pedaled away, turning once to wave at her. She did not return the wave, however, and even as he disappeared into the murky darkness, she felt herself trembling.
Why didn’t he kiss me?
she wondered.
He wanted to. I could tell.
Giving a half sob, she turned and walked blindly toward the house.

CHAPTER EIGHT

A Door Opens

Phil moved slowly along the line of graduates at the outdoor ceremony, conscious of the sweet smell of honeysuckle. Glancing toward the scent, he saw the bright greenery and white blossoms of the vine climbing a wall surrounding the open area. Overhead the sky was a bright blue, and the sun poured down its heat in long yellow bars of light. The calling of the graduates’ names made a loud cadence on the air, blending with the warbling of a bird on the fringes of the crowd. He heard the name “James Veasey” and took a step forward. It seemed a small step to him, but it had been a long, hard grind, compacting four years of work into the space of two.

“Eunice Wainright.”

Now there were only a few people left, and Phil put his foot on the step of the platform. The dean tolled off the names, and finally Phil stood alone, watching Clarice Williams take her diploma. His name was next. “Phillip Winslow,” he heard, which was followed by a pause. Then the dean said loudly, “Summa cum laude.”

“Good for you, Phil!” came a cry from the audience. He grinned as he recognized Rosa’s voice, and laughter spread over the crowd. The dean shook his hand and said quickly, “Fine work, Winslow. We’re all very proud of you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Clutching the rolled diploma in his hand, Phil strode across the platform and stepped down. He glanced up and
saw Amelia sitting between his grandmother on her left and Rosa on her right. Amelia raised her hands in the traditional prizefighter clasped sign of victory, and Phil waved the diploma in the air.

Moving back to his seat, he waited until the ceremony was finished. He marched out to the sound of the band playing loudly, and all of the graduates then blended into smiling, happy, laughing groups of relatives and friends.

“Phillip, I was never so proud of anyone in my life.” Lola’s eyes were bright as she embraced him. She clung to him and whispered in his ear, “Your grandfather would have been so proud of you, and I know your parents are. I just wish they could have been here.”

Phil felt a tug on his arm and turned, and Amelia threw herself against him, squeezing him fiercely. “I’m so happy I could scream!” she said.

“Go ahead and scream,” Phil said. “I feel a little bit like hollering myself.”

Amelia was wearing a subdued light gray summer dress, and her smile trembled a little as she said, “I wish the folks could have been here.”

“Too far to come back for just a little thing like this.”

“It’s
not
a little thing!”

Phil turned to see Rosa running toward him with her arms out. He hugged her, and she clung to him, pressing against him and whispering, “You were the best, Phil. Summa cum laude. That means the very top, doesn’t it?”

Phil was acutely aware of Rosa’s softness as she held him close, and it stirred him in a way that was disturbing. He cleared his throat and stepped back. As she reluctantly released him, he reached out and took her hand. “It’s just a piece of paper.”

“No, it’s not. It means you were right up there with the best in your whole class.”

“I think it’s time for a little ceremony,” Lola said.

Phil noticed she had a peculiar smile on her face, and he looked at her closely. “A ceremony? We just had a ceremony.”

“Come along, Phillip,” Lola said firmly. She was wearing a pale yellow dress that shone in the sunlight, with a matching hat and veil. She seemed to be happier than Phil had seen her in a long time.

“What’s this all about, Grandmother?”

“You always want to know so much. Now, come along and don’t ask questions.”

Lola clung to Phil’s arm, and Amelia and Rosa followed them through the milling crowd. They left the field where the ceremony had been held, and Lola firmly grasped his arm, saying, “Down this way.”

Mystified, Phil moved along, glancing over his shoulder to see both Rosa and Amelia smiling broadly. “What’s this all about?” he said suspiciously.

Rosa laughed aloud, and her dark eyes danced with delight. “You’ll see.”

They made their way to the street that bordered the college, and Phil looked around for his grandmother’s car and driver. He assumed they had come in the big Oldsmobile. “Are we going out to eat?”

“Yes, we are, but not right now.” Lola stopped suddenly and turned to him. “You’ve never asked your grandfather or me for anything, Phillip, so we wanted to give you something, and we saved it until your graduation. There it is.”

Puzzled, Phil turned, seeing nothing but a line of cars parked along the street. People were beginning to get in them now and leave the campus, but he shook his head. “What is it, Grandmother?”

“Oh, Phil, you’re so slow!” Rosa cried. “It’s that car! It’s yours!”

Phil blinked with surprise, stared at Rosa, then wheeled to look at the vehicle she was pointing at.

“Why, that can’t be!”

“Yes it can,” Lola said. “Your grandfather always knew
you’d go to college someday, and we agreed that on your graduation day you should have a beautiful car. He looked forward to that day, but when he knew he wouldn’t live to see it, he put it into the will to make sure you’d get it for graduation. Do you like it?”

Phil was stunned. He moved forward like a man in a dream and approached the vehicle. It was white and the top was down. Large balloon tires held the body of the car high off the ground. It gleamed with chrome-and-nickel plating and sported drum headlights. The chrome radiator shone like silver. Everything about it shouted speed, and he laid one hand on the front fender, then turned and said, “Grandmother, it’s a Hupmobile series R!”

“I don’t know what it is. Amelia and Rosa helped pick it out for you.”

“We did, and I knew this would be just the one you’d want!” Rosa could restrain herself no longer. “C’mon, Phil. Take us all for a ride.”

Phil was still unable to speak clearly. His throat was tight as he said, “I don’t know how to thank you, Grandmother . . . and Grandfather too.”

“I thought you had better manners, Phillip. You just say, ‘Thank you, Grandmother,’ and I say, ‘You’re welcome.’ ”

“I should do more than that.”

“You can take me for a ride, then. Come along, and don’t pile us up on our maiden voyage.”

And then Phil Winslow spent one of the most wonderful hours of his life. First he made sure the women were safely seated, Rosa and Amelia in back and his grandmother in front. He started the engine and shook his head. “Listen to that power!”

“It sounds awfully loud to me.” Lola spoke above the roar.

“It’s supposed to sound loud, Mrs. Winslow.” Rosa laughed. “People have to look when they hear you coming.”

Phil laughed too and pulled the automobile out into the
street. He had long been partial to the Hupmobile, and now he asked, “How did you know this was the one I wanted?”

“You told Rosa, and Rosa told Amelia, and Amelia told me. So here it is.”

“Get out of the city where you can open it up,” Amelia ordered. “Let’s have some speed.”

The ride was delightful. The wind blew their hair, and the women had to remove their hats to keep from losing them. Once they were out of the city on the open road, Phil grasped the wheel and leaned forward, his heart singing. He took the curves a little fast, throwing the women to one side, and when his grandmother lurched over against him, he put his arm around her and said, “You sit close to me, Miss Lola Montez. You’re the Union Belle again, and I love you.”

Lola had not felt well for some time, but with Phillip’s arm around her holding her close, she knew a moment of perfect delight.
This is what money is for,
she thought.
It doesn’t do any good stuck in an old bank or in a bond. It should be giving someone happiness and joy.
She glanced up and saw in Phil’s auburn hair, green eyes, and clean-cut features her husband as he had been in his youth, strong and vigorous and daring. She prayed then,
God, give this young man your very best, for he’s Mark all over again.

Phil let Amelia drive the car and even put Rosa behind the wheel, although both girls had trouble getting out of first gear. Rosa fumed and pouted at her difficulty, but Phil said, “Your father would probably horsewhip me if he knew I was letting you drive at all.”

“You treat me like a child!”

“Well, you are. A pretty child but still just an infant.”

“That’s what you think, Phillip Winslow,” Rosa said dauntingly. She turned her dark eyes on him, a challenge in her features. “I’m not a baby, and I won’t be treated like one.”

Phil suddenly reached over and grabbed the wheel. “Well, baby or not, you’re about to run us off the road. That’s enough. Pull over, and we’ll go celebrate.”

They all went to a restaurant that Lola had frequented with Mark, and the maître d’ greeted her warmly and spoke of their many visits. Lola smiled at him gracefully and then later, as they were eating, said, “Your grandfather and I loved to come here. It was his favorite restaurant.”

Amelia looked at her grandmother as she spoke about her husband, noting her faraway gaze. There was something ethereal about the woman now—even a sense of eternity in her. Amelia could not explain it, but she somehow understood that Lola’s heart and mind were in the next world far more than they were in this one.

After the meal Phil thought Lola looked tired, and he said firmly, “I’m taking you home, Grandmother. You’ve had enough excitement.”

He drove to his grandmother’s house and escorted her in. He stopped at the door, and when she turned to him, he put his arms around her. “I can’t thank you enough, Grandmother,” he whispered huskily, kissing her cheek.

She held him at arm’s length and said, “God bless you, dear boy. You’ve got your grandfather and your father in you, and a man with the blood of Mark Winslow and Andrew Winslow can’t go wrong. Good night. It’s been a wonderful day.”

Phil went back to the car and pulled out of the driveway. He drove to Amelia’s apartment, and when he started to get out to open her door, she said, “Don’t bother, Phil. I’m so happy for you and so proud of you.” She got out of the car, went to the driver’s side, kissed him, and ruffled his hair. “Now you need another world to conquer.”

“One world at a time.” Phil smiled. “Thanks so much, sis. You’ve made it a great day for me.”

Amelia moved toward the building, and Phil eased the car away from the curb. It was growing dark now, and he drove rather rapidly. “I’ve got to get you home, Rosa. What’s your curfew?”

“Daddy’s gone to Chicago on business,” Rosa said. “Mom didn’t tell me what time to be in. She trusts me.”

“She didn’t see you nearly put us in the ditch.”

“You made me do that making fun of me!” Rosa said. She was sitting in the front seat now and edged over until she was touching him, her arm against his. “Come on, Phil, it’s too early to go in. Let’s go somewhere and get something to eat.”

“You’ve already eaten.”