SPRINGTIME PROMISES *complete*

CHAPTER 13: CROSSING BOUNDARIES

As the days passed and Harry's encounters with Eva became more frequent, a quiet yet persistent concern began to brew in the Bruton household. It was one thing for Harry to have a friendly connection with a young woman like Eva Curl, but Minnie Agnes Bruton, the matriarch, couldn't shake the feeling that something more serious was unfolding and with that seriousness came a growing unease.

Minnie had always been proud of her children, raising them with a firm but loving hand. As a devout Presbyterian, she instilled in them the values of faith, family, and duty. It wasn't that she had anything against the Curl family—on the contrary, they were well-respected in the community—but the Curls were Methodist, and while the divide between Presbyterians and Methodists might not seem vast to some, Minnie saw it as a potential source of tension. Religious unity within a family was important to her, and she had always envisioned Harry marrying someone who shared the same faith and traditions.

One evening, as the Bruton family gathered around the dinner table, Minnie watched Harry more closely than usual. He seemed distracted, smiling quietly to himself as if lost in a pleasant thought. She had seen that look before—the soft, faraway expression of someone who had love on their mind.

"Harry, Dear," Minnie interrupted the silence, her voice gentle but probing. "You've been quiet today. Is everything all right?"

Harry blinked, snapping out of his reverie. "Yes, Mother. Everything's fine."

"Is it?" she pressed, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to have a lot on your mind lately."

Archibald, sitting at the head of the table, glanced at his wife but said nothing, allowing Minnie to take the lead. While he was strict in his role as a father and teacher, Archibald knew well enough that Minnie had a way of getting to the heart of things when it came to their children.

Harry hesitated for a moment, sensing the weight of his mother's gaze. "I've just been busy with work," he said, although he knew that wasn't entirely true.

Minnie wasn't convinced. She had seen how her son's eyes lit up when he spoke of the Curl family—specifically when he spoke of Eva and although Harry had yet to confide in her about the full extent of his feelings, Minnie could sense where this was headed.

"I hear you've been spending time with the Curls," she said casually, although her words carried an unmistakable undercurrent.

Harry looked up, meeting her eyes. "I've seen them at church and around town," he replied cautiously. "They're a good family."

"I'm sure they are," Minnie agreed, her tone measured. "But Harry, you know as well as I do that they're Methodist. Have you thought about how that might complicate things?"

Harry frowned slightly. "Mother, I don't see why it should matter."

"It matters because marriage is more than just love, Harry," Minnie said, her voice firmer now. "It's about building a life together - a life that aligns with your beliefs and traditions. You've been raised in the Presbyterian faith. Have you considered what it would mean if you were to marry someone of a different denomination?"

The room fell silent, the air heavy with the weight of Minnie's words. Across the table, Edith and Mabel exchanged glances, both aware of their mother's concerns but unsure if they shared them. Earl, as usual, remained stoic, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of quiet observance.

Harry, feeling the pressure of his family's expectations, took a deep breath. "Eva and I haven't...we're not rushing into anything," he said slowly. "But I care about her and I don't think our different churches should stand in the way."

Minnie's lips pressed into a thin line. She loved her son deeply and she wanted him to be happy but she also couldn't ignore the traditions she had worked so hard to uphold within their family. 

"I'm not saying you should end things, Harry," she said more softly now. "But I want you to think carefully. Marriage is a lifelong commitment and it's not just about you and Eva—it's about the future you'll build together, the children you'll raise. Their faith matters too."

Harry didn't respond immediately. His mind was swirling with thoughts of Eva—the way her smile lit up her face, the quiet strength she exuded despite the hardships she had faced. He couldn't deny the deepening feelings he had for her, but he also couldn't ignore the reality of the conversation they were having.

"I understand, Mother," he said finally, though his voice was tight with emotion. "But this is my decision to make."

Minnie nodded, her expression softening but still concerned. "Just promise me you'll think about it."

****

Later that evening, after the family had retired to their rooms, Archibald found Minnie sitting in the parlor, her hands folded tightly in her lap. He knew that look—it was the same one she had when one of the children was on her mind and she couldn't shake her worry.

"He's a grown man, Minnie," Archibald said as he sat down beside her. "He'll make his own choices."

"I know," Minnie sighed, her voice heavy with concern. "But I can't help but worry. He's young and in love. He doesn't see how complicated this could become."

Archibald leaned back in his chair, considering her words. "Love has a way of finding its own path," he said after a moment. "But you're right to be cautious. Still, we can't live Harry's life for him. He'll have to navigate this on his own."

Minnie nodded, though her heart was still heavy. She had always believed in the importance of family unity, both in faith and in value, and while she didn't want to stand in the way of her son's happiness, she also couldn't ignore the possibility that Harry's romance with Eva might lead to complications they hadn't anticipated.

In the days that followed, Harry continued to see Eva, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment, yet, in the back of his mind, his mother's words lingered. He couldn't deny the truth of what she had said—marriage was more than just a union of two people; it was the merging of families, traditions, and beliefs.

Eva, too, began to sense the tension. Though Harry never spoke of it directly, she could feel the weight of his family's expectations bearing down on him. She knew the Brutons were devout Presbyterians, just as she and her siblings were devoted Methodists. The divide between their faiths, though not insurmountable, was something they would have to confront eventually.

For now, though, they pushed those worries aside, choosing instead to focus on the joy they found in each other's company, but as their relationship deepened, the unspoken conflict between their families' traditions loomed ever larger in the background, waiting for the moment when it could no longer be ignored.