THIRTEEN FOR DINNER

Twenty-six

TWENTY-SIX

       Emily was more than happy to welcome me into her room. I thought mine and Quillan’s accommodations were grand but it pales in comparison to the suite occupied by the rice princess. I’ve never met anyone like Emily before and I think if she were born in my time period we would have become best friends. I’ve never really had a close girlfriend before other than my mother. Mike has fit the bill since first grade but even in our friendship there are just some things I can’t share with him. It feel different with Emily. Maybe there is a certain safety in place because I know I will be leaving in a couple of weeks, never to be return again. I can say and do anything and get away with it. But then I wonder, will Emily remember me after I am gone because life for her will continue on. I wonder how our disappearance will affect her and the railroad and the Savings and Loan everyone thinks is coming to town.

            She is eager to hear about mine and Quillan’s argument so like a couple of giddy high-schoolers we sit on her gargantuan canopy bed, hug fluffy pillows and talk.

            “I’m not really mad at Quillan,” I start improvising, making up a story off the top of my head. “I just get frustrated at their boyish antics. Mike has never approved of our marriage because Quillan was not his choice of a husband for me.”

            “Why ever not?” Emily looks surprised. “Quillan seems to be such an honest upright gentleman.”

            “He is,” I agree with her and start spinning a bigger tale. “But Mike couldn’t get past his social status and felt Quillan’s family name wasn’t good enough for a Griffin.”

            I’ve hit a chord with her, I see it in her expression and suddenly I’m patting myself on the back for taking this route.      

            “Quillan’s dirt poor and without a father. His mother is a lovely widow, struggling to provide for her six children. Mike convinced my family that Quillan was just marrying me for my money.”

            “Of course not.” Emily is quick to defend him.

            “My father believed Mike and forbid me to see Quillan, threatening to cut me out of my inheritance if continued.”

            Emily’s eyes are wide now, I’m reeling her in.

            “What happened then?”

            I think fast, I have to make this good, convincing, a lifetime original movie with an amazing outcome. I should be able to do it; God knows I’ve watched enough of that shit.

            “Remember yesterday when I told you there would come a time when you would have to defend your love and when you did it would be worth it?”

            She nods.

            “You see I was at Quillan’s house and his mother was reading to us from the Bible. I really wasn’t paying that much attention because my stomach was so sick. It was a combination of the morning sickness and my fear of knowing I was carrying a child in my belly of a man my family forbid me to be with.”

            Emily shifts and hugs her pillow closer.

            “All of a sudden Quillan’s momma reads the part that says we can have boldness in the Day of Judgment because there is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out all fears. She finished up by reading that fear has torment and whoever is afraid is not made perfect in love.”

            Tears burn at my eyes when I recite this. I know these verses well. It’s what my momma used to read me every night before bed. She did it to dispel my fears and try to prevent my nightmares. She was insightful enough to know my daddy abandoning me, made me feel unlovable and that, according to her, gave birth to every one of my fears. I’m really missing momma right now and even though we are worlds away, I kind of feel her presence in Emily’s room tonight, sitting right here, on the bed with me.

            A tear escapes and spills over, splashing softly on the satin pillow case nestled against me. Crying is definitely contagious among women because my tear has no more made its grand appearance when Emily’s lip begins to quiver and the next thing I know she’s dabbing at her eyes with a soft lace handkerchief.

            “Well after hearing Quillan’s mother read that passage from the Bible, I got up and went home. I figured this was to be my Day of Judgment so I wanted the boldness I was promised. I pushed my fear aside and faced my daddy straight on. I told him I loved Quillan Robison and He could keep his damn money. My love couldn’t be bought. But then I told him I loved him, and I wanted to give him something none of his money could ever buy…a grandchild. I told him I was leaving with Quillan and if he wanted to be a grandfather to my child then he could be, no money involved because my love didn’t have a price tag on it.”

            This is Emily’s first Lifetime original movie and true to form she has her hands covering her mouth and her eyes wide in astonishment. She’s sobbing now. “Oh dear sweet Avery, what happened next?”

            “Quillan and I went and got ourselves married. I was living at his house with him and his momma for three days when daddy showed up. He looked different than I ever seen him. He apologized and said he was wrong.”

            “Oh Avery, you are truly the bravest person I know.”

            I laugh out loud at her proclamation. I’m still a coward and I know it. My made up stories are simply the fantasy life I dream up for myself. I couldn’t even innocently lay next to Quillan in front of Mike. I’m pathetic.

            “Did you really say damn in front of your daddy?” Emily asks me her hands still partially covering her mouth.

            “Yes, damn it Emily, I did.”

            She falls back onto her feather mattress laughing hysterically. We lay there for a while laughing before her mood turns somber. “Avery?” she begins and I know it’s coming.

            “Yes,” I hold my breath.

            “I’m carrying Lunar’s child.”

            I swallow hard and my heart races. The next few words we exchange could be so vital in saving everyone’s life. Part of me wants to quickly change the subject, avoiding this difficult conversation. But this is my day of judgment for Emily, so I lay here and wait, hoping to God I can say the right thing.

            “Congratulations,” I whisper.

            My response brings her up to a sitting position. She stares at me, dumfounded. Damn it, I’ve blown it already.

            Her mouth forms into a sweet smile while she gently rubs her hand over her belly.

            “Thank you,” she whispers back.