Читать книгу The Book of Harlan - Bernice L. McFadden - Страница 11

Chapter 5

Emma couldn’t be seen keeping time with a man who wasn’t her father or one of her three brothers. It wasn’t proper behavior for a Christian girl, especially the daughter of a minister.

Since Lucille’s character had already been sullied—what with the low-down music she sang and the paint she wore on her face—she had nothing to lose and so volunteered to play decoy for Sam and Emma.

Lucille was with them on Saturday mornings at the open-air farmers market, as they grinned at each other over woven baskets filled with yams, string beans, and beets. She accompanied them to the picture shows, sat one row ahead of them, which was never far enough, because Lucille could still hear Sam’s whispered sweet nothings.

Months collapsed and advanced. Soon it was Christmas and then the champagne-popping welcoming of 1917.

* * *

On Friday, April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany, officially entering America into World War I.

In response, Reverend Tenant Robinson opened his church and announced that the next seventy-two hours would be dedicated to prayer for those soldiers called to defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Faith-filled Maconites answered, arriving by the carriage load, on foot and bicycle. To shelter the overflow of people, tents were erected on the church lawn. From Friday midday straight until Sunday-morning service, the Cotton Way Baptist Church rang with prayer and song.

Emma, Sam, and Lucille went to the confectionary shop following the Sunday service. Ice cream in hand, they sat outside on the benches, shading their eyes from the sun.

Around them, worried faces hovered over the afternoon edition of the Macon Telegraph. And it was quiet, as if the thirty-seven million dead and wounded had already been prophesied, leaving Macon hush with anticipatory bereavement.

“I’m moving,” Lucille uttered beneath the lull.

Emma dragged her napkin over her lips. “What you say?”

Lucille’s voice climbed an octave: “I said I’m moving to Chicago.”

Emma’s mouth fell open.

“What’s in Chicago?” Sam asked casually.

Lucille blushed. “Bill.”

“What?” Emma chirped, wide-eyed.

“Oh, that your beau?” said Sam with a wink.

Lucille nodded and turned to Emma’s blank face. “He done asked me to marry him and I said yes.”

“What?” Emma echoed again as if she’d gone deaf.

“She said she’s getting married,” Sam laughed, nudging Emma in her waist. “Congratulations, Lucille.”

“Thanks.” Lucille dropped her eyes from Emma’s shattered gaze. “Well, ain’t you gonna say something, Em?”

Emma’s eyes closed and opened in a slow and deliberate blink. “What’s there to say?”

“Oh, Em, don’t be like that!”

“Like what?”

“Like that. Can’t you just be happy for me?”

A wide, leering smile rose on Emma’s lips. “See, Lucille,” she pressed the tip of her index finger to the corner of her mouth, “look how happy I am for you.”

Lucille stood. “Lord, Emma, can’t you think about someone other than yourself for once in your life? You’ve got every damn thing, can’t I have this?”

The patronizing grin vanished from Emma’s face. “What are trying to say, Lucille?”

“I think you know.”

Emma rose, propped her hand on her hip, and narrowed her eyes. “I think I don’t,” she stated pointedly. “Maybe you should tell me.”

“Now ladies . . .” Sam started, stepping between the friends.

“The only reason you’re even a tiny bit upset that I’m leaving is because of Sam. Without me, there’s no him.”

Not only had Lucille hit the nail on the head, but she had driven it deep into Emma’s core, and she erupted. “Well, I thank you very kindly for your assistance. I wouldn’t have asked if I knew you’d be throwing it back in my face like a filthy rag. A real friend wouldn’t stoop so low. Thank you for showing me your true colors!” And with that, Emma marched off, leaving Sam and Lucille blinking.

Lucille shook her head. “You sure she’s what you want, Sam?”

Not peeling his eyes from Emma’s retreating back, he replied, “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my entire life.”