She'd swear she was leaving him but then, he'd grab her, get his lips around her nipples and his calloused fingers between her legs, teasing and promising. On the floor, against the wall, wherever he caught her, he'd plow his massive penis into her and within minutes send her rollicking and screaming into ecstasy. She would close her eyes and pretend that he was refined and elegant Douglas Rawlins, biting her lips to refrain from calling out Douglas's name.
Hours later, she would swear to herself again that she was leaving Hal, and then she'd remember how he felt inside of her and her resolve would vanish like a puff of smoke in a windstorm. But that was before tonight when she thought she would die of the pain he inflicted on her.
She drew herself up, put her clothes in the same suitcases in which she'd brought them, phoned for a taxi and waited, while marbles rattled in her belly and tremors shook her body.
Lord, please don't let him come back here until I'm gone
. She didn't relax until the taxi stopped in front of the parsonage. She opened the door with her own key, dropped her suitcases and looked around. And to think she had once hated the place.
“Who is it?” Cynthia called.
“It's me, Kellie, Mama. Can I stay here with you till I find a place?”
Cynthia stumbled halfway down the stairs. “You've left him? For good?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Thank God. But I'm leaving here day after tomorrow. We're closing the parsonage, but you can come on up to your old room. We'll figure something out.”
Not quite the warmth she needed, but you couldn't expect a fifty-five-year-old woman to change without reason. “Thanks.” She took the suitcases to her room, closed the door and sat on the bed that remained as she'd left it. “My Lord. What was I thinking?” she said aloud. She didn't know how long she sat there before she heard a knock on her door.
“Come on in, Mama.”
“This is your father. Your mother called me. May I come in, or do you want to come downstairs?”
“Come on in.”
“All right. Did he hit you?”
“No, sir. It was worse than that, but I can't tell you.”
“Worse than hitting you? I ought to have a piece of him anyway. Did he injure you?”
“I . . . uh . . . I'm not sure. I'll go to the doctor, Monday and . . . and see if he did.”
“You'd better tell me you've left him for good.”
“I have. I'm not going back to him. Not ever.”
“The Lord answers prayers. I'm moving into my house, Monday. I've only refurbished the master bedroom, so you can fix up your own room. Your mother's apartment is too small for the two of you. Anyway, I'll be glad to have you with me. One thing.” He shook his finger at her. “Hal Fayson is not to put his foot on my property, and I am going to tell him that to his face. If he does, he will be arrested.”
She shrugged both shoulders. “I don't care what you do to him.”
“Can I speak with you before you leave, Marshall?” Cynthia asked him.
“Sure. What about?”
“Uh . . . About us.”
“I've told you, Cynthia, that I do not intend to get a divorce or to give you one.”
“I know that. I . . . uh . . .” She looked at her daughter, and Kellie could see that her mother wanted privacy, but she also knew that it was no use, that her father would not budge from his position.
“Why don't you two try to patch it up?” she said, in an effort to make it easier for her mother.
“That's what I want more than anything,” Cynthia said. “Am I going to serve a life sentence for what I did?”
“I'm serving the same sentence that you're serving,” he said, “and I am trying my best to forgive you, but until I die, I will remember what I saw. I can't do it. I'm sorry, but it is out of the question.”
Cynthia turned around and left the room. Marshall Graham looked at his daughter. “Remember this, Kellie. Some things are never forgotten. I'm glad you had the guts to leave Fayson. I'll be over around noon Monday to get your things. Borrow a couple of those boxes that I brought here for your mother. The parsonage will close when she leaves.” He kissed her cheek. “Welcome back, daughter.”
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“You mean she actually left him and for good?” Lacette asked her father Sunday evening as he sat with her, Douglas and Nick at dinner in Mealey's Restaurant.
“Yeah. I think she'll be all right now, but she's got some emotional wounds that may not heal easily.”
“Is she going to be in the wedding?” Nick asked his father.
“No, son. Lacette's Aunt Nan will be her matron of honor.”
The constriction in her chest was not the first she'd felt because Douglas had ruled out any role for Kellie in his family's life. “Of course, I wouldn't interfere with your seeing her; she's your twin sister,” he'd said, “but I don't want to lay eyes on her ever again.”
She understood, for she had already decided that it wouldn't be appropriate to have Kellie as her maid of honor. “She isn't likely to become an issue between us,” was all she said.
“You can't get married till Daddy and I get the house fixed up,” Nick said, “can you, Daddy?”
“We're getting married June fifteenth,” Douglas said, “if we have to sleep on the floors.”
“Gee,” Nick said, “I'm getting a new mother, a new grandfather, a new house, and my own pony. I can hardly wait!”
“You're also getting another grandmother,” Douglas said, and best of all, I am getting a wonderful woman for my wife.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
What explanation, if any, does Marshall Graham give his children for leaving their mother? Is his stand justified?
2.
What is Cynthia's attitude when she learns that Marshall has moved out of their home? When she learns of it, what does her demeanor suggest to you?
3.
There is a second break in relations between family members. What is the occasion for it?
4.
What is Mama Carrie's role in this turmoil? Do you think she might have anticipated it?
5.
What does each member of the Graham family inherit? Do you believe the distribution is fair? Why?
6.
Why is Kellie dissatisfied with the will?
7.
What is the first thing Kellie does in connection with Lacette's inheritance that gives a clue to her real character?
8.
What is your opinion of Lawrence Bradley? How does he react after making love with Kellie the first time? The second time?
9.
What is Bradley's response when Kellie puts her cards on the table and tells what she wants? Does your opinion of him change? What do you think of him at this point?
10.
Why do you think Lacette is closest to her father and Kellie closest to her mother? Do you think parents should not show favoritism among their children? Lacette is not bitter. Why is this?
11.
Give examples of ways in which Kellie's greed leads to her downfall.
12.
Does this story provide a lesson in the way parents influence the development of their children's values and ethics?
13.
Do you believe that Melvin Moody is in any way responsible for Kellie's lack of morals?
14.
Lacette is strongly goal oriented. How is this expressed? Compare this to Kellie's outlook.
15.
For what reason does Lacette develop a liaison with Jefferson Smith? When he came into her life, did she need him? Should he have told her his marital status? Should she have asked? Why does she regret the liaison with him?
16.
How is Lacette's brooch finally located? Who provides the tip? Why is Lacette susceptible to belief in the occult?
17.
How does Douglas's son effectively derail progress in Douglas and Lacette's relationship? How is he responsible for its repair?
18.
What accounts for Douglas's initial negative reaction to Kellie? How did that influence his relationship with Lacette?
19.
Which two characters represent reason and morality in this story? Which two most represent depravity?
20.
In what specific ways does Douglas demonstrate his profound love for Lacette?
21.
What incident leads Cynthia to see and acknowledge her role in Kellie's self-centeredness and arrogance?
22.
Throughout the story, Kellie engages in immoral behavior. As a result of what amoral act on Kellie's part does Lacette break ties with Douglas? In a vicious act, she exacts revenge against Douglas. To whom does he turn for help in solving the problem Kellie creates, and what is the result?
23.
How does Marshall bring about the reconciliation between Lacette and Douglas?
24.
Kellie's lover abuses and controls her. What cruel act shocks her so that she leaves him and returns to her parental home, remorseful and contrite?