I hear the fountain pen drop, and close my eyes.
We look at Walter’s disapproval.
May whispers, “Uh oh.”
“Petty Officer Cocker, what’s the meaning of this?”
“Now, listen, it’s not what you think.”
May interjects, “We came here to get married!”
“That’s right, it’s not like this is our second choice or anything like that.”
“It’s the sole reason we came to Atlanta!”
I touch her back. “I was in Norfolk.”
“So was I! It was my first plane ride! See, you can’t make that up!” She pauses. “Well, you could, but I’m not! I went with his folks to pick him up the moment he landed, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, that was just on Saturday.”
“Jerald has been away for a year and we’ve been waiting until he returned so we could get married but then…”
“We didn’t want to wait.”
“That’s right!” She looks at me.
Walter is watching us, unsure. I don’t want him to kick us out, or call the police, or…who knows what a man would do when he believes he’s been made a fool of?
I hold out my open palm. “You know how it is, don’t you, Chief Gibbons? Coming back from war and realizing what really matters? May and I are in love, the real kind. The lifelong kind! I brought her to Atlanta to elope so we didn’t have to wait months to be together. We’d already done that. Time is too precious to waste, that’s what I learned. Didn’t you? When you were at sea and days stretched into years? It’s time to build a home together. A family!”
He sighs, removes his glasses and taps them on the ledger, staring into his thoughts. “I had a girl. Her name was Patty. She waited for me as long as she could, I imagine. I’d like to think so, anyhow. When I got back she’d moved away with some fella. Her mother told me what a good match they were, and that I should be happy for her. I tried to be, because I loved her so much, and I suppose I was for a while. Later on, that feeling faded and I just missed her. Couldn’t do anything about it, but I missed her just the same.” Returning to present day, he looks at us. “Well, I suppose you’ll need a license.”
48
JERALD
T he phone rings.
I point at it, and Walter nods. Chances are it’s not a customer. In fact, we’re all surprised it’s taken this long for Pops to call back, though none of us needs to say it.
Leaning her hip on the counter, May’s blue eyes are big with worry as I answer, “Hello?”
“Jerald, it’s your mother!”
“Hey Ma,” I mutter, rubbing my face. “You won, huh?”
“Won? Oh…you heard us arguing.”
“Couldn’t miss it.”
“She didn’t win anything!”
“Quiet, Raymond, it’s my turn!”
“I conceded!”
“Yes, your father gave me the phone because it was my idea what we need to do next!”
I cover the mouthpiece, “They have a solution.”
“Oh no!” May moans, closing her eyes. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Listen Ma…”
“Jerald, I cannot believe you pulled a scheme like this. I would expect this of your brother, but never you! Have you any idea what an uproar you’ve caused? I just got off the phone with Dot. We called her and she is in complete agreement. But I must say, she’s beside herself and feels the two of you should be ashamed of yourselves!”
As Ma berates me, I cover the mouthpiece again. “It’s not just them. They’ve got your parents in on it, too.”
May spins around, “Oh no!” stamping her feet once and throwing her arms over her head to hide.
“Here we were, happily awaiting your return home, and now it’s ruined!”
“Come now, Frances, it’s not ruined!”
“It is ruined, Ray, don’t tell me how to feel!”
“Ma…”
“This does not take away from our happiness that Jerald has returned!”
“Raymond, don’t be silly! Of course it doesn’t take away from our gratitude in his well being, that’s not my point!”
“Ma…”
“Then don’t say it if you don’t mean it!”
“But I do mean it!”
“Ma!”
“What, Jerald, why are you yelling?!!”
I take a deep breath. “What is your solution?”
“Oh that! There is only one thing that can be done in a situation like this. You must marry the girl!”
I blink, and lock eyes with May.
She steps closer, mouthing, What?
Walter is holding the desk with both hands, his jaw tight.
For their benefit I repeat, “You’re saying I have to marry her?”
May silently claps her hands and bounces backward.
Walter exhales.
“Jerald there is no other way around it. I know you fancy the sweet girl, and probably expected a long courtship — to get to know each other, determine if it’s a good match for both of you — but I’m afraid that won’t do at all!”
“Say now,” I begin, raking my hair. “That’s an awful lot to ask of a guy.” May freezes. “She’s alright and all, but marriage? I don’t know…” She hits my arm and I grab her hand. “I just got off the boat. I was thinking I’d settle in. Not rush things.”
Walter shakes his head, grinning.
“You should have thought of that before you took her to a hotel! I know it’s sudden…”
“I’ll say it’s sudden.”
“…but there is no getting around it, Jerald! If you care about her at all, this is the only thing that will save you in the eyes of Fred and Dottie!”
“Listen, can you give me a minute to explain to May that she has to become my wife?”
“Poor thing. I’m sure she never expected this!” To Pops she whispers, “Sweet girl but not worldly in the slightest!”
“Yes,” he agrees like it’s a shame I’ve sullied May’s innocence without her knowing what a fiend I am.
“Say, May, I hate to break it to you, but my folks and your folks want us to get married.”
“What?!” she cries out. “But we’re too young!”
“That’s what I said, see, but there’s the matter of our staying here last night.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that.”
“Your reputation and all.”
“Oh no! Is there a scandal?”
“Ma, May wants to know if there’s a scandal?”
“Not yet, but there would be if anyone in town were to find out!”
“Won’t they know when we come back hitched?”
“Which is why we’re all driving to Atlanta today. With your parents there, we will say it was planned all along. Dottie and Fred are on their way now! Your father already telephoned his friend — he knows a judge in Atlanta — who is at this very moment drawing up a license. She turns eighteen on Wednesday, but Fred won’t have waiting another day. He’s afraid you might run!”
Pops yells, “It’s legal to get married at seventeen with parental consent.”
“I was going to tell him that!”
“You told him everything else. Legalities are my department!”
“Ma!”
Mid-rebuttal she returns to me. “Yes?”
“If May’s folks are on their way over, shouldn’t you be…?”
“Oh! Yes, how thoughtful of you! Ray, Jerald reminded me we need to pack! I have to decide what to wear to my son’s wedding.”
“Don’t take an eternity to choose!”
“How can I possibly take forever with Fred Kearns scowling at me? Jerald, we’ll see you soon.” She pauses, her voice changing, “You will be there, won’t you? You won’t leave?”
I sigh like it’s a burden. “I’ll be here. May has her objections, but I’ll explain everything to her and change her mind. Hopefully one day she can forgive me, and we can have what you two have.”
“I hope you are so lucky, I really do. We shall see you tonight, goodbye!”
Pops grabs the phone. “Reserve two of their best rooms!” I hear him say in a lower volume to her, “I’ll pay the cost as an apology for our son’s indiscretion,” before he hangs up.
I lay the mouthpiece in its cradle, and turn to May. “They’ve already taken care of the license.”
She leaps into my arms and I spin her around, laughing.
Walter chuckles, “Well, I’ll be!”
49
JERALD
M ay and I are naked in bed, enjoying the quiet before the storm. It took me under five hours to drive here last night, but I was going over the thirty-five-mile-per-hour limit in my haste to put distance between us and them.
Now that it’s all settled, they won’t do the same. Their drive will be leisurely so Ma doesn’t get carsick as she is wont to do during long journeys.
Even if I’m wrong, they couldn’t make it here before six. That wouldn’t be possible, so what else was there to do but get comfortable?
Lying on our sides, legs tangled, I trace May’s curves, the gentle fall of her breast, round nipples waking up to my touch. My girl is watching with a private smile, her head propped on one hand, the other on her hip. I move to that next, running my fingertips over hers, and saying, “Put this here a minute,” placing her hand on my cock.
Her lips part as she takes hold, blue eyes flitting over as I travel between her legs and let my fingertips have a peek. May begins to stroke me as I pleasure her, circling around her hair and into the dampness where I slide and get to know her a lot better.
“I’m having a hard time keeping my mind on the task,” she breathes, eyelashes heavy. I lean in to kiss her, our tongues touching lightly a moment before I pull away to watch her feel good.
“There’s no hurry,” I murmur, my fingers sliding around. “And no task.”
A quiet laugh bubbles out of her that makes her so beautiful I have to blink to make sure I’m really here. “You know how many times I wondered what you’d look like when I touched you?”
“How many?”
“Every time I lay my head on my pillow.”
“Every night?”
“We didn’t sleep every night. Schedules ran funny.”
She tips her head up for another kiss, whispering, “Oh,” right before our lips explore. I feel her fingers tighten around me, her body stiffening. Rubbing her at an even tempo so I don’t lose her, I bring her over the edge while we kiss. Her moaning into my lips. Body tensing and going soft. Blue eyes opening to stare at me with love. These are what I dreamed of, and what kept me going.
“I wish we could just live here,” she smiles.
“Shared washrooms,” I remind her.
“We need our own place.”
I laugh, nod, and nibble on her bottom lip a second before pulling her closer to me. “Let’s spread these a little.” She opens her legs. “That’s better.” I angle my hips so my cock reaches her, and use it to rub the outside and make her shiver. I press in, adjusting our bodies for this position, and May watches my face.
“I love you, Jerald.”
Our eyes lock and I kiss her. “That’s a good thing because we’re in quite a predicament otherwise.”
She laughs and laces her fingers in my hair, bringing me to her for another kiss. Our bodies start to move, and I switch positions soon enough, climbing on top of her, then dragging her to the end of the bed and kneeling between her spread knees to slowly thrust while I lick these gumdrops. But May winces and I look up.
We’ve been having sex for hours now.
I pull out without using my hands on account of I’m holding her face to ask, “You okay?”
“Little sore.”
“Let’s stop.”
“Is that alright?”
“That’s always alright, May. This is for both of us to feel good.”
“I know but I just…is ‘came’ the proper way to say it?”
“That’s right.”
“I just came, and you haven’t.”
“But I did before, remember?”
Her eyes are big, uncertain. “Doesn’t it have to be even? Sable always says everything needs to be balanced.”
“And it is, by both of us enjoying ourselves. I can’t enjoy myself if you’re in pain.” I kiss her and she yields to me, relaxing completely.
We snuggle and doze off until awakened by another knock. Neither hesitates in jumping to our feet this time. We near ‘bout hit the ceiling.
“Who is it?”
“Walter!”
“Are you alone?”
“I am.”
Hopping into my pants I wave May out of sight. She wraps the blanket around her, and runs to hide behind the door. The bed is in plain view and her looking all sexy like that is for my eyes only, nobody else’s.
Opening the door about a foot-wide, I greet him with, “Are they here?”
“They are, and they asked for your room number. I said I’d have to look it up, and suggested they might make themselves comfortable, that I’d send you on up to them. The long journey made that seem the better option.”
My lungs lighten their load. “Thank you.”
“Just had to put myself in your shoes.” He stares at me with the unsaid in his eyes. He’s imagining if it had been him and Patty, what he would’ve wanted someone to do for them. “But I’d hurry up if I were you.”
He heads off and I shut the door, now face-to-face with May. She touches my bare chest. “Why don’t you just wear this?”
I grab her finger, pull her closer. “I will if you stay in that blanket. You can wear my belt.”
This image sends her into a fit of giggles as she hurries to the clothes I carefully removed earlier and hung up to avoid wrinkles and hide how we’ve spent our afternoon.
When she turns to me and asks, “How do I look?”
Fixing my last button, I smirk, “Might need a hairbrush for those knots we made.”
Her hand flies up. “Oh!”
“I don’t think the courthouse is open this late,” I chuckle. “And I want to live through the night.”
50
MAY
We were given one room number. Chief Gibbons wasn’t sure which couple took which room. They’d arrived together, everyone talking over each other and he could barely make heads nor tails of what they were saying.
Jerald is holding my hand as we use the stairs. “Nervous?”
“No.”
“Lying?”
“Yes.”
He stops and faces me, calming my heart by opening it with, “It’s you and me now.”
A deep breath later and I’m watching Jerald knock. The door swings open and Mrs. Cocker hurries us inside, “Come! Come! Well now, you two have given us quite a scare, haven’t you! You should be ashamed of yourselves!”
Mother turns from the window, her frown deep as blue eyes drop to our clasped hands. “May, how could you?”
The door shuts, and both walk forward, talking to each other, Mother first. “Did you see them?”
“No, just the kids.”
“Fred wasn’t in the hallway?”
“Raymond must have him under lock and key. It was a wise decision to bring the whiskey!”
“Fred doesn’t normally drink it.”
“All the better! Let’s hope it knocks him right out!”
Jerald asks, “What gives?”
His mother says, “Your father and Fred are in another room down the hall where the two of them will remain until morning. That’s the plan we’ve all agreed on after much debate! Dot and I are staying here with May. And you will stay in yours, alone.”
I argue, “But we’ve already…”
“Hush! Tomorrow you will be married, and until then there is nothing more to say! Jerald, be gone with you. I can’t bear to look at your face.”
“Ma, I…” He turns to me, unused to her being so angry at him. “I’ll bri
ng your suitcase up.”
“Will you have something to eat?”
“I’ll find dinner someplace.”
“Perhaps Walter will know.”
“Good idea. I’ll ask.” He heads for the door, glancing back at our mothers. “I love her, just so you know. I love her with all of me.”
He disappears, leaving three women staring at the closed door.
Our mothers rush to pull me far away from it over to the farthest window, mine speaking first. “How could you do this!”
“Did you think we’d not want to be here?”
I stare, confused by the second question. “Mrs. Cocker, I don’t understand your meaning.”
She blinks and waves her hand. “Not here for that! For the wedding! Dottie and I would have been so angry had we missed it!”
“I should say so,” Mother mutters.
“You knew we came here to get married?”
They stare at me, both exploding at once, “Of course!”
Mrs. Cocker explains, “That’s why we devised this plan.”
“Frances telephoned and pretended to be beside herself with worry that Jerald was ruining your reputation. I pretended to be distraught.”
“And I miraculously thought of the solution of marriage! Raymond latched onto the idea immediately, never knowing it was what you two had schemed all along!”
“I covered the mouthpiece and told your father marriage was the only way.”
“Raymond all but ran to his office to call his judge friend for help in the matter.”
“Your father had a fit. But agreed.”
“We hung up and here we are!”
My mind is boggled trying to keep up. “Forgive me, but…you knew we’d come here to get married and you helped on purpose so you could be here with us?”
Mrs. Cocker smiles with mischief. “Oh child, not only that! We knew when you left!”
I blink, mouth falling open. “You knew we snuck out?”
Elated to finally bask in her triumph, Mother asks, “Do you think I didn’t see that toothbrush?!”
Mrs. Cocker asks, “After the stunt Hank pulled, you think I didn’t learn what kind of men my boys have grown up to be? And I should have known because their father is the same! When a Cocker wants something, they’ll do anything to get it. And they won’t wait!” She clucks her tongue. “Jerald thought I’d gone to read in bed — and I won’t deny I told him those were my intentions — when in fact I was hiding in wait for him to sneak out. It was all I could do not to call Dot and tell her he was on his way!”
May Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 24) Page 17