by Joy Redmond
The next morning, Teddy drove his brother Carl to work, then drove out to the Winston farm. Just as he turned into the long lane, he saw long shapely legs making their way through a blackberry patch. He stopped the car and yelled from the window, “Rachel, is that you?”
Rachel jumped, dropped a bucket full of blackberries, then stuck her head around a large bush. “Teddy!” she cried. “What are you doing here?”
“Come over here and I'll tell ya,” he said as he stepped from the car, flipped a cigarette butt to the ground, showed her a devilish grin.
Rachel ran to him.
He gathered her into his open arms and soundly kissed her lips. He gave her time to catch her breath after he lifted his lips from hers. He held a coy look as he asked, “Did I hear ya say you loved me, yesterday?”
Rachel pulled on her hiked up dress and said softly, “Yes, you did. And I do love you. I can't stop thinking about you. I couldn't even sleep last night. My mind just kept going back to the stirrings I felt when you kissed me. Just being near you makes me take leave of my senses. So, I guess that's love. I just know I don't want to go on living without you in my life. I've never defied my parents, but I will if I have to stop seeing you.”
Teddy gave her a devilish grin and said, “Well, if you love me, will you marry me?”
“Mar—marry you? Oh, my. I don't know how we'd pull it off.” She tucked her head and bit her bottom lip.
“Get in the car. We'll go apply for a marriage license, get a blood test, then I'll bring you back and you can pretend that you've been in the blackberry patch all mornin'. I'll come back in three days, you meet me at the end of the lane, then we'll go into town and get married. I know your religion won't let you get married unless a preacher does it, but I can arrange that. If you'll have me, then leave everything up to me. Okay?”
“I’ll have you. I want to marry you!” Rachel said, as she ran around to the passenger's side of the car.
“That's my girl,” Teddy said. He slid under the wheel, picked up a pint that was beside him, took a long swig, then said, “We're off!” He noticed Rachel winced as he turned up the whiskey bottle, but she didn't say anything. She's drunk on love. I don’t know what true love is, so I just get drunk on whiskey.
When Teddy brought Rachel back home, she gave him a big kiss, then jumped out of the car, saying, “I'll be dressed in my Sunday clothes by five o'clock, Friday morning. As soon as I hear Mother and Father go out to milk the cows, I'll run out the back door, then I'll cut through the tobacco patch, and I'll meet you on the side road, just a piece up that way,” she said, pointing her finger. “I just hope I don't get my dress dirty or have tobacco worms hanging on me. I want to be a beautiful bride. Are you sure you'll find a minster to marry us? I won't feel married unless a man that was appointed by God preforms the ceremony.”
“I know! I know!” Teddy said with irritation in his voice. “I'll get a minster. Carl goes to church with Lou, his wife from hell, and he'll put me in contact with him. Just leave it to me.”
“Okay,” she said as she stuck her head through the car window. Teddy leaned his body over and gave her a quick peck on the lips. He laughed as he watched her run to the briar patch, pick up her bucket, then run toward the house.
“Let’s see what you two do when I come back with yer daughter as my wife, you bible-thumpin' turds!” He threw back his head and howler with laughter. Then he turned up the pint, backed out of the lane, and sped up the gravel road. “Ain't no sumbitch gonna tell me what I can and can't do.”
Chapter Three
Teddy pulled the car to the side of the road and saw Rachel running through the field. He got out of the car and opened the door for her. She was breathless when she reached him. She began brushing off her dress and running her hands through her hair.
Teddy hugged her. “You look beautiful. Come on, get in and let’s get the hell outta here afore yer daddy comes lookin' fer ya.”
“Are you sure I look okay? I feel like a mess. I ran as fast as I could—”
Teddy cut her off. “I said yer fine,” he said, and his tone was a bit harsh. “All this shit is gonna drive me to drinkin' more than I already do.”
Rachel twisted a lace-trimmed handkerchief as Teddy tipped the pint and sped up the road. When they reached Bon Harbor, he took his soon-to-be-bride to his parents' house. He pushed opened the front door and yelled, “Mama, it's me, Ted. C'mere. I want ya to meet somebody.”
Rachel pulled on her dress as if she feared her slip might be showing as a short, plump lady with snow white hair hurried into the living room, wiping her hands on her apron tail.
“Mama, this here is Rachel. We're gettin' married this afternoon when Carl gets off work.”
“Married? Well, Ted, I didn’t even know you had a serious girlfriend. She hugged Rachel and said, “I’m Halley, but everybody just calls me Mammaw, since I done got two grandkids and the third one is on the way. Ted’s sister, June up and got married at fourteen, and she’s been havin' youngens as fast as she can squat and push 'em out.” She smiled as she looked Rachel up and down. “You sho got ya a beauty, Ted. You better treat 'er right. If'n ya don’t, I’ll have a piece of yer hide. You ain’t too big for me to still whoop. I’ll take the broomstick to ya.”
Rachel seemed to be taken aback by the hug, and Mammaw’s threat to Teddy, but she said, “Nice to meet you, Mammaw.”
Just then, a short, thin man with a balding head came into the living room. Mammaw turned and said, “Come over here, Ruben. This here is Rachel. Her and Ted is gettin' married.”
Ruben stepped forward and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Rachel. You can call me Pappaw.” He smiled broadly and said, “Halley, I hope ya got somethin' cooked up. I’m gettin' a might hungry. Hoein' them weeds outta the garden sure works up a powerful hankerin' for some grub.”
“I’m-a cookin', just hold yer horses,” Mammaw said with a chuckle. “I’m sure Ted and Rachel could use somethin' to stick to their ribs afore they get hitched.”
The house soon filled with the delish aroma of fried bacon, eggs, and biscuits.
Teddy laughed when he heard Rachel’s stomach growl. “Mammaw is the best cook in the world. You’ll get your belly full every time we come for a visit.” He tucked his head and his eyes held a faraway look. “Course there was plenty of years when they weren’t anythinꞌ in the house to cook. But that was a long time ago.”
Mammaw yelled from the kitchen. “Ted, ain’t no use in bringin' up the past. And it ain’t no kind of talk for yer weddin' day. God got us through the lean, hard years. Ya didn’t starve!”
“Well, I damn near did,” Teddy mumbled.
Soon, Mammaw had the table set and they all gathered around it, held hands, and Pappaw said the blessing. Everybody echoed ‘amen’ after Pappaw. All but Teddy.
After they finished breakfast, Rachel offered to help clean up the kitchen, but Mammaw wouldn’t hear of it. “Ted, ya take this here purdy girl in the livin' room and you can show her some pictures. She needs to know what her new family looks like. And tell ꞌer their names. She has no idea what a big bunch we are,” Mammaw said, and chuckled.
Rachel whispered, “She has the same chuckle as you. I love to hear it.”
“She’s got the same temper as me too. That’s one feisty woman ya don’t wanna rile. At least more than onced.” Teddy chuckled. “One day my younger brother Clayton was pokin' her in the ribs, just pesterin' the shit outta her while she was cuttin' up a chicken. She warned him twiced, but he kept it up. The third time he done it, she threw the butcher knife at ꞌim and nicked the top of his left ear.” Teddy bent over double, laughing.
Rachel turned white as a ghost, which made Teddy laugh harder.
After Teddy and Rachel had gone through three boxes of pictures, Teddy said, “Mammaw, me and Rachel need to get down to the courthouse and pick up our marriage license. Then we need to go by a pawn shop so I can get Rachel a weddin' band.” He looked at Rachel. “And before you
ask, nah, I ain’t wearin' no ring. Rings are for sissies.” He dismissed the look of disappointment on Rachel’s face. “Then we’re goin' over to Carl and Lou’s. They’re gonna stand up with us.”
Mammaw got up from the rocking chair, walked over to them, hugged Teddy around the neck, then wiped her tears on her apron tail. “I can’t believe my first born is gettin' married. Me and Pappaw don’t have no fancy clothes to wear to a weddin', so we won’t be comin', but I sure wish ya the best.” She hugged Rachel. “I’d be right proud to be yer new mama. You gonna have yer hands full with this rascal fer a husband, but he ain’t all bad.” She chuckled again.
“I love him so much, I don’t think it’ll be too hard to put up with him,” Rachel said, and she seemed to be glowing as bright as the sun.
Teddy took Rachel’s hand. “You two stop with all the sappy stuff. Come on, we need to get uptown.”
After they had picked up the marriage license, Rachel held it in her hands as if it were gold. Then she read his name aloud, “James Theodore Randall. Is your nickname, Teddy, short for your middle name?”
“Yeah, I hate that name, so I started calling myself Teddy back when I was a youngen. Some of the family shortened it to just Ted, which is fine with me.”
“I like to call you Teddy. You’re my big Teddy Bear.” Her eyes were misty.
“A big Teddy bear that can hug ya till ya break in two.” Teddy chuckled.
They left the courthouse, drove to a pawn shop, and bought a cheap, gold wedding band. Then, Teddy drove over to Carl and Lou’s house. “Be ready to meet the sister-in-law from hell. But yer gonna love Carl. He ain’t nothin' like me. He’s easy goin', he goes to church, and he don’t drink. But he does smoke, and Lou fusses ‘bout it all the time. However, me and him had our drinkin' and fightin' years together before he met Lou. She rules the roost. Ain’t no woman ever gonna rule me. I want ya to get that straight afore we say our ‘I do’s’.
“I believe in a wife obeying her husband. And she leaves her family and cleaves to him. The Bible teaches that,” Rachel softly answered.
“Well, that part of the Bible is right! Though I don’t believe in all that other horse-shit that’s in it. But ain’t no need in hashin' that right now. You believe in what ya want. Just don’t be pokin' it down my throat. That’s all I got to say ‘bout it.”
“I’ll just pray for you,” Rachel said, as tears filled her eyes.
“Yeah, you and Mama just keep on prayin' fer my wretched soul,” he said, as they pulled up in front of Carl and Lou’s house.
Teddy turned off the motor and Rachel said, “I’m so nervous. What if Lou doesn’t like me? I really want to be accepted by your family. Your parents were so nice to me and made me feel welcome as a new family member.”
“Lou will like ya. Ya don’t drink or cuss or get in fights. That’s why she hates me. That, and she says I’m a whoredog ‘cause I’ve always had a different girlfriend every time I come around. Well, after today, I reckon those days are over.” Teddy chuckled as he thought, I have serious doubts ꞌbout me givin' up the women. I can’t seem to help myself when a woman comes along and gives me the eye. It’s like a sickness I’ve got, and they don’t make any medicine fer it. But what Rachel don’t know won’t hurt her—or me.
After the introductions, Lou said, “Ted, you finally came to your senses and found you a good woman. I’m not only going to have a new sister-in-law, I’m also going to have a new best friend.”
Lou hugged Rachel, and she seemed to be taken aback when people hugged her.
“You’ll have to get used to hugs in this family. We’re huggers. We ain’t nothin' like that tight-ass family you come from. If they was to get a hug, they’d probably break in two. And if ol' Lula ever smiled, her face would probably crack.”
“Teddy, I really wish you wouldn’t speak harshly about my family. We’re not huggers, we don’t show open affection, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. We show our love in other ways. Never mind,” she said, as her eyes teared.
“Don’t ya start no bawlin'. I done warned ya ‘bout that.”
Lou said, “Ted Randall, I’d like to knock your head off. How dare you make fun of her family and embarrass her in front of a stranger? She’s too good for you, I’ll tell you that. Rachel, I really feel sorry for you, but I know the heart wants what the heart wants. So, I’ll keep my mouth shut. Or I’ll try.”
“That’ll be a first!” Teddy retorted. Then he chuckled as if he were getting a kick out of irritating Lou.
Soon, Teddy was getting ready to go pick Carl up from work. “You two can talk about what a wretched person I am while I’m gone. Like you two don’t have any dirt. You ain’t perfect just ′cause ya go to church every Sunday.” He slammed the front door on his way out.
An hour later, Teddy and Carl came through the front door, laughing. They got quiet when Lou walked into the living room dressed in a fancy dress and wearing a hat and gloves. “Carl, I laid your suit, shirt, and tie on the bed. Get dressed. We don’t want to be late. Ted, I laid an outfit out for you. You and Carl are close enough in size, it’ll fit. Now, get out of here and get on it!”
“Yes’um,” Carl said with sarcasm, which sent him and Teddy into another laughing fit.
Teddy looked at Rachel, who had tears in her eyes. “What’s got ya ready to bawl again?”
Rachel tucked her head, bit her bottom lip, then managed to say, “Lou is dressed much prettier than I am. I don’t have a hat and gloves—” Her voice shut off.
“Ah, for piss sake! Lou, have ya got another hat and a pair of gloves that she can borrow? She’s gonna bawl all the way to the church.”
“Yes, I do. Come with me, Rachel. I’ll have you fixed up in no time. And I’ve got a new tube of light pink lipstick if you want to brighten up your lips. I’ve also got rouge and face powder.”
Rachel said softly, “I’d appreciate the hat and gloves, but I never wear makeup. Thanks anyway.”
Not much was said as they drove to the small Baptist church. Carl turned off the engine, then turned to look in the back seat. “Pastor Sanders said he’d have the front doors unlocked and for us to come on in. You sure look beautiful, Rachel. If I wasn’t already married, I’d steal you way from Ted.”
Lou laughed. “He’d probably be happy to trade me in for you. But he’s stuck with me.”
Rachel laughed and she seemed to relax as they headed inside. The pastor was waiting for them at the altar. Carl made the introductions, then the ceremony began. Ten minutes later, they were husband and wife. Rachel seemed to be glowing brighter than the stars. Teddy kissed her, then tenderly held her hand as he walked her back up the aisle and out to the car.
I ain’t sure I know how to be a husband. I ain’t sure I done the right thing. But gettin' married was the only way I was gonna get me some pootang pie afore I leave dry land and spend months on a damn ship, Teddy thought. “Come on, Mrs. Randall. I need a drink!” Teddy said, his innards trembling from the thought of a long slug of whiskey.
When they were back in the car, Lou said sweetly, “Rachel, I’ve got a nice bed fixed up for you and Ted in the back room. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s comfortable for a wedding night.” Then she gave Teddy a cold glare. “And there’s no drinking in my house!”
“I happen to know that, Your Majesty. I’m goin' to a bar. Right after I get out of this damn monkey suit. I’ll throw back a few, get my nerves under control, then I’ll be back. And don’t start no bawlin', Rachel. I won’t be gone long. And don’t worry about me takin' the car, Miss High and Mighty!” He shot a look at Lou, wiping his hand over his face as his jaw muscles began to flex – his usual habit when he was hot under the collar. “I can walk up to the corner bar.”
Lou shot him a look that would have scared the devil, but Teddy gave her an evil-eye stare that caused Lou to quickly turn around and look out the windshield. I reckon that’ll shut your smart-ass mouth, he thought.
The next morning, Teddy an
d Rachel woke to the aroma of fresh brewing coffee. They dressed and walked into the kitchen where they saw Carl sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee.
“Have a seat, you two. I’ll have breakfast done in a couple minutes,” Lou said. “Rachel, I want you to have a full stomach before you go home and face the music. I’ve got a feeling it’s not going to be pretty.”
Rachel pulled out a chair, sat down, and her tears flowed like a river as she twisted the end of the table cloth. “I know Mother and Father are out of their minds with worry. But we don’t have a phone and I couldn’t call them. The music won’t be pretty for sure, but I’ll take what I’ve got coming. I defied them and I didn’t honor them as the Bible teaches. I did ask God to forgive me. Now if only they will forgive me.”
Teddy bristled, his jaw muscles flexing. “Gawddangit, Rachel. I’ve heard enough of yer Bible shit. They sure didn’t show me any honor. So piss on 'em!” he said, and banged his fist on the table, causing Rachel to flinch.
Rachel cried harder and Teddy’s jaw muscles flexed faster.
Lou shot Teddy a hard look, but she didn’t say anything.
Teddy watched Rachel push the food around on her plate but her tears kept rolling and he was becoming more ignited. “Rachel, if ya just gonna sit there and bawl, then come on and I’ll take ya home.”
Rachel hugged Lou and Carl, and through tears she said, “Thank you for putting us up for the night. I hope I see you again real soon.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m not used to all this hugging, but I have to admit, I like it. I’ve entered a brand new world. It’ll take time for me to adjust.”
Lou and Carl hugged Rachel again. “We’re happy to welcome you to our family,” Lou said, and she wiped her tears.
Carl said, “I’ll bring Lou out to see you from time to time, and we’ll bring you to town on Saturdays. We all have a gathering at Mammaw and Pappaw’s house. You’ll get to meet the rest of the family. We’ve got a big one.”