by J. B. Reed
“I know the two of you have become quite close these past few months.”
“Is there something wrong with that?”
“No, my dear child, nothing at all. I’m glad to see that you have made friends here. You seem to be adjusting so well. But can you tell me, truly, that you no longer love Michael?”
“Mama, a part of me will always love Michael. He was a very important part of my life; he saved my life, more than once. But, Mama, I can never be with Michael, not as a wife. I’m sure he has forgotten about me by now.”
“You ridiculous girl. You know very well that he could never forget you.”
“Maybe not, but Michael lives a life that I cannot be a part of. As for Luke, it’s true; I have become very fond of him. He makes me feel a little less lonely, Mama.”
“Is that all there is to it, he’s just someone who makes you feel less lonely?”
“What are you asking me, Mama? What is it you want to know?”
“It’s obvious, to me, that Luke thinks of you as more than just a friend. I would hate to see you hurt him, Vivian. Have you let him know that he is only a friend to you?”
Vivie sat quietly, not quite sure how to respond to Mary’s question.
“It’s complicated, Mama. I still love Michael, but I know that we will never be together. On the other hand, Luke is here, in Matewan, and I know he has started to care about me. But, Mama, do you think he would continue to care about me if he knew the truth about the baby?”
“Why does he have to know the truth? As far as Luke or anyone else knows, this child belongs to your deceased husband. This wasn’t Michael’s baby either, Vivian, and he was willing to raise the child as his own. Do you think Luke would be any different? He sees you as a widow, expecting your first child. I believe he wants to be there for you and the child.”
“But it’s all a lie. How can I let my friendship become anything more when it would be based on a lie?”
“I can’t answer that question, Vivian, only you can. You know how you feel about Michael, and Luke. I hope you won’t rush into anything, but I do hope you will consider your options, daughter.”
“I will, Mama. I am so glad I’m here with you, to have you to talk to.”
Vivie and Mary said their goodnights and went off to bed. Vivie did think about what Mary had said to her. If she allowed herself, she believed she could develop feelings for Luke. Her life would be so different than what she had thought it would be like. She would be the wife of a coal miner, and would live in the mountains of West Virginia the rest of her life. It was funny, in a way. Both Michael and Luke have very dangerous jobs. Worrying if your husband was going to come home after work seemed to be Vivie’s destiny. Perhaps she was getting ahead of herself. Luke had not said he wanted to marry her, at least not yet. Vivie still wanted so badly to call Michael, just to hear his voice again. Dare she? And what if Michael didn’t want to talk to her? It had been a long time since she and Michael had spoken, and the last time they did, Vivie had said many mean and hurtful things to him.
Sunday, after church, Luke asked Vivie if she would like to go for a drive. There was something he wanted to show her; a surprise. As they drove up the bumpy dirt road, Vivie could tell Luke was excited for her to see whatever it was he wanted to show her.
“Okay now, Vivie, I want you to close your eyes. What I have to show you is right up the road here and I want it to be a surprise. Now close those big beautiful eyes, okay?”
Vivie chuckled; a little excited to know what the big surprise was going to be.
“Okay, Luke, they’re closed.”
Luke pulled his car into the driveway of a big two story house. He got out and went around to open the door for Vivie.
“Alright, keep them closed for one more minute.” Luke led Vivie around the car and up the sidewalk to the house. “You can open them now.”
Vivie opened her eyes and stared at the house. It was lovely. A two story, white house, with flowers running down both sides of the sidewalk.
“Where are we, Luke? Who lives here?”
“We will, if you will do me the honor of marrying this poor country boy, Vivian.” Luke got down on one knee and held open a box for Vivie.
“Ms. Vivian, will you marry me?”
Vivie was overcome with emotion and started to cry.
“Well, heck, Vivian, I didn’t think you would cry. Have I upset you?”
“Of course not, Luke. I have never had such a romantic proposal, it has touched my heart.”
“Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
“You have really taken me by surprise, Luke. We haven’t even talked about this. How can I say yes, when we haven’t even talked about a future together? You really don‘t know anything about me. And Luke, I‘m about to have a baby. Are you sure you‘re ready to take on an instant family?”
“Yes, I am. I know your husband hasn’t been gone long, Vivian, and I’m sure your heart still hurts for him. But I promise you, I will be good to you and that little baby. I’ll be the best daddy that child could ever have, seeing how he can’t have his real daddy. And I’ll be a good husband to you Vivian. I make pretty good money and you wouldn’t want for a darn thing.”
“Luke, this ring is beautiful but I can’t accept it, not yet. I need time to think about all of this. I hope you understand. It’s not that I don’t care for you, it’s just all so sudden.”
“That’s perfectly fine, sweetheart. You take all the time you need. I’m just happy you didn’t say no, right off. I want you to keep the ring. When you decide you are going to marry me, I’ll know when I see that ring on your finger.”
Luke took Vivie in his arms and kissed her. The kiss was warm and inviting, but it wasn’t anything like the kiss she shared with Michael the first time. She knew she didn’t love Luke, but maybe she would learn to love him. He was a decent, honest, hard working man, and he would give her a good life, that she was sure of. The only problem at this point; she was still married, as far as she knew, to Michael.
When she returned home, Vivie took Mary into the bedroom and shut the door, so the kids wouldn’t overhear their conversation. She showed Mary the ring and told her about Luke’s proposal and the house he had found for them.
“What am I going to do, Mama? Luke’s a good man. He would be good to me and the baby. But, Mama, I’m still married to Michael.”
“I haven’t heard you say you love Luke, Vivie. Do you love him?”
“I can’t say that I love him, at least not the way I love Michael, but I do care for him, Mama.”
“As with other things, I can’t make this decision for you, child. As far as your marriage to Michael, we don’t know that you are still married. He may have filed for a divorce after you left.”
“That’s true. He may have.” Vivie’s heart sank, thinking of Michael divorcing her.
“What did you tell Luke?”
“I told him that I need some time to think it over.”
“Then that’s what you need to do. Take some time, pray about this and see how you feel after some time passes.”
“Very well, Mama, that’s what I’ll do.”
A month passed and Vivie continued to keep company with Luke. He never pressured her for an answer to his proposal. He knew that if given enough time, her answer would be yes.
One Monday morning, on his way to work, Luke stopped by the Clancy home to see Vivie. He asked if they could spend the evening together.
“Of course, Luke, I would like that. I’ll ask Mama to feed the kids early so I can prepare you an old fashioned Irish dinner. How does that sound?”
“That sounds wonderful. I can almost smell the taters cooking now.”
After Luke drove away, Vivie went back into the house and opened the dresser drawer where she had been keeping the ring. She took it out and looked at it. Her mind again went to Michael and the day they got married. She then reminded herself that her life with Michael was over and maybe it was time to move on. The baby would be here
in two more months. Vivie slipped the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“Yes, it’s time to move on. I will marry Luke and I’ll tell him tonight.”
Vivie told Mary she had made a decision and was going to marry Luke.
“My sweet child, I know this decision has not been an easy one, but for what it’s worth, I feel it’s the right decision.”
“I believe it is too, Mama.”
At 3:00 p.m., Vive began preparing her dinner for Luke. She was busy pealing potatoes when Lucy called on the telephone.
“Vivie, its Lucy.”
Vivie could hear a sound of desperation in Lucy’s voice.
“Lucy, what’s wrong, are you alright?”
“No Vivie, I’m not. We just got word; there was a cave in at the mine. Several men are trapped, Vivie. Luke is one of the men.”
Vivie collapsed on the floor, still holding the phone in her hand.
“Vivie, are you there? Did you hear what I just said?”
“Yes, Lucy, I’m here. Are you positive Luke was in the mine?”
“His shift wasn’t over, Vivie. He was still working. Mommy, Daddy and I are going up there. Do you want us to stop and pick you up?”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting out front.”
Vivie told Mary what had happened and ran out of the door to wait for Lucy. When they arrived at the mine, there were already several people there, including a fire truck and an
ambulance. Lucy’s father saw the second shift mine boss and ran over to him, to see if he could get any information.
“It’s bad Hal. We can’t even get in there yet to see if there are any survivors.”
“My boy’s in there John, we have to get in there.”
“We’re doing the best we can. I’ll let you know as soon as I get the okay to go in. I’m really sorry Hal, really sorry.” The man put his hand on Luke’s father’s shoulder before he walked away from him.
Lucy, Vivie and Mrs. Snyder walked over to him. “What did he say, Daddy?”
“He said it’s bad. They can’t get in yet to check on those men. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Vivie and Mary held onto each other and cried. Vivie began feeling sick. Her stomach started cramping and the pain nearly bent her over.
“Vivie, are you okay?” Lucy was afraid the excitement may be too much for her friend.
“Lucy, I think the baby is coming. It’s not time, it’s too early. I need to get to Mama. Can you take me to Mama?”
Lucy’s father handed the car keys to his wife. “Here, take her home. I’ll wait here until you get back.”
Mrs. Snyder and Lucy helped Vivie into the car and hurriedly drove down the mine road to Vivie’s house. Mrs. Snyder blew the horn of the car to summon Mary. When Vivie got out of the car, her water broke.
“Sweet Lord, the baby is coming. Mama, help me get into the house.”
The three women helped Vivie into the house and into bed. Lucy took Vivie’s brothers and sister outside while the two older women tended to Vivie. An hour later, Rose Michelle O’Bannon came into the word.
“She is the most beautiful baby I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Mrs. Snyder proclaimed. Vivie held baby Rose to her chest and gazed upon her face.
“She looks just like Vivian did. She even has her red hair.” Mary was bursting with pride, and relief. Her first grandchild had made it safely into the world. Except for being so tiny, she appeared to be perfect.
Mrs. Snyder walked outside to let Lucy know the baby had been born. As they were talking a car pulled up and let Mr. Snyder out. Lucy ran to meet her father. She could see tears in the older man’s eyes. Lucy didn’t have to ask, she knew that Luke was gone.
“He’s gone, Bonnie. They pulled him out just a little while after you left.”
Mary stood at the screen door watching, knowing that it wasn’t good news. Mary made the sign of the cross on herself, knowing that now she had to tell Vivie that Luke was gone.
“Father in heaven, has my child not been through enough?”
Vivie sobbed as she held baby Rose close to her. She looked down at the ring on her finger.
“What have I done, Mama, for God to punish all those who care for me?”
“Vivian, this is not a punishment due to anything that you did or did not do. Luke knew very well the dangers of working in the coal mines. It was just his time, child. We can’t question the Lord about these matters. All we can do is pray for his soul and pray for his family. The young men only have the mines to go to in this part of the world. If they’re going to work, they work in the coal mine.”
Vivie was not well enough to go to Luke’s funeral, as much as she wanted to be there. Lucy came over to the Clancy home after the funeral to check on Vivie.
“It was a nice service. The whole town turned out. Luke would have been proud. Vivie, you need to know that my brother loved you so much. All he talked about was you, and marrying you and being a father to little Rose.”
“I feel so horrible, Lucy. I was planning to tell him I would marry him that evening. I was preparing a special dinner for him. Lucy, I’m so sorry for you.”
“I’ll be fine, Vivian. It’s you I’m worried about. Luke wouldn’t have wanted you to grieve for him. He knew each day he went to work that he may not come out of that mine in the evening. Everyone who lives in Matewan knows this is a fact of life. But what choice do our men have? Vivie, I wanted to let you know that I’ve decided to go to Ohio to live with my aunt for a while.”
“You’re leaving me too Lucy?”
“I hope you will understand, Vivie. I need to move away from here, at least for a while.”
“Of course you do. I want you to be happy Lucy.”
“I want you to be happy too, Vivie. I promise I’ll write to you everyday and I will call whenever I can.”
Vivie not only lost Luke, but now she was losing her best friend. Vivie never had a girlfriend in Hell’s Kitchen. She was going to miss her friend. Now it was only her family and her darling baby Rose. After the girls said their goodbyes, Vivie walked back into the house and sat down on the couch.
“Maybe it’s time to contact Michael.” Vivie thought to herself. If he wouldn’t speak to her she would understand, but she had to try.
11.
MICHAEL MEETS BABY ROSE
As much as Vivie wanted to contact Michael, she was still uncertain if that would be the wise thing to do. So many questions and scenarios ran through her mind. Perhaps Michael had changed his telephone number; if not, would he even want to talk to her after all this time? Would Michael feel that being in contact with her would place him in danger? Would calling him, place her family in danger? She had to consider Rose as well. Would Michael even care that she had been born? So many questions, so many doubts.
“Mama, I’ve been thinking that maybe I should try to contact Michael.”
“I have been expecting this, child. Talk to me, tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Do you think the reason Luke died was because I was about to make a mistake marrying him? Do you think that God, in his infinite wisdom, took Luke from me because I was meant to be with Michael?”
“I would never attempt to question the reason God does anything, Vivian. It was Luke’s time to go. Whether or not it was to keep you from making a mistake, I would not dare say. I do believe that our Father in heaven has watched over you and has brought you through many difficult times. Vivian, I don’t think you will be able to move on with your life until you have, at least, spoken with Michael.”
“What about the dangers of contacting him, Mama? Would I be putting you and the kids and my precious baby in harms way?”
“No. I do not believe that a phone call will put us in danger. Call him Vivian; put your mind at rest.”
Vivie walked over to the telephone and dialed Michael’s number. She felt her body tremble, as his phone began to ring.
“Hello?”
“Michael, its Vivie.”
“V
ivie? My God, is it really you?”
“Yes, Michael, it’s me. I had to call; I needed to talk to you.”
“Is everything alright? Your family, they’re all well?”
“We are fine, Michael. I wanted to let you know the baby came early. It was a little girl, Michael, a beautiful little girl. I named her Rose Michelle O’Bannon.”
“Rose Michelle?”
“Yes, Michael, the Michelle is for you.”
Michael was silent on the other end.
“Michael? Are you still there?”