by Bree Cariad
“These are great, Mom! Yay, cute dresses.”
Her mother’s laughter followed her out of the room. Given the occasion, Kathy took time getting ready. She even straightened her hair and put on a small amount of make-up. Gerald was fine with her wearing it as long as she didn’t look like a clown. She had to agree with him on that subject. Too many girls at school went around looking as though they had run into the make-up truck.
The park was packed. There were people everywhere and as she looked around, she spotted some girls her age in dresses and some in street clothing. Her father grabbed the blanket her mother brought and they walked through the throngs of people until they found a bare patch of ground to set the blanket up on. Her parents had turned and spoke to some people they met and Kathy was about to sit down when a voice spoke from behind her.
“You must be Kathy.”
Whipping around, Kathy came face-to-face with a girl about her age with straight orange-red hair and bright green eyes. “Hi.”
“I’m Camille. Call me Cami. Mom and Dad loved big names. Both Xan and I got one. How do you like Hyacinth?” The words spilled out of the girl’s mouth, but her friendly nature made Kathy smile.
“So far it’s good. Since I haven’t had the chance to try school yet, I won’t really know until next fall.”
“You haven’t missed anything,” Cami assured her. “And next year will be different anyway. You’re eighteen, right?”
“Yeah. For a month now. Why does everyone—” Before Kathy could finish asking why being eighteen was such a big deal here, two other girls came up chattering and Cami turned toward them with a grin.
“Kathy, this is Stephanie Knight and Dora Lexington. We’ve been friends for ages.” Stephanie, a tall, leggy redhead grinned at her showing two large front teeth. Dora, a short, rather rounded girl, smiled quietly, almost as though she was afraid to be noticed.
“Nice to meet you,” Kathy said smiling back.
“Want to go get a hot dog?” Stephanie asked them. “It’ll be easier without the parents about.” All three of them glanced over Kathy’s shoulder where she had the feeling her parents were.
“Sounds fun. Give me a minute.” After telling her parents where she was going, the four of them sauntered away. As soon as her parents were far enough behind them, their easy sauntering stopped and Cami looked at the other two girls expectantly.
“So, what’s the hubbub?” she asked. “You two are way too excited for it to be just the picnic.”
Stephanie and Dora looked at one another for a moment and Stephanie turned back to them with an expression that said she clearly had big news. “The first courting’s been announced.”
“Who!” Cami gasped, grabbing both Kathy and Stephanie and dragging them behind a couple trees. Dora followed along after them. “Who and who?” she said again. Kathy was beginning to wonder if this whole courting thing would ever make sense. What was the big deal with dating anyway?
Then it occurred to her. Maybe that was why being eighteen was such a big deal here. Did they not let their girls date until eighteen? Wow. Kathy was glad her parents had allowed her to date at sixteen… though admittedly she had only been on a few dates and they had felt awkward and she had been thrilled when they ended. Quite a few guys had asked her out in her old high school but once they found out they had to meet her father first before she could accept, they went the other way.
“Marjorie Hamstead,” Dora said, nodding her head quickly.
“Oh, wow,” Cami said as though her throat was closing up, her eyes practically bugging out of her head. “Who?”
“James Farthing,” Stephanie giggled, laughing aloud as Cami looked relieved. “What were you afraid of? That Damian Lonstan would ask her?”
Pouting, Cami shook her head. “No, he would never ask to court her. No, I was more nervous that you would say Xan would.”
Her two friends’ heads swung around and they stared at her in shock. “Is Xan courting this year?” Dora asked in a whisper, hope clearly written all over her face.
“Well, I wasn’t supposed to hear anything,” Cami admitted. “In fact, I was walking past Dad’s study last night and overheard the two of them talking. I was able to hear enough to know that Xan has his eye on someone, but before I could find out whom, Mom caught me.” Grimacing, she reached back and rubbed her rear end. “Dad walloped me pretty good. And then Xan did. I’ve definitely learned my lesson. No standing and listening at a door.”
“Ouch,” Stephanie snickered. “I don’t know how you stand it.”
“Okay,” Kathy broke in, unable to grasp the whole thing and deciding it would be easier to ask. “Why is everyone so excited about dating? You act like it’s a big event.”
Three pairs of eyes turned and stared at her in confusion. “It’s not dating and well, of course it’s a big event,” Stephanie said slowly. “Finding out who your future—”
“Stephanie!” a deep voice bellowed.
“Drat. I knew at some point Dad would call. I’m in a bit of trouble and wasn’t supposed to go out of sight. See you later!” Stephanie called, running away with Dora trailing behind her.
“We’d better go, too,” Cami said with a sigh. “No doubt my parents and Xan are looking for me.” Looking straight at Kathy, she grinned. “What are you doing this week?”
“Painting,” Kathy admitted, thinking of her sanded walls.
“Hmm. Think you could take a break to go check out volunteer opportunities with me? There aren’t a lot and it’s so boring. Having someone to go around with might make it more fun. Plus, I can fill you in on the town and Marjorie,” she said, nodding as if this was big information.
Interested, Kathy nodded. “I’ll ask.” After getting a hotdog, Cami trotted off in one direction and Kathy headed back to her family. Her father was gone but her mother was sitting on the blanket enjoying the sun.
“Have fun?” she asked as Kathy sat down next to her.
“Think so. I met three girls. But I don’t get the big deal about dating here. It’s like…” She paused and shrugged. “They make such a big deal of it.”
A small frown crossed her mother’s face drawing her attention. “When we get home, ask your father about it. There are differences between dating and courting, especially in Hyacinth.” There was a pause and she shrugged. “It’s my largest reservation about moving here to be honest.”
As Carilyn stood up, Kathy knew the conversation was over and that her mother wouldn’t reveal anymore. But now Kathy really wanted to know. What was courting and what made it so special?
When her father returned from wherever he had been, it was with more men from town and Kathy found herself being introduced to them, not one whose name she remembered. All-in-all, it was an enjoyable if frustrating day. At least she now knew three girls. Hopefully by the time school started she would know even more.
As Gerald gathered up the quilt before they left, a shadow loomed behind her and Kathy turned around to find Alexander Covington, Sr. standing nearby. “How did you enjoy the picnic?” he asked in his deep baritone voice.
“It was good. I met some nice people.”
He smiled. “Good. Has anyone given you the event list we have for summer for our teenager girls yet?”
Slowly she shook her head. Feeling discombobulated around someone consistently was not normal for her. He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket and handed it over. “There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, though your exact activities will have to be sanctioned by… your father.” His pause at the end was confusing, but she gave him as much of a smile as she could and was glad when he turned his intense blue eyes on her father.
“Gerald, do you have a moment?”
Carilyn took the blanket from her husband and the two men walked away. “What’s that expression on your face?” she asked, watching Kathy.
“I… he’s intense.”
Cocking her head slightly, Carilyn nodded. “Yes, he is. Gerry say
s he’s a very nice man. But I agree with you, when they were giving out dominance, he stood in line at least ten times.”
Giggling, Kathy helped gather the rest of their items and they took them to their car. It was another ten minutes before her father appeared and he had an extremely pleased expression on his face.
Once home, they all went to their rooms to change clothes. Kathy was happy to be back in shorts and a camisole top. Dresses like her mother made her were fun, but she still preferred shorts or pants.
“Dad!” she called as she came back downstairs. Turning from where he had been moving some of the furniture to the middle of the room, he waited. “Getting ready for painting?” she asked, distracted.
“Yes, we need to get the downstairs painted today and tomorrow. Next weekend we’re going to have some important dinner guests.” There was such satisfaction in his voice that she was for a moment non-plussed. Then she remembered what she wanted to ask him.
“What’s the deal with courting?”
Several expressions went across his face in quick succession, so fast that Kathy couldn’t name any of them. As her mother walked into the room, she looked from Kathy to her husband and nodded. “She needs to know, Gerald.”
Straightening up, he nodded. “Kathryn, come into my study so we can talk.”
That was confusing. And a bit unnerving. The study was reserved for serious talks and discipline. She was sure a spanking wasn’t in the cards today, or at least not unless she became too mouthy which sometimes happened during their serious talks. Now that she thought about it, maybe that was why he always had them in his study.
“Go on,” he said firmly and she slowly turned and walked to the small room behind the stairs.
Plopping down on the sofa in the corner, she hoped whatever he had to say wouldn’t be too bad, but then why else would it be in here? The fact he did not make her wait was actually even more nerve-wracking as he followed her into the room, her mother with him. Oh, that was even scarier. They were going to talk to her together? The last time that had happened had been when she was twelve and had been given ‘the talk’ when she started growing up. The embarrassment caused by that talk had lasted for months. Thankfully the results from the spanking she received for yelling at them when she got too uncomfortable hadn’t stuck around that long.
Carilyn sat next to her while he brought his desk chair around to sit down in front of her. Geez, was someone dying?
“Kathryn,” he said and the fact he used her given name just added weight to whatever he was about to say. “Hyacinth is different. You know that much.” He paused and she nodded to let him know she was listening. “It’s based on values we cherish. There are several different religions and belief systems here, but what draws us all together is family.
“Family in Hyacinth is the most important unit.” As he spoke, Carilyn took Kathy’s hand in her own. “Families must be based on trust, love, and the readiness for such a commitment. Now, out in the rest of our world, people can date here, there, everywhere. They may date someone for a decade and still not want to actually make that commitment to marriage. Others are so terrified of it that if they actually get married, they are divorced within months or years.
“Marriages here are based on something a lot more traditional. A couple hundred years ago when a girl reached a certain age, she had a coming-out party, an announcement that she was ready for marriage. In Hyacinth, a girl’s eighteenth birthday is that time. She’s considered mature enough to take on the mantle of wife and to take care of a house. For the men, that age is much higher, for he must prove to the community as a whole and to the girl’s father that he can provide a good home for her.
“As such, when a girl turns eighteen, she’s available for a courting here in our town.”
While he spoke, Kathy had been unable to make a sound. It all sounded so strange. A part of her thought it was a good strange as dating, the couple times she had done it, had sucked. But most of her was kind of horrified.
“But I’m only a senior in high school,” she whispered when he paused for a few seconds. “Surely this kind of thing won’t happen for at least a year.” Or two… or maybe even five. They could wait until college was done, right?
“Marriage couldn’t happen for at least a year,” he said gently. “But the courting could happen at any point. In fact, there are already four men in town who have asked for permission to spend time with you.”
Her eyes widened and she stared at him. “No.” She meant to yell it but it came out as a whimper.
Carilyn held her hand tighter. “It isn’t as bad as it sounds,” she assured her daughter who turned and stared at her uncomprehendingly. “It isn’t like two hundred years ago in that you met with someone, were engaged two weeks later and married a few weeks after that. The courting is a full year of—” She paused as if looking for the right words. “—call it conscious dating. Spending time with the same man daily, getting to know him as he gets to know you. There would be no dating guy after guy after guy looking for the right one. Instead, the two of you work for a year to see if you form a bond. If you don’t, the courting is disbanded and you move on. Plus, as I understand it, your father has to approve of the council’s choice before they can officially announce your courting.”
“In fact,” her father added, “once the council asks for my permission and makes its decision, then the choice is yours, Kathy. You do get a say here.” Relief flooded through her. Well, at least she wouldn’t be forced into dating someone she couldn’t stand. Knowing that she had a choice made her feel marginally better about it.
Kathy’s mouth opened several times, but gathering her thoughts enough to make intelligent words took some time. Thankfully her parents waited until she could. “But we just moved here. Surely they would wait until I could get to know some of the men.”
Gerald shook his head. “Unfortunately not. For one thing, most of the girls might know of the men who court them, but they don’t usually know them personally. A decade’s difference in age keeps them apart. For another, I know you are mature enough to handle this. This isn’t some kind of death sentence, honey. I would never okay some jerk taking out my daughter. You know that.”
“A decade?” she asked in shock. “They’re ten years older than me?” Eww. That was so old.
His lips twitching in what looked like amusement, her father nodded. “The men can’t enter the courting system until they prove they can support a family. Until they reach their mid-to-late twenties, that truly isn’t possible.”
“But we aren’t just talking about a guy taking me out.” Kathy felt like she and her parents were having two different conversations. How could they be okay with this?
“In a way we are. At first, your dates will be simple, at the house with us present while you get to know one another. Over time, you would start going out together.” There was a pause and he squeezed her other hand. “As things progress, he would become just as much responsible for your discipline as I am.”
“Oh no. No strange guy’s gonna spank me.” Kathy tried to stand up, her intent to run out of the room, but both of her parents tightened their grips on her hands keeping her seated.
“That’s something that will happen in time, but not at first,” Gerald agreed. “But when you start working toward making a home with someone, you’ll have to accept his discipline, Kathy. Just like your mother accepts mine.”
She shook her head, unable to speak. This could not be happening. Her parents expected her to get into some pseudo-engagement with some guy she didn’t know? Had Hyacinth turned their brains to mush?
“Kathy, why don’t you go upstairs and take a bath?” her mother suggested, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “You’re shaking. Take some time to think about it. Gerry and I will start painting. Come join us when you’re ready.”
Nodding stiffly, as soon as her father stood up releasing her hand, she broke away from her mother’s grip and fled. As she crashed onto her bed, she h
ad no idea how she made it up the stairs. This had to be a joke. They couldn’t honestly expect her to marry some guy she didn’t know. As tears dripped down her face, she sobbed quietly into the pillow. Hyacinth was the worst thing to happen to her.
Chapter 4
To say she did not even want to talk to her father was a misstatement. She didn’t even want to see him. All Sunday evening she stayed in her room, taking a half hour to soak like her mother suggested and spending the rest of the time tugging on loose threads on her bedspread. When Carilyn knocked on her door, letting her know dinner was ready, she felt a stab of guilt knowing she had left her mother to make dinner by herself, but not enough to want to go down and face her father.
“I’m not hungry.”
After a pause, the door opened and Carilyn entered the room, walking over to sit across from her on the bed. “I know you’re upset, Kathy. But this will all make sense in time. The girls here who grew up with it are lucky in that it is the norm to them. Just remember your dad would never saddle you with a dork.”
The last word almost made Kathy smile, but not quite. She couldn’t put up with a man who would never take her wishes and desires into account. Kathy wanted to go to college. And maybe someday have a career outside the home. This whole situation was scary and it felt like some of her dreams were about to go up in smoke.
“Besides, you know your father’s rule. Unless you’re sick, you need to come downstairs.”
“I don’t wanna see him.”