by Dara Girard
"Yes," she said startled by his exuberance.
"I sensed that you wouldn't take offense to this informal way." He kissed her hand again.
Valerie stared at him. "I don't—Brother Jerome, what are you talking about?"
"Our engagement. I want you to marry me."
Valerie's mouth fell open; he took it for joy and said, "I know I should be asking your father first, but oh, my dear Valerie. I wanted to make sure how you felt." He kissed her on the cheek then hugged her. "You've made me very happy. I will speak to your father at once." He raced to her front door. A few minutes later her mother ran out and hugged her with such force Valerie couldn't breathe. Next her father congratulated her and her sister and brother realized, with joy, that their dear sister would not die an old maid.
Valerie's mother hugged her again then lifted her collar and sniffed. "Do I smell cigarette smoke?" she said appalled.
"That's my fault," Brother Jerome said. "I was briefly at the market in town."
"Of course," Sister Williams said accepting his explanation then turned and went back inside.
Brother Jerome briefly shared a significant look with Valerie, then followed her. Naturally he stayed for dinner and Valerie sat beside him with smug satisfaction. She had accomplished her goal. She was not a romantic and did not expect men or matrimony to give her any real happiness. She was too observant to know some did not. But she was ambitious and her goal was to be a wife and mother, and now she would soon achieve that. She knew it would raise her above the pitying looks and the upper-middle class status of her family.
Valerie looked at her intended with an uncritical eye and saw him for what he was and his flaws didn't matter. She did not need to love him or like him very much. She just needed to marry him and no longer be a burden to her father, and a worry to her mother. Now she wouldn't have to care about her plain features or advancing years.
But there was one thing that did make her uneasy—Janet's reaction. Although she had learned to guard herself against the thoughts or feeling of others, Janet's opinions mattered.
She shared her uneasiness with Brother Jerome as they sat in the dining room finishing their dessert together. Her family had left them alone.
Brother Jerome rested his spoon down. "Don't worry. I will handle it. I would hate for any jealousy to break up such a solid friendship. She can't fault you for accepting me and in time her feelings for me will dim, although they may never fully disappear."
"Yes," she said, feeling no need to correct him. "But it's still a delicate issue. I need to tell her first."
* * *
Janet sat on her bed and stared at Valerie horrified. "Of course you're joking. You just told me this incredible story because you want to have a good laugh."
"It is not a joke," Valerie said in a grave voice.
Janet jumped to her feet. "But it has to be." She shook her head stupefied. "I'd seen him eyeing you in "that way" and I knew he was giving you special notice, and I'd thought to warn you. But I'd never thought it would lead to this!" She gripped the bedpost. "You're engaged to Brother Jerome? You're going to marry him?"
"Yes," Valerie said in a quiet, but firm voice. She did not have Janet's fiery spirit and could always calm it with a rational soothing tone. "Why are you so surprised? Do you think that all men you dislike, other women are bound to dislike as well? Do you think because you believe a man is unmarriageable that everyone should agree? Come on Janet, is that naïveté or arrogance?"
Hit with that cool reprimand, Janet sunk back down on the bed and hung her head. "You're right. I shouldn't be so disrespectful. It's your decision. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath, tracing a pattern on her skirt. "I am happy that Brother Jerome has impressed you so much that you want to spend your life with him. I wish both of you many years of happiness."
Valerie lifted her friend's chin, forcing Janet to look at her then smiled with affection. "You little liar. You don't mean a word of it." Janet looked at her in surprise and Valerie's smile grew. "I know you, Janet. I listened to your words but read the expression on your face. I know how you feel. Yes, it is a strange incidence, especially when he asked you to marry him only a few weeks ago."
Janet frowned. "And my sister before that."
"Yes, but if you take the time to reflect you will understand and applaud what I've accomplished. I want security and position; Brother Jerome will give me that, along with his family ties, his property and his connections. I want you to be happy for me, because I am happy."
Janet sighed. "Because you're getting what you want I can truthfully say I am glad."
Valerie hugged her, "Thank you Janet. That means everything to me."
Janet hugged her back, feeling numb. I make a poor substitute for Ramani, don't I? Valerie had once said. Sometimes she felt that was true, but she loved Valerie and her friend hadn't caused her as much trouble. After Valerie left, Janet paced her room trying to understand, but she couldn't. Valerie and Brother Jerome?
The thought made her want to laugh, but mostly it made her want to cry. Janet tried her best to shut it from her mind.
However, when Mrs. Barnett found out about the upcoming wedding, Janet had no choice but to face it.
"That Williams woman is going to have a daughter married," she announced to Beverly and Janet as she put on her shawl in the foyer. She glanced at her image in the mirror then looked at her two eldest daughters. "I should have been preparing for a wedding. But I'm not. She is. She only has two daughters and I have five," she said holding out five fingers with such venom it looked like an obscene gesture.
Janet shook her head. "But Brother Jerome is —"
"Still a man. You may not like everything about him, but he has one special power: he can turn a woman into a wife. And you both had your chance. Although I can't blame you, my dear Beverly."
"What about me?"
Mrs. Barnett sent Janet a cool look. "Somehow you bewitched your father."
"Don't give up hope. Beverly is close friends with the Farmers especially, Jeffrey."
Mrs. Barnett stroked Beverly's cheek. "I know and you'll have exciting news for me soon?"
"I hope so," Beverly said.
Mrs. Barnett nodded, pleased. "Good. You will catch Jeffrey Farmer for a husband and rectify this." She swung open the door. "But now I have to go and hear all of Sister Williams' news." She left.
Beverly turned to Janet. "I wish you wouldn't keep mentioning Jeffrey Farmer. We're just friends and nothing more."
"I'm sure he's just gathering up the courage. I've no doubt that you'll be getting a proposal very soon."
Beverly smiled, but there was worry in her eyes.
Chapter 23
Errol nearly fell out of his chair when he saw the invitation. He ran into the kitchen where the scent of jerk chicken filled the air. "Sigonya!"
"What is it now!"
He waved the invitation. "Dat Peter fellow get himself another woman."
"To marry?"
"Yes. Here's the invitation."
Sigonya sent a worried glance to her Aunt who was shelling green peas.
Errol followed her gaze. "She might like to go."
"She wouldn't know the difference. We're not going. We'll just send dem a gift."
* * *
The news of Valerie's impending wedding didn't matter much to Maxine and Trudy although they did look forward to the celebration. Francine was disappointed but quickly rebounded when she convinced herself that he was too old anyway.
The Barnetts invited the Williams over for dinner with Brother Jerome. Janet watched her friend as she sat next to him feeling a keen sense of loss. Brother Jerome would be taking Valerie away. Janet had hoped to release her friend to a worthier man. She tried to be happy for her, but knew her friendship with Valerie would never be the same. As she worked on a portrait for them, Janet tried to reconcile how much everything would soon change.
* * *
Valerie's wedding was one of the biggest events to
occur in Hamsford that year. The church had been transformed into a beautiful sanctuary. Pale blue, silk sheer curtains draped the stained glass windows; cream colored silk cushions camouflaged the church's drab wooden benches. A trellis arch stood in the entry way of the chapel, and another at the altar where the couple said their vows. Billowing white satin ribbons and yellow and white miniature roses were attached at the end of each bench, forming an elegant pathway for the wedding party to descend.
Three girls and three boys, between the ages of three and five, preceded the wedding party. Each carried small baskets filled with white petals, which they threw on the red carpet down the center of the church. And every few seconds the bright flash of a camera would pierce the air.
At the reception, which was held immediately afterwards in the hotel ballroom, Janet sat in a chair watching everyone: unsupervised children chased each other, Sisters of the church commented on the decorations, Brothers commented on the food, and the rest of the townspeople talked about whatever came to mind. Janet turned her attention to the trio ensemble playing music and while there was no dancing the guests didn't complain because the enormous banquet was enough.
Following lengthy toasts, given by what seemed like everyone who attended; it was time to cut the cake. The wedding cake was a five-tired, rum cake expertly decorated, with icing resembling finely woven Italian lace and trimmed with edible gold leaf motifs. Alcohol flowed, but not too freely, drunkenness was strictly forbidden. However, a few guests did appear inebriated but no one said anything because they were not church members. Suddenly, loud sucking noises, coming from a table nearby, assaulted Janet's ears. She didn't need to turn around to know that it was the Gordon family. They were among the poorer residents of Hamsford and when eating meat of any kind, loved to suck out the bone marrow then chew the bone. "You children don't know how to eat," Mrs. Gordon once chastised her when Janet had stared at her amazed. "People in many countries could survive on what you throw away." Janet knew the Gordons would likely leave the reception with their bags full of food, but it was expected and no one cared.
"You're worried?"
Janet looked up and saw an extra wide straw hat with large blue and black flowers and a hand beaded trim. Her gaze fell to Mother Shea's face. "Why would I be?"
"Because that should have been your sister."
Janet tilted her head. "You envisioned she'd be with someone else."
Mother Shea narrowed her gaze. "Only because he'd been led astray by some woman, but he never told me her name."
"Perhaps she's the one he's marrying."
"No, I don't think that's her. Sister Valerie doesn't stir up such lascivious thoughts in a man." She stared at Janet, who boldly stared back with a slight smile.
Beverly rushed up to her. "Come on Janet. Valerie is about to throw the bouquet."
Mother Shea walked away.
Janet watched her leave. "You can catch it for me."
Beverly glanced at the gathering crowd of women then sat beside Janet. "You haven't been yourself all day. Is it because of Durand? I'm surprised he's here I know, but has he said something to upset you? I know how much you dislike him."
"No, I've hardly noticed him actually." That was only partially true, everyone noticed his entrance, as people always seemed to, but Janet was too preoccupied to care. "It's just this wedding." She took a sip of her sparkling cider then set it down. "The idea is so appalling. No matter what angle I try to see it from, it is all so wrong."
"Wrong?" Beverly said surprised. "Have you seen Valerie's face? Look at how proud her parents are. It's a glorious day! They will be perfect for each other and will create their own happiness. You may not like him, but he's not an awful man and he passes the JCE test."
Janet took another sip of her drink. "And that's all that matters," she mumbled.
"She's free Janet. At least be happy about that."
"From the house of her father into the house of her husband."
"Yes. We cannot choose our fathers but we can choose our husbands and she's made her choice. It's her choice Janet. Accept that."
Janet sighed finally facing what she didn't want to see. Valerie's dreams were different from hers, and it was okay. "I thought I knew her, but you're right. I will be happy for her. She'll be free of this place and her father's rules." Janet squeezed her sister's hand. "At least I know I will fully approve of your husband. I know he'll make you happy." She glanced at Jeffrey. He sat at one of the tables with his sisters and Frederick. They made a handsome group. Tanya and Karen wore elegant designer outfits, Jeffrey a dark blue suit, while Frederick sported a fitted Italian double-breasted suit, accented with a bold striped tie.
People were still uneasy around him, but the Williams felt they had to invite him because he'd attended their last party. He was still considered aloof, but people had grown accustomed to his mannerisms and thought of him as they did the three stray cats that roamed the neighborhood—he belonged there but no one would claim him.
At the beginning of the reception, Janet and Beverly had exchanged customary 'hellos' with them, but each had been so busy that they hadn't gotten an opportunity to say anything more.
Beverly sighed. "Janet, are you listening to me? Jeffrey makes me happy now, but I'm not going to look into the future because he does not seem to be inclined to want to marry."
"Just give him time, he will."
Valerie interrupted Beverly's reply by rushing over to Janet and pulling her out of her chair. "Come with me." She dragged Janet to the stage then grabbed the microphone. "May I please have your attention?" The room quieted and everyone turned to her then she handed the microphone to Brother Jerome. "Husband," she said as though she'd been calling him that for years.
Brother Jerome turned to crowd. "We know it is not customary to open gifts at the reception but this was one gift we wanted to share with all of you. As you know we will be leaving Hamsford and starting a new life in Pennsylvania. Thanks to Sister Janet, my wife and I will always have you close."
"What is he talking about?" Janet whispered, wanting to leap off the stage.
Valerie sent her an enigmatic smile. "You'll see."
Brother Jerome continued. "I will always have a memory to hold onto of this special day. Of the love of a dear friend. Of the kindness of a close neighbor—"
As Brother Jerome droned on, Valerie instructed her father to bring out the gift.
Brother Williams set the covered canvas on an easel then left the stage. Valerie looked at her husband and whispered, "Now."
He completed his speech then lifted the cover off, revealing an oil painting Janet had done. It was of Valerie in her wedding dress surrounded by images of her life in Hamsford. The portrait stunned everyone and applause soon broke through the silence.
Valerie turned to Janet and hugged her then drew away. "I know I wasn't supposed to look at it yet, but I couldn't help myself. When Daddy saw it, it was the first time he called me beautiful."
Janet's throat tightened. "You've always been beautiful to me."
Valerie blinked back her tears. "Oh, my dear, dear friend, I'm going to miss you." She looked at Janet and held her hands. "We will be back for the dedication of the expanded library in the fall and you must come and visit."
"I will."
Brother Jerome took Janet's arm and handed her the microphone. "Please say a few words."
"What?"
"Say something," he urged. "I know you're not as skilled at these things as I am, but don't let that intimidate you. You're among friends. Go ahead."
What could she say? Janet awkwardly took the microphone and glanced at the crowd then looked back at the new couple. Valerie beamed and Brother Jerome looked proud and she let her prior feelings fade away. Today, at this moment, she would be joyful. "I truly don't deserve the applause. If there is to be congratulations, let it be for this couple. Brother Jerome I know that you will cherish my dear friend and take care of her. And my beloved Valerie I know you will be a wond
erful wife. To the both of you, God bless."
Everyone applauded again and Janet looked at Beverly for reassurance. Her sister nodded and mouthed, "Well done" and beside her Jeffrey winked. Frederick's expression was enigmatic, but Mother Shea's was not. Her penetrating glare shot across the room. Janet lifted her head higher in defiance. She would not wilt. The festivities continued into the early morning, with the married couple leaving in a limousine, shortly after two in the morning. They were scheduled to fly to Italy that day for their honeymoon. After some coaxing, the wedding planner was finally able to get the last guest to leave at five o'clock.
A week after the wedding Janet returned to the university to complete her final year expecting another uneventful semester. Then she met him.
Chapter 24
"Are you going?" Marisa asked Janet as she stood in the hallway reading a flyer about lecturing artist, Russell Wilcox. This semester her green streaks were purple and red.
"I'm not sure."
"The man is fantastic. Have you seen his work?"
"Yes, he is impressive, but not all artists are great speakers. Remember Manfred Walters?"
"Oh yes, that was awful. I considered giving him a brownie just to see what would happen."
Janet looked at her confused. "What would a brownie do?"
Marisa began to smile. "You know I'm not talking about a regular brownie, right?"
She frowned. "No."
"Your parents are from Jamaica and you don't know about brownies?" When Janet continued to look blank Marisa said, "Laced with marijuana."
"We don't believe in that."
"I'm not surprised. It's amazing all the things you don't know about. It's like you're from another world."
Janet turned back to the flyer, used to comments like that. "He's not bad looking."
"Better in person. I saw a glimpse of him yesterday. I think you should go. It's free and only thirty minutes." She shook her head. "I can't believe he's the artist in residence this semester."
"Hmm." Janet pulled out a sticky candy and offered it to Pamela.