For once, I wished my Southernmothers would speak, but they were silent. Silent. Now that was a first.
I returned Viva and the trailer to the barn and saw that Addy and Ben still had not returned. We did leave rather suddenly. I wish she were here now. She was such a good friend and always was willing to listen. Boy problems from me would be a first for her!
The barn was quiet, and I turned Viva into the pasture. She kicked up the dirt behind her and flew across the field like she’d not been able to run for years. Containing her even for a while in a trailer or stall seemed like bottling the wind. I loved to watch her float across the pasture and dance when she met the others. She bounced, pranced, arched her neck, and snorted announcing that the Queen had returned to her domain.
Mother and Daddy arrived way too soon, but I was ready. I had dropped off to sleep briefly and felt rested enough to be up for dinner and parental inquisition. In fact, I was looking forward to seeing what, if anything, they thought they knew about Griffen.
“Elliott, dear,” Mother said, pulling me into her arms. “So good to see you!”
Daddy hugged me too, and we headed out the door. Leslie and I lived in the sorority house now, so again, there was little chance to talk without being overheard.
We exchanged pleasantries about the weather and the conversation was markedly stiff. By the time we arrived at the Downtown Grill, I knew they knew…something.
“Marks, table for three,” Daddy said. He leaned in to the hostess’s ear and whispered something unintelligible. Mother pointed to my shoes as a diversion.
“Where ever did you get those cute things, dear?” she asked. “They are precious.”
“Jennifer’s closet,” I said with a grin. “Nice to have sisters with good taste.”
We were directed to a booth far from the main dining area, and my suspicions were confirmed. Daddy ordered us some fried green tomato appetizers, for I was famished, and sweet tea all around. They had been to this restaurant far more times than I, so I let them place the dinner order as well. Everything here was great.
Daddy ordered mahi mahi for me, pasta primavera for Mother, and a filet for him – medium rare. He got sweet potato fries and asparagus spears for all of us and a crabmeat and bleu cheese sauce for his steak. Food mission accomplished, he leaned back from the table and looked directly into my eyes.
“Elliott, dear, your mother and I have discovered some unsettling things about your date last night,” he said.
A strange protective urge wanted to lash out at my Daddy, but I knew better. I sat very still and waited for him to continue. Was he talking about the brawl at Stanford House or Griffen in general? I was certain it would be the latter.
“This Griffen Case has a very checkered past,” he said. “And I want you to know as much as you can about him so you can make wise decisions.”
This was a new turn of events. I thought it was up or down and their way or the highway. That was the line I had always heard. After all, they were paying my tuition, board for Viva, my foxhunting dues, my car note, and everything else, so they still had serious strings attached to all in my life.
“Elliott, we know you have a good head on your shoulders,” Mother said. “And we are so very proud of you. We think that if you knew what we knew, you would, well, reconsider dating him.”
“We’ve only had one date,” I said, checking the defensive snap that wanted to erupt from my mouth.
Grand was back and kept my spite in check saying “Listen, child, these two love you way more than any boy could ever understand.”
The tea arrived, and I drained my glass while they watched. It was so good, and such a welcome diversion. Perfect, really sweet tea. How I love the South.
“Yes, I know,” Mother said. “But I also know how much you seem to like him…or the thought of him. You said so yourself.”
My face flushed. I hoped Daddy couldn’t see that. Mother would not have missed it.
The tomatoes arrived complete with crawfish tails, mushrooms, and a delicious Creole sauce that had me finishing the rest of my tea. We ate for a few minutes in silence, out of hunger, not reverie, then Daddy continued.
“Elliott, dear,” Daddy said. “Griffen was a witness to a terrible crime. The most terrible crime a young boy could see. He spent almost six months on the run, and no one still knows exactly how he survived.”
My jaw dropped. I expected them to know about the murder and for me to have to tell them that I already knew that and had still gone on a date with him. But, a runaway, at age fifteen, for six months? Why had Griffen not said anything about that? What had he done? I couldn’t speak, so Daddy continued.
“Griffen’s uncle is a friend of a good friend of mine. He told us the story only because I said Griffen was interested in my daughter, my most precious daughter, and to please give us enough information about him before it was too late, and you were too involved to listen to reason,” he said.
I felt my throat constrict with love for these two wonderful people. I knew this had to be hard for them, too, but I couldn’t speak. I certainly was no longer defensive.
The meal arrived, and we ate again in silence for a few minutes. I was so moved by how much they cared for me that I wanted to say something, but words would not form. So, I ate the mahi mahi and relished the tea. Finally, I found some words.
“Daddy, I am so sorry to put you through this. At least I waited until I was 19 to get interested in boys,” I smiled.
“Sweetheart, you and your sisters are the most important things in this world to me, aside from your mother, of course,” he said. “You cannot get enough information about who you date. It is important to know as much as you can before you get blinded and hopelessly struck with emotion for someone. Dating and marriage, eventually, is hard enough without choosing someone who plays with a different set of cards.”
I helped Mother finish off the tomatoes. She was eating her pasta and remaining uncharacteristically quiet. Somehow, that drew me to her rather than make me feel angry about their “ganging up” on me. I admired their marriage so much and did hope, one day, to find someone with whom to spend my life…besides Viva.
“There is more, much more, Elliott,” he said. “May I continue?”
“Yes, sir,” I said. I needed to act surprised so he would not know how stupid I had already been.
“One afternoon, Griffen’s father came home in a rage. He found him with his mother at the barn, grooming two of their horses. Griffen’s mother had said something to her brother before about how jealous her husband was of the close relationship she and Griffen shared. His father and mother fought all the time and his mother was terrified of him,” he took another bite of his filet and paused before continuing.
“On this day, not only was he angry, he was drunk. Griffen watched his father grab his mother and strangle her right in front of him. He went after Griffen, but couldn’t catch him. That was when, I’m sure, he ran,” he said.
I could not even imagine a scene so horrible. His father must have been really terrifying to make Griffen run after what I had seen last night. Griffen was not large, but he was a force – a powerful one. And I could tell he had loved his mother very much.
Daddy continued, “When he couldn’t find Griffen, he gave up and returned to where he killed his wife. He closed the horses in the barn, dragged her inside, and burned everything to the ground.”
At this most inopportune moment, the waiter arrived to refill our glasses. I was speechless. From the looks my parents were giving me, I could see that they knew this was a tremendous blow to me. What was left of the food on my plate was forgotten. It looked like a go-box night. I felt like I was looking at everything through a long, dark tunnel.
“Elliott,” Mother said as she grabbed my hand. “Drink some tea. You’ve had a bit of a shock.”
I swallowed the cold, sweet tea and the tunnel vanished. For a moment, I looked down and closed my eyes. The room was not spinning, but it felt like it wo
uld at any moment.
“How much of this did you already know?” Mother asked.
“Just the part about his father,” I said. “About him watching his mother get killed and not being able to do anything about it. He never said anything about the horses…or running away.”
“Maybe he didn’t know about the horses,” Mother said.
“Mmm,” I said. Oh, but he did. I knew he knew, and so did his uncle. And that would have been unbearable to have only been able to stand back and watch helplessly as your whole world was destroyed horribly. At age fifteen.
“When his father couldn’t catch him, he set everything up to look like Griffen caused it,” Daddy continued. “To try to catch Griffen, he projected Griffen as unstable and said that he had done it on purpose and that his mother had died trying to stop him. So the whole world was looking for the child as a murderer and trying to help his crazy father find him.”
The food was getting cold, so I took a chance at reviving my appetite. I picked up a few fries and tried to get myself to eat. It was comforting to chew – to get my body working on something that it understood. I was unsettled that Griffen had kept so much from me, but could I really blame him? What horrors to have to revisit?
My cell phone vibrated in my purse, and I saw it was Griffen calling like he’d promised. Since we were in a restaurant, and I was in no position to talk to him, I let his call go to voice mail.
“Daddy,” I said. “How did all this stay so quiet? Especially since he lived in Memphis?”
“Griffen’s uncle is a very powerful and well respected man. Money covers many secrets. And, Griffen’s case happened in Georgia a long time ago.”
Six years ago. So that’s what he meant about waiting for me, or avoiding me – his vision of what I represented – for six years. He had really just wiped the thought of having a relationship like that from his life six years ago. I can certainly see why now. His intricacies are beginning to make some sense.
“I have one more bit of news for you, but I hope this one will be a little easier to take,” Daddy said.
“Go ahead,” I said. “I’ve given up guessing.”
“Next week you are out for the holidays. and I’d like to take you with me to Scotland,” he said.
“Scotland!” I exclaimed. “But why?”
“I have a convention there that your mother and I were going to attend, but she’s agreed that you probably could use the change of scenery more than she,” he said. “After all, she’s been with me twice, and you’ve never had the chance to go.”
“That would be fabulous, Daddy!” I said, visions of castles, and green lawns, and magnificent cliffs flashing through my mind – so very glad to not be thinking about Griffen and his horrible upbringing and all the tragedy and anger that surrounded it. “When do we leave?”
“Friday,” he said. “We’ll leave from Jackson after your last exam.”
The waiter arrived with the check and boxes for leftovers. After packing up a considerable portion of the feast, we left. I was so glad my parents loved me enough to find this out and drive all the way here to tell me in person what they had discovered. That certainly would have not played well over the telephone.
My head was spinning with excitement and with the new revelations about Griffen. Daddy and Mother were so right to get me something to think about besides brooding over this boy. He had kept so much from me and had certainly not been at his best today, or was that truly him? Picking fights with people just because he was angry all the time and could?
He was so complicated and held so much promise, but he had said himself that he would not want his daughter to date someone like him. I knew he could overcome his anger if he tried, but was he willing to do that? Was I willing to risk my life on such a gamble? Well, I would not lose a minute’s more sleep worrying about him…tonight, at least.
They hugged me goodnight, and I returned to my room. Leslie was still up and grateful for the leftovers. I got ready for bed and bundled under the covers to check my voice mail. I wondered what he’d have to say to me about today.
“Elliott, this is Griffen. Call me back, please. We need to talk.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chapter 17 - Worlds Apart
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
– Ezekiel 18:20
There are times when I wish we were not so telecommunicative. Now I had to call him back. If I didn’t, it would look like I was punishing him and being petty. His voice had been telling, not asking. Not a hint of remorse. Arrogant and a mercurial temper. He’s making me crazy.
I kicked off the covers and looked for a private nook in the house where I could talk. Southernmothers be with me. I dialed his number.
“Hello?” he said, his sleepy probablylyinginbedlookingfabulous voice sent shivers up my spine. This already was not starting off as planned.
“Griffen, this is Elliott,” I said, keeping my voice as aloof as possible.
“Thank you for calling me back,” he said, voice flat. I really hate telephones. Can’t read his reactions.
“My parents came up for a visit,” I said. “We went to dinner. I hope I’m not calling you too late.”
“No, not at all,” he said, and he was really quiet. I waited.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Nothing. Just finishing studying for a test. And getting ready to leave for a few weeks,” he said. Voice still flat – maddening.
“Oh,” I said, trying to match his tone.
Still a long silence before he at last spoke. “Elliott, I didn’t want to leave the country like I left you today.”
“Oh, well, don’t worry about that,” I said flippantly. “But you were lucky that you escaped when you did. I was about to punch you.”
“Hmm,” he said. “That bad, was it?” I detected a mischievous lilt and a bit of challenge…no remorse…but who knows on the phone.
“What was that anyway?” I asked, anger and frustration creeping into my voice.
“A bad kiss. I told you I haven’t had all that much practice,” he said, sarcasm or something coloring his voice. I really couldn’t tell. RRR!
“You had a rough day. How’s Jet?” I asked, trying to salvage this disastrous phone call by changing the subject.
“Jet? Oh, that. He’s fine,” he said obviously distracted. “Just a very little bit of swelling, but nothing serious.” Long silence again. Too long.
“Griffen, why did you call me?” I asked.
“I told you… I don’t want to leave like we left…things…today,” he said.
“Then, you’ll tell me what happened on your side?” I asked. “And I don’t mean the boar.”
“I can’t,” he said.
“Can’t, or won’t?” I pressed.
“Both.”
“Well then, I hope you have a good trip next week. I don’t see what else there is to talk about,” I snapped more forcefully than I intended, but I was really getting tired now, and I was so tormented by my irrational feelings for him…moody murderer’s son with a pretty face, and voice, and oh, my…what am I doing even talking to him? I know better than this, don’t I? Use just a little sense!
“Please, Elliott. I promise I’ll tell you everything as soon as I can,” he said exasperation in his voice…still no remorse.
“Just like you told me everything about your father?” I said before I could stop myself.
“What do you mean by that?” he said, fully awake now, guarded…I think. I may have just kicked the ant bed – I didn’t really want to do this over the telephone. Oh well, it’s out now.
“My parents know what happened to you,” I said, softly. “That’s why they came to see me tonight.”
“What? How?” he asked, resignation, not anger, in his tone.
“Your uncle
told a friend of my father’s,” I said, regretting bringing this up so late, and not being where I could see his face.
He was quiet for some time. I could hear his even breathing, but sensed no anger or betrayal at this revelation.
“This is probably for the best,” he said. “I hope you understand now why I couldn’t tell you everything, all at once. Will you forgive me?”
“Yes, Griffen, of course,” I said, my anger vanishing like the air from an untied balloon.
Why does he not get mad and explode, so I’d know I’m doing the right thing to try to forget him? Maddening!
“Of course,” he said, repeating my tone and mocking it…a bit. Another long silence.
“I’m going to Scotland with Daddy,” I said to break the silence and hopefully lift this depressing mood.
“Scotland? Why?” he said. “Are they that opposed to your seeing me?”
Still no anger in his voice. Just…what? I kept blabbering so I couldn’t hear his tone.
“No, silly. This has nothing to do with you,” I lied. “Daddy has a convention that he attends each year and they’re going to Scotland again. Mother’s been twice, so they thought it would be good for me…to see Scotland…since I’ve never been.”
“When do you leave?” he asked. Tone flat. Still not angry, but certainly different.
“Next week,” I said. “Right after my last exam.”
“Well, we will have to swap stories when we return from our world travels,” he said, a little smile in his voice now.
Strange. He sounds…relieved maybe? What is it? Oh I don’t know and shouldn’t care. I just want to go to sleep.
“Goodnight, Griffen,” I said.
“Goodnight, Elliott,” he said. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Good night my foot. What was I supposed to think about all that nothing that he said? I marched back to my room and forced my covers to swallow me to sleep.
Antithesis Page 17