Part 13: link
Post office
Try to find a winter amerikana (may have to wait till we get there)
Don’t forget Mama’s dress
Gwen is making a listahan of things she needs to do and/or remember before Saturday, 4:30 a.m. Her doorbell rings, breaking her train of thought.
“Who could that be at this hour?” she mutters to herself. It’s 10:15 in the morning, everyone should be at work.
She opens the door and is faced with a bouquet of roses. “Guinevere Thompson?” the mga rosas ask.
“Yes,” she says, taking the bouquet, uncovering the man standing behind them.
“Delivery for you. Have a good day,” he nods and trots back down to his truck.
“Thank you…” she calls after him, smelling them. There is a card attached, but she knows who they’re from.
Gwen brings them upstairs, smiling to herself. She frowns a little as she digs out a vase, realizing that she’s leaving in a couple days and won’t get to enjoy them for very long.
Still, he’s very sweet. She opens the card. Sorry for getting drunk with your brother last night. pag-ibig you, A.
“Silly,” she mutters, then picks up the phone.
“Pendragon Law Offices, this is Vivian, may I help you?”
“Hello, Vivian, this is Guinevere Thompson. May I speak to Arthur, please?”
“Yes, just one moment,” Vivian answers, clearly puzzled as to why Gwen is calling, since the trial is over.
“Arthur Pendragon.”
“Thank you for the flowers,” Gwen says.
“You are quite welcome, my love.”
“It wasn’t necessary, though.”
“Of course it wasn’t. That’s the whole point.”
Gwen giggles at this, and Arthur continues.
“I do feel really bad that you had to haul my sorry butt tahanan last night, though. Thank you again. Merlin’s gonna take me to get my car at lunch. You gonna be home?”
“Probably. Got some things to do, but I might be around,” she says evasively. Intentionally evasively.
“Guinevere, are you playin’ coy with me?”
“I might be.”
“You are much braver on the phone, I’ve noticed.”
“Phone is safe. No one can see us talkin’ like we’re a couple of lovesick fools.”
“Soon, darlin’, soon.”
“I know. Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“Have you told your father yet?”
He says nothing, and she has her answer.
“Arthur…”
“I know.”
“You gotta tell him. He’s your only family.”
“I will.”
“When, Friday night? You gonna call him at ten p.m. and say, ‘Hey, Pop, just callin’ to let you know I’m gonna be gone sa pamamagitan ng the time you get up tomorrow mornin’ ’cause I’m elopin’ with a colored girl’?”
“Guinevere…”
“Don’t ‘Guinevere’ me, Arthur. You have got to tell him.”
“I know I should.”
“But?”
“But I don’t want to hear what he’s goin’ to have to say. He’s goin’ to try to convince me not to leave.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’m pretty sure. He’s got nothin’ against you, Guinevere, I want you to know that. He says he likes you. But he just… follows the letter of the law, and the law here says we can’t get married.”
“That’s why we’re movin’. He’ll understand that.”
“I hope so.”
“He’s your daddy and he loves you. Besides, if he finds out that your uncle knows and you couldn’t even tell him…”
“Okay, you’re right, you’re right. You’re always right, darn it. I’ll… I’ll have hapunan with him tonight and tell him then. He’ll behave himself in a public place like a restaurant.”
“You’re overreacting, I’m sure.”
“Well, I hope you’re right.”
“Arthur, didn’t you say your father moved here from Boston to be with your mama?”
Arthur is silent again.
“That’s what I thought,” Gwen says, smirking. “You’ll be fine, baby, just explain how we feel about each other and he’ll understand. He may even be happy for you for standing up for your convictions.”
“I just feel like I’m abandoning him.”
“Did he pag-ibig your mother?”
“That’s a strange question.”
“Did he?”
“Yes, very much,” Arthur admits quietly.
“He’ll understand.”
“Maybe.”
“Well, ‘maybe’ is better than ‘I hope so,’ I guess.”
“Trying to be positive. Ish.”
Gwen laughs now. “Try harder. If you think it’s going to turn out badly, it will.”
“You’re right,” he sighs.
“Arthur?” she asks, suddenly unsure herself now.
“Hmm?”
“I’m… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t push.”
“No, you should. I need you pushin’ me.”
“You do?”
“Well, yeah. You push me to be a better man, don’t you know that?”
“I do?”
“Guinevere…” he sighs, chuckling. “You underestimate yourself. Of course you do. I pag-ibig you, so I want to be the best I can for you.”
“Oh. I… I just didn’t want you to think I was naggin’ already.”
He laughs now. “Never.”
“I should let you go. You’re at work, and I have to go to the post office.”
“If you must. I probably should at least look like I’m doin’ somethin’,” he says. “Something other than secretly packing, I mean. See you around lunchtime, Guinevere.”
“If I’m here,” she teases.
Arthur snorts. “Love you.”
“Love you, too. ’Bye, Arthur.”
xXx
Gwen finds herself continually peeking out the window as soon as noon arrived. She looks out, chastises herself for being foolish, and goes back to packing. Five minutos later, she repeats the cycle all over again.
Finally she sees a strange car pull up and Merlin and Arthur climb out. Gwen wipes her hands on a towel and heads downstairs, wondering what she should do. I can’t invite them in. I can’t stand out here talkin’ with them too long or the neighbors will start askin’ questions.
She steps outside and, to her shock, Merlin waves at Mrs. Barry susunod door, who is sitting on her porch in her rocker. She waves back, puzzled, but Merlin’s friendly grin cannot be ignored.
“Merlin…” she says, smiling, but her voice is quiet and stern.
“What? I was just bein’ friendly.”
Gwen sighs and looks at the cloudless sky.
“Nothin’ you can do about him, Guinevere,” Arthur says. “Oh, here, make it look like I’m comin’ here for a reason.” He hands her an envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Your bill.”
“Oh. Um, thanks,” she furrows her brow. “Arthur, it’s obvious y’all are comin’ here for your car, not to hand-deliver…” she unfolds the sheet of paper inside, “a blank piece of paper!”
“Like I said, your bill.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I am payin’ you for your lawyerin’.”
“I don’t feel right about it.”
“Merlin, help,” she looks at him.
“Belligerent as an old badger, him,” Merlin shrugs.
Gwen narrows her eyes. “I’ll just call Leon. He won’t feel bad.”
Arthur’s eyes widen.
“Arthur, I was expectin’ to have to pay. Besides, it’s your father’s business. The company should get paid.”
Arthur looks contrite now, but he still doesn’t say anything. He knows he’s not going to win.
“Look, if it’ll make you feel any better, don’t take your share of the fee. Give it to the company. Donate it to charity or somethin’.”
“Here,” Arthur sighs, handing her the real bill.
She opens it. It is still far less than she anticipated. “Thank you. If you wait here, I’ll go and get the money.”
“You don’t have to pay now, Guinevere,” Arthur says.
“Arthur, we are leaving in just over a day. When am I gon’ get a chance to pay it? Now wait here.”
She hurries back into the house. Arthur tries not to be too obvious about watching her walk away in her little light blue Capri pants and white sleeveless shirt.
“You’re looking,” Merlin mutters, leaning against his car, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’m allowed.”
“Not in this neighborhood, mate.”
“I’m being casual. You just know I’m lookin’ because you know me.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m going to miss you,” Merlin says suddenly.
“Don’t go gettin’ mushy on me now, Merlin,” Arthur says. Then, a moment later, “I’ll miss you, too. You’ll have to come visit.”
“In summer. I’m not goin’ up there when it’s cold.”
Arthur laughs and Gwen returns with an envelope. She thrusts it at Arthur, who looks at it but doesn’t take it.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Gwen rolls her eyes and hands it to Merlin.
“Thank you,” Merlin says. Then he smacks Arthur on the arm with the envelope.
“Go on back to work now, boys, I got things to do,” she says.
“I’ll call you later,” Arthur says quietly.
“’Bye, Gwen,” Merlin waves, and both men hop into their cars and drive off.
Gwen walks back to her house and sees Mrs. Barry watching her. Might as well get it over with.
“Hello, Mrs. Barry,” she says, walking over.
“Gwen, what those two white boys doin’ callin’ on you in the middle of the day?”
“One is my lawyer, and the other works with him at the law office, ma’am,” Gwen says.
“Not a lawyer too?”
“No, he’s an… assistant there. They were bringin’ my bill.”
“And pickin’ up that fancy car that was settin’ there all night,” she says, raising a gray eyebrow.
“Um, yeah. Mr. Pendragon paid a visit to my brother last night and they got to drinkin’ a few too many beers,” Gwen says with a shrug. “I had to drive him home.”
“Which one is he, then?”
“The blonde one is Arthur Pendragon, my lawyer.” Stop asking questions.
“Ooo, girl, he’s pretty. The other’n ain’t bad neither. His ears is kinda big, though.”
“His name is Merlin. He’s from Ireland.”
“Well, they can come ’round here any time they want, just so’s I can look at ’em.”
Gwen chuckles. “I’ll tell them if I ever talk to them again.” She feels a bit guilty for lying, but she has to.
Mrs. Barry’s brows knit for a moment. “Why ain’t you at work?”
“Oh, I’m, um, moving. Saturday.”
“You’re movin’?”
“Yes, up north. There is an opportunity there for me that I think will make me happy.”
“That’s good. Gotta be happy. Elyan’s gon’ have to look after hisself now, I reckon,” she chuckles knowingly.
“Yes, he will. He’s got a good girl now, though. She’ll make sure he keeps his nose clean.”
“I’ll keep my eye on him, too, you know I will.”
Yes, I do. “I’d better get back. I’m packin’, you know.”
“Right. I’ll pray for you, Gwen, for your move.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Barry,” Gwen says. She turns and heads back over to her house, her puso beating furiously. Nosy, but kind. Hopefully I gave her just enough information.
xXx
“Arthur, I must say this is a nice surprise,” Uther says, closing his menu and setting it aside.
“Well, I owed you a rain check for lunch the other day, but we’ve both been so busy lately I thought I’d make it a dinner.”
The waiter arrives with their drinks and takes their meal order.
“Actually, Pop, there’s something I gotta talk to you about,” Arthur says once the waiter is gone.
“Ah, there it is,” Uther declares knowingly, taking a drink.
“You probably can guess,” Arthur says, pressing his lips together.
“Probably, but I want to hear it from you.”
Arthur takes a deep breath. “Guinevere and I are going to ilipat to Milwaukee so we can be together,” he says, all in a rush.
Uther nods slowly, not saying anything.
“I pag-ibig her. I really do, Pop. And I did tell you that if I loved her I would find a way for us to be together.”
“You did,” Uther allows, but says nothing more.
“I know there are risks. I know that movin’ north won’t solve all our problems. But I want to marry her. That’s the only thing I want in this world, Pop. To spend the rest of my life with her sa pamamagitan ng my side.”
“Do I need to ask The Question?” Uther asks.
“No, she is NOT pregnant,” Arthur sighs. “Her brother asked her the same thing,” he frowns.
“Her brother? He’s all right with this?”
Arthur nods. “Claims he is. Got drunk with him last night, in fact.”
“Ah, that would be why you’re drinking kouk tonight, then,” Uther nods. “But seriously, Arthur, he gave his blessing?”
“Well, technically she doesn’t need his blessing, officially. She’s the oldest. He has no say in what she does. She merely wants him to accept her choice. I want the same from you.”
“Oh, I have no say in what you do?”
“I’m an adult.”
“I’m still your father.”
“Are you gonna stop me?”
Uther pauses a moment. “Could I, if I would?”
Now Arthur pauses. He swallows and squares his shoulders. “No. I’m sorry if that upsets you. I don’t want you to feel like I’m abandoning you, but… my future is with Guinevere. I can’t imagine my life without her.”
“I see.”
Arthur regards his father, the air heavy between them. “Are you upset?”
“Concerned,” Uther sighs. “You’ve known this girl a very short time, Arthur.”
“I knew her before she hired me for the trial, Pop.”
“Oh?”
“I went to go see Dr. King’s speech with Merlin back in August. I met her there. Of course I didn’t see her again until she called me to hire me…”
“I always wondered why she called you. How did she…”
“I slipped her my card,” Arthur admits, grinning sheepishly.
“Arthur…”
“She was pretty and very nice. Especially considering I had just knocked her on her ass.”
“What?”
Arthur tells him about how he and Gwen really met, smiling wistfully the whole time. Uther listens and watches the light in his son’s eyes, even how he speaks her name with reverence, as if her name was something sweet on her tongue.
“It’s still not very long, Arthur.”
“I know that. But I also know that she’s the one, Pop. If we stay here and stay away from each other, no other woman will do. I’d just be comparin’ them to her, and none of them would be as pretty, as smart, as kind, as…”
“All right, all right, I get it,” Uther holds his hands up. The pagkain is delivered and their conversation pauses.
“You’re completely gone,” Uther sighs, cutting into his steak.
“Don’t you remember falling in pag-ibig with Mama?” Arthur asks.
“Of course I do, don’t be stupid. That’s the only thing that’s stopping me from stopping you. Which is good, because apparently you’re going to do what you want anyway.”
“It would be easier if you were okay with it,” Arthur says, taking a bite of his own steak.
“For the most part, I am,” Uther admits, sighing yet again. “But you do realize you are taking a big risk. Her brother could suffer the consequences for her running off with a white man, you know.”
“That’s why the only people that know are people that need to know. You, Elyan, Merlin.”
“Merlin?”
“Someone has to pack the rest of my things and send them. Besides, he’s my best friend, he likes Guinevere, and I trust him completely.”
“Pack the rest of your things? When exactly are you leaving?”
“Um, Saturday morning. Very early.” Arthur studies his baked potato.
“Arthur…”
“Look, I don’t want to wait any longer than I have to,” Arthur says, his voice rising slightly now, and a couple heads turn. “Sorry,” he mutters. “And Guinevere apparently feels the same way, because she agreed. I was ready to take off like a thief in the night on Tuesday when I asked her. She is the one that made me wait even this long.”
“I hate to say this, but you’re lucky her father isn’t alive,” Uther comments.
“If her father was alive, I probably would never have seen her again,” Arthur answers.
“Good point. So what are you telling people about your leaving?”
“I haven’t told anyone yet. Guinevere told her work that she is leaving for an opportunity up north. Not a total lie,” he shrugs. “I’ll probably just say that Uncle Gaius has a spot in the Milwaukee office and I was lookin’ for a change of scenery.”
“So you’ve spoken to Gaius, then.”
“Obviously. Sorry, Pop, I had to clear it with him before I did anything. So he knew before Guinevere even did. The only person that knew before him was Merlin.”
“Hmm.”
“I’ve cashed in my trust fund from Mama.”
“I assumed you had.”
“Goin’ to sell the Corvette. We’ll be taking Guinevere’s car.”
“What? You’re selling it?” Uther is surprised. Arthur loves that car.
“Can’t fit nothin’ in it for movin’,” Arthur says, frowning. “I can always buy another one,” he grins now.
“Not a practical car for Wisconsin, Arthur. It would be no good to you in the winter.”
“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that. Well, it’s just a thing,” he shrugs.
Uther angles his head at his son. Must be the girl’s influence.
“Pop, can you do one thing for me, though?”
“What’s that?”
“Keep half an eye on Elyan, Guinevere’s brother. He’s a good man, but he’s a little hot-headed. Guinevere kept him in line pretty well, and he’s got a good girlfriend now, but… well, it’s like you said. I don’t want him to have to deal with any fallout if word got out that Guinevere and I eloped off up north.”
“I’ll try,” Uther says.
“Can you do madami than try? I promised him that I would keep Guinevere happy. If she finds out something has happened to him down here because she ran off with me…”
“All right, you win. I’ll look out for her brother. Merlin can help me with that.”
“Thank you,” Arthur says.
“Are you going to get married right away?”
“I don’t know. Knowing Guinevere, probably not. She’s gonna want to wait a bit, I think.”
“Do you even have a ring for her yet?”
“Was gonna try and go find one tomorrow.”
Uther pauses and takes a long drink, draining his glass, setting it on the mesa with a thud. “Would you like your mother’s?”
xXx
Finally her phone rings, and Gwen snatches it eagerly.
“Hello?” she says, willing her voice to be calm.
“Waiting sa pamamagitan ng the phone?” Arthur’s teasing voice comes over the line.
“Hush, you. How was your dinner?”
“You were right, is that what you want to hear?”
“I want to hear you say that you told your father and he gave us his blessin’.”
“I thought that's what I just did.”
“Arthur, are you drunk again?”
“Lord, no. Sorry, I’m just jittery. It was a stressful night.”
“Was he difficult?”
“Not really. He was concerned, mainly. Because there may be consequences for Elyan if people found out you ran off with a white man. And because we haven’t known each other very long.”
“That’s why we’re not tellin’ people, to try and protect our own. My neighbor did have some tanong after y’all left at lunchtime. I told her the same thing I told my principal.”
“Good. It’s vague, but it ain’t exactly a lie.”
“I know. It’s gettin’ easier to say, too. Somehow that worries me.”
“He asked, too.”
“About me bein’…”
“Yeah. It won’t be the last time, I guarantee.”
“I know. I guess it’s a good thing I’m small and skinny, so people will be able to easily see that I ain’t gettin’ any bigger.”
That may be a good reason to not rush into getting married right away. It would just further encourage people to assume I’d gotten her pregnant. “Guinevere, I… I’m sorry. For before. This morning.”
“Huh?”
“For bein’ such a… coward… about tellin’ my Pop.”
“You weren’t a coward.”
“I was. I… I wasn’t gonna tell him. I was gonna write a letter and leave it on his mesa Friday night.”
“But you didn’t.” That would have been cowardly.
“Only because you made me realize that I was bein’ a coward.”
“You’re not a coward, Arthur. You’re my Superman, remember?”
“I was afraid that Pop was my kryptonite.”
“Baby, you’re your own kryptonite,” she sighs. “If you think like that, anyway.”
“You are so smart. Too smart.”
“Yeah, and that’s my kryptonite. No one likes a colored girl with too much smarts.”
“I do. In fact I pag-ibig one.”
“See? There’s my Superman. You stood up and did the right thing sa pamamagitan ng tellin’ your pa. And now Saturday mornin’ we can leave knowin’ that both my brother and your father are on our side.”
“I asked Pop to keep an eye on Elyan after we leave.”
“Thank you. That means… madami than I can say.”
“Well, it’s what you do when you pag-ibig someone,” he says simply.
“Superman again,” she says with a small chuckle. “I’m gon’ have to remember to ration my compliments.”
Arthur laughs now. “Did you find a heavy coat?” he asks, changing the subject.
“No, not a one to be found,” she sighs. “I’ll just have to get one when we get there. I hope it won’t be too cold already.”
“Uncle tells me the weather is a bit unpredictable at times. No matter what, it’s gonna be colder than you’ll want it to be.”
“Probably,” she sighs. “I don’t have much in the way of warm clothes.”
“So you’ll go shopping,” he says lightly. “Plus, I’m sure my cousin Morgana will have things you can borrow, too.”
“You didn’t mention a cousin,” Gwen says.
“Oh, sorry. She’s a couple years older than me. Uncle Gaius is quite a bit older than my pop. He and Aunt Alice couldn’t have kids, and they adopted Morgana when they were in their 40s.”
“Is she nice?”
“Yeah. Well… yeah. She’s a lawyer, too. Does divorce law, though, so she gets paid to be a bitch. But to us she’s nice. I’m sure she’d be madami than happy to take you shopping, too.”
“Oh,” Gwen says.
“What’s wrong, Guinevere?”
“I just hope she’ll like me.”
“She will. Anyone would have to try very hard not to like you. Besides, you should have heard her squeal when Uncle told her we were comin’. She’s very excited.”
“Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“I’m excited, too.”
“Me, too.”
“And a little scared,” she admits.
“Me, too.”
Part 15: link
Post office
Try to find a winter amerikana (may have to wait till we get there)
Don’t forget Mama’s dress
Gwen is making a listahan of things she needs to do and/or remember before Saturday, 4:30 a.m. Her doorbell rings, breaking her train of thought.
“Who could that be at this hour?” she mutters to herself. It’s 10:15 in the morning, everyone should be at work.
She opens the door and is faced with a bouquet of roses. “Guinevere Thompson?” the mga rosas ask.
“Yes,” she says, taking the bouquet, uncovering the man standing behind them.
“Delivery for you. Have a good day,” he nods and trots back down to his truck.
“Thank you…” she calls after him, smelling them. There is a card attached, but she knows who they’re from.
Gwen brings them upstairs, smiling to herself. She frowns a little as she digs out a vase, realizing that she’s leaving in a couple days and won’t get to enjoy them for very long.
Still, he’s very sweet. She opens the card. Sorry for getting drunk with your brother last night. pag-ibig you, A.
“Silly,” she mutters, then picks up the phone.
“Pendragon Law Offices, this is Vivian, may I help you?”
“Hello, Vivian, this is Guinevere Thompson. May I speak to Arthur, please?”
“Yes, just one moment,” Vivian answers, clearly puzzled as to why Gwen is calling, since the trial is over.
“Arthur Pendragon.”
“Thank you for the flowers,” Gwen says.
“You are quite welcome, my love.”
“It wasn’t necessary, though.”
“Of course it wasn’t. That’s the whole point.”
Gwen giggles at this, and Arthur continues.
“I do feel really bad that you had to haul my sorry butt tahanan last night, though. Thank you again. Merlin’s gonna take me to get my car at lunch. You gonna be home?”
“Probably. Got some things to do, but I might be around,” she says evasively. Intentionally evasively.
“Guinevere, are you playin’ coy with me?”
“I might be.”
“You are much braver on the phone, I’ve noticed.”
“Phone is safe. No one can see us talkin’ like we’re a couple of lovesick fools.”
“Soon, darlin’, soon.”
“I know. Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“Have you told your father yet?”
He says nothing, and she has her answer.
“Arthur…”
“I know.”
“You gotta tell him. He’s your only family.”
“I will.”
“When, Friday night? You gonna call him at ten p.m. and say, ‘Hey, Pop, just callin’ to let you know I’m gonna be gone sa pamamagitan ng the time you get up tomorrow mornin’ ’cause I’m elopin’ with a colored girl’?”
“Guinevere…”
“Don’t ‘Guinevere’ me, Arthur. You have got to tell him.”
“I know I should.”
“But?”
“But I don’t want to hear what he’s goin’ to have to say. He’s goin’ to try to convince me not to leave.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’m pretty sure. He’s got nothin’ against you, Guinevere, I want you to know that. He says he likes you. But he just… follows the letter of the law, and the law here says we can’t get married.”
“That’s why we’re movin’. He’ll understand that.”
“I hope so.”
“He’s your daddy and he loves you. Besides, if he finds out that your uncle knows and you couldn’t even tell him…”
“Okay, you’re right, you’re right. You’re always right, darn it. I’ll… I’ll have hapunan with him tonight and tell him then. He’ll behave himself in a public place like a restaurant.”
“You’re overreacting, I’m sure.”
“Well, I hope you’re right.”
“Arthur, didn’t you say your father moved here from Boston to be with your mama?”
Arthur is silent again.
“That’s what I thought,” Gwen says, smirking. “You’ll be fine, baby, just explain how we feel about each other and he’ll understand. He may even be happy for you for standing up for your convictions.”
“I just feel like I’m abandoning him.”
“Did he pag-ibig your mother?”
“That’s a strange question.”
“Did he?”
“Yes, very much,” Arthur admits quietly.
“He’ll understand.”
“Maybe.”
“Well, ‘maybe’ is better than ‘I hope so,’ I guess.”
“Trying to be positive. Ish.”
Gwen laughs now. “Try harder. If you think it’s going to turn out badly, it will.”
“You’re right,” he sighs.
“Arthur?” she asks, suddenly unsure herself now.
“Hmm?”
“I’m… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t push.”
“No, you should. I need you pushin’ me.”
“You do?”
“Well, yeah. You push me to be a better man, don’t you know that?”
“I do?”
“Guinevere…” he sighs, chuckling. “You underestimate yourself. Of course you do. I pag-ibig you, so I want to be the best I can for you.”
“Oh. I… I just didn’t want you to think I was naggin’ already.”
He laughs now. “Never.”
“I should let you go. You’re at work, and I have to go to the post office.”
“If you must. I probably should at least look like I’m doin’ somethin’,” he says. “Something other than secretly packing, I mean. See you around lunchtime, Guinevere.”
“If I’m here,” she teases.
Arthur snorts. “Love you.”
“Love you, too. ’Bye, Arthur.”
xXx
Gwen finds herself continually peeking out the window as soon as noon arrived. She looks out, chastises herself for being foolish, and goes back to packing. Five minutos later, she repeats the cycle all over again.
Finally she sees a strange car pull up and Merlin and Arthur climb out. Gwen wipes her hands on a towel and heads downstairs, wondering what she should do. I can’t invite them in. I can’t stand out here talkin’ with them too long or the neighbors will start askin’ questions.
She steps outside and, to her shock, Merlin waves at Mrs. Barry susunod door, who is sitting on her porch in her rocker. She waves back, puzzled, but Merlin’s friendly grin cannot be ignored.
“Merlin…” she says, smiling, but her voice is quiet and stern.
“What? I was just bein’ friendly.”
Gwen sighs and looks at the cloudless sky.
“Nothin’ you can do about him, Guinevere,” Arthur says. “Oh, here, make it look like I’m comin’ here for a reason.” He hands her an envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Your bill.”
“Oh. Um, thanks,” she furrows her brow. “Arthur, it’s obvious y’all are comin’ here for your car, not to hand-deliver…” she unfolds the sheet of paper inside, “a blank piece of paper!”
“Like I said, your bill.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I am payin’ you for your lawyerin’.”
“I don’t feel right about it.”
“Merlin, help,” she looks at him.
“Belligerent as an old badger, him,” Merlin shrugs.
Gwen narrows her eyes. “I’ll just call Leon. He won’t feel bad.”
Arthur’s eyes widen.
“Arthur, I was expectin’ to have to pay. Besides, it’s your father’s business. The company should get paid.”
Arthur looks contrite now, but he still doesn’t say anything. He knows he’s not going to win.
“Look, if it’ll make you feel any better, don’t take your share of the fee. Give it to the company. Donate it to charity or somethin’.”
“Here,” Arthur sighs, handing her the real bill.
She opens it. It is still far less than she anticipated. “Thank you. If you wait here, I’ll go and get the money.”
“You don’t have to pay now, Guinevere,” Arthur says.
“Arthur, we are leaving in just over a day. When am I gon’ get a chance to pay it? Now wait here.”
She hurries back into the house. Arthur tries not to be too obvious about watching her walk away in her little light blue Capri pants and white sleeveless shirt.
“You’re looking,” Merlin mutters, leaning against his car, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’m allowed.”
“Not in this neighborhood, mate.”
“I’m being casual. You just know I’m lookin’ because you know me.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m going to miss you,” Merlin says suddenly.
“Don’t go gettin’ mushy on me now, Merlin,” Arthur says. Then, a moment later, “I’ll miss you, too. You’ll have to come visit.”
“In summer. I’m not goin’ up there when it’s cold.”
Arthur laughs and Gwen returns with an envelope. She thrusts it at Arthur, who looks at it but doesn’t take it.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Gwen rolls her eyes and hands it to Merlin.
“Thank you,” Merlin says. Then he smacks Arthur on the arm with the envelope.
“Go on back to work now, boys, I got things to do,” she says.
“I’ll call you later,” Arthur says quietly.
“’Bye, Gwen,” Merlin waves, and both men hop into their cars and drive off.
Gwen walks back to her house and sees Mrs. Barry watching her. Might as well get it over with.
“Hello, Mrs. Barry,” she says, walking over.
“Gwen, what those two white boys doin’ callin’ on you in the middle of the day?”
“One is my lawyer, and the other works with him at the law office, ma’am,” Gwen says.
“Not a lawyer too?”
“No, he’s an… assistant there. They were bringin’ my bill.”
“And pickin’ up that fancy car that was settin’ there all night,” she says, raising a gray eyebrow.
“Um, yeah. Mr. Pendragon paid a visit to my brother last night and they got to drinkin’ a few too many beers,” Gwen says with a shrug. “I had to drive him home.”
“Which one is he, then?”
“The blonde one is Arthur Pendragon, my lawyer.” Stop asking questions.
“Ooo, girl, he’s pretty. The other’n ain’t bad neither. His ears is kinda big, though.”
“His name is Merlin. He’s from Ireland.”
“Well, they can come ’round here any time they want, just so’s I can look at ’em.”
Gwen chuckles. “I’ll tell them if I ever talk to them again.” She feels a bit guilty for lying, but she has to.
Mrs. Barry’s brows knit for a moment. “Why ain’t you at work?”
“Oh, I’m, um, moving. Saturday.”
“You’re movin’?”
“Yes, up north. There is an opportunity there for me that I think will make me happy.”
“That’s good. Gotta be happy. Elyan’s gon’ have to look after hisself now, I reckon,” she chuckles knowingly.
“Yes, he will. He’s got a good girl now, though. She’ll make sure he keeps his nose clean.”
“I’ll keep my eye on him, too, you know I will.”
Yes, I do. “I’d better get back. I’m packin’, you know.”
“Right. I’ll pray for you, Gwen, for your move.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Barry,” Gwen says. She turns and heads back over to her house, her puso beating furiously. Nosy, but kind. Hopefully I gave her just enough information.
xXx
“Arthur, I must say this is a nice surprise,” Uther says, closing his menu and setting it aside.
“Well, I owed you a rain check for lunch the other day, but we’ve both been so busy lately I thought I’d make it a dinner.”
The waiter arrives with their drinks and takes their meal order.
“Actually, Pop, there’s something I gotta talk to you about,” Arthur says once the waiter is gone.
“Ah, there it is,” Uther declares knowingly, taking a drink.
“You probably can guess,” Arthur says, pressing his lips together.
“Probably, but I want to hear it from you.”
Arthur takes a deep breath. “Guinevere and I are going to ilipat to Milwaukee so we can be together,” he says, all in a rush.
Uther nods slowly, not saying anything.
“I pag-ibig her. I really do, Pop. And I did tell you that if I loved her I would find a way for us to be together.”
“You did,” Uther allows, but says nothing more.
“I know there are risks. I know that movin’ north won’t solve all our problems. But I want to marry her. That’s the only thing I want in this world, Pop. To spend the rest of my life with her sa pamamagitan ng my side.”
“Do I need to ask The Question?” Uther asks.
“No, she is NOT pregnant,” Arthur sighs. “Her brother asked her the same thing,” he frowns.
“Her brother? He’s all right with this?”
Arthur nods. “Claims he is. Got drunk with him last night, in fact.”
“Ah, that would be why you’re drinking kouk tonight, then,” Uther nods. “But seriously, Arthur, he gave his blessing?”
“Well, technically she doesn’t need his blessing, officially. She’s the oldest. He has no say in what she does. She merely wants him to accept her choice. I want the same from you.”
“Oh, I have no say in what you do?”
“I’m an adult.”
“I’m still your father.”
“Are you gonna stop me?”
Uther pauses a moment. “Could I, if I would?”
Now Arthur pauses. He swallows and squares his shoulders. “No. I’m sorry if that upsets you. I don’t want you to feel like I’m abandoning you, but… my future is with Guinevere. I can’t imagine my life without her.”
“I see.”
Arthur regards his father, the air heavy between them. “Are you upset?”
“Concerned,” Uther sighs. “You’ve known this girl a very short time, Arthur.”
“I knew her before she hired me for the trial, Pop.”
“Oh?”
“I went to go see Dr. King’s speech with Merlin back in August. I met her there. Of course I didn’t see her again until she called me to hire me…”
“I always wondered why she called you. How did she…”
“I slipped her my card,” Arthur admits, grinning sheepishly.
“Arthur…”
“She was pretty and very nice. Especially considering I had just knocked her on her ass.”
“What?”
Arthur tells him about how he and Gwen really met, smiling wistfully the whole time. Uther listens and watches the light in his son’s eyes, even how he speaks her name with reverence, as if her name was something sweet on her tongue.
“It’s still not very long, Arthur.”
“I know that. But I also know that she’s the one, Pop. If we stay here and stay away from each other, no other woman will do. I’d just be comparin’ them to her, and none of them would be as pretty, as smart, as kind, as…”
“All right, all right, I get it,” Uther holds his hands up. The pagkain is delivered and their conversation pauses.
“You’re completely gone,” Uther sighs, cutting into his steak.
“Don’t you remember falling in pag-ibig with Mama?” Arthur asks.
“Of course I do, don’t be stupid. That’s the only thing that’s stopping me from stopping you. Which is good, because apparently you’re going to do what you want anyway.”
“It would be easier if you were okay with it,” Arthur says, taking a bite of his own steak.
“For the most part, I am,” Uther admits, sighing yet again. “But you do realize you are taking a big risk. Her brother could suffer the consequences for her running off with a white man, you know.”
“That’s why the only people that know are people that need to know. You, Elyan, Merlin.”
“Merlin?”
“Someone has to pack the rest of my things and send them. Besides, he’s my best friend, he likes Guinevere, and I trust him completely.”
“Pack the rest of your things? When exactly are you leaving?”
“Um, Saturday morning. Very early.” Arthur studies his baked potato.
“Arthur…”
“Look, I don’t want to wait any longer than I have to,” Arthur says, his voice rising slightly now, and a couple heads turn. “Sorry,” he mutters. “And Guinevere apparently feels the same way, because she agreed. I was ready to take off like a thief in the night on Tuesday when I asked her. She is the one that made me wait even this long.”
“I hate to say this, but you’re lucky her father isn’t alive,” Uther comments.
“If her father was alive, I probably would never have seen her again,” Arthur answers.
“Good point. So what are you telling people about your leaving?”
“I haven’t told anyone yet. Guinevere told her work that she is leaving for an opportunity up north. Not a total lie,” he shrugs. “I’ll probably just say that Uncle Gaius has a spot in the Milwaukee office and I was lookin’ for a change of scenery.”
“So you’ve spoken to Gaius, then.”
“Obviously. Sorry, Pop, I had to clear it with him before I did anything. So he knew before Guinevere even did. The only person that knew before him was Merlin.”
“Hmm.”
“I’ve cashed in my trust fund from Mama.”
“I assumed you had.”
“Goin’ to sell the Corvette. We’ll be taking Guinevere’s car.”
“What? You’re selling it?” Uther is surprised. Arthur loves that car.
“Can’t fit nothin’ in it for movin’,” Arthur says, frowning. “I can always buy another one,” he grins now.
“Not a practical car for Wisconsin, Arthur. It would be no good to you in the winter.”
“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that. Well, it’s just a thing,” he shrugs.
Uther angles his head at his son. Must be the girl’s influence.
“Pop, can you do one thing for me, though?”
“What’s that?”
“Keep half an eye on Elyan, Guinevere’s brother. He’s a good man, but he’s a little hot-headed. Guinevere kept him in line pretty well, and he’s got a good girlfriend now, but… well, it’s like you said. I don’t want him to have to deal with any fallout if word got out that Guinevere and I eloped off up north.”
“I’ll try,” Uther says.
“Can you do madami than try? I promised him that I would keep Guinevere happy. If she finds out something has happened to him down here because she ran off with me…”
“All right, you win. I’ll look out for her brother. Merlin can help me with that.”
“Thank you,” Arthur says.
“Are you going to get married right away?”
“I don’t know. Knowing Guinevere, probably not. She’s gonna want to wait a bit, I think.”
“Do you even have a ring for her yet?”
“Was gonna try and go find one tomorrow.”
Uther pauses and takes a long drink, draining his glass, setting it on the mesa with a thud. “Would you like your mother’s?”
xXx
Finally her phone rings, and Gwen snatches it eagerly.
“Hello?” she says, willing her voice to be calm.
“Waiting sa pamamagitan ng the phone?” Arthur’s teasing voice comes over the line.
“Hush, you. How was your dinner?”
“You were right, is that what you want to hear?”
“I want to hear you say that you told your father and he gave us his blessin’.”
“I thought that's what I just did.”
“Arthur, are you drunk again?”
“Lord, no. Sorry, I’m just jittery. It was a stressful night.”
“Was he difficult?”
“Not really. He was concerned, mainly. Because there may be consequences for Elyan if people found out you ran off with a white man. And because we haven’t known each other very long.”
“That’s why we’re not tellin’ people, to try and protect our own. My neighbor did have some tanong after y’all left at lunchtime. I told her the same thing I told my principal.”
“Good. It’s vague, but it ain’t exactly a lie.”
“I know. It’s gettin’ easier to say, too. Somehow that worries me.”
“He asked, too.”
“About me bein’…”
“Yeah. It won’t be the last time, I guarantee.”
“I know. I guess it’s a good thing I’m small and skinny, so people will be able to easily see that I ain’t gettin’ any bigger.”
That may be a good reason to not rush into getting married right away. It would just further encourage people to assume I’d gotten her pregnant. “Guinevere, I… I’m sorry. For before. This morning.”
“Huh?”
“For bein’ such a… coward… about tellin’ my Pop.”
“You weren’t a coward.”
“I was. I… I wasn’t gonna tell him. I was gonna write a letter and leave it on his mesa Friday night.”
“But you didn’t.” That would have been cowardly.
“Only because you made me realize that I was bein’ a coward.”
“You’re not a coward, Arthur. You’re my Superman, remember?”
“I was afraid that Pop was my kryptonite.”
“Baby, you’re your own kryptonite,” she sighs. “If you think like that, anyway.”
“You are so smart. Too smart.”
“Yeah, and that’s my kryptonite. No one likes a colored girl with too much smarts.”
“I do. In fact I pag-ibig one.”
“See? There’s my Superman. You stood up and did the right thing sa pamamagitan ng tellin’ your pa. And now Saturday mornin’ we can leave knowin’ that both my brother and your father are on our side.”
“I asked Pop to keep an eye on Elyan after we leave.”
“Thank you. That means… madami than I can say.”
“Well, it’s what you do when you pag-ibig someone,” he says simply.
“Superman again,” she says with a small chuckle. “I’m gon’ have to remember to ration my compliments.”
Arthur laughs now. “Did you find a heavy coat?” he asks, changing the subject.
“No, not a one to be found,” she sighs. “I’ll just have to get one when we get there. I hope it won’t be too cold already.”
“Uncle tells me the weather is a bit unpredictable at times. No matter what, it’s gonna be colder than you’ll want it to be.”
“Probably,” she sighs. “I don’t have much in the way of warm clothes.”
“So you’ll go shopping,” he says lightly. “Plus, I’m sure my cousin Morgana will have things you can borrow, too.”
“You didn’t mention a cousin,” Gwen says.
“Oh, sorry. She’s a couple years older than me. Uncle Gaius is quite a bit older than my pop. He and Aunt Alice couldn’t have kids, and they adopted Morgana when they were in their 40s.”
“Is she nice?”
“Yeah. Well… yeah. She’s a lawyer, too. Does divorce law, though, so she gets paid to be a bitch. But to us she’s nice. I’m sure she’d be madami than happy to take you shopping, too.”
“Oh,” Gwen says.
“What’s wrong, Guinevere?”
“I just hope she’ll like me.”
“She will. Anyone would have to try very hard not to like you. Besides, you should have heard her squeal when Uncle told her we were comin’. She’s very excited.”
“Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“I’m excited, too.”
“Me, too.”
“And a little scared,” she admits.
“Me, too.”
Part 15: link
