Part 15: link
“Where are we?” Gwen sits up, rubbing her eyes. She looks out the window and sees… nothing noteworthy. The land is brown and flat. Flatter than any land she’s ever seen before. All around are farm fields, recently harvested.
“Illinois,” Arthur says. “Did আপনি sleep well?” he turns and smiles fondly at her, all rumpled and sleepy.
“Well enough,” she says, stretching.
“Do আপনি need a break? Rest room? Stretch your legs?”
“That would be nice,” she says.
“I saw a sign advertisin’ a rest stop in a few miles.”
“Oh, good. I wasn’t in your way, was I?” she asks, putting her shoes back on now.
“No. A little… distracting, what with your head – and your hand – on my thigh, but… I liked it.” He keeps his eyes on the road. When he peeks at her, she’s blushing.
“I didn’t… say anything, did I? Elyan claims I talk in my sleep.”
“You made some very cute little sounds from time to time, but no talkin’,” he answers, smiling. “Hmm. I feel cheated now.”
Gwen swats his arm lightly, laughing.
“Maybe পরবর্তি time,” he shrugs.
Next time. Of course there’s going to be a পরবর্তি time, Gwen thinks, the reality of it exciting and scary at once, and her mind drifts back to her gray suitcase in the back আসন of the car, to the treasured dress packed carefully inside.
“It’s really… flat here,” she says.
“Yeah. Once we get near Chicago it’ll get আরো interesting,” he says.
“Is Wisconsin this flat? I mean, I’m assuming you’ve been there before…”
“Yes, we’ve been up to visit a few times. It’s not this flat, but it’s not hilly like home, either. But it’s right on Lake Michigan, which is nice.”
“Oh. We’ll be able to go swimmin’ in the summer, then,” she smiles. “Does it get warm enough in the summer there to swim?”
“Yes, it actually gets quite hot in the summers there. Last time Pop and I were there it was July and it was just as hot as one of our summers in Memphis,” he says, steering the car towards the rest stop.
“Well, it’s good to know that it won’t be cold all the time,” she says, smiling.
“Just most of the time,” he mutters.
“What?” she asks.
“Nothing,” he says, parking the car. He turns and kisses her softly, lingering over her lips a few moments.
“What was that for?” she asks, blushing again.
“Because I can,” he grins, then gets out of the car. He scurries around and has her door open before she’s slid over to the door.
“Thank you, kind sir,” she says, climbing out. “Oh! It’s cold!” she exclaims, not used to the crisp fall air yet.
“Where is your coat?” he asks.
“Somewhere…” she says, wrapping her arms around herself. “Like I said, I still need to buy a heavy one. I did have one, but I had to throw it at the end of last winter because it was just too far gone,” she sighs. “I couldn’t repair it no more.”
“Here,” Arthur opens the ট্রাঙ্ক and pulls open a box, producing a navy blue parka with পশম around the hood. “I used to wear this in the winters when I was in college,” he tells her, holding it out for her to slide her arms in. The sleeves hang off her hands and the কোট reaches nearly to her knees.
“It looks like it’s eating you,” Arthur chuckles. “But you’re very cute. Come on,” he boldly takes her hand and walks with her to the building.
“Arthur?” she asks quietly.
“Illinois don’t have a law against mixed race relationships, darlin’,” he says, squeezing her hand. “I checked yesterday, just to be sure.”
“Okay,” she says, relaxing.
Inside, they separate and go attend to business. Arthur is, of course, waiting for her when she comes out.
“You’re right, I look ridiculous in this coat,” she says.
“I never ব্যক্ত ridiculous. I ব্যক্ত আপনি were cute.”
“You said it looked like I was bein’ eaten.”
“Yes, and then I ব্যক্ত আপনি were very cute. Come on, let’s walk a little,” he holds his hand out and she takes it again.
They head back outside and make a circuit of the building. The sun is out, but it’s not doing much to warm the air.
“Ain’t আপনি cold?” Gwen asks.
“I’m fine,” Arthur says. He’s got on a light sweater and jeans. Here and there other people drift in and out of the stop. Gwen smiles at a man walking his dog along the edge of the treeline. It’s a little fluffy black dog with a স্থুলকায় body and short legs.
“Cute,” she says, nodding at the animal as it bounds happily, sniffing here, lifting his leg there.
“We could get a dog, if you’d like,” he says.
“Maybe. We’d have to get a house.”
“Of course we’ll get a house,” he says. They stop near a picnic table. Arthur pulls her over, and they both sit on the শীর্ষ of the table, their feet on the bench seat.
“We will?”
“Well, yes. Guinevere, we’re fabulously wealthy, remember? We can certainly buy a house. Any kind আপনি want. Hell, we could even have one built if আপনি don’t find one আপনি like,” he says, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb as he holds it in his lap.
“I keep forgettin’. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.”
“I don’t think আপনি will, and that’s one of the reasons I প্রণয় you,” Arthur says, gazing down into her soft brown eyes.
She ducks her head and blushes again. “That’s another thing I don’t think I’ll get used to.”
“What, me complimentin’ আপনি অথবা me tellin’ আপনি that I প্রণয় you?” he grins at her again.
“Both,” she giggles, leaning to the side and bumping him with her shoulder.
Arthur is quiet for a long moment, playing with her fingers. “I have something for you,” he says suddenly.
“You do?”
He nods, and hops down from the tabletop. “Close your eyes,” he says, touching the end of her nose.
She does, but they fly open again when she feels him on the আসন of the picnic table, easing himself in between her knees.
“Arthur!” she exclaims.
“Closed!” he replies, just as urgently, then immediately apologizes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you. I’m not doin’ anything indecent, I promise. Good thing you’re wearin’ pants, though.”
“Ramblin’,” she teases, but she separates her feet to allow him between them. “What on earth are আপনি doin’?” she asks. He’s takin’ his time, whatever it is.
She feels his চুম্বন on her lips now. “Open your eyes,” he whispers.
Gwen opens her eyes and immediately gasps.
“Guinevere Thompson, would আপনি make me the happiest man in the free world and do me the honor of being my wife?” he asks, a small black box in his hand, opened to reveal a beautiful diamond ring inside.
She throws her arms around his neck and whispers, “Yes. Yes, Arthur, I will be your wife.”
“Oh, good,” he says, trying to sound flippant to hide his own tears of joy. “I’d hate to think we’d come all this way for nothing.”
Gwen’s breathing hitches as she laughs through her tears, and she releases the death grip she has on his neck.
Her হৃদয় melts when she sees his wet eyes, and she gently wipes them with her thumbs. He does the same for her, then he leans অগ্রবর্তী and kisses her, properly.
Gwen melts into his embrace, allowing his tongue to sweep through her mouth with no hesitation, her fingers gripping his sweater.
I hope no one’s looking, she thinks, reason creeping in. “Arthur,” she says against his lips.
“Hmm.”
She pulls gently away. “We’re in public, Baby. People might be lookin’.”
“Let ’em look,” he shrugs.
“I am not on display,” she huffs, but she is trying not to smile, too ridiculously happy to be mad.
“’Course you’re not,” he smiles. “Now, do আপনি want this অথবা not?” he asks, holding up the ring.
“Gimme that,” she says, holding her left hand out to him. It is trembling slightly.
“I hope it fits,” he says, sliding it over her finger.
“It’s a little big, but that’s okay,” she says, looking at it on her hand, watching how the diamonds glint in the sunlight.
“We can get it sized,” he says. “It was my mother’s.”
“Arthur…” she gasps, her eyes wide. “Oh, my…” She doesn’t care that he didn’t buy her a ring. Sentimental value far outweighs monetary value, in her mind.
“You like it?”
“I প্রণয় it, thank you,” she says, স্নেহ চুম্বন him again. Briefly. “We should get goin’.”
“Yeah, prob’ly. This bench is hurtin’ my knees anyway.”
“You could have had me সরানো down to the seat, Arthur,” she says, watching him rub the feeling back into his knees.
“The ঘাস was cold and damp,” he says. “Come on, darlin’.” He wraps his arm around her and they walk back to the car. Gwen keeps glancing at her ring. Arthur smiles, proud of himself.
As they walk to the car, an elderly white couple frowns disapprovingly at them. Arthur stares boldly back at them, almost as if he is daring them to make a comment. They say nothing and disappear into the building.
Twenty feet later, a young white couple passes them and they smile fondly at Arthur and Gwen.
“Makin’ my head spin,” Gwen comments. Then an older colored man, probably in his 40s, passes them.
“Miss,” he nods at Gwen, glancing briefly at Arthur, and the briefest look of concern crosses his face.
“Like আপনি said, Guinevere, not illegal, but some people might not like it.”
“I think that colored man was worried about me,” she says.
“I think that old couple was worried about me,” Arthur says, attempting to lighten the suddenly-darker mood.
“I can be strong because I have you,” Gwen says decisively, choosing not to let the disapproving looks from a couple of old people trouble her.
He smiles at her, leaning back against the car, pulling her against him and wrapping his arms around her back. “And I’m only সুপারম্যান because I have you. You’re my Lois Lane,” he says, rather pleased with himself.
Gwen giggles and the old couple emerges from the building, still frowning.
“They probably don’t ever smile,” Arthur whispers. The old couple walks right past them on their way to the car, staring again. Gwen lifts her left hand and pointedly smoothes her hair, brandishing her engagement ring in their faces, blatant yet somehow casual.
“Smooth,” Arthur declares. Then he yawns. Loudly.
“Baby, you’re tired, why don’t আপনি let me drive a spell? I just had a nap, আপনি know,” Gwen says, stroking his cheek.
“You sure?” Arthur asks.
“Yes, I’m sure. Just tell me where to go and I’ll be fine,” she says. Arthur opens the driver’s side door for her and she climbs in, adjusting the আসন অগ্রবর্তী while he goes around to the other side.
“Okay, just stay on 57 heading north. When আপনি start seeing signs tellin’ আপনি that we’re close to Chicago, wake me up and we’ll switch,” he says, taking his shoes off now and getting comfortable.
“Why?”
“You don’t want to be drivin’ through Chicago, darlin’. It’s a mess, and people don’t drive nice.” He leans down and puts his head on her lap now.
“Worked better for me; I’m smaller,” Gwen says, reaching down to touch his hair, brushing it from his forehead. She pulls out of the parking spot and heads out, back to the freeway.
“Mmm.” Arthur settles in, as comfortable as he’s going to get. “I think Kankakee might be a good place to stop and switch, if I ’member right,” he mumbles sleepily.
What a strange name for a city, Gwen thinks. “Okay.”
As she drives, she tries to not let herself get distracted দ্বারা the glittering diamond ring on her left hand.
xXx
An ঘন্টা and a half later, Gwen is still driving with Arthur slumbering quietly, drooling on her pant leg.
Then a police car pulls out, and Gwen automatically checks her speed. She’s going two miles over, nothing to be concerned about, but she slows so that she is going exactly the speed limit.
He’s probably just headin’ back to the station অথবা somethin’. Maybe his shift is done.
The officer follows her for a couple আরো miles before he decides to flip on his lights. The siren flares once, just a couple blips.
Hoping that he just needs to pass her and get to a call, she pulls to the side. The policeman pulls off as well, behind her in the shoulder. She sighs and turns the car off.
Do I have a taillight out? I don’t even have my lights on. A brake light? I know my plate isn’t expired. I was drivin’ perfect. Should I wake Arthur? She looks down at him.
The officer saunters up to the car. She rolls the window down and looks up at him. He looks so peaceful that she decides to leave him be.
“Well, missy, what do we have here?” he asks. “Whoa, আপনি got a white boy in your lap!” he exclaims, seeing Arthur. “He dead?”
“He’s asleep, sir. I’m sorry, is there a problem?”
“Just wondering what a little colored girl is doing driving through my state with a white boy asleep in her lap,” he says, looking down his nose at her. “Of course, when I pulled আপনি over, I was wondering what a little colored girl is doing driving through my state all alone…”
“We’re movin’ sir,” she explains.
She sees him look at her left hand, at the ring there. “He get আপনি knocked up অথবা something?”
“No, sir,” she says, struggling a little to remain polite. Arthur, wake up!
Then the officer reaches in the window and tips her face up, his fingers under her chin. “Well, আপনি certainly are a pretty little thing. For a colored girl.”
Gwen says nothing at this.
“Step out of the car, please, miss.”
“Beg pardon?” she asks.
“Don’t do it, Guinevere,” Arthur says, finally lifting his head.
She looks down at him. “What?” she asks.
“Do not get out of this car,” he repeats, then he leans across her. “Is there a problem officer, অথবা are আপনি just harassing my fiancée?”
“Well—”
“Officer, do আপনি have a legitimate reason for pulling us over? Broken taillight? Brake light out? মেয়াদ সমাপ্ত plates? Driving too fast? Too slow? Driving erratically? Was she parked in front of a hydrant?”
“What are you, some kind of lawyer?” the police officer snaps.
“As a matter of fact, I am,” Arthur says. “And if আপনি have no reason other than curiosity for pulling us over and disrupting my nap, we’ll just be on our way.”
“Um, yes, sir. Drive safely, miss,” the officer stammers, walking away.
“How long were আপনি awake?” Gwen asks.
“Long enough. I was playin’ possum because I wanted to see what he was up to, and I know he wouldn’t try anything if I was awake. Sorry.”
Gwen looks down at her leg. “You drooled on my pants.”
“Sorry,” he repeats. “Are আপনি all right, Guinevere?” he asks, cupping her cheek with his hand.
“I’m fine. A little shook up, but fine.”
“Do আপনি want me to drive?”
“Don’t আপনি want to go back to sleep?”
“Nah, I’m too pissed off now. I can drive if you’re shook up.”
“If আপনি insist,” she says, reaching for the door handle.
“No need to get out,” Arthur says, pulling her sideways into his lap.
“Oh!” she exclaims, giggling now.
“Mmm, you’ll have to pay the toll before I can let আপনি pass,” he says, rubbing his nose against hers.
“Arthur! That nasty policeman is still watchin’ us!” she exclaims, looking past him out the back window.
“What, is goin’ to arrest me for kissin’ you?” he asks, and then he kisses her, not very long, but long enough.
“Arthur!” she gasps when he releases her. “We are sittin’ on the side of the road!”
“Sorry,” Arthur says, but he can’t stop the grin spreading across his face. He moves her to his right and slides left, grunting as his knees hit the dashboard. He reaches down and pulls the lever to সরানো the আসন back. “Better.”
He checks the road and then pulls out again. “Are আপনি mad?” he asks after a bit.
“Why would I be mad?”
“You were yellin’ at me. And you’re way over there.”
“That wasn’t yellin’,” she says, chuckling. She slides back over পরবর্তি to him so he can মোড়ানো his arm around her again.
“It wasn’t?” he asks, his eyes widening.
“If Elyan were here, he’d tell you,” she says, settling against his shoulder. Her fingers twitch briefly, then she hesitantly rests her hand on his thigh. His muscles jump under her hand, but he is smiling.
“That ring looks just right on your hand, Guinevere,” he says, squeezing her.
“It does, doesn’t it?” she asks, lifting her hand a moment to admire it again.
“Are আপনি gettin’ hungry?”
“Little bit. Are we goin’ to be able to find a place where we can eat together?”
“We can try. If not, we’ll get it to go and have a picnic,” he shrugs, refusing to let anything sully his mood.
He pulls of at the পরবর্তি town they reach, looking for a ভোজনকারী অথবা even a McDonald’s. Someplace where they can get some lunch. They find a small downtown area and drive slowly through, Arthur peering at the buildings, looking for signs that say “whites only” অথবা “no coloreds;” looking for a place to eat that doesn’t ভালুক one of those placards.
“Hmm,” he mutters, frowning.
“Go that way,” Gwen points.
“Why that way?”
“Just turn,” she says.
“Okay,” he says, turning down the designated street.
“Just a feeling,” she explains. “Ah.” She points at a storefront with the sign Althea’s Soul খাবার Kitchen above.
Arthur stops the car.
“Is this okay?” Gwen asks.
“We’ll try. They may not let me in,” he says, half-smiling. He gets out of the car and goes around to open her door. She takes his hand and leads him to the restaurant, and he opens that door for her as well.
“Hello, baby,” a large woman behind a counter greets Gwen warmly. “Oh,” she blinks her surprise at seeing Arthur appear beside Gwen, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back.
Gwen leads Arthur to a টেবিল and the woman comes over with plastic laminated menus. “Somethin’ to drink, Sugar?” she asks Gwen.
“I suppose we’re too far north for আপনি to have sweet tea?” she asks.
“I’ll see what I can do,” the woman smiles. “Somethin’ for you, sir?”
“Dr. Pepper?” he asks hopefully.
“All right, honey, I’ll be right back.”
“I think the poor woman is beside herself,” Gwen whispers to Arthur. He reaches across to hold her hands.
“Can আপনি blame her?”
“Not really. She probably doesn’t get too many handsome white boys in here.”
“Oh, so I’m handsome?”
“You fishin’ for compliments?”
“Well…” he starts, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles, “I don’t think you’ve ever said.”
“I haven’t?”
He shakes his head no.
“O’ course I have…” she disagrees, her brow furrowing. “Or maybe I was just always thinkin’ it so much I just figured I’d ব্যক্ত it.”
“I’d remember if আপনি had,” he grins at her.
“Arthur, the দিন I met আপনি – when আপনি knocked me on my backside – I thought আপনি were the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on,” she says.
“Really?” he asks, leaning forward. “You’re too far away. I can’t চুম্বন you.”
“You are not kissin’ me in this restaurant,” she says. “We—”
The woman arrives with their drinks now, and they quickly lean back. “You just let me know if it’s sweet enough for you,” she says, setting the চা in front of Gwen.
Gwen drinks while the woman gives Arthur his Dr. Pepper. “It’s perfect, thank you. Are আপনি Althea?”
“Yes, I am, and this is my place,” she nods proudly. “What can I get for the two of you?”
“What do আপনি recommend?” Arthur asks, setting the menu down.
“Oh, now, everything’s good, o’ course,” she says proudly. “You like fried chicken, honey?”
“I প্রণয় fried chicken,” Arthur says. “It’s probably my পছন্দ food.”
“Well, then, Miss Thea’s gon’ set আপনি right up,” she nods. “Sugar?” she asks Gwen.
“I’ll have the same,” she smiles.
Althea takes the menus and is about to leave, but then she pauses and turns back. “I’m sorry, I gotta ask…”
“We’re passing through, moving north so that we can get married,” Arthur says, reaching for Gwen’s hand again.
“Hmm,” Althea cocks her head at them. “Where আপনি comin’ from?”
“Memphis,” Gwen answers.
“Y’all প্রণয় each other?”
That’s a pretty অগ্রবর্তী question, Arthur thinks, but he উত্তর anyway. “Very much, yes.” Gwen nods her agreement.
Althea sees him gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, sees the light in their eyes as they look at each other.
“Good enough for Miss Thea,” she nods, heading back to the kitchen.
“I wonder how her chicken will measure up against Gwaine’s?” Arthur asks. “Or yours?”
“Well, I reckon it’ll be better than Gwaine’s,” Gwen says, smirking. “And I’d also reckon that she’d give me a run for my money.”
“Will আপনি make your chicken for me once we’re settled? My aunt is a good cook, but I’m sure she’d let আপনি cook a meal অথবা two. If আপনি want, that is.”
“I প্রণয় cookin’, Arthur. I only complained about Elyan wantin’ me to cook for him all the time because he never really asked,” she says. “I’m gonna use the restroom. আপনি okay out here দ্বারা yourself?” she asks, smirking at him.
“I’ll be fine and I’ll behave,” Arthur says. Gwen laughs and leaves the table.
While she’s gone, a few আরো people come into the restaurant, all black. They do a very poor job of hiding their surprise at seeing blonde, blue-eyed Arthur sitting at a table. Arthur just smiles and nods at them. He hears Althea chuckling as she comes out from behind the counter to greet the new diners.
When she passes him after taking their drink orders, she pauses and rests her hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “What’s your name, honey?”
“Arthur,” he says.
“You take good care o’ that girl, Arthur. Y’all ain’t gon’ have an easy road, and it’s gon’ be harder on her.”
“I know that, ma’am, thank you. And we know it’s not going to be easy. But we’ll be together, and that’s the important thing.”
“You got it bad, ain’t you, honey?” Althea smiles knowingly at him.
“I do,” Arthur admits, grinning.
“Her parents okay with what y’all are doin’?”
“Um, her parents are gone, ma’am.”
“Well, this would’ve kilt ’em if they weren’t,” she chuckles.
“I did get her brother’s blessin’. Had to promise him I’d keep her happy.”
Gwen emerges from the restroom and Arthur visibly brightens.
Althea chuckles at him again. “She’s a pretty thing. ’Course, so’re you.” She pats his shoulder and hurries away.
“What was that about?” Gwen asks, sitting.
“Same old,” he shrugs. “Y’all ain’t gonna have an easy road, take good care o’ her, আপনি know.”
“She didn’t ask if I was pregnant, did she?”
“No. Actually, she didn’t,” Arthur realizes. “That’s refreshing.”
Gwen giggles a little. “You’re gettin’ looks,” she says, pointing her eyes at the three people who came in while she was in the bathroom.
“I smiled at them when they came in,” Arthur defends himself. “I’m not worryin’ about it.”
Althea bustles through again with drinks for the other table, and Arthur and Gwen sit quietly for a few moments.
“It’s not awkward,” she says after a couple minutes.
“What isn’t?”
“Not talking. We can sit quietly and it don’t feel strange.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Arthur smiles.
“How far have we gone?”
“We’re just past halfway, I think,” Arthur says. “Getting tired of bein’ in a car?”
“Li’l bit. Like the company, though.”
“That’s the best part. Being alone with আপনি for so long.”
Their খাবার arrives. Fried chicken, greens, and cornbread. Standard fare, same as what they’d get at Gwaine’s.
Arthur takes one bite of the chicken and is immediately looking for Althea, waving her over.
“Yes, what is it, Baby?” she asks.
“If I wasn’t already marryin’ Guinevere, I’d marry you, Miss Thea,” Arthur says. “This is the best fried chicken I have ever had.”
Althea laughs, loud and hearty. “Baby, if I wasn’t already married, I might take আপনি up on that offer.” She stops laughing and looks at Gwen. “He didn’t just insult your cookin’, now, did he?”
“No, ma’am. I ain’t cooked for him yet. Little difficult to do that down in Memphis, আপনি know.”
“O’ course, Sugar. Now, Arthur, don’t আপনি go sayin’ that mine is still the best after আপনি try hers.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Miss Thea,” Arthur says.
“Try the cornbread,” Althea says before leaving them again, muttering, “Guinevere… that’s a pretty name.”
“So how does this measure up to yours?” Arthur asks, taking a bite of the cornbread. “Damn…” He stares at it as if it must have dropped from the heavens.
“I’m not goin’ to say,” Gwen answers. “It might color your opinion.”
“Aw, come on…”
“No. If I say it’s better, you’ll still say mine is better when আপনি try it ’cause আপনি feel bad. If I say it’s not as good, you’ll be expectin’ mine to be better, and if আপনি find it isn’t, you’ll be disappointed.”
“You’re very competitive about your fried chicken.”
“Yes, I am. It’s my granny’s recipe, on my mama’s side. It’s important. And you’re right, this cornbread is sinful.”
“Oh, so that আপনি have an opinion on,” he chuckles.
“Still workin’ out my cornbread. I’ve got the recipe, but it just don’t turn out like Mama’s.” She shakes her head sadly.
They finish their meal, and as Arthur pays, tipping Althea generously but not otentatiously, the large woman smiles sadly at them. She comes out from behind the register and hugs them both in turn, enfolding them each into her soft body.
“I’ll be prayin’ for আপনি two,” she says.
“Thank you, Miss Thea. If we ever pass through here again, we’ll make sure to stop,” Gwen says.
“You do that, Sugar.”
xXx
“I don’t know that much about you,” Arthur says suddenly. They’d been somewhat quiet since lunch, Gwen still cuddled to Arthur’s side in the car.
“You got all those reports and documents on me for the trial,” Gwen says. “And আপনি know about my awful middle name.”
“Well, those are just… facts,” he says, waving his one hand dismissively. “I’m talkin’ about things that wouldn’t be on those sheets.”
“Like?”
“What’s your পছন্দ color?” he asks.
“Purple. You?”
“Red.”
“Not surprisin’,” she chuckles.
“Um, movie?”
“West Side Story,” Gwen says.
“Really?”
“Mm-hm,” she nods. “It’s a modern retelling of Ro—”
“Romeo and Juliet, I know,” Arthur says. “Interesting parallels, there, too…” he mutters.
“Well, let’s just hope no one ends up dead,” Gwen says. “What’s yours?”
“Rebel Without a Cause.”
“Really? Not Twelve Angry Men or, oh, To Kill a Mockingbird?”
“Just because I’m a lawyer don’t mean I want to watch চলচ্চিত্র about lawyerin’,” he says.
“Fair enough. Hmm. Both Natalie Wood movies,” Gwen comments. “That’s actually my one complaint with West Side Story, though.”
“What’s that?”
“They couldn’t find a Puerto Rican girl to play a Puerto Rican girl? They just slapped some dark makeup on a white girl and taught her an accent.”
“At least half the Puerto Ricans in that movie were white people, Guinevere,” Arthur says. “Hollywood don’t care. They liked her actin’ and her singin’.”
“That wasn’t her singin’.”
“What?”
“You see The King and I?”
“Yeah.”
“Same singin’ voice as Mrs. Anna. They got some other lady to sing and the নায়িকা just pretend.”
“How do আপনি know that?”
“You just gotta listen, Arthur.”
“Heh. The King and I is another one with a bunch o’ white people pretendin’. But I ain’t sure exactly where Yul Brynner is from.”
“It ain’t Siam, that’s for sure.”
“Who is your পছন্দ singer?” Arthur asks, moving on.
Gwen bites her lower lip and grins, looking to the side. “Little Richard,” she says.
“Interesting. Why?”
“He’s a showman. And he can really play that piano. I like some o’ those Motown girl groups, too. আপনি know, like the Supremes? The Ronettes… what’s another?”
“Marvelettes,” Arthur supplies.
“Yes, them, too,” Gwen says, beaming at him. “I like রশ্মি Charles, too.”
“You like পিয়ানো players. I guess I’m lucky Merlin didn’t steal আপনি away from me.”
“Merlin’s charmin’, but he ain’t my type. He’s আরো brotherly.”
“Am I your type?”
“I guess. I didn’t know I had a type before. Woulda been shocked to find out that my type was blonde white boys.”
“Blonde white boy,” Arthur corrects. “Singular.”
Gwen laughs. “Of course. How ’bout you? What would আপনি turn the dial to if we flipped on that radio?”
“Beatles. সৈকত Boys. Four Seasons, kind of. All that high singin’ gets to a man after a while.”
Gwen giggles.
“I like Frank Sinatra, too,” he admits.
“Really?”
“He was my mama’s favorite, so…”
“My daddy liked Patsy Cline,” Gwen smiles. “Shame about her dyin’. She could sing.”
“Dean Martin, too.” Arthur adds.
“Johnny Cash. He can’t sing, though,” she laughs.
“You know my পছন্দ খাবার is fried chicken now,” Arthur says, leaning down briefly to চুম্বন her forehead. “What’s yours?”
“I should says somethin’ healthy like apples অথবা somethin’ hearty like… oh, cornbread. But really it’s chocolate.”
Arthur laughs at this. “Um, book?”
“Oh, now, I can’t answer that one. Too many choices and it changes with my mood. What’s yours?”
“Catcher in the Rye.”
She looks at him. “You are a strange man, Arthur Pendragon.”
“Yes, and you’re stuck with me. What’s your পছন্দ book today?”
“The Stranger.”
“Okay… kind of dark, but oddly appropriate. You’re not planning on shooting anyone, are you?”
Gwen laughs, but she is impressed দ্বারা his knowledge of literature. “Not at the moment.”
“TV show?” Arthur asks.
“You don’t want to know,” Gwen says, blushing.
“Oh, now I want to know even more,” Arthur prods.
“I like game shows. আপনি know, To Tell the Truth, Password, The Price is Right. Oh, and I like The Twilight Zone.”
“And আপনি call me strange?” Arthur asks. “That’s a very odd combination. Game shows and creepy horror.”
“Well, what do আপনি watch?”
“Normal things. Rawhide. Bonanza. The… Beverly Hillbillies…”
“Westerns. And The Beverly Hillbillies,” she repeats.
“Oh, and I like The Fugitive, too.”
“The Outer Limits is another one for me, too.”
“Really? আপনি like that futuristic stuff?”
“Sure. Futuristic, creepy, scary. Science Fiction is fascinatin’.”
“Never would have guessed,” he shakes his head, smiling.
“Yeah, I never would have guessed The Beverly Hillbillies,” she teases.
“It’s funny,” he pouts. “Who was the first boy আপনি kissed?” he smirks at her.
“Marvin Jacobs. সেকেন্ড grade.”
“No, properly.”
“You,” she admits.
“Really?” Arthur is stunned.
“Boys didn’t like me on account I was too smart,” she says.
“Their loss is my gain,” he declares smugly.
“What about you?”
“Sophia Donaldson. I was sixteen.”
“Where’s she now?”
“Married with four kids,” he chuckles.
Good, Gwen thinks, scowling at the unreasonable jealousy that rises.
“Hmm, what else? Favorite… person?” he grins at her, and the green-eyed monster retreats, tail between her legs.
“Now you’re just fishin’ again,” she says, but she snuggles against him, smiling contentedly.
Part 17: link
“Where are we?” Gwen sits up, rubbing her eyes. She looks out the window and sees… nothing noteworthy. The land is brown and flat. Flatter than any land she’s ever seen before. All around are farm fields, recently harvested.
“Illinois,” Arthur says. “Did আপনি sleep well?” he turns and smiles fondly at her, all rumpled and sleepy.
“Well enough,” she says, stretching.
“Do আপনি need a break? Rest room? Stretch your legs?”
“That would be nice,” she says.
“I saw a sign advertisin’ a rest stop in a few miles.”
“Oh, good. I wasn’t in your way, was I?” she asks, putting her shoes back on now.
“No. A little… distracting, what with your head – and your hand – on my thigh, but… I liked it.” He keeps his eyes on the road. When he peeks at her, she’s blushing.
“I didn’t… say anything, did I? Elyan claims I talk in my sleep.”
“You made some very cute little sounds from time to time, but no talkin’,” he answers, smiling. “Hmm. I feel cheated now.”
Gwen swats his arm lightly, laughing.
“Maybe পরবর্তি time,” he shrugs.
Next time. Of course there’s going to be a পরবর্তি time, Gwen thinks, the reality of it exciting and scary at once, and her mind drifts back to her gray suitcase in the back আসন of the car, to the treasured dress packed carefully inside.
“It’s really… flat here,” she says.
“Yeah. Once we get near Chicago it’ll get আরো interesting,” he says.
“Is Wisconsin this flat? I mean, I’m assuming you’ve been there before…”
“Yes, we’ve been up to visit a few times. It’s not this flat, but it’s not hilly like home, either. But it’s right on Lake Michigan, which is nice.”
“Oh. We’ll be able to go swimmin’ in the summer, then,” she smiles. “Does it get warm enough in the summer there to swim?”
“Yes, it actually gets quite hot in the summers there. Last time Pop and I were there it was July and it was just as hot as one of our summers in Memphis,” he says, steering the car towards the rest stop.
“Well, it’s good to know that it won’t be cold all the time,” she says, smiling.
“Just most of the time,” he mutters.
“What?” she asks.
“Nothing,” he says, parking the car. He turns and kisses her softly, lingering over her lips a few moments.
“What was that for?” she asks, blushing again.
“Because I can,” he grins, then gets out of the car. He scurries around and has her door open before she’s slid over to the door.
“Thank you, kind sir,” she says, climbing out. “Oh! It’s cold!” she exclaims, not used to the crisp fall air yet.
“Where is your coat?” he asks.
“Somewhere…” she says, wrapping her arms around herself. “Like I said, I still need to buy a heavy one. I did have one, but I had to throw it at the end of last winter because it was just too far gone,” she sighs. “I couldn’t repair it no more.”
“Here,” Arthur opens the ট্রাঙ্ক and pulls open a box, producing a navy blue parka with পশম around the hood. “I used to wear this in the winters when I was in college,” he tells her, holding it out for her to slide her arms in. The sleeves hang off her hands and the কোট reaches nearly to her knees.
“It looks like it’s eating you,” Arthur chuckles. “But you’re very cute. Come on,” he boldly takes her hand and walks with her to the building.
“Arthur?” she asks quietly.
“Illinois don’t have a law against mixed race relationships, darlin’,” he says, squeezing her hand. “I checked yesterday, just to be sure.”
“Okay,” she says, relaxing.
Inside, they separate and go attend to business. Arthur is, of course, waiting for her when she comes out.
“You’re right, I look ridiculous in this coat,” she says.
“I never ব্যক্ত ridiculous. I ব্যক্ত আপনি were cute.”
“You said it looked like I was bein’ eaten.”
“Yes, and then I ব্যক্ত আপনি were very cute. Come on, let’s walk a little,” he holds his hand out and she takes it again.
They head back outside and make a circuit of the building. The sun is out, but it’s not doing much to warm the air.
“Ain’t আপনি cold?” Gwen asks.
“I’m fine,” Arthur says. He’s got on a light sweater and jeans. Here and there other people drift in and out of the stop. Gwen smiles at a man walking his dog along the edge of the treeline. It’s a little fluffy black dog with a স্থুলকায় body and short legs.
“Cute,” she says, nodding at the animal as it bounds happily, sniffing here, lifting his leg there.
“We could get a dog, if you’d like,” he says.
“Maybe. We’d have to get a house.”
“Of course we’ll get a house,” he says. They stop near a picnic table. Arthur pulls her over, and they both sit on the শীর্ষ of the table, their feet on the bench seat.
“We will?”
“Well, yes. Guinevere, we’re fabulously wealthy, remember? We can certainly buy a house. Any kind আপনি want. Hell, we could even have one built if আপনি don’t find one আপনি like,” he says, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb as he holds it in his lap.
“I keep forgettin’. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.”
“I don’t think আপনি will, and that’s one of the reasons I প্রণয় you,” Arthur says, gazing down into her soft brown eyes.
She ducks her head and blushes again. “That’s another thing I don’t think I’ll get used to.”
“What, me complimentin’ আপনি অথবা me tellin’ আপনি that I প্রণয় you?” he grins at her again.
“Both,” she giggles, leaning to the side and bumping him with her shoulder.
Arthur is quiet for a long moment, playing with her fingers. “I have something for you,” he says suddenly.
“You do?”
He nods, and hops down from the tabletop. “Close your eyes,” he says, touching the end of her nose.
She does, but they fly open again when she feels him on the আসন of the picnic table, easing himself in between her knees.
“Arthur!” she exclaims.
“Closed!” he replies, just as urgently, then immediately apologizes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you. I’m not doin’ anything indecent, I promise. Good thing you’re wearin’ pants, though.”
“Ramblin’,” she teases, but she separates her feet to allow him between them. “What on earth are আপনি doin’?” she asks. He’s takin’ his time, whatever it is.
She feels his চুম্বন on her lips now. “Open your eyes,” he whispers.
Gwen opens her eyes and immediately gasps.
“Guinevere Thompson, would আপনি make me the happiest man in the free world and do me the honor of being my wife?” he asks, a small black box in his hand, opened to reveal a beautiful diamond ring inside.
She throws her arms around his neck and whispers, “Yes. Yes, Arthur, I will be your wife.”
“Oh, good,” he says, trying to sound flippant to hide his own tears of joy. “I’d hate to think we’d come all this way for nothing.”
Gwen’s breathing hitches as she laughs through her tears, and she releases the death grip she has on his neck.
Her হৃদয় melts when she sees his wet eyes, and she gently wipes them with her thumbs. He does the same for her, then he leans অগ্রবর্তী and kisses her, properly.
Gwen melts into his embrace, allowing his tongue to sweep through her mouth with no hesitation, her fingers gripping his sweater.
I hope no one’s looking, she thinks, reason creeping in. “Arthur,” she says against his lips.
“Hmm.”
She pulls gently away. “We’re in public, Baby. People might be lookin’.”
“Let ’em look,” he shrugs.
“I am not on display,” she huffs, but she is trying not to smile, too ridiculously happy to be mad.
“’Course you’re not,” he smiles. “Now, do আপনি want this অথবা not?” he asks, holding up the ring.
“Gimme that,” she says, holding her left hand out to him. It is trembling slightly.
“I hope it fits,” he says, sliding it over her finger.
“It’s a little big, but that’s okay,” she says, looking at it on her hand, watching how the diamonds glint in the sunlight.
“We can get it sized,” he says. “It was my mother’s.”
“Arthur…” she gasps, her eyes wide. “Oh, my…” She doesn’t care that he didn’t buy her a ring. Sentimental value far outweighs monetary value, in her mind.
“You like it?”
“I প্রণয় it, thank you,” she says, স্নেহ চুম্বন him again. Briefly. “We should get goin’.”
“Yeah, prob’ly. This bench is hurtin’ my knees anyway.”
“You could have had me সরানো down to the seat, Arthur,” she says, watching him rub the feeling back into his knees.
“The ঘাস was cold and damp,” he says. “Come on, darlin’.” He wraps his arm around her and they walk back to the car. Gwen keeps glancing at her ring. Arthur smiles, proud of himself.
As they walk to the car, an elderly white couple frowns disapprovingly at them. Arthur stares boldly back at them, almost as if he is daring them to make a comment. They say nothing and disappear into the building.
Twenty feet later, a young white couple passes them and they smile fondly at Arthur and Gwen.
“Makin’ my head spin,” Gwen comments. Then an older colored man, probably in his 40s, passes them.
“Miss,” he nods at Gwen, glancing briefly at Arthur, and the briefest look of concern crosses his face.
“Like আপনি said, Guinevere, not illegal, but some people might not like it.”
“I think that colored man was worried about me,” she says.
“I think that old couple was worried about me,” Arthur says, attempting to lighten the suddenly-darker mood.
“I can be strong because I have you,” Gwen says decisively, choosing not to let the disapproving looks from a couple of old people trouble her.
He smiles at her, leaning back against the car, pulling her against him and wrapping his arms around her back. “And I’m only সুপারম্যান because I have you. You’re my Lois Lane,” he says, rather pleased with himself.
Gwen giggles and the old couple emerges from the building, still frowning.
“They probably don’t ever smile,” Arthur whispers. The old couple walks right past them on their way to the car, staring again. Gwen lifts her left hand and pointedly smoothes her hair, brandishing her engagement ring in their faces, blatant yet somehow casual.
“Smooth,” Arthur declares. Then he yawns. Loudly.
“Baby, you’re tired, why don’t আপনি let me drive a spell? I just had a nap, আপনি know,” Gwen says, stroking his cheek.
“You sure?” Arthur asks.
“Yes, I’m sure. Just tell me where to go and I’ll be fine,” she says. Arthur opens the driver’s side door for her and she climbs in, adjusting the আসন অগ্রবর্তী while he goes around to the other side.
“Okay, just stay on 57 heading north. When আপনি start seeing signs tellin’ আপনি that we’re close to Chicago, wake me up and we’ll switch,” he says, taking his shoes off now and getting comfortable.
“Why?”
“You don’t want to be drivin’ through Chicago, darlin’. It’s a mess, and people don’t drive nice.” He leans down and puts his head on her lap now.
“Worked better for me; I’m smaller,” Gwen says, reaching down to touch his hair, brushing it from his forehead. She pulls out of the parking spot and heads out, back to the freeway.
“Mmm.” Arthur settles in, as comfortable as he’s going to get. “I think Kankakee might be a good place to stop and switch, if I ’member right,” he mumbles sleepily.
What a strange name for a city, Gwen thinks. “Okay.”
As she drives, she tries to not let herself get distracted দ্বারা the glittering diamond ring on her left hand.
xXx
An ঘন্টা and a half later, Gwen is still driving with Arthur slumbering quietly, drooling on her pant leg.
Then a police car pulls out, and Gwen automatically checks her speed. She’s going two miles over, nothing to be concerned about, but she slows so that she is going exactly the speed limit.
He’s probably just headin’ back to the station অথবা somethin’. Maybe his shift is done.
The officer follows her for a couple আরো miles before he decides to flip on his lights. The siren flares once, just a couple blips.
Hoping that he just needs to pass her and get to a call, she pulls to the side. The policeman pulls off as well, behind her in the shoulder. She sighs and turns the car off.
Do I have a taillight out? I don’t even have my lights on. A brake light? I know my plate isn’t expired. I was drivin’ perfect. Should I wake Arthur? She looks down at him.
The officer saunters up to the car. She rolls the window down and looks up at him. He looks so peaceful that she decides to leave him be.
“Well, missy, what do we have here?” he asks. “Whoa, আপনি got a white boy in your lap!” he exclaims, seeing Arthur. “He dead?”
“He’s asleep, sir. I’m sorry, is there a problem?”
“Just wondering what a little colored girl is doing driving through my state with a white boy asleep in her lap,” he says, looking down his nose at her. “Of course, when I pulled আপনি over, I was wondering what a little colored girl is doing driving through my state all alone…”
“We’re movin’ sir,” she explains.
She sees him look at her left hand, at the ring there. “He get আপনি knocked up অথবা something?”
“No, sir,” she says, struggling a little to remain polite. Arthur, wake up!
Then the officer reaches in the window and tips her face up, his fingers under her chin. “Well, আপনি certainly are a pretty little thing. For a colored girl.”
Gwen says nothing at this.
“Step out of the car, please, miss.”
“Beg pardon?” she asks.
“Don’t do it, Guinevere,” Arthur says, finally lifting his head.
She looks down at him. “What?” she asks.
“Do not get out of this car,” he repeats, then he leans across her. “Is there a problem officer, অথবা are আপনি just harassing my fiancée?”
“Well—”
“Officer, do আপনি have a legitimate reason for pulling us over? Broken taillight? Brake light out? মেয়াদ সমাপ্ত plates? Driving too fast? Too slow? Driving erratically? Was she parked in front of a hydrant?”
“What are you, some kind of lawyer?” the police officer snaps.
“As a matter of fact, I am,” Arthur says. “And if আপনি have no reason other than curiosity for pulling us over and disrupting my nap, we’ll just be on our way.”
“Um, yes, sir. Drive safely, miss,” the officer stammers, walking away.
“How long were আপনি awake?” Gwen asks.
“Long enough. I was playin’ possum because I wanted to see what he was up to, and I know he wouldn’t try anything if I was awake. Sorry.”
Gwen looks down at her leg. “You drooled on my pants.”
“Sorry,” he repeats. “Are আপনি all right, Guinevere?” he asks, cupping her cheek with his hand.
“I’m fine. A little shook up, but fine.”
“Do আপনি want me to drive?”
“Don’t আপনি want to go back to sleep?”
“Nah, I’m too pissed off now. I can drive if you’re shook up.”
“If আপনি insist,” she says, reaching for the door handle.
“No need to get out,” Arthur says, pulling her sideways into his lap.
“Oh!” she exclaims, giggling now.
“Mmm, you’ll have to pay the toll before I can let আপনি pass,” he says, rubbing his nose against hers.
“Arthur! That nasty policeman is still watchin’ us!” she exclaims, looking past him out the back window.
“What, is goin’ to arrest me for kissin’ you?” he asks, and then he kisses her, not very long, but long enough.
“Arthur!” she gasps when he releases her. “We are sittin’ on the side of the road!”
“Sorry,” Arthur says, but he can’t stop the grin spreading across his face. He moves her to his right and slides left, grunting as his knees hit the dashboard. He reaches down and pulls the lever to সরানো the আসন back. “Better.”
He checks the road and then pulls out again. “Are আপনি mad?” he asks after a bit.
“Why would I be mad?”
“You were yellin’ at me. And you’re way over there.”
“That wasn’t yellin’,” she says, chuckling. She slides back over পরবর্তি to him so he can মোড়ানো his arm around her again.
“It wasn’t?” he asks, his eyes widening.
“If Elyan were here, he’d tell you,” she says, settling against his shoulder. Her fingers twitch briefly, then she hesitantly rests her hand on his thigh. His muscles jump under her hand, but he is smiling.
“That ring looks just right on your hand, Guinevere,” he says, squeezing her.
“It does, doesn’t it?” she asks, lifting her hand a moment to admire it again.
“Are আপনি gettin’ hungry?”
“Little bit. Are we goin’ to be able to find a place where we can eat together?”
“We can try. If not, we’ll get it to go and have a picnic,” he shrugs, refusing to let anything sully his mood.
He pulls of at the পরবর্তি town they reach, looking for a ভোজনকারী অথবা even a McDonald’s. Someplace where they can get some lunch. They find a small downtown area and drive slowly through, Arthur peering at the buildings, looking for signs that say “whites only” অথবা “no coloreds;” looking for a place to eat that doesn’t ভালুক one of those placards.
“Hmm,” he mutters, frowning.
“Go that way,” Gwen points.
“Why that way?”
“Just turn,” she says.
“Okay,” he says, turning down the designated street.
“Just a feeling,” she explains. “Ah.” She points at a storefront with the sign Althea’s Soul খাবার Kitchen above.
Arthur stops the car.
“Is this okay?” Gwen asks.
“We’ll try. They may not let me in,” he says, half-smiling. He gets out of the car and goes around to open her door. She takes his hand and leads him to the restaurant, and he opens that door for her as well.
“Hello, baby,” a large woman behind a counter greets Gwen warmly. “Oh,” she blinks her surprise at seeing Arthur appear beside Gwen, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back.
Gwen leads Arthur to a টেবিল and the woman comes over with plastic laminated menus. “Somethin’ to drink, Sugar?” she asks Gwen.
“I suppose we’re too far north for আপনি to have sweet tea?” she asks.
“I’ll see what I can do,” the woman smiles. “Somethin’ for you, sir?”
“Dr. Pepper?” he asks hopefully.
“All right, honey, I’ll be right back.”
“I think the poor woman is beside herself,” Gwen whispers to Arthur. He reaches across to hold her hands.
“Can আপনি blame her?”
“Not really. She probably doesn’t get too many handsome white boys in here.”
“Oh, so I’m handsome?”
“You fishin’ for compliments?”
“Well…” he starts, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles, “I don’t think you’ve ever said.”
“I haven’t?”
He shakes his head no.
“O’ course I have…” she disagrees, her brow furrowing. “Or maybe I was just always thinkin’ it so much I just figured I’d ব্যক্ত it.”
“I’d remember if আপনি had,” he grins at her.
“Arthur, the দিন I met আপনি – when আপনি knocked me on my backside – I thought আপনি were the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on,” she says.
“Really?” he asks, leaning forward. “You’re too far away. I can’t চুম্বন you.”
“You are not kissin’ me in this restaurant,” she says. “We—”
The woman arrives with their drinks now, and they quickly lean back. “You just let me know if it’s sweet enough for you,” she says, setting the চা in front of Gwen.
Gwen drinks while the woman gives Arthur his Dr. Pepper. “It’s perfect, thank you. Are আপনি Althea?”
“Yes, I am, and this is my place,” she nods proudly. “What can I get for the two of you?”
“What do আপনি recommend?” Arthur asks, setting the menu down.
“Oh, now, everything’s good, o’ course,” she says proudly. “You like fried chicken, honey?”
“I প্রণয় fried chicken,” Arthur says. “It’s probably my পছন্দ food.”
“Well, then, Miss Thea’s gon’ set আপনি right up,” she nods. “Sugar?” she asks Gwen.
“I’ll have the same,” she smiles.
Althea takes the menus and is about to leave, but then she pauses and turns back. “I’m sorry, I gotta ask…”
“We’re passing through, moving north so that we can get married,” Arthur says, reaching for Gwen’s hand again.
“Hmm,” Althea cocks her head at them. “Where আপনি comin’ from?”
“Memphis,” Gwen answers.
“Y’all প্রণয় each other?”
That’s a pretty অগ্রবর্তী question, Arthur thinks, but he উত্তর anyway. “Very much, yes.” Gwen nods her agreement.
Althea sees him gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, sees the light in their eyes as they look at each other.
“Good enough for Miss Thea,” she nods, heading back to the kitchen.
“I wonder how her chicken will measure up against Gwaine’s?” Arthur asks. “Or yours?”
“Well, I reckon it’ll be better than Gwaine’s,” Gwen says, smirking. “And I’d also reckon that she’d give me a run for my money.”
“Will আপনি make your chicken for me once we’re settled? My aunt is a good cook, but I’m sure she’d let আপনি cook a meal অথবা two. If আপনি want, that is.”
“I প্রণয় cookin’, Arthur. I only complained about Elyan wantin’ me to cook for him all the time because he never really asked,” she says. “I’m gonna use the restroom. আপনি okay out here দ্বারা yourself?” she asks, smirking at him.
“I’ll be fine and I’ll behave,” Arthur says. Gwen laughs and leaves the table.
While she’s gone, a few আরো people come into the restaurant, all black. They do a very poor job of hiding their surprise at seeing blonde, blue-eyed Arthur sitting at a table. Arthur just smiles and nods at them. He hears Althea chuckling as she comes out from behind the counter to greet the new diners.
When she passes him after taking their drink orders, she pauses and rests her hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “What’s your name, honey?”
“Arthur,” he says.
“You take good care o’ that girl, Arthur. Y’all ain’t gon’ have an easy road, and it’s gon’ be harder on her.”
“I know that, ma’am, thank you. And we know it’s not going to be easy. But we’ll be together, and that’s the important thing.”
“You got it bad, ain’t you, honey?” Althea smiles knowingly at him.
“I do,” Arthur admits, grinning.
“Her parents okay with what y’all are doin’?”
“Um, her parents are gone, ma’am.”
“Well, this would’ve kilt ’em if they weren’t,” she chuckles.
“I did get her brother’s blessin’. Had to promise him I’d keep her happy.”
Gwen emerges from the restroom and Arthur visibly brightens.
Althea chuckles at him again. “She’s a pretty thing. ’Course, so’re you.” She pats his shoulder and hurries away.
“What was that about?” Gwen asks, sitting.
“Same old,” he shrugs. “Y’all ain’t gonna have an easy road, take good care o’ her, আপনি know.”
“She didn’t ask if I was pregnant, did she?”
“No. Actually, she didn’t,” Arthur realizes. “That’s refreshing.”
Gwen giggles a little. “You’re gettin’ looks,” she says, pointing her eyes at the three people who came in while she was in the bathroom.
“I smiled at them when they came in,” Arthur defends himself. “I’m not worryin’ about it.”
Althea bustles through again with drinks for the other table, and Arthur and Gwen sit quietly for a few moments.
“It’s not awkward,” she says after a couple minutes.
“What isn’t?”
“Not talking. We can sit quietly and it don’t feel strange.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Arthur smiles.
“How far have we gone?”
“We’re just past halfway, I think,” Arthur says. “Getting tired of bein’ in a car?”
“Li’l bit. Like the company, though.”
“That’s the best part. Being alone with আপনি for so long.”
Their খাবার arrives. Fried chicken, greens, and cornbread. Standard fare, same as what they’d get at Gwaine’s.
Arthur takes one bite of the chicken and is immediately looking for Althea, waving her over.
“Yes, what is it, Baby?” she asks.
“If I wasn’t already marryin’ Guinevere, I’d marry you, Miss Thea,” Arthur says. “This is the best fried chicken I have ever had.”
Althea laughs, loud and hearty. “Baby, if I wasn’t already married, I might take আপনি up on that offer.” She stops laughing and looks at Gwen. “He didn’t just insult your cookin’, now, did he?”
“No, ma’am. I ain’t cooked for him yet. Little difficult to do that down in Memphis, আপনি know.”
“O’ course, Sugar. Now, Arthur, don’t আপনি go sayin’ that mine is still the best after আপনি try hers.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Miss Thea,” Arthur says.
“Try the cornbread,” Althea says before leaving them again, muttering, “Guinevere… that’s a pretty name.”
“So how does this measure up to yours?” Arthur asks, taking a bite of the cornbread. “Damn…” He stares at it as if it must have dropped from the heavens.
“I’m not goin’ to say,” Gwen answers. “It might color your opinion.”
“Aw, come on…”
“No. If I say it’s better, you’ll still say mine is better when আপনি try it ’cause আপনি feel bad. If I say it’s not as good, you’ll be expectin’ mine to be better, and if আপনি find it isn’t, you’ll be disappointed.”
“You’re very competitive about your fried chicken.”
“Yes, I am. It’s my granny’s recipe, on my mama’s side. It’s important. And you’re right, this cornbread is sinful.”
“Oh, so that আপনি have an opinion on,” he chuckles.
“Still workin’ out my cornbread. I’ve got the recipe, but it just don’t turn out like Mama’s.” She shakes her head sadly.
They finish their meal, and as Arthur pays, tipping Althea generously but not otentatiously, the large woman smiles sadly at them. She comes out from behind the register and hugs them both in turn, enfolding them each into her soft body.
“I’ll be prayin’ for আপনি two,” she says.
“Thank you, Miss Thea. If we ever pass through here again, we’ll make sure to stop,” Gwen says.
“You do that, Sugar.”
xXx
“I don’t know that much about you,” Arthur says suddenly. They’d been somewhat quiet since lunch, Gwen still cuddled to Arthur’s side in the car.
“You got all those reports and documents on me for the trial,” Gwen says. “And আপনি know about my awful middle name.”
“Well, those are just… facts,” he says, waving his one hand dismissively. “I’m talkin’ about things that wouldn’t be on those sheets.”
“Like?”
“What’s your পছন্দ color?” he asks.
“Purple. You?”
“Red.”
“Not surprisin’,” she chuckles.
“Um, movie?”
“West Side Story,” Gwen says.
“Really?”
“Mm-hm,” she nods. “It’s a modern retelling of Ro—”
“Romeo and Juliet, I know,” Arthur says. “Interesting parallels, there, too…” he mutters.
“Well, let’s just hope no one ends up dead,” Gwen says. “What’s yours?”
“Rebel Without a Cause.”
“Really? Not Twelve Angry Men or, oh, To Kill a Mockingbird?”
“Just because I’m a lawyer don’t mean I want to watch চলচ্চিত্র about lawyerin’,” he says.
“Fair enough. Hmm. Both Natalie Wood movies,” Gwen comments. “That’s actually my one complaint with West Side Story, though.”
“What’s that?”
“They couldn’t find a Puerto Rican girl to play a Puerto Rican girl? They just slapped some dark makeup on a white girl and taught her an accent.”
“At least half the Puerto Ricans in that movie were white people, Guinevere,” Arthur says. “Hollywood don’t care. They liked her actin’ and her singin’.”
“That wasn’t her singin’.”
“What?”
“You see The King and I?”
“Yeah.”
“Same singin’ voice as Mrs. Anna. They got some other lady to sing and the নায়িকা just pretend.”
“How do আপনি know that?”
“You just gotta listen, Arthur.”
“Heh. The King and I is another one with a bunch o’ white people pretendin’. But I ain’t sure exactly where Yul Brynner is from.”
“It ain’t Siam, that’s for sure.”
“Who is your পছন্দ singer?” Arthur asks, moving on.
Gwen bites her lower lip and grins, looking to the side. “Little Richard,” she says.
“Interesting. Why?”
“He’s a showman. And he can really play that piano. I like some o’ those Motown girl groups, too. আপনি know, like the Supremes? The Ronettes… what’s another?”
“Marvelettes,” Arthur supplies.
“Yes, them, too,” Gwen says, beaming at him. “I like রশ্মি Charles, too.”
“You like পিয়ানো players. I guess I’m lucky Merlin didn’t steal আপনি away from me.”
“Merlin’s charmin’, but he ain’t my type. He’s আরো brotherly.”
“Am I your type?”
“I guess. I didn’t know I had a type before. Woulda been shocked to find out that my type was blonde white boys.”
“Blonde white boy,” Arthur corrects. “Singular.”
Gwen laughs. “Of course. How ’bout you? What would আপনি turn the dial to if we flipped on that radio?”
“Beatles. সৈকত Boys. Four Seasons, kind of. All that high singin’ gets to a man after a while.”
Gwen giggles.
“I like Frank Sinatra, too,” he admits.
“Really?”
“He was my mama’s favorite, so…”
“My daddy liked Patsy Cline,” Gwen smiles. “Shame about her dyin’. She could sing.”
“Dean Martin, too.” Arthur adds.
“Johnny Cash. He can’t sing, though,” she laughs.
“You know my পছন্দ খাবার is fried chicken now,” Arthur says, leaning down briefly to চুম্বন her forehead. “What’s yours?”
“I should says somethin’ healthy like apples অথবা somethin’ hearty like… oh, cornbread. But really it’s chocolate.”
Arthur laughs at this. “Um, book?”
“Oh, now, I can’t answer that one. Too many choices and it changes with my mood. What’s yours?”
“Catcher in the Rye.”
She looks at him. “You are a strange man, Arthur Pendragon.”
“Yes, and you’re stuck with me. What’s your পছন্দ book today?”
“The Stranger.”
“Okay… kind of dark, but oddly appropriate. You’re not planning on shooting anyone, are you?”
Gwen laughs, but she is impressed দ্বারা his knowledge of literature. “Not at the moment.”
“TV show?” Arthur asks.
“You don’t want to know,” Gwen says, blushing.
“Oh, now I want to know even more,” Arthur prods.
“I like game shows. আপনি know, To Tell the Truth, Password, The Price is Right. Oh, and I like The Twilight Zone.”
“And আপনি call me strange?” Arthur asks. “That’s a very odd combination. Game shows and creepy horror.”
“Well, what do আপনি watch?”
“Normal things. Rawhide. Bonanza. The… Beverly Hillbillies…”
“Westerns. And The Beverly Hillbillies,” she repeats.
“Oh, and I like The Fugitive, too.”
“The Outer Limits is another one for me, too.”
“Really? আপনি like that futuristic stuff?”
“Sure. Futuristic, creepy, scary. Science Fiction is fascinatin’.”
“Never would have guessed,” he shakes his head, smiling.
“Yeah, I never would have guessed The Beverly Hillbillies,” she teases.
“It’s funny,” he pouts. “Who was the first boy আপনি kissed?” he smirks at her.
“Marvin Jacobs. সেকেন্ড grade.”
“No, properly.”
“You,” she admits.
“Really?” Arthur is stunned.
“Boys didn’t like me on account I was too smart,” she says.
“Their loss is my gain,” he declares smugly.
“What about you?”
“Sophia Donaldson. I was sixteen.”
“Where’s she now?”
“Married with four kids,” he chuckles.
Good, Gwen thinks, scowling at the unreasonable jealousy that rises.
“Hmm, what else? Favorite… person?” he grins at her, and the green-eyed monster retreats, tail between her legs.
“Now you’re just fishin’ again,” she says, but she snuggles against him, smiling contentedly.
Part 17: link
