said she'd be back in a second or two, and that is when
she really gave us the best gift of all--a small,
portable TV set! "My father gave this to me to use in
my bedroom. And immediately I knew just who
would enjoy it the most. Now you have a real window
through which you can view the world."
Just the right words to send my hopes flying high into the sky! "Momma!" I cried out. "Your father gave you an expensive gift? Does that mean he likes you now? Has he forgiven you for marrying Daddy? Can
we go downstairs now?"
Her blue eyes went dark and troubled again, and
there was no joy when she told us that yes, her father
was friendlier--he had forgiven her for committing a
sin against God, and society. Then she said something
that jumped my heart right up against my throat. "Next week, my father is having his lawyer write
me into his will. He is going to leave me everything;
even this house will be mine after my mother dies. He
isn't planning on leaving her money, because she has
wealth she inherited from her father and mother." Money--I didn't care anything about it. All I
wanted was out! And suddenly I was very happy--so
happy I flung my arms around Momma, kissed her
cheek, and hugged her tight. Golly- lolly, this was the
best day since we'd come to this house . . . and then I
remembered, Momma hadn't said we could go
downstairs yet. But, we were one step on our way to
freedom.
Our mother sat on the bed and smiled with her
lips, though not her eyes. She laughed at some silly
things Chris and I said, and it was laughter brittle and hard, not at all her kind of laugh. "Yes, Cathy, I have become the dutiful, obedient daughter your grandfather always wanted. He speaks, I obey. He orders, I jump. I have at last managed to please him." She stopped abruptly and looked toward the double windows and the pale light beyond. "As a matter of fact, I have pleased him so well he is giving me a party tonight to reintroduce me to my old friends, and the local society. It is to be a grand affair, for my parents do everything in a big way when they entertain. They don't imbibe themselves, but they don't mind serving liquor to those who don't fear hell. So, of course, it will be catered, and there will also be a small orchestra for dancing." A party! A Christmas party! With an orchestra for dancing! And catered! And Momma was being written into the new will.
Was there ever such a happy wonderful day? "Can we watch?" Chris and I cried out almost
simultaneously. "We'll be very quiet."
"We'll hide so no one can see us."