Into the Woods (DeBeers 4)

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There was a short article in the Palm Beach Shiny about Mommy's engagement and, as the journalist wrote. "Fast on its heels. elopement. The bride and groom were said to have pronounced their vows in a chapel on the U.S. Virgin Islands. Specifics are hard to come by."

There was then a reference to Mommy being the widow of "the recently deceased Winston Montgomery."

Most of the article was then about Winston, and toward the end there was a small mention of Kirby Scott having been married three times previously. Mommy never mentioned that to me. and I wondered if she even knew,

Even though the article was far from flattering. Mommy had it cut out and placed in a scrapbook containing any and all other times she had been mentioned in the paper. I was astounded by how she ignored the sarcasm and the criticism and saw only something wonderful in such gossip. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her. "There are none so blind as those who will not see." something she had often said to me. but I knew she would just laugh it off or wave her hand at me and tell me I was being too serious or too silly. To her they meant the same thing now

The week Mommy went away to elope was strange for me, especially every time I thought about why she had gone off. I suppose in the back of my mind I always believed she would marry again. After all, she was far from being an elderly widow. But I envisioned her marrying a man like Winston, someone substantial. mature. Maybe I was looking for another father figure. Maybe I had no right to decide whom she would marry again, just as I didn't want her to decide whom I would marry_ . And then there was the question of why it should be all right for a man to marry a woman so much younger than he was but not right for a woman to marry a man so much younger than she was If anyone should hate double standards, it was we women.

Anyway, there was no question she was enjoying her holiday with Kirby. She called only once, right after they performed whatever ceremony they had planned.

"I'm now Mrs. Kirby Scott," she announced over the phone. "Don't expect me to become Grace Scott," I said before she could even suggest it.

"I don't expect that. Grace. I expect you to become Grace Somebody someday, but not Scott, unless you happen to meet a man as exciting as Kirby who happens to be a Scott, too. Are you all right? Anything new?"

"Nothing's new. Mom. I'm fine. Have a good time." I said, and we hung up. I didn't hear another word from her until the day they returned, which wasn't like her. She loved calling me from hotels and from yachts whenever she and Winston were away. She knew I was surprised about not hearing from her.

"We had such a wonderful time I lost track of time," she began when they arrived, the servants carrying their dozens and dozens of purchases up to their suite. I was sitting on the rear loggia, reading. She hurried out to me.

"I wasn't sure you were coming home today," I said. "You never told me when to expect you."

"I was going to call you every day. but Kirby said I baby you too much and that's why you're nottrying to move on with your life."

"Really," I said dryly, "It's nice to have someone with so much wisdom come into our family."

"He could be right, Grace. He is a man of some worldly experience."

"More than Winston had?"

"No. but Kirby has a different sort of wisdom," she insisted.

On cue he appeared, tanned and rested, those blue eyes even bluer.

'Grace," he said, and kissed me on the cheek before I could pull myself back. "How's our little girl?"

"Our little girl is just fine," I said.

"Do any sailing?" he asked with an impish twinkle in his eyes.

"No," I said.

"We did." he said, putting his arm around Mommy. "And we enjoyed it, didn't we. Jackie Lee?"

"Every moment," she agreed. They kissed, and then Mommy declared she had to get upstairs and unpack.

"I bought you three new outfits and a new bathing suit. Grace. Actually Kirby picked out the bathing suit. Came up to see everything." she urged.

"Soon. You get started. Mommy," I told her "I want to finish something I'm reading ."

"Okay, I will," she declared, and after kissing Kirby again, she shot into the house,

"She's a new woman," Kirby declared, looking after her "Wait until you see. She's years younger. I can't keep up with her. You can see it in her face, can't you?"

"Yes," I admitted reluctantly, and looked away.

"Having someone else to care about is important. Grace. You need to develop relationships again, get yourself back into the world. Nothing will make your mother happier than to see you happy, and if she's happy. I'm happy. So you see, everything is up to you." he concluded.