imitating Fanny, "now that I'm rich as Heaven, I don't
want ya ta come back. Well, I got more money than I
kin spend and lots a handsome young men will be
knockin' on ma door. So don't come back here later on
with yer tail between yer legs and 'spect me ta go
runnin' inta yer arms." He paused and looked at me
expectantly. "Where did Fanny get the money,
Heaven?"
I told him the truth and he listened without a
word of judgment. He didn't tell me that I had done
the same thing to Fanny that Tony had done to Luke,
he didn't chastise me. He only smiled and said, "Well,
I'll just have to work that much harder to make the Willies factory a huge success and pay all that money
back to Tony, so we'll never owe him anything again." I embraced him and gave him a hundred kisses
for being the best husband in the world.
We went about our lives, hearing stories about
Fanny from time to time, the things she bought, the
people she associated with. Occasionally, she came
around to see Drake. He was always very polite to
her, but I could see he was afraid she would try to take
him away again. Every time she came and left, I
reassured him that wouldn't happen.
The winter flew by, and one day spring burst
forth in all its glory. It was as if God had unwrapped a
gift of flowers and green grass and warm blue-sky
days. The whispering in the leaves, the songs of the
wind in the grass, the wild flowers that scented the air
with sweet perfume filled us with hope and made the
days of sadness retreat with the chill of winter.
Sunlight was everywhere.