Roses by Leila Meacham

Author:Leila Meacham [Meacham, Leila]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Literary, City and town life - Texas, Cities and towns, Cotton trade, Sagas, Texas, Lumber trade, Cotton trade - Texas, Lumber trade - Texas, City and town life, Cities and towns - Texas
ISBN: 9780446550000
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2010-01-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-seven

The old year ended, and 1922 brought about improvements and acquisitions for the various enterprises of Howbutker’s triumvirate. In Mary’s absence, Hoagy Carter had managed Somerset with surprising success and brought in a crop that enabled her not only to pay off her loan at the Howbutker State Bank, but to fund an improved irrigation system for the plantation. The Warwicks acquired several lumber-related subsidiaries that resulted in renaming the company Warwick Industries, and Ollie DuMont opened a second department store in Houston.

As the year edged toward spring, Lucy’s figure broadened to cumbersome proportions. She waddled when she walked, and her baby-soft skin gleamed with a constant sheen of perspiration owing to the unprecedented heat. Housebound because of her bulk and discomfort, she seemed to draw closer to Beatrice as she entered the final weeks of her pregnancy. Several times, Percy had come across the two women sitting together sewing baby clothes and talking quietly like old friends.

“It’s so sad to see her when you come into the room,” Beatrice said to her son. “She’s like a snarling puppy wagging its tail.”

“I know, Mother.”

After the party celebrating the DuMonts’ return, Percy fell into the habit of visiting them at the end of his workday at least twice a week. There had never been any question but that the couple would reside in the Toliver mansion, leaving Abel to ramble around in the château-style family home at the end of the avenue. At first, Percy had expected a certain awkwardness when he called upon the couple the Monday after the party, but he was lonely for their company and drawn to the baby, whose image hardly left his mind. He might have known Ollie would put him at ease.

“Percy, my boy!” his friend had cried when Percy telephoned him at the store. “My hand was on the crank to give you a ring when the secretary said you were on the line. I wanted to ask you to come by the house and crack open a bottle of something with me when you leave the office today. Mary may not be able to join us. You know how she is during planting season.”

“Indeed I do,” Percy said quietly.

But Mary was home, sipping lemonade and saying little as she rocked the baby and listened to the men who, within minutes, were carrying on like old times. Percy perceived that Mary’s reticence was due to her uncertainty of where she and Ollie now stood with him. He told himself that it would take time for her to be assured that he came only out of friendship. He must not allow her marriage to rob him of the two people essential to his only happiness. And now there was Matthew, too.

Lucy was never present at these gatherings. She was not invited, and as far as Percy could determine, she had no knowledge of his visits. The two women had not attempted to see each other after the party, and he decided not to interfere with the status quo.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.