The Door-Man by Peter Wheelwright

Author:Peter Wheelwright [Wheelwright, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781953236487
Publisher: Fomite
Published: 2022-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

That afternoon, Livingston was awarded a Certificate for Valor for the ‘fine thing’ he had done. There was no ceremony, only a piece of paper signed by President Roosevelt and given to him by Commander Wrezinskavich along with six months pay and his release from the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Lincoln Gilboa had stood by as his cousin received the honor; there was no Certificate for him – Linc’s award was an additional week in Princeton to allow his tongue to heal before his mandatory return to the Myakka Camp.

“It’s not fair, Linc,” Livingston said later, “You deserve it more than me.”

They were sitting around Endurance Fuller’s table at dinner, Billie at the far end opposite Endurance at the head, Linc and Livingston facing Xavi and Mina. Billie sighed, “Let it be, Livingston. Nothing to be done. At least, we have both of you for a bit.”

Livingston looked down and forked at his plate. “I figure I could stay around here, maybe help with the plantation?” He paused, then added, “Or maybe help Belle with her house before she goes, things that the Supe used to do for her.” As soon as he said it, Livingston felt his face flush. If anyone at the table noticed, they kept silent.

“Saskia believes Belle will go north to her folks in Indiantown,” Linc said, gingerly lisping out his words over the stitches in his tongue, “Can’t imagine what would keep her here now; everything bein’ a reminder and all.”

Endurance pushed his chair back noisily from the table, announcing a change of subject. He retrieved a cigar from the breast pocket of his linen jacket. “Happy to have you here as long as you want, Livingston. We’ll be needing the help.”

As Endurance lit his Cuban Esmerelda, Billie stood up and waved away the plume of blue smoke. “I’m sorry I let Modesto talk me into bringing those dreadful things for you.” She began clearing the table.

“Tell me,” Endurance asked, “how long have the two of you been married?”

Mina looked at Xavi, sheepishly, then lowered her head. He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. “We are not married, sir,” he said, “I feel badly that we have given that impression. We love each other, but, for the moment I’m still officially in the Seminary...I have my vows.”

“It’s my fault,” Mina said, “I never actually told Aunt Billie we had married, but I knew everyone would assume...and then I just thought it would make it easier for us to travel together.”

A silence enveloped the couple; the two had been sleeping together under Fuller’s roof. Linc and Saskia exchanged furtive knowing looks, but Livingston was the least surprised. It was like her, he thought, like Mina, living outside of the rules, capricious and determined. He was relieved that she was going abroad. It felt to him that the farther away Mina went, married or not, the better it would be. For both of them. He wondered what Xavi knew. Whether he would forgive her if she ever told him.

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.