Looks could be so deceiving.
“Let’s get to the kitchen so that we can get dinner ready, huh? I’ve already got the roast in the oven, but I need help with the potatoes,” Mae wrapped her arm around my shoulders and turned towards the kitchen. “Grey, your father is due home any minute, help yourself to a drink.”
We ducked into the room, and I smiled when I saw two other girls in there working. One looked to be around my age, the other a little older and they were both doing dishes by hand.
“This is Maggie and Mary, two of my girls. Kathryn is still at school, but she should be home soon. We made a mess of it when we did the rolls, but that’s okay. Here let me get you set up with some potatoes and a peeler.”
I got to work immediately, losing myself in the monotonous activity. I didn’t need to talk if I was working hard. I didn’t need to even think about what was going on. About the man sitting in the next room, or the fact that his father was being forced by my uncle into a marriage of the families.
It was all so scary and weird and just unreal to me.
“So, Joanna, how did you meet my son?” Mae grabbed a potato from the basket and started peeling next to me.
“I was working for him, servicing drinks over at the warehouse in Glen Burnie.”
“Ah, I see. And what do you think?”
“He’s strong.”
“He is, all of my children are strong. And he’s fair. At least I hope he is. And smart,” I could tell by the way she was speaking that she wasn’t bragging she was just telling the truth in her mind. I couldn’t disagree. At least not when it came to what I’d seen so far.
“And he took you out and got trapped into a marriage, is that true?” she asked.
“I-” I started, but she held up her hand.
“I do not mean it as an insult. My son has been avoiding settling down for almost ten years now. I’ve tried, but nothing else has worked. I’m almost glad that you came along when you did. You work hard, as I can see, and don’t think I didn’t notice the way you looked at him.”
I blushed, was it that obvious? Was his repulsion as obvious?
“He is blind to any type of affection, at least, outside of my own. His father… he wanted tough. At any cost. You have an uphill battle. I won’t lie.” I looked around. The girls were gone. They'd been so quiet I didn't even notice it.
“They are setting the table,” she answered the question I didn’t ask. “I wanted to get you alone, to look into your eyes and see what was there. You are a good person. I could tell the moment I hugged you. Most women wouldn’t have hugged me back.”
I nodded.
“It will be a lot more fun that I thought, planning your wedding. How can I get in contact with your mother, so that she can help?”
I bit my lip. “I’m afraid it’s just you and me.”
“Oh.” Pity, that was what I saw when I looked into them. I didn’t need anyone’s pity. I was about to shrug her off when I realized what was behind it. Concern.
“It doesn’t matter, we’ll figure it out, right? Greyson never brought another woman home, even when I asked. You must be different.” She looked at me with knowing eyes. “Anyways, let’s get these boiled up so we can finish the potatoes. It’s been a long day, and I’m starving!”
Greyson
I leaned against my chair and looked over across the table to my family. I tried to avoid meals with all of them, especially my father who was sitting at the end of the table. When we were all together, it was like there was a cloud of tension over the family. My father was almost never home, and when he was, he was angry.
My mother, she was the one who ran things. At least inside of this house. She was just like all the other women in the family. Strong, determined, but totally loyal.
My father was never good at being loyal. He probably had more mistresses than he did children. But he had us too.
“So, Joanna, is it? Tell me, Joanna, about yourself.” My father narrowed his eyes at her, but she just sat there, looking completely unfazed.
“Well,” she thought about it for a minute. “I’m twenty-four, a graduate student over at UMBC-“
“Graduate student? What are you studying?”
“History,” she said, her chin raised high. Good girl.
“Ah, a hobby then?”
That cute little frown appeared. I knew better than to interrupt them, neither one of them would appreciate it, so just sat back and sipped my whiskey.
“No, I’m going to be a professor.”
“Not anymore, you aren’t. You’ll have to give that up. Fitzgerald women do not work.”
I saw the anger take over her face, and I wanted to stop her. Wanted to save her. But I needed to see exactly how she was going to react.