wedding playlist
I Commit To You (From LivingSingle) At Last by Etta James All of Me by John Legend
All My Life K-Ci & JoJo
Spend My Life With You by Eric Benet and Beyoncé Fall for You by Leela James
The Point of It All by Anthony Hamilton (At Your Best) You Are Love by Aaliyah Never Too Much by Luther Vandross Best Part by Daniel Caesar
"Love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life: time. Marriage is not the end of romance, it is the beginning." — Esther Perel
“AMANDA… I’M NERVOUS AS A MUTHAFUCKA RIGHT NOW, ” I SAID AS I PACED back and forth in the kitchen.
“What are you nervous for? You’ve only been saying you were gonna marry this woman for how long?”
“I know what I said. It’s just… fuck, I don’t know.”
Amanda punched me in the chest. “Pull it the fuck together, Cartel Jareau. You know as well as I do that that woman is everything to you. You damn near gave your life for her. You have those two beautiful babies… I’ve never seen anybody love as strongly as you and Adina love each other. You’ve got this. Go out there and get your woman.”
She turned to the rest of the crew. “Y’all give him some encouragement.”
“Yougotthis!”
“That’sallyou,dawg!”
“Don’tbitchupnow!”
“Getthemolassesoutyaass,pimp!”
I would let some of them slide with the way they were coming at me this time. Adina was a familiar face in the kitchen for a while, and they all loved her. They’d been waiting just as long for me to propose as I had.
“All right, all right! I hear y’all.”
Amanda grabbed my hand. “We’re so happy for you, Cartel. You can be a pain in the ass at times, but everybody here loves and respects you. That’s why we all came back. We want to see you win at every turn.”
I smiled, something I didn’t do often in here.
“I appreciate y’all. I really do.” I looked down at the ring box in my hand. “It’s time.”
They all gave a cheer and a round of applause as I left the kitchen, headed out into the dining area. As I made my way through the crowded room, my eyes settled on the table where my family sat. They’d all come out to support me at my grand re-opening of Abundance of Soule. The entire community really showed up to show out for me. It was a humbling feeling.
When I said I was donating half of tonight’s profits back into the community, they said bet. People were waiting down the block. Before the doors closed for the night, I was planning to serve everyone I could.
I stepped up on the stage and whispered to the leader of the live band I’d hired for the night. He nodded and gave the cue for the musicians to cut the music.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” I said into the microphone.
The restaurant quieted down, giving me their full attention.
“Can I have my beautiful family come up here?”
I motioned for Adina. She looked so damn beautiful tonight. I mean, she always looked beautiful in my eyes, but tonight, my woman was showing off. When I saw her in that burgundy dress, hugging her motherly curves and those studded heels, I almost said fuck the grand opening. But I couldn’t do that. When we got home, however, she was mine, all mine.
With both babies cradled in her arms, she made her way to the stage. A round of “Awwws”went up as I grabbed Carmella from her. I surveyed the large crowd as I placed the microphone to my lips.
“First, I just want to thank each of you for coming out to support and celebrate this night. It’s been a long time coming.” I grabbed Adina’s hand as I held Carmella and the mic with the other. “This beautiful woman standing beside me is the one who motivated me to push forward with rebuilding. For a while there, it almost didn't happen. I was prepared to take this loss and move on with my life.
But she told me I had a purpose and AbundanceofSoulewasn’t just a restaurant; it was a family, and we take care of family.”
A round of applause went up around the restaurant.
“She pushed me to reopen the same way she pushes me in every other aspect of life. Adina, I am so grateful for you. I'm grateful that I’m still here to wake up to you every single morning. I'm grateful for your love and support. I'm grateful for this life that we have built together with our beautiful girls. I know the journey hasn't been ideal. I know it's been rocky. I know everything has conspired against us to keep us apart. But we're still here. We still have each other. And you know that having you is all I've ever wanted.”
Adina smiled and nodded as she wiped a tear from her eye.
“I love you. I know we decided we would wait with everything that was going on, but I can't wait any longer.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small, black box. Adina gasped as I dropped to one knee and opened it.
“I've always told you you were gonna be my wife. So, tonight, in front of all of our family, I want to make good on that promise. Will you do me the honor of becoming my forever, love? Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down her face as she nodded.
“Yes! Yes, I will marry you.”
I slipped the ring on her finger and stood to my feet. The room erupted with cheers and applause as we shared a passionate kiss. My heart was about to jump out of my chest. It was so full of love… love for her, love for our children, love for the life we’d built together. I said a long time ago I couldn’t wait to marry her, and now… it was a mission to get down the aisle. Soon, she would be forever known as Mrs. Cartel Jareau.
“CARINA JAREAU!”
I palmed my forehead as I watched my potted plant crash to the floor. I’d turned my back for a second to put Carmella in their playpen and here she was, getting into trouble. Gone were the days of her being the crybaby of my now eleven-month-old twin girls. She was now feisty and into every-damn-thing.
Carmella was the easy one of the two. She was chill and laid back. She never cried much. She could entertain herself, for the most part. But that damn Carina… Sis was a no limit soldier, just like her damn daddy.
“Baby girl, I need you to chill out,” I said, picking her up.
I carried her over to the playpen and placed her next to Carmella.
“Be a good influence, Mel.”
I said that like she could understand me. She simply grinned as she stood on her tiptoes, gripping the sides of the playpen.
“Mama!”
I smiled. I could never grow tired of hearing that word. It was one I never thought I’d hear or live to experience. Along with their father, these little girls were my heart and soul—an existential part of me.
A little over a year ago, none of this was almost possible. Watching Cartel bleed out after my ex-husband shot him almost wrecked me. I carried so much blame and shame over him almost losing his life.
Seeing him lying in that hospital bed, day in and day out, with a breathing tube down his throat, only amplified that guilt. If he hadn’t pulled through, I was prepared to go with him because I wouldn’t have been able to live this life without that man. Moments where thoughts of suicide plagued me were the moments I had to pray the hardest. My therapist must have been sick of me. I made every use of her telling me to call her anytime.
She never failed to get me back on track. I was depressed, anxious and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Life was kicking my ass but by the grace of God, we were both still here. We had life. We had love. We had our beautiful little girls, and now, we were getting married.
God was good.
“I’m home!” Cartel called as he walked through the front door. “Baby, where you—oh shit.” He stepped over the busted plant. “What happened?”
“Your daughter happened. I turned away for a second and she’s wreaking havoc.”
He came over to where I stood and pulled me into his arms. One hand gripped the back of my neck and the other gripped my ass. He softly pressed his lips against mine.
“I’ll clean it up,” he said when he pulled away. “I missed you, mama.”
“I missed you, too, baby.”
“Dada!” the girls screamed as they both reached for their father.
“Hey, Daddy’s babies!”
He stooped and scooped both of them into his arms effortlessly. As he smothered their cheeks with kisses, they erupted with giggles and squeals. If nobody else loved this man, Carina and Carmella did. He spoiled them rotten. We were going to have a time on our hands when they had to learn the word no. I could fully see him being suckered in by those puppy dog eyes.
“Now which one of you broke Mommy’s plant?”
I scoffed. “You don’t even have to ask.
“Carina Jade Jareau, what am I gonna do with you?”
Carina grinned as she plucked his beard. She leaned in and kissed his cheek and Carmella mimicked her movements. My heart melted as they returned the smothering of kisses to his face. By the time they were done, his face was covered in drool. I laughed as I retrieved a baby wipe to clean him off.
“I never get tired of that,” he declared.
“I know. Me either.” I pinched two sets of chubby cheeks. “It’s dinner, then bath time for you two.”
Cartel carried them into the kitchen where their dinner of mashed potatoes, meatloaf, and steamed carrots were waiting for them. Once they were in the highchair, he strapped on their bibs. I busied myself with fixing our plates while he grabbed the broom and dustpan to clean up my plant. Once he was done, he washed his hands and joined us at the table. We joined hands and said a quick prayer before digging into the food.
“Soooo…” he said, dragging out the word. “The wedding is only a week and a half away. How are you feeling?”
I smiled. “Ready to not be the only one in this house that doesn’t have your last name.”
“You may not have my last name yet, but you’ve always been a Jareau.”
I could agree with that. His family took me under their wings. They loved and nurtured me when I didn’t have the capacity to do either for myself. Mama and Papa Jareau were my saving grace. She embraced me as a daughter and he taught me the very tool that saved my life. They showed me true, unconditional love and support when I was a stranger to them.
I would always love and respect them for that. It wasn’t every day you find people who volunteer to help you and want nothing in return. They were such good people. I couldn’t ask for better inlaws.
“My parents are driving up tomorrow,” I said. “They’ll be here until after our honeymoon to help with the girls.”
Since our reconciliation, my parents and family had been wonderful. Even though I had them back, it took me a while to fully let go of the pain and anger I had in my heart toward them. I had to
see things from their point of view, and not just mine. I’d gone back to Dominic so many times that their trust and faith in me was broken. While it wasn’t intentional, I did that. I was just trying to survive the only way I knew how.
They’d come to a few therapy sessions with me over the last year. It was hard breaking down in front of them, but it was necessary. If I’d learned anything from Dr. James, it was expression was necessary. Sometimes we had to be vulnerable. We had to let the people we love see all the ugly, painful emotions that were slowly drowning and killing us. In return, we had to be receptive to the same emotions we caused other people to feel. That was the breaking ground for healing.
“Don’t forget you have therapy tomorrow,” Cartel reminded me.
“I won’t. It’s on my calendar.”
With the wedding coming up and our honeymoon right after, I would be busy or out of town, so I moved my session around. While I was ready to marry Cartel, I couldn’t say I wasn’t nervous. We became a couple, experienced trauma, got engaged, and had kids all within the first year and a half. We put off getting married for so long because life didn’t seem to align with our desires.
In every sense of the word, I was his wife. He introduced me as his wife. His siblings referred to me as their sister. His parents referred to me as their daughter. Our union was just spiritual versus legal but that was all about to change.
“Are you okay?” Cartel asked, breaking my thoughts.
“I’m fine. Just thinking.”
“You aren’t getting cold feet, are you?”
“Of course not. Marrying you is something I’ve dreamed of for the longest, Cartel. When I was going through hell in that house, I fantasized about life with you, just like this. I’ll never second guess spending my life at your side. You are and have always been the man I was supposed to marry. I didn’t get it right the first time, but when I look at you… when I look at these two beautiful little girls, I know God gave me a second chance to make things right. I can’t wait to carry your last name.”
He reached for my hands and kissed them, before leaning across the table to kiss me.
“No!” Carina said, waving her little hands and shaking her head.
“Girl, I can kiss your daddy if I want to!” I said. “That’s myman.”
Again, she shook her head. She held out her arms, flexing her fingers as her way of calling Cartel to her. He chuckled as he leaned over and kissed her lips too.
“My baby said she’s stingy with me.” He winked at me. “Don’t worry, as soon as bath time is over and they are asleep, I’m yours for the taking.”
I bit my lip as I smirked at him.
Both of those things were going to happen expeditiously. It had been a long day and I needed some of him before my eyes closed for the night.
I SWEAR BABIES KNEW WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO BE NASTY… AT LEAST MINE did.
Bath time was on one tonight. My babies were slinging water everywhere. Carina splashed water in Carmella’s face, and in return, Carmella threw a rubber duck at her. Mel was usually mildmannered, but she let her sister know not to be fucking with her tonight. Right now, we were reading bedtime stories to them. Mel chilled out, and by the time Adina finished her book, she was out.
Carina, on the other hand, was crawling all over me. She was currently sitting on my shoulder with her head resting on mine. Adina giggled as she laid Carmella down.
“You want me to take her?”
“Nah. You go on and take your shower. I got her.”
“You sure?”
“I’m good, baby. You’ve had them all day. Go relax. Once she’s down, I’m gonna clean up all that water.”
“Okay.”
She walked over and kissed Carina before kissing me as well.
“No!” Carina tried to push her head away.
“Look here, lil girl. This was my man before he was your daddy.”
Carina wrapped her arms around my head, damn near poking me in the eye. Adina kissed her teeth.
“I’ll see you when your security is asleep, baby.”
I chuckled as she walked out the door. Tossing the book aside, I pulled Carina from my shoulder.
“All right. Time to stop playing. You’re going to sleep.”
I stood with her in my arms and put her in her crib. She was about to start crying until I climbed my big ass in there with her. Immediately, she curled up next to me and rested her head on my chest. I started softly singing the Spanish lullaby my mother used to sing to us when we were kids. Even though she didn’t know the words or what I was saying, she made the humming noises along with me.
Before long, she was out. I told myself I was going to lie there until she was settled into a deep sleep, but apparently, my eyes closed and I was out for the count too. It wasn’t until I heard the snickering of Adina that I cracked an eye to see her standing over the crib with her phone, snapping pictures.
“Is this your secret?” she asked, tucking the phone into her bra. “Climbing your big ass in there with her?”
“She’s sleep, ain’t it? By any means necessary, baby.”
I eased Carina off me and covered her with her blanket before climbing out of the crib. Adina grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled me to her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her lips against mine.
“You know how sexy it is, watching you in daddy mode?” she asked, caressing the back of my head. “It makes me all hot and bothered.”
“Oh yeah? You gon’ show me how hot and bothered?”
“As soon as you get your ass out the shower.”
“Say less.”
We left the bedroom and I went into the bathroom to clean up the water from the girls’s bath. Once I was done, I headed to our bathroom and stripped down for my shower. The hot water was soothing to my bones. Today had been long.
Since re-opening Abundance of Soule, I’d cut back my hours to devote more time to my family. I’d hired and trained another sous chef to help Amanda in my absence.
She talked shit about taking on more responsibility because that was her but she told me she was grateful for the chance to sharpen her skills. I’d given her a pay increase to go along with the extra load she was now carrying. Unbeknownst to her, I was opening a
second location in Grand Hills and she was the only person I had in mind as my head chef. She’d been with me since the beginning. She’d always been my right hand and there was no one more deserving than her.
I turned off the shower and stepped out to dry myself off. Once I was completely water free, I wrapped the towel around my waist and brushed my teeth. The sound of soft music breached my ears. I smirked to myself. My baby was getting ready for me. I finished brushing my teeth and headed into the bedroom.
Opening the bathroom door, I found my beautiful fiancée, ass naked, laying on her side, watching me. Beneath her was a thick towel. I chuckled to myself. She was right to put it down because my baby was a squirter.
She bit her lip as she beckoned me over. Slowly, I walked over to her. I rolled her over onto her back and climbed between her legs.
“I thought you were gonna have me waiting all night…” she said between pecks to my lips.
“I was coming for you, baby.”
I rained kisses over her soft, supple skin as I softly sang along to the smooth sounds of “It’s Yours” by J. Holiday. Light moans escaped her lips as I migrated from her neck to her nipples and down her stomach, settling at my favorite spot between her legs. Her swollen clit peeked out at me, beckoning my mouth to it.
The first swipe of my tongue caused her legs to spread further. She palmed the back of my head, pushing me face first into her wetness. While my lips and tongue worked her clit over, my middle and ring finger eased into her pussy. No matter how many times I stretched that shit out, she always came back with that tightness I loved. I couldn’t wait to bury my dick inside her.
“Cartel…”
Her hands cupped her breasts, pinching her nipples. She started thrusting her hips and riding my fingers and tongue to the beat of the music. The more she rolled her hips, the wetter she became. I loved that shit. She’d come a long way in our sex life. After she freaked out on me the first time I gave her head, I wasn’t sure we’d ever have a normal sex life.
With all the trauma she’d experienced at the hands of her bitch ass ex, it was a wonder she was remotely interested in sex at all back then. I liked rough shit. I could make sweet, passionate love but I loved making a woman reach her peak as aggressively as she could take it. These days, lil baby handed that shit right back to me. She knew I would never hurt her. Once she accepted and embraced that, shit was popping from there on out.
“Fuck… Shit!”
She gasped as my tongue and fingers went into overdrive. When her muscles clamped around my digits, I knew she was about to cum.
“Give me that shit, Dina,” I commanded, lifting my head to watch her.
“Oooo, I’m cumming, baby!”
Her chest heaved.
Her breathing was labored.
Her toes curled.
When she released, I felt her sweetness coating my fingers. I continued to stroke her center through her orgasm, slowing as her breathing returned to normal. Pulling my hand away, I sucked her essence from my fingers. Snaking my way back up her body to her lips, I captured them as I fed her the remnants on my tongue.
“You know how fucking addicting you are, baby?” I asked as I removed my towel.
My dick was rock hard and dying to fill her. I pulled her legs around my waist and entered her in one swift motion, no assistance needed.
“Fuck! I could live and die in this shit, Dina.” I gazed down at her lustfully.
“You feel so good, baby…”
She pulled my head to hers and kissed me ravishingly as I stroked her pussy. Moans fell from her lips and I ate every single one of them. I lowered my body to hers, gripping a generous amount of her hair in my hands. Grunt after grunt graced her ears as I gave her long, deep, powerful strokes.
“I love you so much,” I declared. “I can’t wait to make you mine for life.”
“I… I love you too! I can’t wait to marry you!”
Her nails clawed at my back. With every stroke, they sank deeper into my flesh. That was my shit. There was nothing like seeing the scratches she left behind the next morning. That shit gave me a sense of pride. I loved pleasing her. I loved feeling her walls massaging my dick. I loved the way she screamed my name. I loved the way she squirted just for me. Dominic made sex unbearable for her and it was my honor to reintroduce her to pleasure.
As long as there was breath in my body, she’d know nothing but that.
“Cartel… Baby… Shit! You feel so good… God, you feel so good!”
Her pussy was juicing up something serious. The sounds of me stroking her could be heard over the music. She was gearing up for a hell of a squirt tonight.
“You ready to cum for me, love?”
“Yes… God, yes!”
Sitting back on my haunches, I watched my dick slide in and out of her. She coated me so beautifully. So perfectly. This shit right here was a work of fucking art. Her pussy began to tremble. Her clit began to throb, and when I hit her with that final stroke, she showered me with the most glorious rainfall of her juices. I couldn’t help but to release inside her with a deep, guttural grunt.
“Fuck!”
Even though we were supposed to be taking precautions with condoms or pulling out, that right there might have been my baby boy. When you loved pussy as much as I loved hers, fuck caution. Throw that muthafucka to the wind.
She giggled. “You were supposed to pull out.”
“You were gripping my shit like you wanted that nut, so I said, fuck it.”
“You are determined to get this son out of me, aren’t you?”
“That’s a given. You told me you’d have as many of my babies as possible. Don’t renege.”
She playfully slapped my chest. “I know what I said.”
“We are right on time too. He was a good year younger than the girls in my dream. I’m just manifesting.”
She laughed loudly. “Manifest your ass to that bathroom so you can clean me up.”
“Nah, we’re about to take another shower and go another round. I can’t fuck you like this with your parents in the house. They know me as a respectable young man. I can’t let them hear me giving their daughter death strokes.”
I pulled out of her and stood from the bed. Scooping her up in my arms, I carried her into the bathroom. We were in for a long ass night.
MY NERVES WERE ON EDGE.
All morning long, I had been preparing to leave my girls with my parents for a couple of hours. They'd gotten here around ten and were super excited. Although I FaceTime them several times a week so they could see the girls, it’d been about a month since they’d seen them in person. They came in with bags of gifts and smiles on their faces.
“Are you sure you're okay, Adina?” Cartel asked as we stood on the front porch to say our goodbyes. We were both on vacation from work until two weeks after the wedding. Amanda was in charge, but he didn’t want to leave her with too much and overwhelm her. So, he was about to head to the restaurant for a quick inventory check before they opened for the day.
Briefly, I pondered his question, considering how I wanted to answer. I wasn't okay, but I didn't want to tell him that. My thoughts had been all over the place. I didn't want my worries to create doubt in his mind. All I could do was put on my best smile and assure him otherwise.
“I'm fine, baby.”
“You look like something is heavy on your heart.
“Cartel, I’m okay. I’m just a little tired.”
He eyed me suspiciously with raised eyebrows. His face softened as he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. I willed my body not to react because I needed this hug more than he knew. When he pulled away, he cupped my face and pressed his lips to mine in several soft pecks.
“I love you,” he whispered. “You know that, don’t you?”
I nodded as I smiled weakly. “I know. I love you too.”
“Chin up. Whatever it is, I got you.”
He kissed me again before heading to his car. I stood on the porch, watching him as he backed out of the driveway and headed down the road. For a few minutes, I stood in place, willing myself not to cry. I couldn’t break down right now. When I felt composed, I headed back inside with the girls and my parents.
They sat on the couch, playing with the toys their grandparents had brought with them. My babies were spoiled on all sides, and not just by their grandparents. Their aunts, uncles, and even Liv and Jorja’s mama and granny spoiled them. Dino and Jefferson came by at least once a week to see their goddaughters.
After the way those two protected me, I felt compelled to make them a special part of my babies’s lives. The girls loved them. Compared to me, they were giants and they were intrigued by them.
“I’m getting ready to head out,” I announced.
My mother looked up at me. “Okay, baby. We’ll be right here when you get back. Go on, so we can enjoy our grandbabies.”
She shooed me away.
“Well, hold on… I just wanna make sure you guys are equipped. I have a basket full of diapers, wipes, lotion and Vaseline over here. Their favorite snacks are in the pantry. Mel is teething, so she's a little fussier than usual. You really have to watch Carina because she's sneaky and she's quick with it.”
I looked around, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything.
“Oh, and—”
My mother cut me off by raising her hand. Her accent was thick as she spoke.
“Adina, I have raised three churren of my own. I helped raise multiple grandchurren, nieces and nephews. Don’t even much play like I can’t watch these babies.”
I sighed. “I know, Mama. I just always get nervous about leaving them.”
“I get it. Nobody loves a child quite like their mother. I promise they'll be OK. Go to your appointment and enjoy some time by
yourself.”
“I'll try. I need to handle a few last-minute wedding things.”
“How are you feeling?” my father asked.
“I'm nervous, Daddy.”
“Why?”
“I don't know… Everything has just been so good this last year. I’m so scared something is gonna come along and ruin our happiness.”
“That's just the pre-wedding jitters.” He pulled me to him and kissed my forehead. “That's a good man you've got… A good man.”
I forced myself to smile. I knew Cartel was a good man and a good father. No doubt he would be a good husband. Maybe I was just in my head. I’d just have to work it out with Dr. James today during our appointment.
“I better get going.” I plucked Mel and Carina from their arms and smothered their faces with kisses, as I did every time I had to leave them. “Mommy loves you. Be good for Grandma and Grandpa.”
I passed them back off and grabbed my purse, phone, and keys.
“I'll check in,” I called over my shoulder as I headed to the front door.
My mother laughed. “I'm sure you will.”
I waited outside of Dr. James’s office as she finished up with a client before me. I'd been anxious to get here all morning. Sleep hadn’t been kind to me last night. Even after the explosive session with Cartel, my dreams were invaded. I'd been up since four a.m. while Cartel was knocked out, snoring loud as fuck. He didn't even notice when I had gotten up out of bed. I ended up on our bedroom patio, curled up under a blanket, watching the sun rise.
That was when it was time to get my day started. I made up the guest room for my parents, did a load of laundry, prepared breakfast and prepped for dinner, all before my household cracked an eye. Still, with all those things to keep me busy, my mind still hadn't been
put to rest. A thousand thoughts were flowing through my brain and it seemed as though they were talking all at the same time. It was the reason I was anxious to get here.
The door to the office opened, and Dr. James stepped out with the man. They shared a brief exchange before they parted ways, and she turned to me with a smile.
“There is the beautiful bride-to-be. Come on in.”
I stood and eased past her, into the office. I took a seat on the couch across from her usual chair. The smile on her face slowly died as she looked at me.
“Something seems heavy on you, Adina,” she noted. “You want to talk about it?”
I nodded, closing my eyes. I took a deep breath.
“I dreamed of Dominic last night,” I said quietly.
“Tell me about it.”
“I was back in our first home… in the basement where it happened. He just finished one of his tirades. I was laying on the floor, bruised and bloody, and he was standing over me. He had an evil smile on his face as he berated and degraded me…”
I paused for a moment, preparing to tell her what he said to me. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, there was a knock on the door. Doctor James frowned. No one ever interrupted our sessions.
“I'm so sorry, Adina. Give me a moment to get rid of them.” She set her clipboard down and went to open the door. “Mr. Jareau?
What are you doing here?”
My head jerked back to see Cartel standing there, a concerned look on his face.
“Baby?” I stood in a panic. “Is something wrong? Are the girls okay?”
“The girls are fine,” he assured me. “I just… your spirit felt off to me and I couldn’t shake it. I felt like I needed to be here with you. Please… let me be here.”
Tears swelled in my eyes as I nodded. He came for me. I remembered him telling me he could feel when I was in distress. He felt it and he came for me. I went into his arms, burying my face in his chest as I cried inaudibly. He kissed the top of my head as he
gave me gentle squeezes. Leading me over to the couch, he sat and pulled me down next to him. One arm protectively slid around my waist. He held my hand tightly and gave it a soft kiss.
Dr. James smiled lightly. “I've always admired the bond between you two. It's so beautiful. Shall we continue? Adina was telling me she dreamed of Dominic last night.”
Cartel gave my hand another reassuring squeeze as I took a deep breath.
“I was on the floor and he was standing over me. He told me I was nothing… that no man would ever truly want me. He said that even if I found someone else, he would always live rent free in my mind… that even in death, I would still be his bitch because we weren't done until he was done with me.”
I held my head down, fighting back the tears. This man had been dead for a year now. How was it possible that he could still invade my mind like this?
“I woke up and I couldn't breathe… I felt like I was suffocating. Like his hands were around my neck or his foot was on my chest. I hadn't felt that in so long and it terrified me to the point where I just couldn't go back to sleep.”
“Why didn't you wake me up, baby?” Cartel asked.
“I didn't want to worry you. I know it was only a dream and I was having a panic attack. I used my coping skills to calm myself down.”
“And I'm so proud of you for that, but you can always reach for me, baby. Even if it's just to hold your hand or rub your back, I'll give you whatever you need of me, love.”
“I know. You give so much already, Cartel. The past year, you've been selfless. We've been thriving and happy and I'm terrified something is going to ruin everything we worked so hard to build. The last year is as good as life has been for us since we've been together. Sometimes it feels like it's too good to be true.”
“Do you… Do you think we're rushing the wedding? Do you want to push it back?” He looked to Dr. James for help.
“Can I ask you a few questions, Adina?” she asked.
I nodded.
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THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DUMMY.—Page 175.
“Here we go!” roared Tommy, at the top of his lungs, swinging his cap to the boys who stood at the sides, looking in at the door. “This is bully!”
“Exceedingly bully!” laughed his father.
“I should like to run through some of the Wimpleton fellows about this time,” added the president. “They would find out that our side of the lake is wide awake.”
I did not care to present myself to the Wimpletonians just at that moment. If I had, I should have been mobbed as a traitor to my own side; though, after the treatment which Centreport, in the persons of its magnate and its magnate’s son, had bestowed upon me, my conscience did not reproach me for infidelity. I had actually been driven out of the place, and the colonel had no right to expect anything different from me.
The dummy went along very smoothly, and worked so well that I ventured to “let her out” a little more. The outsiders, in their excitement, had followed us so far; but, as I let on the steam, we ran away from them, the outsiders giving a rousing cheer as we distanced them. The ground on which the road was laid was nearly a dead level, though in some places a shelf on the side hill on the border of the lake had been dug out. Between Spangleport and the other terminus, two bridges had been built over a couple of brooks, and the expense of constructing the road was little more than the cost of sleepers and rails.
In about half an hour we reached Spangleport, which consisted of a wharf, a store, and about a dozen houses, on the lake shore, though there was quite a large village a mile distant. The occupants of the dozen houses turned out in a body, as the dummy went hissing and sizzling on its way. The students yelled and cheered, and the Spangleporters manifested their enthusiasm in a proper manner. It was a great occasion for Spangleport, and both natives and visitors made the most of it during the few moments we remained.
As there was no turn-table, we were obliged to run to Middleport backwards; but one of the conductors was placed on the forward platform to keep a lookout, and as he could ring a bell in the engineroom by pulling the strap, the car could be stopped in an instant. But there were no road crossings or obstructions of any kind to bother us, and we went ahead at a high rate of speed, rushing through the crowd of students we had left where the dummy was raised, and stopping only when we reached Middleport.
The whole village turned out to greet the dummy when she appeared; but we left our freight, and immediately returned to take up the waiting party, who were impatiently anticipating their first ride on the machine. I was beginning to grow tired of yelling and cheering; for I was not disposed to be very demonstrative myself, and I hoped the novelty would soon wear off, so that we could move without seeming like a horde of wild Indians. Probably I did not enjoy the stirring events of the day as much as I should if I had no trouble on the other side of the lake; for, in spite of the excitement of running the dummy, I could not help thinking, occasionally, of my poor
mother, who was wondering what had become of me. I dreaded to hear from my father, for I was afraid that he had renewed his drinking after I left the boat. It seemed to me just as though our happy family had been broken in pieces by the events of that day; and I could not shake off a certain degree of sadness that hung over me.
I stopped the engine when we came to the party of students who were waiting for us, and they piled in like a flock of sheep. Tommy shouted, “All aboard!” after he was positively sure that every fellow was in the car; and we went off again in the midst of a din of cheers and yells that would have beggared Bedlam.
“Let her slide now—can’t you, Wolf?” said Tommy. “Make her spin!”
“I don’t like to run her too fast, till she gets a little used to it,” I replied.
“Are you afraid of her?”
“No; but it’s all a new thing, and we must be careful, as your father said.”
“Father isn’t here, now,” answered Tommy; for the young gentleman had insisted that the machine should be run by the boys alone on this trip.
“I don’t want to smash you up, Mr. President; but I will obey orders.”
“All right; let her slide.”
I let her go as fast as I thought it was safe for her to go; but I did not regard Tommy as a very safe president. By this time I felt quite at home on the engine; but I should have enjoyed it more if I had been alone, for I did not like the interference of my companion. I foresaw that, under his direction, many risks must be run, and that it would be difficult always to keep on the right side of him. He was good-natured now, but I knew very well that such was not his invariable habit. Like Waddie Wimpleton, he was disposed to be tyrannical and overbearing. He liked his own way and it was not very pleasant to think of being his dependent.
We ran up to Spangleport; and, after a vast amount of cheering and yelling by the boys, and a reasonable display of enthusiasm on the part of the inhabitants, we started for the return. Tommy wanted to go faster; and I was very much afraid I should have a quarrel with
him before night. Running backwards, I could not see anything ahead of the dummy, and I had not entire confidence in the lookout on the forward platform. Fortunately we had not a large supply of fuel on board, and this afforded me a sufficient excuse for not getting up too much steam.
We ran into Middleport, where the rest of the students, and hundreds of men, women, and children were waiting to see more of the dummy. By this time it was well dried off, and all the varnished parts had been rubbed by the boys till it looked as good as new. A house had already been built for the engine, near the Institute. It was provided with a water cistern, from which the tanks in the engine could be filled, and with other conveniences for taking care of it.
When the people had examined the car to their satisfaction, I ran it into the engine-house, put out the fire, and placed the machinery in proper order for use the next day. My work for that occasion was done, and I felt that I had “put her through by daylight.”
“Now, Wolf, father wants to see you at the house,” said Tommy, when I had finished my task on the engine.
“What does he want of me?” I asked, curiously.
“Oh, he wants to see you,” answered the young gentleman; and he deemed this a sufficient reason why I should do as I was asked.
I followed Tommy to the great mansion, and was ushered into the library, where the major was reading the newspapers which had just come by the mail.
“Well, Wolf, I’m glad to see you,” said the magnate of Middleport, laying aside his paper. “You have done more than a man’s work today, and I want to pay you for it. Will a hundred dollars satisfy you for your afternoon’s job?”
“Yes, sir, and more too; I don’t ask anything for what I have done,” I replied.
“Don’t be too modest, my boy,” added the major, placing a roll of bank bills in my hand.
“I am very much obliged to you, sir I didn’t ask or expect anything. I only came over here because I had to leave Centreport, and I did the work for the fun of it.”
“Doubtless it was good fun; but you have done us a good turn, and I have not overpaid you. Now tell me about your difficulty with
Wimpleton.”
I told him the story about the events of the day. I think it quite likely the major thought he was encouraging a rebel; but he did not express any dissatisfaction with my conduct. On the contrary he praised my spirit, and declared that Middleport would be glad to take me up, if Centreport wished to cast me out. He then offered me a dollar a day to run the dummy; but I told him I could not accept it till I had consulted my father and mother, and it was arranged that I should see him the next day.
I then went to the shore, took my skiff, and rowed across the lake, feeling like a rich man.
CHAPTER XVII.
MOTHER’S ADVICE.
For the first time in my life I had some fears in regard to meeting my father. I dreaded the terrible infirmity which was beginning to develop itself anew in him. Under ordinary circumstances I should have been glad to see him; and with a hundred dollars in my pocket —the first money I had ever earned by my knowledge and skill—I should have been delighted to tell him the history of the day. I should have been sure of a proud and sympathetic listener in him as I detailed the means I had used to raise the dummy
I feared two things—first, that he would be intoxicated; and second, that he would remember against me the deed I had done with the strange-looking bottle in the forenoon. In relation to the latter, I had come to see that the destruction of the whiskey was not the only or the greater cause of offence. By emptying the bottle, I had censured him, virtually, and made myself a judge of his condition and conduct. My father was a plucky man, in spite of his position as an employee of Colonel Wimpleton, and, right or wrong, would not suffer any one to be a censor upon his actions.
I feared that his anger would not go down with the sun; and I had an utter horror of any quarrel in the family. Besides, I had a great admiration of my father. I considered him one of the best and one of the most skilful men of his craft on the lake. I could not endure the thought of any coldness on his part or the feeling that I had suffered in his estimation. I knew he had been proud of me as a scholar, and especially proud of the reputation I had earned as a young engineer. My readers, therefore, will not be surprised when I say that my bosom bounded with emotion as I thought of meeting him after the occurrences of the day. If he was only sober, and in his right mind, all would be well with me.
I had heard in Middleport that the Ruoara, on her down trip, had obtained an engineer at Hitaca; therefore I supposed my father had gone home. The storekeeper on the wharf had seen him; but I did
not dare to ask whether he was intoxicated. Never before, I repeat, had I gone to my father’s house with any doubts or misgivings. It was quite dark when I reached the mill wharf, and secured my skiff at its moorings. When I started from Middleport with a hundred dollars in my pocket, I felt like a rich man. During my silent pull across the lake I thought of our family trouble, and when I landed at Centreport I felt as though I had lost a hundred dollars, and that I was even poorer than usual.
With stealthy step I crept through the garden, fearful that I might encounter my father intoxicated. There was a light in the kitchen, and I stood on tiptoe, so that I could look in at the window. My father was not there. The supper table was waiting in the middle of the room, and my good mother sat at one corner of it, sewing, while my two sisters were reading near her. I opened the back door and went in, but not without the fear that I should be told my father was helpless in his bed.
“Why, Wolfert, where have you been?” asked my mother, rising as I entered. “I needn’t ask you, for I have heard all about it.”
“About what?”
“You have been over to Middleport, at work for the Toppleton boys.”
“I know it.”
“Why did you do it?”
“Why shouldn’t I do it, mother?” I inquired, not a little astonished to find that she was inflamed by the rivalry between the two houses.
“Why shouldn’t you do it! Because it will make trouble, Wolfert. When the boat brought over the news that you had raised the dummy, or whatever they call the thing, and that you were running it on the railroad over there, the people howled just as though you had set the town on fire. The Wimpleton boys say they will mob you, tar and feather you, and I don’t know what not,” said my poor mother, who appeared to be really suffering under this manifestation of popular indignation.
“It seems just as though I am bound to put my foot in it, whether I will or not. Do folks tell the rest of the story?” I inquired.
“The rest of what story?” asked my mother, opening her eyes.
“Do they say that I was hunted out of town like a wild beast?” I demanded, indignantly.
“Why, no; they didn’t say anything of that kind. The girls came home just before dark, and said everybody was talking about you; that you had turned traitor.”
“Perhaps I have, mother; but I don’t care a fig for this three-cent quarrel between the two sides of the lake. I hope you won’t turn against me, mother,” I added, choking up with emotion, so that I could not speak.
“Turn against you! Why, no, Wolfert, I shall never turn against you. Who ever heard of such a thing?”
“You seem to blame me for what I have done,” I replied, wiping away a truant tear, and struggling hard for utterance.
“I only said what you have done will make trouble. You know Colonel Wimpleton will not like it; and he will punish us all for your acts.”
“I couldn’t help it, mother. I was driven away.”
“What do you mean by being driven away?”
It occurred to me that my mother knew nothing of what had happened since Waddie had called to deliver the fictitious message from his father; and I told her the whole story.
“If I know my father, he would kick me if I should get down on my knees to Waddie Wimpleton. Be that as it may, I won’t do it,” I added.
“I don’t want you to do it. If it has come to that, I think we had all better go to the poorhouse at once,” said my mother, with more spirit than I remembered to have seen her exhibit before; and I felt then that she was on my side.
“We won’t go to the poorhouse,” I replied, taking the hundred dollars from my wallet. “I made that to-day.”
My mother opened her eyes again, as she was in the habit of doing when astonished. Then she counted the money, and for an instant a smile overspread her pleasant face. To me it was the pleasantest face in all the world, and I had never before seen it saddened for so long a time as it had been that day.
“A hundred dollars!” exclaimed she, looking at me.
“Yes, mother; that is what Major Toppleton gave me for getting the dummy out of the water, and putting it on the track. It was a good
job.”
“The major is liberal; and I only wish he and the colonel would be friends again.”
“I wish they would; but whether they are or not, I’m not going to fight the battle of either one of them. Now, mother, I want to make a clean breast of it. What you said to me after the colonel went away wasn’t lost upon me. I was sorry I called Waddie a liar to his face, though all the world knows that he is one; and I was really sorry that I had said anything saucy to the colonel. When Waddie said he was going to lick me, I apologized to him; and I did to the colonel when I saw him. I think I did it handsomely, considering that they were going to lick me.”
“I’m glad you did, Wolfert.”
“It was like pulling out half a dozen of my teeth to do it, but I did it; and I was sincere in doing it, too. I won’t go down on my knees to any one, and I won’t confess a crime of which I’m not guilty;” and in my zeal I struck the table a blow with my fist which made all the dishes dance upon it.
“Do right, Wolfert, and pray to God for strength. He will help you, and all will be well in the end. Have you seen anything of your father?”
“I haven’t seen him; but he came over on the Ruoara from the other side. I supposed he was at home,” I replied.
“I haven’t seen anything of him since he went out this morning,” she added, looking very anxious.
I ate my supper, still discussing the exciting topic of the day. I felt better; for, if my mother was on my side, I could afford to have almost everybody else against me; and she was a Christian woman, who would rather have buried me than had me do any great wrong. Whatever my readers, old and young, may think of me, I feel bound to say that I had tried to do right. I had been goaded into the use of impudent speech by the intolerable tyranny of the magnate of Centreport; but I had apologized for it, and had been willing to make any reasonable reparation. My mother had taught me, as a child, to go down on my knees before God, but never to man.
I kissed my sisters, who were younger than I, and they went to bed about eight o’clock. My mother and I could now talk about the
condition of my father, which neither of us was willing to do before them. We wondered what had become of him; but I was pretty sure that he was somewhere in Centreport. It was a new experience in our family to be waiting at night for him, for he always spent his evenings at home.
I told my mother of the offer which Major Toppleton had made me to run the dummy. For a boy of my age, and at a distance from the great city, the proposition was a liberal one, for my father only had sixty dollars a month. It is true I was to do a man’s work for half wages; but no boy in that region could make half the money offered to me at that time.
“I don’t see how you can take up with the offer,” said my mother. “Colonel Wimpleton would not have anything to do with us if we did anything to help along the people on the other side.”
“I don’t know that I can accept it, but it is a great pity I cannot,” I replied, moodily; for I should have been glad to run the dummy for nothing if the major was not willing to pay me.
“It is a pity; but only think how mad the colonel would be if you should go!”
“I don’t know that he could be any madder than he is now. I am sick and disgusted with this stupid quarrel!”
“I’m sure he would discharge your father if he should let you go over to Middleport to work for the major. Those two men hate each other like evil spirits,” replied my mother.
“Of course I don’t want father to lose his situation; and if it comes to that, I suppose I must decline the offer.”
“I think you must, Wolfert.”
“I will, mother,” I added, sorely aggrieved at the alternative. “I will not do anything to make a quarrel, though I think it is about time I should be earning something.”
“Perhaps there will be a chance for you on this side; for I am sure the colonel will do something to get even with the major on that railroad. He will get up another railroad, a balloon, a flying machine, or something or other.”
“He can’t build any railroad on this side,” I replied. “The country is so rough that it would cost him all he is worth. But if he did, he wouldn’t give me anything to do upon it.”
“Perhaps he”—
My mother’s remark was interrupted by a noise in the garden; and, fearful that my poor father had come home in a helpless condition, I went out to ascertain the cause of it. It was not my father; but I heard sounds which indicated that several persons were running away from the house. I ran to the fence, and saw three boys hastening up the road towards the Institute. If I was not much mistaken, Waddie Wimpleton was one of them; and I concluded that he was still intent upon punishing me for calling him a liar.
As I was about to go into the house, I discovered another form in the darkness, walking down the road. I knew the step. It was my father. I was very thankful that he was able to walk, though I noticed that his step was a little unsteady.
CHAPTER XVIII.
WADDIE’S MISTAKE.
Ihastened into the house, and told my mother that father was coming. She bestowed upon me a glance so full of anxiety that I comprehended the question she desired to ask, and I added that he walked tolerably well.
“Was it he that made the noise we heard?” she inquired.
“No; some of the students have been around here, and I think I saw Waddie,” I replied.
“What do they want?”
“I don’t know; but I suppose they wish to see me.”
“Do be careful, Wolfert.”
“I’m not afraid of them, mother. I think I can take care of myself in the face of the whole crowd.”
My father came in at the back door, interrupting the conversation. His step was unsteady and his movements uncertain. He stayed a long time in the entry putting away his hat, but at last he entered the kitchen. He made desperate struggles to conceal his condition; but he failed to do so. I could see my poor mother’s bosom bounding with emotion as the days of evil came back to her from the past. There was a tear in her eye; but she spoke not a word of reproach. My father walked across the room to his accustomed chair, and dropped heavily into it.
“Wolf!” said he in a tone which was intended to be sharp, but which was very thick from the effects of the liquor.
“I am here, father,” I replied, as little able to control my feelings as my mother.
“You have been a bad boy!” he added, fiercely “You have disgraced your father!”
I thought not, but I did not deem it advisable to say so, or to utter a word that would irritate him.
“I used to think you were a smart boy; but now I think you are a fool,” he continued, with an oath, which I had never before heard him
use. “With a pistol in your hand you let Christy carry off all my money. I wouldn’t say anything about that, but you came home, insulted and abused Colonel Wimp’ton and his son. You hadn’t done your worst yet; so you went over to Middleport, and turned traitor to the friends that feed and clothe you. I know all about it!”
It was no use to talk about these things while he was in his present condition, and I held my peace.
“I’ve seen Colonel Wimp’ton, and he ztold me all about it,” my father went on, rapping the table violently with his fist. “I won’t have my boy behave zo. I’ll lick him first.”
“Why, father, Wolfert has not done anything bad,” interposed my mother.
“I zsay he has!” replied my father furiously. “He’n Waddie blowed up the canal boat. Then Wolf denied it, and insulted his best friends. Then he went off and run that dummy.”
“Don’t say anything, mother,” said I to her, in a low tone.
“What’s that?” demanded my father, suspiciously. “What did you say, Wolf? Do you mean to insult me, as you did Colonel Wimp’ton?”
But I will not follow this unpleasant scene any further in detail. It was evident that my father had seen the magnate of Centreport, and that the great man had won him over. He was stormy, violent, and suspicious. He was angry with me, and then with my mother for speaking a word in my defence. Finally he wept like a child, declaring that his family had turned against him; and, overwhelmed by this maudlin grief, he went upstairs and threw himself upon my bed. I think he intended to occupy the spare chamber on the other side of the entry, for he was so angry with my mother and me that he was intent upon getting away from us.
We decided that it would be best to let him alone. He lay sobbing on the bed for a time, and then dropped asleep. My mother went in, and, having assured herself that he was in a comfortable position, took away the lamp. She and I sat up till midnight, talking over the bitter prospect before us. In his cups my father was another man. My mother told me with tears in her eyes, that he had abused her when he used to drink before. In his intoxication he seemed to hate the family he loved so well when he was sober.
At midnight he was still sleeping off the effects of his debauch, and we retired, hoping for better things in the morning. I was so tired that I went to sleep very soon. I occupied the spare chamber on the second floor, while my mother’s room was downstairs. I do not know how long I had slept, but I was awakened by a violent noise in the opposite side of the house, which seemed to come from the apartment where my father was. I was startled, and immediately leaped out of bed, lighted a lamp, and hastily put on my clothes. Hearing my father’s voice in excited tones, I rushed to the room with the lamp in my hand. I feared that the liquor he had drunk had in some manner affected his brain, and induced a delirium.
I opened the door. I saw my father standing over the prostrate form of Waddie Wimpleton. The window was wide open, and I heard voices outside, as of other boys effecting a hasty retreat. Waddie lay still upon the floor, and his face was covered with blood.
“What is the matter, father?” I asked, terrified at the strange sight which I beheld.
“Don’t you see what the matter is?” replied my father; but he seemed to be very much confused.
“What has happened?”
“I hardly know,” answered he, gazing at the form of Waddie.
My father had slept several hours, and he appeared to be quite sober.
“This is Waddie Wimpleton,” said I, bending over the fallen youth.
“I see it is. I felt a hand upon me, and I started up from the bed. Some one caught hold of me, and I struck right and left, till I heard some one fall,” answered my father, rubbing his eyes, as if to stimulate his bewildered senses. “I thought it was some one who had come to rob me, and I couldn’t help believing it was Christy Holgate.”
“What in the world is the matter?” cried my mother, who now came into the room, pale and trembling with terror.
I explained, as far as I could, the circumstances of the affair. My father said nothing, but went to the window and looked out.
“There is a ladder under the window,” said he.
“But Waddie is not a robber,” added my mother, kneeling on the floor at his side. “His face is cut, and he seems to be stunned.”
My father and I lifted him up, and placed him on the bed. My mother went to work upon him, sending me down to assure my sisters that no harm could come to them. I brought up some water and the camphor bottle. On my return my father seemed to be quite like himself, and was assisting in the restoration of the injured boy.
“He isn’t badly hurt, I think,” said my mother. “One of his front teeth is knocked in, and the blood on his face comes from a mere scratch. What in the world was he doing here?”
“I understand it now,” I replied. “Waddie and the other fellows were after me. I saw them around the house about eight o’clock.”
“What do they want of you?” asked my father, whose head had been filled with the other side of the story.
“They were going to punish me, I suppose, for what I said to Waddie and his father, though I apologized to both of them for it.”
“What is to be done with this boy?” interposed my mother, anxiously, as Waddie opened his eyes, and looked wildly around the room. “I think the doctor had better see him.”
I went for the doctor, and came back with him, for he had just returned from a night visit to a distant patient, and his horse was harnessed at the door. When we arrived, Waddie was sitting up in the kitchen. The physician examined his head, and declared that he had sustained no injury that he could perceive. My father, who had been alarmed for the consequences of the blow he had struck, breathed easier after this announcement.
“I’m going home,” said Waddie, rising from the chair, after the doctor had finished his examination. “I’ll bet you haven’t theen the latht of thith thcrape. I thall”—
The scion put his hand up to his mouth, and wondered why he could not speak without lisping. He had fully recovered his senses, under the vigorous treatment of my mother, and with them came back the evil spirit which controlled him.
“What were you doing in my house, Waddie?” asked my father.
“What wath I doing? I wath going to give Wolf fitth for being a traitor and calling me a liar. And I’ll do it yet, if it coths me my life!” replied Waddie, vigorously, as he held one hand on his mouth.
“I didn’t think you’d break into a man’s house in the night,” added my father.
“Wolf ith going to work on the other thide, and that’th the only time we could catch him. What did you hit me for?” demanded the scion, rubbing his sore head with his hand.
“I did not know it was you, Waddie,” answered my father, meekly. “You came into my room in the dark, when I was asleep.”
“It wathn’t your room. It wath Wolf’th room. What were you doing in there?”
“It’s my own house, and I have a right to occupy any room I please,” said my father, with more spirit than before.
“You were boothy latht night and didn’t know what you were about.”
My father’s brow contracted, and his lips were compressed. To be told that he was intoxicated galled him sorely. Waddie declared that he had struck him on purpose, and that he should suffer for it. The doctor then took him into his chaise, and conveyed him to his home. My father was not satisfied with the situation. He went to the pump, and drank a large mug of water. He walked up and down the kitchen in silence for a moment, and then said he must see Colonel Wimpleton at once. He went, and by going through the grove he could reach the house as soon as the doctor.
I did not see him again that night, and he did not come out of his room till eight o’clock the next morning. I was very anxious to know how he would regard me, after the hard words he had spoken the night before. I was also curious to learn what had passed at Colonel Wimpleton’s during his visit. Our relations with the magnate were certainly very singular and perplexing. As nearly as I could judge, my father stood exactly in my own position in regard to him. Neither of us had intended to insult or injure the great man or his son, but both had incurred his displeasure; for it would be impossible for the colonel to forgive the unwitting blow my father had struck.
“Wolf,” said my father, after he had eaten his breakfast, “your mother tells me you have an offer on the other side.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You may accept it, and go to work to-day, if you wish.”
“I should be very glad to do so,” I replied. “Did you have any trouble with Colonel Wimpleton?”
“I did. He discharged me, and ordered me out of his house,” he answered, gloomily.
Of one thing I was sure—my father was not angry with me.
