The Governor's Sons (5 page)

Miss Joan hesitated while Ash opened the first button of his starched white shirt.
 
He unfastened his cufflinks, then dropped them in his pocket.
 
“Well,” she sighed, watching him rollup his shirt sleeves, “I suppose that’s alright—as long as it gets done.”

****

“You’re faster than Betty Jean,” Kitty said as she watched as Ash dry the dishes.

“A man can do anything better than a woman.”

“You just better hush your mouth, Ash Kroth!”
 
Kitty laughed.

“Since we’re about half way done,” Ash said slyly, “I think I’ll help myself to a little indulgence.”

Kitty froze.
 
Though he’d kissed her several times since that day in the peach orchard, she'd let each kiss last only seconds before pushing him away.
 
Now Kitty wasn’t sure what to expect.
 
But when Ash walked away from her, Kitty realized she had no need to worry.
 
She relaxed and began washing again.

“I have a weakness for Izolla’s pineapple coconut cake.”
 
When Ash reached for the cake pan, Kitty froze again.
 
“Every time she makes it,” he said, “I treat myself to just a sliver.
 
But you eat too much of that stuff, you’ll blow up big as a house.”

When Ash opened the pan, he found it empty. “Well, I’ll be.
 
She made three--and the last one was hardly touched.”
 
He hesitated.
 
“I thought I saw Betty Jean take it from the dining room right before the party ended.”

Kitty didn’t say a word.
 
Miss Joan had wanted the cake out of the house so she wouldn’t be tempted to eat any.
 
She’d told Kitty and Betty Jean to take it home.
 
But instead, they, along with Aunt Izolla, had eaten the whole thing and scraped the plate clean.

“You have any idea what Izolla did with it?” Ash asked.

“No, but—I and Aunt Izolla and Betty Jean, we uh--all had some.
 
Your mother said we could.
 
I suppose—Betty Jean and Aunt Izolla must have—um—finished it—that is, while I wasn’t looking.”

“Well, it’s no secret Izolla likes her own cooking.” He smiled.
 
“I reckon I didn’t need it anyway.”
 
Ash walked back to Kitty’s side.
 
“I’ll wash the rest, you dry.”

Kitty thanked him and switched places.
 
“I suppose you were in your element tonight with all those pretty girls around.”

“You mean those pretty girls were in their element around
me
.” Ash winked.

“You’re a rascal.” Kitty laughed.
 
“I don’t know why I let you help me with anything.”

“Because you want me to—and you like being around me.
 
Puts you in
your
element.”

“Well, if you aren’t the most arrogant thing!”

“Admit it Kitty,” Ash continued teasing, “you can’t get enough of me, can you?”

She clicked her tongue and smiled. “You’ve got some nerve!”
 

After a few moments, Ash said softly, “Kitty, I’d really like it if—you
were
in your element—when you’re with me.”

Kitty laughed until she caught a glimpse of his hazel eyes.
 
There was no mischief in them now, only what appeared to be a reflection of his heart.
 
“You know I am.” She held his gaze for a moment then looked away.

After a few seconds, Ash asked, “Did you really mean that?”
 
She nodded.
 
“Kitty, I want…”

She waited for him to finish but he didn’t.
 
“You want what?”

“What I mean is—what I want to know—well just
who
is Russell?
 
You won’t tell me anything about him or whether or not you’re seeing him.
 
Don’t give me any of that ‘none of your business’ stuff—just tell me who he is.”

Kitty was silent for a moment.
 
“He’s a nice boy I know.
 
As a matter of fact, I’ve known him—and his family practically my whole life.
 
He just never noticed me, that is, until I started Maretta University.
 
He goes there, too.
 
And last year, when I started,” she shrugged her shoulders, “he got interested.
 
He
did
like Betty Jean, but she never gave him the time of day.”

“He liked Betty Jean?”

“Of course, she’s the pretty one.”

“Pretty one, with those Coke bottle glasses?”

“She’s pretty
behind
those Coke bottle glasses, and she’s light.
 
That’s what men like.
 
She takes after mama, but I’m dark like my Daddy.”

“Kitty, I think you’re beautiful, and your skin is gorgeous.”

“Ash!
 
Stop saying things like that and making fun of me!”

“I’m not making fun of you.
 
It’s true.
 
And you have something else, too.
 
Remember that movie star, Clara Bow?”

“A little.”

“When I was a kid, I used to sit in the picture show and watch her movies over and over again.
 
They said she had ‘It.’ That’s what you have--something extra special that most other women don’t, especially the ones like Betty Jean.” Ash smiled when Kitty laughed.
 
“Alright, so Russell’s a nice boy and he’s interested in you.”

She stopped drying and looked into his eyes.
 
“He says he loves me.”

Ash winced at her words. “Do you love him?”

“No—but he’s a good man.”

“Kitty—I—I…”

“What, Ash?”

“Nothing.”

They worked quietly until all the dishes were washed and dried.
 
When Ash reached for his car keys on the kitchen counter, Kitty purred, “Since my house isn’t that far away--do you mind if we walk?”

He smiled.
 
“Not at all.
 
I was hoping you’d want to walk, but you’ve been on your feet all night.
 
I didn’t think—”

“But I’ve had my shoes off for a while, and I could use a little exercise.”
 
Kitty slipped on her pumps, eager to walk.
 
Maybe that would help digest all the pineapple coconut cake she felt sitting in her stomach like a brick.

After Kitty removed her cap and apron, she placed them on a pile of linens to be laundered.
 
She grabbed her pocketbook.
 
It hung from a hook on the back door along with a black shawl that she threw around her shoulders.
 
Ash opened the door, holding it for her as she left the house.

From Ash’s neighborhood, where the millionaires resided in turn of the century mansions, Kitty’s street wasn’t too far away. She lived in a respectable Negro community with modest one story frame and shingle homes.
 
It was a two-minute drive or a ten-minute walk that could be stretched to 15 at a leisurely pace.
 
Ash chose to walk slowly, so Kitty followed his lead.

The air was cool, and except for the chirping of crickets, the night was still and quiet.
 
The moon was just a sliver in the blue-black sky.
 
A few streetlights and porch lamps lit the way, but it was still dark enough, late enough, and therefore safe enough, for Ash to clasp Kitty’s hand without being seen by anyone.

****

Ash had exercised considerable restraint as he’d stood next to her washing dishes earlier, but she drove him crazy and he couldn’t fight it.
 
They walked quietly for a while, but when the porch light to Kitty’s house became visible a short distance ahead, Ash came to a halt.

“Why are you stopping?” she asked.

Ash tried to speak but couldn’t.

A streetlight was a few yards behind them.
 
It revealed Kitty’s smile.
 
“What is it, Ash?” she asked.

“Kitty—I—” Words couldn’t express what he was feeling.
 
So instead, he embraced her tightly and kissed her.
 

After a few seconds, though, she pushed him away, laughing softly.
 
“Ash, I need to get home.”

“Kitty, don’t pull away from me this time.”
 
She’d never feared his advances and seemed to enjoy them.
 
“You like it when I kiss you, don’t you?”
 
Kitty nodded. “You’ve never told me not to.”
 
Ash hesitated only for a moment to make sure no protest would ensue.
 
Then he kissed her slowly and deeply.

Kitty responded in kind.
 
Seeming to relish the depth of his passion, she gently slipped her arms around him.
 

When Ash pulled his lips from hers he said, “Kitty, I can’t stop thinking about you—and when I’m near you, I’m light headed.
 
Kitty--I—I love you.”

She squirmed from his arms slightly.
 
“Ash, don’t be cruel and play with me like that.”

“What in the blue blazes are you talking about?
 
And who’s been cruel and playing with me, Kitty Mae Wilkes?”

“I’d--I’d never be really cruel to you—and say something I didn’t mean!”

“But, Kitty—I
do
love you!”

“You can’t!”

“Don’t tell me I can’t!
 
I have eyes and I have a heart and they’re telling me I love you!”

“Oh, you have eyes all right, and they took in
all
the female sights at the party!”

“Come on, Kitty!
 
Do you feel the same for me at all?” He almost pleaded.
 
“Or have you just been leading me on for fun?”

She didn’t say anything at first.
 
“I won’t--let myself love you.”

“Let yourself?
 
How can you not let yourself fall in love?”

“I’m--trying not to.”

“But it’s too late, isn’t it?”
 
Kitty nodded.
 
Ash held her against him and buried his face in her hair.
 
“Kitty,” he said, his breath hot against her neck, “I want you so bad it hurts.” Again, he kissed her deeply.
 
“I want to make love to you,” he whispered in her ear.
 
“Let me love you.”

Kitty stiffened, pressing him away.
 
“No…I can’t.
 
And I won’t.
 
I’ve never done that—and I won’t—until I’m married.
 
And we can’t get married, so—”

“But, Kitty, I want to marry you.”

“Ash!
 
You know that’s impossible!”

“Well, we can be just as good as married.”

“Just as good?
 
You mean you’d keep me?” Kitty sounded repulsed by the idea.
 
“What makes you think I don’t want the same things out of life as—as someone like Miss Lillian Ann?
 
I don’t want to be hidden away like some back alley tramp—or be gossip fodder for the kitchen help!
 
I want to be respectfully married some day, just like she wants to be, and what you want to give me just isn’t good enough!”

“But, Kitty--”

“No ‘buts’, Ash!
 
There’s Russell and—and
he
loves me—he wants to
marry
me!”

“Does he know you’re busy pulling my strings?”

“Ash—I--”

“You don’t love him, Kitty!”

“I could—maybe if I tried.”

“You’re crazy!”

“Mama says that the man should love the woman a little bit more in a marriage and--”

“You don’t love him at all so that blasted equation doesn’t even work!”

“Oh, Ash—what does it matter?
 
He’s husband material!
 
He’s nice, he’s handsome, he’s smart. He’s from a good family!
 
We’d lead a respectable life!”

“What does it matter?
 
You’d be miserable!”

“Not half as miserable as I’d be living as a white man’s mistress!”

“Kitty, I love you.
 
I wouldn’t marry anybody else—I don’t want anybody else.”

“I need to get home.”
 
Before she could turn away from him, he pulled her back.

“Kitty—don’t go yet.
 
I mean all I’ve said.
 
I love you so much—I’d marry you in a heartbeat if I could.
 
I’d give you everything—I’d make you happy.
 
And I’d provide for you—and our children.”

“Children!
 
You think I’d want children in an arrangement like what you’re talking about!
 
I’d never be able to show my face in a respectable crowd of people!”

“Kitty, as far as I’m concerned—you’d be my wife.”