Bygones by Lavyrle Spencer Read Free Book Online Page B

eat.”
    “Did you have that talk with Lisa?” he asked.
    “Yes, I did. I went over to her apartment the next night.”
    “Do you feel better now?”
    “Yes. Infinitely.”
    “It’s hard to believe she’s old enough, isn’t it?” he said.
    “Yes. It seems like only yesterday we had her.”
    “Randy, too.”
    “I know.”
    “My guess is he’s watching us right now and wondering what’s going on down here.”
    “Is something going on down here?”
    He shocked her by replying, “You look great tonight, Bess.”
    She flushed. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Michael, that’s absurd.”
    “Well, you do. You’ve really changed since we divorced.”
    Her anger flared. “Oh, you’re really smooth. You’re without a wife- What? A month? Two? And you’re telling me how great I look? Don’t insult me, Michael.”
    “I didn’t mean to.”
    At that moment Jake Padgett stood up with a glass in his hand. “I think a toast is in order here. Mark’s our first to get married, and naturally we hoped he’d pick somebody we liked. Well, we sure got our wish. Lisa, honey, we want to welcome you and say how nice it is to have you and your family here with us tonight.” He saluted Michael and Bess and nodded to Randy. “And so”- he raised his glass to the engaged couple-“here’s to a smooth road ahead for Lisa and Mark.”
    Jake resumed his seat, and there passed between Michael and Bess a silent message, the kind husbands and wives of long standing can execute merely by the expression in their eyes.
    Somebody should mininke a toast on our side.
    You want to do it? No, you.
    Michael rose, pressing his tie to his shirt, lifting his glass. “Jake, Hildy -all of you-thank you for inviting us. It’s the proper way to, start a young couple off, with the families united and showing their support. Lisa’s mother and I are proud of her and happy for her, and we welcome Mark as her husband-to-be. Lisa, Mark, you have our love. Good luck to you.”
    As everyone joined in the toast, Bess felt herself in an emotional turmoil. It was the proper way to start the young couple off, but how bittersweet, having their own immediate family reassembled for the first time amidst all these undercurrents.
    Coffee and dessert were served-dessert a layered concoction of angel food cake and strawberries.
    Bess watched Michael watching Randy while he ate. Randy ignored his father and visited with the Padgetts seventeen-year-old daughter, Maryann, on his left.
    Michael said, “This whole thing is turning out to be   tougher than I thought.”
    “Don’t give up on him, Michael. Please.”
    He looked at his son again. “He really hates me.”
    “I think he wants to, but it’s costing him,”
    “What’s your stake in all this, Bess? Why all of a sudden the push to see Randy and me reconcile?”
    “You’re his father-nothing more complicated than that. I’m beginning to see what harm we’ve done by forcing the kids into this cold war we’ve waged.”
    He released a weary sigh. “All right, Bess. I’ll try.”
    ON equals way home from White Bear Lake , Randy acted surly.
    Bess said, “Do you want to tell me what’s on your mind?”
    He cast her a glance, then returned his eyes to the road. “What’s going on with you and the old man?”
    “Nothing. He’s your father. He’s trying to make amends to you.”
    “Great!” Randy shouted. “All of a sudden he’s my father and I’m supposed to love him, when for six years you haven’t kept it any secret that you hate his guts.”
    “Well, maybe I was wrong. Whatever I felt, maybe I shouldn’t have imposed the feelings on you.”
    “I’ve got a mind of my own, Ma. I didn’t need to pick up vibes from you. He had another woman, and he broke up our home I”
    “All right!” Bess shouted, and repeated more calmly, “All right, he did. But there’s such a thing as forgiveness.”
    “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He’s getting to you, isn’t he? Cozying up to you