It was a lovely spring day, Saturday, May 4, the day of Bill Houston's picnic. Cynthia washed and Roger dried the breakfast dishes while Cady watched Captain Kangaroo in the living room in her pajamas. She sat a few feet from the television with her arms wrapped around her knees, on which she rested her chin.
"Cady, when that TV program is over, go to your bedroom and get ready," Cynthia called from the kitchen.
Cady didn't answer, entranced by Mr. Moose.
"Cady Jo?" Roger called.
"What Daddy?" Cady called back.
"Your Momma just asked you something," he replied.
"Oh. What Momma?" Cady replied.
Cynthia rolled her eyes at Roger and smiled and walked to the living room entry. "I just asked you to go to your bedroom and get ready for the picnic after your TV program is over."
"Okay, Momma," Cady replied, and returned to watching her TV program.
Cynthia returned to the kitchen. "I hope the television doesn't rot her brain," she said.
"Not likely. At worst, it would rot her brain down to above average intelligence," Roger joked. Cynthia looked at Roger askance without remark. He put his dish towel on the counter, and put his arms around Cynthia's waist. "You look exceptionally beautiful today. It must be the spring air," he said.
He could still make her blush after nine years of marriage. Cynthia coyly looked away. He leaned in, held her tighter around her waist, and began kissing her on the neck starting with just below the ear and moved down. She loved his facial hair because it tickled all the more and his kisses made her giggle like a little girl.
He stopped kissing briefly and said, "I love your laugh so much."
Cynthia stumbled on her words while he kissed her. "I… think…"
"What do you think?" Roger asked and quickly resumed kissing.
"I… think….,"
"Hmmm?" Roger replied, continuing to kiss her.
"I think this is how you're going to rot my brain," she finally was able to say.
"You can rot my brain this way anytime you want, by the way," Roger joked. He then slipped his hands up the back of her pajama shirt and caressed her back and began kissing her lips.
She kissed him back passionately, but only for a few moments, remembering they weren't alone. She stopped kissing him and whispered, "Roger…" and shot a glance over to the living room where Cady was.
Roger whispered back with that big Parsons smile, "What? She can't hear us. She's got a date with the Captain." He continued kissing her and caressing her bare back and made a deft move with one hand and began caressing her breast.
She stopped him again. "Roger…."
"Cindy," he said as he continued his caressing and resumed kissing her neck.
"You're killing me," she replied in a hushed, but breathless tone. "You know this can't go anywhere."
"I like where we are right now," he replied as quietly.
She put her hands behind her and braced herself against the kitchen counter while Roger kissed her passionately. Then she put her hands inside his pajama shirt and caressed his hairy chest. Roger quietly moaned. Then he suddenly took his hands off her waist and put them on the counter behind her on either side of her, and leaned his head against her shoulder. "Whew," he said, and cleared his throat. "Maybe you're right. We should stop," he said quietly with a strained voice.
She cleared her throat and patted her hair down and said, "Uh, yeah," and cleared her throat again. They both straightened their pajamas.
"We should probably get ready ourselves," Cynthia said.
"You're right. We're going to have to leave soon," Roger replied.
Cynthia turned to go to their bedroom and Roger playfully smacked her on her rear end with his hand. She jumped slightly, turned around, and smiled at him. Then she walked into the living room.
"Is your TV show over yet, Baby?" Cynthia asked.
"Almost," Cady replied, without removing her eyes from the screen.
"I'm going to go get ready for the picnic," Cynthia said.
"Okay, Momma," Cady replied.
Cynthia walked off toward their bedroom, and Roger came into the living room and sat in his chair and picked up the Saturday paper. Moments later, the credits for Captain Kangaroo scrolled on the screen. "How was your show, Baby?" he asked.
"Funny, Daddy," Cady replied as she stood up. "I'm going to go get ready for Matt's Daddy's picnic."
"Okay, Baby," Roger replied, and smiled as Cady walked toward her bedroom.
A few minutes later, Cynthia walked out dressed in denim-colored pedal pusher pants with string ties at the calves, and a red, collared, wrap-around shirt with small white polka-dots that tied at the waist. She had her hair down, but held back off of her face with a headband. She wore casual flat shoes and a silver bracelet on her right wrist.
Roger heard her come into the living room but didn't look up from the newspaper. "Looks like the Dodgers are going to Los Angeles," he said.
"Oh?" she said with her hands on her hips.
He looked up and immediately stood and dropped the paper on the coffee table and walked toward her. He put his left hand on the small of her back and twirled her shirt tie with his right hand.
"Will I get to untie this later?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
"If you're a good boy, you might get to," Cynthia said with a grin.
"I promise to be oh, so good, Mrs. Parsons," he said with a wink. "I guess I better get ready too." He left Cynthia and passed Cady on the way to his bedroom. "Lookin' good, Baby. Dressed to impress?" Roger asked.
"Huh?" Cady asked with a quizzical look on her face.
Roger winked. "Nevermind, Baby," and he continued walking.
Cady walked up to Cynthia wearing a light green and white gingham button down shirt over some cuffed blue jeans and saddle shoes.
"Want to wear your hair in a ponytail or braid?" Cynthia asked.
"Nah. I'll just wear my hair down today," Cady replied.
"Okay. Want me to brush your hair?" Cynthia asked.
"I can do it," Cady replied.
Cynthia smiled at her daughter's agency. "Okay, Baby."
Cady wandered off into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Roger emerged in a light blue shirt with a broad, dark blue, thinly lined grid pattern. He had the long sleeves rolled up to his forearms and the first button unbuttoned. He wore dark blue, pleated, cotton slacks with a belt and loafers. He struck a pose in front of Cynthia. "Well? What do you think? Do I look like one of those fellows in the men's fashion advertisements?"
"Absolutely. Except for the beard. You're still one of the few men I know who insists on wearing facial hair these days," Cynthia replied.
He rubbed his face. "You don't like it?"
"Oh no, I love it," she said and walked up and rubbed his face. "You're not like the rest of those other squares."
Cady walked out into the living room with a glass of orange juice. "When are we leaving?"
Roger walked up to her and tickled her on the chin. "Soon as you're done with that juice," he said and went into the kitchen himself. Cady drank her juice fast, put the glass on the coffee table and ran to her bedroom to brush her hair.
Cynthia picked up Cady's glass and called to Roger, "Were we supposed to bring anything?"
"Just ourselves," he called from the kitchen.
"Bill sure is a generous man," Cynthia said.
"Lord knows he can afford to be," Roger said, standing in the entry to the living room with a glass of water in hand.
"That's true," Cynthia said, handing him Cady's empty glass.
When everyone was ready, they filed into Cynthia's Mercury and drove to the Houston estate.
As they pulled up the Houston drive, Cynthia said, "This really is an amazing estate, and it's so beautiful outside today."
"And it's only going to be in the mid-80s today," Roger said.
The Houston property was in bloom. There was a light breeze and many dogwoods, redbuds, and sassafras trees were either flowering or had begun to lose some of their flowers on the ground. When the wind picked up, the petals fluttered through the air. The grass was a rich, kelly green and impeccably trimmed. As they got closer to the mansion, there were numerous white picnic tables on the front lawn and colorful streamers thrown into the trees. Many guests had already arrived. Bill had hired some caterers for the event so he could treat all of his employees to a day off and reward them with a down-home Texas barbeque. Sergei nervously hovered over the caterers even though he was a guest. Bill saw the Parsons' Mercury pull up and park, and he walked down to meet them.
"Well, hello there, Roger," he said, shaking his hand.
He walked over to Cynthia and took her hand and kissed it. "Cynthia. It's been a while."
"Yes it has, Bill. How have you been?" Cynthia asked.
"Busy as always. I bet it's the same for you," Bill replied.
"Oh, yes. I have to go to work after the picnic," Cynthia replied.
"You do such important work," Bill replied.
"Thank you, Bill," Cynthia replied.
Bill walked up to Cady and took her hand and kissed it too. "And how are you C.J.?" Bill asked.
His old-fashioned gesture startled Cady. She blushed and stuttered, "Wh – ere's M – att?" Roger and Cynthia smiled.
"He's out in the barn with Bo and Lamar. He should be here ….," Bill paused and saw Matt, Bo, and Lamar approaching. "Well, here he comes."
Matt ran up ahead of Bo and Lamar and stopped just short of C.J. He rocked back and forth on his heels with his hands in his jean pockets. "Hey C.J.! Wanna come meet my dog?!"
She beamed and replied, "Yes!" Matt grabbed her hand and dragged her past Bo and Lamar headed back to the barn.
Bill shouted after him, "Just a few minutes, son, and then you have to join the rest of us!" Bo and Lamar looked back at the two run to the barn and laughed. Bo and Lamar were dressed in their best clothes. Both wore their hair slicked back and wore bolo ties, western shirts, and two different shades of denim jeans.
"Hi, gentlemen. These are C.J.'s parents – Roger and Cynthia." He turned to the Parsons. "Roger and Cynthia, this is Bo. And this is Lamar. They're the ranch hands I've talked about with you, Roger."
"Nice to meet ya," Bo said as he shook Roger's, and then Cynthia's hand.
"Likewise," Lamar said, and shook their hands. "You sure do have a good little girl."
"Yep. She's spunky. And Mattlock's taken a shine to her too," Bo said, elbowing Lamar.
"The feeling is mutual for Cady," Roger replied.
"Cady?" Bo asked. He thought for a bit. "Oh….We call her C.J. here. I didn't know who you were talking about at first," he said with a chuckle.
Lamar rubbed his hands together vigorously and said, "Let's go look at the chow. I can't wait to eat."
"Alright, Lamar. Man's got no manners and his wife starves him nearly to death. It was nice to meet y'all. See you again in a bit," Bo said.
"Nice to meet you too," Cynthia said.
As the two men left, Bo tried to be quiet, but was overheard saying, "Wowie! C.J.'s momma's a looker."
"See, honey. I told you," Roger said, elbowing her in the side. She smiled.
Bill shrugged and smiled awkwardly, and said, "Sorry."
"Why don't we go up closer to the house and I'll introduce you to some people?" Bill asked.
"Sounds good," Roger replied, and they all walked up to where all the picnic tables were.
They approached a glamorous looking blonde woman in her early thirties, slightly overdressed for a picnic, in a form-fitting dress that stopped just above her knees. She had full lips and languid eyes with questioning eyebrows.
"Alice, I'd like you to meet Roger and Cynthia Parsons," Bill said. Alice shook both of their hands. Bill continued, "Roger is one of my attorneys, and his wife is a medical doctor."
"Nice to meet you," Alice said, holding a lemonade.
"Alice is my top statistician with the company," Bill elaborated. "I don't know what I'd do without her."
"Oh, Bill," Alice said with a smile.
"Where's Victor?" Bill asked.
"He couldn't make it today," Alice replied.
"Well, I'm glad you came. I'm going to finish introducing these two, and we'll talk soon, okay?" Bill said.
"You bet," Alice replied and sipped her lemonade.
Roger, Bill, and Cynthia walked away. "That was what a statistician looks like?" Roger asked, looking back at Alice.
Cynthia slapped Roger on the arm.
"That statistician does," Bill replied.
"Is Victor her husband?" Cynthia asked.
"Fiancé," Bill replied. "Victor Landa. He's in banking."
"Oh," Roger said. "Would you like something to drink," Bill asked as they approached a caterer. "We have many alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices."
"That lemonade looked good," Roger said. The caterer served up lemonade to Roger.
"What would you like, Cynthia?" Bill asked.
"I'll take lemonade as well," she replied.
Bill looked around at the attendees. "Well, it looks like everyone who said they'd attend, are here," he said. There were about 60 people in attendance. He cleared his throat and said as loud as he could, "Can I have everyone's attention?" There was only murmuring and no other response from the crowd. Bo and Lamar were standing nearby and heard Bill. Bo handed Lamar his drink and put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. That got everyone's attention, including Matt and C.J. who came running up to the group from the barn. Bill continued, "I want to thank all of you for coming on this beautiful day. Thank you for letting me reward you for your service with this delicious meal. Feel free to line up and start filling your plates. Don't forget to have seconds," Bill said.
The crowd applauded, parents gathered their children, and they all talked amongst themselves and began to line up for the food. Caterers took their places and began serving.
"Matt, why don't you take C.J. and get some food, while I talk to her parents," Bill said to Matt.
"Okay, Daddy," Matt replied and took C.J.'s hand. Lamar winked at Bill and he and Bo escorted the two children to the food tables.
"Quite the crowd, Bill," Roger said. "Yes it is," Cynthia agreed.
"You're a respected man, Bill," Roger said. "Everyone looks like they're having a great time."
"I hope they do," Bill replied. "What have you been working on lately, Roger?"
"Contracts, wills….the usual," Roger said. "I'm working on a case lately in which the will is being contested by the children. I'm defending the estate's and the widow's interests."
"Nothing brings out the best in people like weddings and funerals," Bill replied sarcastically.
"You can say that again," Roger replied.
"Sad, really," Cynthia said.
"That it is," Bill said. "Why don't we get some food and sit down and eat and talk some more."
"Sounds good," Roger said, as he put his hand on the small of Cynthia's back and escorted her to the food tables with all of the other people as Bill followed behind. After Roger, Cynthia, and Bill filled their plates with food, they sat down at a table with three men. Matt and C.J. were at a table with Bo and Lamar and a couple of other children.
"What do you think of the caterers, Sergei?" Bill asked with a smirk and looking at Cynthia.
"Nekompetentnyye duraki," he replied with the sound of disdain in his voice.
"What's that, Sergei?" Bill asked. "Nichego….nothing," Sergei replied with a sigh.
"Roger and Cynthia, this is Sergei, my house chef," Bill said. Sergei shook both of their hands.
"You don't like the food, Sergei?" Cynthia asked.
"Net! Amateurs!" Sergei replied with passion in a Russian accent.
"Sergei is the best there is. I can see why he doesn't think the food measures up. But he needed a day off too," Bill said.
"If you say so, Bill," Sergei said, and began picking at his food.
"I do," Bill said. He turned to Cynthia and Roger. "I met Sergei at the Cloverleaf Hotel dedication in 1949. That's how long we've known each other, and he's worked for me almost that whole time."
"You seem to be passionate about your work, Sergei," Roger said.
"Any work worth doing is worth being passionate about," Sergei replied.
"That's a good philosophy," Cynthia said.
Bill continued the introductions, "This is José Santos, my gardener and poker buddy."
"Nice to meet you, José," Roger said as he shook his hand. Then Cynthia shook his hand as well and nodded to him.
"Nice to meet you, señor and señora," José replied.
"Roger, do you play poker? We're looking for a new player to deal in," Bill asked. "Although, I wouldn't recommend playing José. He'll clean you out," he said with a smile as he elbowed José. José looked like the cat that ate the canary.
"I've only played the game a couple of times. I'm no expert. Billiards is my game," Roger replied.
"I love that as well," Bill enthused. "We'll have to play some time."
"That would be great," Roger replied.
"The thing is that we need another poker player because Cattle Annie moved back to west Texas. She moved to Lubbock to be nearer some of her family and financial interests, and put her mansion next door up for sale," Bill said.
"I was wondering where she was," Roger said.
"I never got to meet her. She sounds like a colorful character," Cynthia said.
"You still might. She shows up in the strangest places and at the strangest times," Bill reassured. "How about you, Cynthia? Do you play poker?"
"Never have," Cynthia replied.
"Too bad. Well, anytime you want to learn, my home is open to you and Roger," Bill replied.
"Thanks," Cynthia said.
"Finally, I'd like you to meet Leonard Chase, my chief accountant," Bill said, gesturing toward a man a little older than he with a receding hair line, full lips, and glasses. Leonard was chewing his food and didn't say anything right away. He gestured with his finger for everyone to wait a bit while he finished chewing.
He gulped. "Nice to meet you."
"Roger Parsons," Roger said, pointing at himself. "And this is my wife, Cynthia."
"I'd shake your hands, but…," Leonard said, showing his hands with barbeque sauce as the reason he did not shake their hands.
"Where's Sylvia, Leonard?" Bill asked.
"She's at home with Myron," he said and turned to Roger and Cynthia…. "The terrible twos," he said with a cocked smile.
"I remember those," Bill said.
"Me too," Cynthia said. "Although Cady's weren't too bad."
"Boys are different, that's for sure," Leonard replied.
"Speaking of boys, where's Murray?" Bill asked.
"He's over there, leaning against that tree with a book," Leonard replied. "He didn't feel like eating. Nothing on you, Bill, but he didn't want to come at all. He didn't know why he had to come and his little brother didn't. So much rivalry with a big age difference," Leonard said and then turned again to Roger and Cynthia. "Myron was a surprise. Murray is eleven years old."
"He likes to read?" Cynthia asked.
"Oh yes, he's quite bookish. He also likes statistics. If he talks to anyone today about anything it will be Alice," Leonard replied.
Roger looked over at Alice again who was sitting at the table of single women, and said, "Who could blame him?" Cynthia elbowed him. And Leonard and Bill smiled. "You know I only have eyes for you, honey," Roger said, and kissed Cynthia on the cheek. Cynthia rolled her eyes and the other men at the table took bites of their food to avoid comment.
"Leonard also has a law degree, Roger," Bill said.
"Oh? But you became an accountant?" Roger asked.
"I guess I prefer numbers to people," Leonard replied.
"Well, they can be hard to like at times," Roger said. "Cynthia's dealing with people all the time."
"What's been going on at Hermann Hospital, Cynthia?" Bill asked. He turned to the other men at the table. "Cynthia's a doctor, everyone."
"A doctor? Excellent," Leonard said with a smile.
"The usual things," Cynthia said. "Don't be humble, Cynthia," Bill said.
"Tell them about the family that had the car accident," Roger said.
"I don't want to bring everyone down on this lovely day," Cynthia said.
"What happened?" Sergei asked.
"A family had a car accident. A mother and father, a boy and a girl….The father died in the accident," Cynthia said.
"And the rest?" Leonard asked.
"They're going to make it," Cynthia said.
"That is sad," Bill said. "It's got me thinking about going into private practice soon," Cynthia said.
"Why's that?" Bill asked.
"Less death," she replied. "It can be very sad at times."
"It might be worse. In private practice, you may get to know your patients better and when they pass, it could be all the harder," Leonard said.
"True," Cynthia said.
"The main perk is that she could set her hours," Roger said.
"The main drawback is the startup cost," Cynthia said.
"You could always get a loan," Leonard said.
"We probably have enough credit and a friend's husband is a banker. It's a big risk," Cynthia replied.
"You'll know when the time is right, Cynthia," Bill said.
"I suppose so," Cynthia said.
"I'm ready when she is," Roger said as he put his arm around her shoulders.
Cynthia changed the subject. "José, are you the one responsible for the beautiful flowering trees on the property?"
"Sí, señora," he replied.
"Do you mind if I asked where you got all of them?" Cynthia asked.
"No, señora. I got them from a nursery a few miles west of where we are right now. They have an excellent selection," he replied.
She turned to Roger. "I wouldn't mind having a few of those for our yard, Roger," she said.
"Anything you want," Roger replied.
"Sergei, you've been awful quiet," Roger observed.
"I'm trying to chew this food. Far too tough," Sergei said.
"I should have you two over for a private dinner so you can sample Sergei's cooking. He does have a reason to be confident. You could bring C.J. too," Bill said.
"That would be nice. Thank you," Cynthia replied. "You will not be disappointed," Sergei said as he threw the remainder of a rib onto his plate, and pushed it away.
