Chapter 37
Inside the trailer, Grace had heard the argument between AJ and her father, she knew that seeing the engagement ring on her hand would only anger him further, so she slipped it off and put it in her pocket.
Once back in the trailer, Harold eyed his daughter and said, "So, you think you're going to marry him, do you?"
"Yes, father, we're going to be married on Monday."
"Over my dead body!" exclaimed Harold. "You're not going to throw your life away on some young hooligan."
"AJ is not a hooligan, father, he's a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and he's going to be commanding his own ship soon. He's a very important and respected man."
"I don't care if he is the President of the United States, you're not going to marry him."
"I am, father, and nothing you can do, or say, will stop me."
"If your mother were here, she would make you see sense, but she's not here because you didn't save her when you could have."
"Father, I was a scared little child…" she started to say and at that moment Angel came running from the bedroom and started barking at Harold.
He looked at the little dog angrily, and pulled back his leg and kicked her.
"Stop it!" Grace yelled scooping up the now whimpering puppy. "Don't you ever hurt her again!" she ordered and disappeared into her bedroom.
Once in her room, Grace sank down on her bed and checked Angel over for injuries. She healed the bruising that her father's kick had caused and the two of them laid down together to take a nap. She slid her engagement ring out of her pocket and placed it on her finger to dream of AJ. Grace avoided her father for the rest of the day.
The next morning, she got up early, and after feeding Angel; she made breakfast for her father in hopes of smoothing things over. She also started a pot of chili going, the way Josephine had taught her to make it. Her father was quiet throughout breakfast, not even thanking her for the meal. He didn't say a word as he left to check things out at the revival tent.
When he returned to the trailer for lunch, the smell of chili was already filling the tiny space, and when Grace placed his bologna and peanut butter sandwich in front of him, he finally broke down and asked what the wonderful smell was.
"It's chili, father. AJ's mother taught me how to make it."
"What's wrong with chili from a can?" he growled.
"That's good, but Josephine's chili is even better. You'll see when I serve it for dinner tonight and I'm making cornbread too."
"You just see that we're not late for the meeting, girl."
"We won't be, we'll eat an hour before the meeting starts," she promised.
After lunch, Harold told her he was going back to the tent again, and Grace said that she wanted to take Angel for a walk, but would be back in plenty of time for dinner.
"See that you are, and if that dog causes any trouble at all, it'll have to go," warned Harold.
"She won't cause any trouble, father, and I'll keep her out of your way."
"Good," was all he said as he left.
As soon as she was out of sight of the trailer, Grace slipped her engagement ring back on her finger, as she and Angel walked toward the truck stop, so she could place a call to AJ. It was hard to hear his voice from the pay phone on the side of the building, but she couldn't go inside because she had Angel. So they made do as best they could, and talked for about fifteen minutes. Grace said that she had to go, because her father thought she was only out for a walk.
"Is everything ok?" asked AJ.
"Father is still upset, but I'm hoping he'll come around."
"He told me that you'd be moving on early Monday morning, so I'll come by and pick you up after the meeting on Sunday."
"That's wonderful, AJ, I'll get to see you a day sooner! I love you and I'll call again tomorrow."
"I love you too, Grace, be well."
The storm clouds had been gathering most of the afternoon and Grace noticed them as she walked Angel back from the truck stop. She knew that this would upset her father since the attendance at the meetings was always less when the weather was bad.
To be continued…..