Everyone sat at the table stunned silent as they turned their gaze to Eli. Eli put his hands in his pocket and turned around.
"Hmm, I'll take it under advisement. Why don't you sit down and join us for dinner, I'm sure you haven't seen Olivia in a long time and she brought a friend home to visit. I was just about to pour some of Grandpa Dan's strawberry wine."
Edison had not planned to stay, but everybody knows that rudeness above all else was not tolerated at anyone table kin or none.
"Thank you, Cousin Eli."
Everyone eyed each other as Harrison went to get Edison a chair. He put it on the other side of the table in front of Fitz and Olivia. Olivia was giving Edison the stink eye from the moment he mentioned the promise. Edison was not reading the room.
"Hey, cousin Olivia."
"Edison." She said as coldly as possible.
Fitz looked around. "I'm Fitz by the way, Olivia's boyfriend."
Eli choked on his water after hearing that. He wanted to laugh, but he knew Fitz just threw down the gauntlet. Edison looked at Olivia and Fitz and just glared. Fitz lifted his and Olivia's joined hands and showed Edison as he wiggled his eyebrows. Olivia thought she would pass out from laughing at how stupid Fitz was being, but she knew how serious the situation was.
"Cousin Eli, are you going to allow this outsider to come into our town and disrespect me like this?"
"Well Edison, first you came to my house at dinner time uninvited, and second no one in this family even believes in the promise anymore. So, you can sit here and eat politely like you were raised or you can leave, your choice."
Edison was put out by his cousin's retort so he got up and moved toward the door.
"You all ain't seen the last of me and my kin. Either you honor the promise or this is a blood feud. Your choice cousin!"
Edison stormed out of the house before he could say anything. Eli dropped his head all while he was turned toward the door.
"Well, that went well. Alright, we've had quite the excitement for the day, and I am not going to let him ruin my baby's homecoming or this great meal your Moma made. Let's eat."
Everyone ate in silence because they knew exactly what was coming except Fitz. Eli needed to nip this in the bud as fast as he could or they were in for literal all-out war.
After dinner and everyone cleaned up the kitchen and the table. Fitz put his coat on and asked Olivia to join him outside on the front porch swing. They sat down and he put his arm around her and pulled her close to keep them warm.
"I'm not from round these parts Little Woman, tell me what all this promise stuff is about."
She smiled at his attempt to be country but then huffed a little.
"It's something that families around here have done for years. Edison is a very distant cousin, to be quite frank, he is almost a cousin in name alone, but after the slaves were freed. A lot of them formed their own towns and communities. Rarely did any strangers move into our hollars, so to keep the communities together a pack was made with all the founding families here. So children were promised to certain families. It's continued somewhat, but a lot of us like my family gave that shit up a long time ago. Edison and his crew have not. They have also kept up blood packs against people who violate the promise. I'm talking shooting first and settling matters later."
"Damn! Looks like I'm going to be the reason for this version of the Hatfield's and McCoy's."
"You better believe it. They should all come to town tomorrow with guns out. Hopefully, Dad will be able to talk them down. If not, we may have to slip out of town if we can."
"How bad will this be for your family?"
"Have to move away kind of bad. These backwoods folks are not screwed too tight. You'll see some on horseback as well."
Fitz pulled Olivia closer thinking of what was coming.
"Let's get in, I'm sure there is someone out there making sure we don't leave."
"You think?" He looked around.
"I'm sure."
They both got up and went inside.
Everyone somberly said goodnight and Olivia went to her room and Fitz slept in the boy's room.
Later that night in bed.
"Eli, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to have to get Granpa Dan involved, but you know what the price is going to be."
Maya laid her head down and pondered what he said.
"I don't think I can do it, Eli."
Eli pulled his wife close.
"I know My."
The morning came early when there was a knock at the door at 5 am. Eli was up because he couldn't sleep. He went to the door and welcomed his great-grandfather Dan and his Grandfather Ike. Matters like these had to be settled by the elders. Eli led them to the kitchen for some coffee.
Grandpa Dan was the first to speak.
"I never thought I would have to mediate a promise, but here we are. Do you and Maya know the cost of breaking this?"
"We do."
Grandpa Dan shook his head and drank his coffee very slowly.
"She'll be able to stay for the holiday."
An hour later everyone started to come into the kitchen. Maya had gotten up to start breakfast for everyone and Olivia was surprised and glad to see Grandpa Dan and Ike. It had been so long. Grandpa Dan had reached 103 and was as spry as he was strong. Everyone in the family knew that his word was law. No one in that Hollar would ever challenge it. He was the last link to the past and everyone revered him for it.
Everyone was really somber that morning. They knew that to settle a promise, there was a debt that had to be paid and from previous ones, it could be harsh.
As Olivia said, by 8 am every one of Edison's kin was in front of their house and the elder in their group was Simon Pope. He wasn't as old as Grandpa Dan, but his clan would abide by his word. He climbed down from his horse and walked onto the porch and sat down on a chair next to a small table and Grandpa Dan did the same. Maya brought out some coffee and Simon pulled out a bottle and poured his best whiskey into both their cups. They both sipped for a while and then Simon spoke.
"I know things are changing here, but if we don't hold on to some of the old ways our history and community will be lost."
Grandpa Dan listened to what he said.
"Holding on to the past can also stunt a family's growth. We all want what's best for our children and grandchildren. Our family is like a tree. You and me, we are the roots. Eli and Mya is the trunk, Olivia is a branch that needs to stretch and grow and bear fruit. With a mind like hers, she can't do that here bearing children for Edison."
Simon looked out at his family and could see what Dan was talking about, but he also knew that his family would not concede without a debt being paid.
"I can see that, and I can see that Olivia doesn't belong here, but for me and mine, we will hold on to the past for a while longer. Olivia will never see this valley again as long as she lives, or one of mine live. Her parents can't see her for at least five years. If you agree then the debt is paid."
Grandpa Dan looks over to Eli and Maya and then at Olivia.
"She stays for Xmas, but she leaves after never to return."
Grandpa Dan and Simon drained their cups and shake. Simon climbs back on his horse.
"Olivia! Despite what just happened here, we are proud of you. Edison will find someone who fits him, be that branch your Grandfather wants you to be. Live well."
Olivia had been silently crying in the background. She kinda knew she would be banished, but to not see her family for five years was crushing.
"Come here, child." Grandpa Dan said.
Olivia came over and stood in front of him.
"I probably won't ever leave this valley, but know this now. You were never meant to come back here. You have world-changing things to do and if you came back here it would have been a tragedy. You carry all of us with you when you go out into this world, remember us and keep pushing forward. Tell your children of us. Make them understand that they are standing on our shoulders."
Olivia went to her knees and hugged her Grandfather as tight as she could because she knew she would never see him again. She sobbed and wailed at that knowledge. Fitz had tears running down his face as well.
"Here, here! I'm 103 and I've lived my life and somebody else's."
They both chuckled.
"I'm good with my maker and I've had a long and satisfying life, and to see how wonderful you've become is all that I could ask. You make this family so proud. Now get up girl! It's cold out here to these old bones. I got to get home. I bet your children find it funny that I get to boss your Grandfather Ike and your Daddy around like little boys."
Everyone on the porch laughed.
"But you'll see when you have your own. No matter how old they get, they're still your babies. Ike take me back to the house son."
Everyone gathered around Grandpa Ike's car and wished them both Merry Xmas. Everyone went back to the house and just sat down to digest what happened.
The mood had turned somber even though it was Xmas Eve. Eli stood and surveyed the room, this would be the last time he would have his whole family here with him and he wasn't going to let what happened today spoil his oldest child return for now.
"OK, we know what's facing us and this will not dominate my firstborns homecoming. So everyone buck up, we have things to do today for our last Xmas here together. No more sad faces, IT'S XMAS!"
They all chuckled and got up to start their traditions as always. Everyone got up to get their coats on. They always left getting the Xmas tree the Eve, it was so much fun picking out the tree, dragging it home behind their horses, and decorating it. Then the cooking would start.
Fitz felt really bad for what happened and he blamed himself for all of it. He had to make it right. If her parents couldn't see her for five years then they would not be available for her wedding. He was not going to be the reason she was not walked down the aisle by her father. He had an idea, but he needed to discuss it with her parents.
Fitz stayed back with her mother to talk to her and make some plans.
"Mrs. Pope, I had an ulterior motive for staying back from the Xmas tree hunt."
"I kind of expected that you did. I don't see you so interested in cooking with me. Although you might pick up some of Olivia's favorite recipes since your cooking for a month."
They both laughed.
"I'm sure your husband told you that I asked for Olivia's hand in marriage. I don't see us waiting five years for you to come to visit us, so what if we have a wedding tomorrow. I can get my parents and my best man here tonight and we can get married with your husband walking her down the aisle."
Maya smiled through her tears.
"I think that would be a lovely surprise for my baby, but don't you need to propose first?"
"I can take care of that tonight, and I have a ring in mind for Olivia already that my parents can bring. I'm sure my Dad can find a justice of the peace somewhere to perform the ceremony."
"You got this all figured out don't you?"
"When you love someone as much as I love Livie, you move mountains to make her happy."
Maya patted his face and turned to start dinner.
"Make your calls, I have a feeling my daughter will not say no to you."