Our House
By the time it took Duke, Scarlett's brothers, and the neighbors to put up what seemed to Duke like an awful lot–more had been added since he last counted-of picnic tables the women started bringing out table clothes, many hand embroidered with lace, initials, quilting patters, or verses of some kind. After the younger women had set the tables with plates and other essentials the older women started bringing out the food. And what a feast! Bowls of potato salad and coleslaw, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried okra, baked beans with bacon, lemonade, beer, whiskey, pound cake, brownies, banana pudding, something Shauna told him was fried green tomatoes, fresh salad from Mrs. Campbell's garden, Shauna also told him all the food was homemade and had been started that morning before mass. Everything except the chicken was made from scratch. Oh, and they bought the lemons. Her father would make ice cream after they had finished. Flint turned to him, "Man are you lucky! I could get used to this kind of cooking!" Duke himself was overwhelmed. He ate until he could not pack another morsel away-something that pleased Mrs. Campbell to no end. After lunch-or supper as they called it-the food-what was left after the extended family had finished eating-was put back in the kitchen, the tables swept of finery, the good china and crystal glasses put away, the tablecloths shaken and laid out on the ground, and the men had put all but two of the tables, one for the children, and another for the Patriarch, back where they had come from-the garage and sheds-the family gathered around in a loose circle and the music and dancing and storytelling began. Not to mention the drinking. The song Our House came to Duke's mind. The place was crazy but laughter abounded and all the brothers and the Campbell men would take turn acting like they would hit each other-like friends who hadn't seen each other in years. Shauna reappeared next to his side. "I want you to meet daddy."
Conrad allowed himself and his aching feet to be led to where the older, more distinguished, more important gentlemen and ladies, as Shauna had told him, were seated. 'Here it goes. A word alone with her father and you'll know for sure if you'll ever have her as your wife.' Another thought occurred to him, 'At least proposing won't be intimidating-not after this!'
Patrick saw them coming and excused himself. He met them by the big oak tree well away from prying eyes and listening ears. Shauna had her arm wrapped in Duke's and a huge beaming smile on her face. When they got close to where he stood she dropped his arm and gave her father a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, daddy."
"Hello Shauna, Conrad. How are you enjoying your vacation?"
"Just fine sir, I'd like to thank you again for inviting us. It's been a pleasure to meet all of Shauna's family. She talks about everyone so much it's nice to be able to finally put faces to names."
Patrick laughed-he liked this young man.
"Daddy." Shauna started but stopped, suddenly unsure of how to explain to her father that she was in love. As it turned out she didn't have to.
He leaned down a gave her cheek a kiss, "You're thinking to yourself, 'Now how exactly do I go about telling my father that I'm in love and I'm thinking of marrying this man beside me.' Am I right?" Shauna nodded. He reached out to stroke her cheek lightly, "Ah, my little girl, I'd have to be blind and foolish not to see the way you look at him..." he paused and looked at Duke, "…and the way he looks at you. I hope her brothers weren't too hard on you. They like to take a slightly more protective stance than is usually called for when dealing with their baby sister. It looks like they've already accepted you. That's good. It's one less thing we'll have to deal with when the wedding gets here. But all I need to know is that she loves you and that you love her just as much. Welcome to the family, son." Patrick stuck out his hand. Duke reached to shake it but instead got pulled into a bone-crushing hug. He was released a moment later with a firm slap on the back. Duke looked about dazedly, 'I haven't even proposed and already he's acting like I'm one of his sons! This is unbelievable! If she were my daughter I'd never want to let her go…but thank god he can find it in his heart to!'
"Oh, if your mother could see you now."
"She can daddy. She can."
"She'd approve you know."
"And she'd tell you that you'd done a wonderful job being a daddy."
Duke reluctantly dropped her hand and quietly walked away to give them a few moments alone.
As he sat back down Flint cornered him, "Well?"
Duke shook his head; he was still in disbelief that it had been that easy. "He gave me a hug and welcomed me to the family."
"What! I thought you promised to tell me before you asked her!"
"Shut up!" and then more quietly, "I did. I know Allie'd skin both our hides if I asked Shauna and didn't even consult her first."
"Wait a minute-you haven't proposed but he still welcomed you to the family?"
"Yep."
"Man are you one lucky dog!"
Duke grinned turning towards Shauna who was walking back with her father, "Yeah. But then I already knew that."
