Author's Note: -Thank you for reviewing the previous Chapter. The epilogue for this story now follows.Owing to the number of people who have Emailed and made suggestions, I have accommodated these and divided the outcome of this special love story into two parts. Part Two of the Epilogue will be uploaded in a few days. mcj
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FENCES & FAMILIES
STORY ONE - EPILOGUE PART 1- GRANT AND JOSEPHINE TRACY
A FAMILY CREATES A DYNASTY
Picture a Fence - ""A protective barrier for something dear"
then
Picture a Family - "A group of like individuals
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It was Saturday night in the quiet little town in southern Kansas.
But tonight was no ordinary Saturday night.
For the first time in many months, the sleepy main street had come alive with people and activity.
There was a dance to go to over in the community hall, heads were down playing bingo in the local church hall and the out of town Farmers were back in the bar enjoying a few well earned drinks.
The rain had made such a difference to everyone and after so many years of drought there was a feeling of hopefulness in the air.
Amongst the bustle and activity, the two of them walked along the street together, hand in hand. She looked up at him, laughed and pointed in the shop windows. He smiled and looked there too. To those who passed them by they looked like just another young couple in love.
But there was much more to it than that.
He fixed his eyes on her and gazed lovingly in her direction.
Long brown hair, big blue eyes, finely moulded body and the face of an angel.
Josephine Alice Brown.
The love of his life.
He could hardly believe after all this time she was finally his.
He let out a massive sigh.
Even if it was only for one night.
Marvin Landers knew he was on borrowed time when it came to the affections of Josephine Brown. She had promised to date him the night he agreed to open the market for her, and he was determined to hold her to the promise. But once tonight was over, the promise had been kept and Marvin knew he had to let her go.
Even though they would continue to work together every day at the market, he and Josephine would go their separate ways. He would return to his mundane life of loneliness. She would return to the arms of Grant Tracy.
Marvin shrugged.
Despite accepting the inevitable, the night was still young and he didn't have to give her back yet.
And he intended to make the most of things before he did.
He bit his lip and began to feel anxious.
It was a pity things hadn't gone too well so far.
The movie he had taken her to see earlier in the evening had been terrible and the two of them sat side by side in the back seat of the theatre in disbelief. He was speechless with disappointment. She was shaking with hysteria and trying not to make a sound.
"I can't believe you spent good money paying for me to see this." she finally whispered close to his ear.
"I can't believe I'm wasting valuable time pretending to watch it with you." he complained.
They sat for a while longer until Josephine's giggling became all too much for him. He wanted her to have a good time and enjoy being with him, not treat him like everyone else did and laugh herself senseless.
"Oh for goodness sakes Josie let's just get ourselves the heck outta here." he had frowned.
"I thought you'd never ask." she exclaimed, rising to her feet and happily following him out of the theatre.
Once outside on the sidewalk she leaned against a light pole, folded her arms and burst into laughter.
"That was so terrible Marvin Landers." she admonished him light-heartedly. "What the hell did you take me to see somethin' like that for? I thought you liked me!"
His face had completely fallen.
"Thanks a lot Josie." he murmured in disappointment. "I was hopin' you were enjoyin' yourself irrespective."
Josephine knew from his voice he was insulted. She grabbed his arm and looked up at him.
"Oh come on Marvin… no offence huh? I'm only foolin' around."
"Yeah well everyone takes me for a fool Josie." he pouted. "Even you."
"I do not!" she exclaimed. "Don't you dare go puttin' words in my mouth!"
Her face lit up at his petulant expression and she began to chuckle.
"Come on … even you gotta admit it was terrible."
He allowed himself to lighten up. There was no way he could stay mad at Josephine Brown but deep down it irked him that she treated him like everyone else.
"Yeah OK Josie." he said allowing a half smile to permeate his lips "I admit it. It was a shocker!"
The two of them laughed and then looked from one end of the street to the other.
"So now what will we do with ourselves?" he asked. "The dance is on over in the hall if you wanna go."
Josephine looked dubious.
"I've never been one for dancin' Marvin." she replied.
Marvin breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't dance at all and as far as he was concerned he'd made a big enough fool of himself in front of her tonight without risking that too.
They continued to look up and down the street.
"You could always take me back to the farmhouse." she said hopefully.
He shook his head. There was no way his special night with Josephine Brown was going to end so soon. They had a deal and she was sticking to her end of the bargain if it killed her.
"Josephine we're supposed to be out on a date!" he chided her. "You don't go home from a date at eight thirty."
"I KNOW!" she exclaimed testily. "It was only a suggestion."
He looked up the street for the last time. He'd had enough procrastinating. He knew where they could both go to have a good time.
He reached out his hand and took hers.
"Come on." he said determinedly. "You and me are goin' to have a beer."
She turned towards him and frowned.
I ain't goin' into that bar holdin' your hand Marvin Landers." she flashed. "There's Farmers in there who know Grant."
"Josephine you promised me." he reminded her firmly. "You said if I opened the market for you you'd go out with me. Just you and me you said."
"I know that but …" she began.
He interrupted.
"And when you said it Josie you didn't put no restrictions on it." he reminded her.
"No I didn't did I?" she acknowledged half-heartedly and sighed as he kept hold of her hand and began to walk down the street towards the bar.
"Why don't we skip the beer and I get you to open the market for me again." she suggested with a wink. "Remember what happened the last time you did that!"
He stared back at her with a sullen expression. What did she have to go and bring that subject up for?
"Yeah I remember what happened to you all right Josephine. You went on out to the farmhouse and got yourself engaged to that Farmer boy." he said in a sulky voice.
An amused look stole across her face. Marvin was jealous and it wasn't half obvious.
"Do I sense my engagement to Grant is botherin' you Marvin Landers?" she teased.
He took and deep breath and bared his soul.
"Yes Josephine Brown." he said matter-of-factly. "Yes your engagement does bother me if you must know. You could've at least waited until you gave ME a chance before commitin' yourself for life."
She laughed.
"Oh Marvin stop it! Jealousy doesn't suit you any better than it suits Grant."
She looked at his perplexed face, pictured Grant's and laughed louder.
Grant had been absolutely beside himself with jealousy when she informed him she intended to go on a date with Marvin Landers. Even after she'd explained the reason behind it all, he was still disgruntled at the thought of her being hand in hand with his nemesis from the market.
"I've always suspected he's had eyes for you Josephine." he complained. "I can tell just by the way he looks at you that he wants to be more than friends."
His brow furrowed and his lips pursed.
"No Josie." he finally said. "I don't want you to go."
She had grinned at his surly face and determined, unwavering expression. He had never revealed this side of his personality before and she was flabbergasted at how possessive he was.
"Oh come on Grant. I have to." she replied in her most persuasive voice. "I promised him."
"Yeah but that was before you promised yourself to me." he argued.
"It don't matter." she re-iterated firmly. "A promise is a promise."
She tried not to laugh. Grant could hide a lot of things about how he felt but he sure as heck was having trouble hiding his jealousy. His face completely gave him away.
"Anyway Grant you gotta remember if it wouldn't have been for Marvin, you and me would never have got back together.
Grant really frowned then.
"Are you tryin' to tell me I should be grateful to him or somethin' Josephine?" he muttered.
She nodded, wrapped her arms around his neck and proceeded to kiss him heartily on the lips.
"That's exactly what I'm sayin' to you handsome." she laughed as they broke apart.
Grant sighed unhappily but in the end had reluctantly agreed to let her go.
"You just make real sure he understands the way things are with us Josie." he warned. "I sure don't wanna have to go through hell and high water with you again."
"Why?" she ribbed. "Ain't I worth it to you Grant?"
He pulled her close to him and looked deep into her eyes.
"Of course you're worth it Josephine." he said sincerely. "But as far as I'm concerned the courtin's all done and you belong to me."
His voice was firm and his face was deadly serious.
Her voice on the other hand was full of mischief. She loved teasing him at the best of times and now that she had discovered his jealous streak it was more enjoyable than ever.
"I might warn you Mr Grant Daniel Tracy that I ain't wearin' no engagement ring that says so yet." she grinned.
She paused and tormented him further. "And without one Marvin Landers might think he can rustle in on me when you ain't lookin'."
His face dropped. Not a day went by when he didn't wish he still had his Mother's beautiful ring to give her.
"I'll buy you a proper engagement ring Josie." he promised intensely. "I … I will …"
Her own smile faded. She knew Grant hated the fact he couldn't give her anything.
She looked down at the bandaid he had placed around her finger over a week ago. If only he knew it was worth more to her than the most expensive ring he could buy.
"I know you will honey." she whispered lovingly. "I was only kiddin' around."
A tender smile stole across her face as she sat herself down at the table in the bar and Marvin went to get the two of them a beer.
It hadn't been easy for Grant that explosive morning in the farmhouse. Her marriage proposal had placed him in a position where he didn't have a choice any more. If he wanted her he had to put his farm on the line and stand up to her Father.
Josephine shuddered at the memory.
Walter Brown had been mortified when Grant returned her to the farmhouse and stood with his arm around her prepared to state his case. The shirt she wore was completely saturated and totally transparent. It certainly left nothing to anyone's imagination and Walter simply didn't know where to look next.
"For God's sake Josephine…" he spluttered.
Grant saw his embarrassment and motioned her in the direction of the bathroom.
"Go on through and find yourself some dry clothes Josephine." he said. "I got things to discuss with your Daddy."
She had stood defiantly by his side glaring at her Father.
"No I ain't goin' anywhere 'till all the talkin's been done."
"Josephine do as you're told!" barked Walter Brown. "You're an absolute disgrace standing there like that."
She opened her mouth to argue again but Grant stopped her mid-sentence. He turned her to him and looked her firmly in the face.
"Josie that's enough huh." he said quietly. "Your Daddy is right."
She paused as he held her eyes with his own.
"It's OK honey." he re-iterated. "I can handle things."
His firm voice reassured her and after a glare in her Father's direction, she turned and went in the direction of the bathroom.
What was said between them after that she didn't really know but when she emerged her Father had gone and Grant was in the kitchen fixing the two of them breakfast.
"Where's Daddy?" she asked looking around the room in surprise.
"Gone home." he replied, carefully avoiding her eyes.
"AND?" she insisted.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"And I hope you like the idea of us livin' in a truck Josephine." he said matter-of-factly. "Cos that's what your Daddy said is gonna happen if I go against him and put a ring on your finger."
She had fired up immediately.
"Oh really?" she flashed, snatching up her coat and looking about for her car keys. "Well I'll just see about that!"
Her eyes caught his anxious expression as she went to walk out the door. She stopped and turned back around.
"Grant you're not thinkin' about backin' down to him are you?" she asked.
He reached up to take a coffee cup from the shelf above his head. He held it in his hands for a few moments and studied it intently.
"No ma'am." was his quiet reply "No I'm not. "
After a while he lifted his face to hers.
"But please Josie before you go stormin' outta here again like a woman possessed let me do just one thing huh?"
She looked puzzled.
"What?"
He put down the cup and opened a nearby drawer. From out of it he took a band-aid and proceeded to take her left hand in his.
"This that's what." he said, wrapping it around her finger.
"What on earth are you doing?" she frowned.
"Josephine." he said with resignation. "If you're gonna go on home, aggravate your Daddy further and get me tossed the hell off my farm, you'd better at least be wearin' a ring of some description to justify it all."
He lifted her hand to his lips.
"Ain't much of a ring I know but as far I'm concerned it means the two of us are engaged to be married."
She looked down at the bandaid and felt a sudden feeling of happiness surge through her body. This was the moment she had waited for. It wasn't quite as romantic as she had pictured it might be but after everything that had happened these past few months she didn't really care.
"Now Miss Josephine you go and take yourself on home." he continued squeezing her hand gently and giving her his magical Tracy smile. "I got things to do around the farm."
"Hey!!!!"
Josephine startled back to the present as Marvin put the beer down in front of her.
"Penny for your thoughts." he challenged.
"Huh?" she said in a distant voice.
"You were a million miles away Josephine." he observed sitting down beside her.
She gave him a brief, embarrassed smile.
"I'm real sorry Marvin. You're right. I was thinkin' about somethin else."
Marvin rolled his eyes. He could imagine what she was thinking about or should he say who. Grant Tracy was all she ever thought about.
"Well think about talkin' to me and enjoyin' our night out together instead." he said taking a large gulp of his beer. "You'll be back in the arms of your precious Farmer boy soon enough."
The sarcasm in his voice caused her temper to flash unexpectedly.
"Don't call him a Farmer boy Marvin." she snapped. "His name is Grant and I won't tolerate you callin' him nothin' else."
Marvin was completely taken back. Josephine had never snapped at him like that before. She'd put him in his place on more than one occasion but never as decisively as that.
It was obvious the fall-out with her Father over Grant ran deeper than he thought.
Josephine immediately felt guilty. Marvin was a good friend and she was supposed to be out on a date with him. She reddened.
"I'm sorry Marvin." she apologised. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
He gave her an understanding nod.
"It's OK. Josie I guess given the circumstances even someone like you can't be perfect."
She smiled warmly at his pathetic attempt to charm her. He was such a sweet man and she felt really bad that she had vented her frustration out on him.
"Thanks for understandin' Marvin but you don't deserve to be on the receivin' end of my problems all the same."
Her finger slowly traced the sides of the beer glass and the silence between them soon became awkward.
"You wanna talk about it Josie?" he offered after a while. "I know I ain't Grant or nothin' but I'm willin' to listen if you want."
She sighed. It was doubtful talking about the situation would help. It certainly wouldn't change what happened last week.
"No Marvin." she finally replied. "Ain't nothin' you or anyone can do about my Daddy."
His own face became gloomy.
Josephine had confided in him earlier in the week about the dreadful confrontation she'd had with her family. To his mind came the situation with his own Father and the confrontations he experienced on an almost daily basis.
"No more than I can do anything about my own." he admitted in return.
"Daddy can only relate to one thing these days … money."
"My Daddy only relates to one thing too … the drink."
"He don't seem to see the value of our family no more."
"My Daddy ain't seen the value of our family since I was in Grade school."
Her face contorted with sadness.
"Wish I'd have just kept my big fat mouth shut."
"Wish I was game enough to open mine."
"Sure wish Daddy and me could make things up and I could see Momma again ."
"Wish I could just see my Momma."
The two of them continued to drink their beer and look at each other miserably. Marvin reached out his hand and squeezed hers reassuringly.
"Things will be OK Josie. Your Daddy will come 'round one day, you'll see."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"If he don't throw us off the farm in the meantime."
Her eyes welled with tears.
"All me and Grant want is each other." she swallowed as a tear trickled down her cheek. "I don't understand why he's so dead set against that."
She quickly wiped the tear away and reached for her beer. She swallowed the rest of it in one gulp.
"Whoa Josie." Marvin cautioned. "You're ruinin' your amateur standin'."
She fixed her lips determinedly, rose from the table and headed towards the bar.
"Don't you feed me any of that amateur rubbish." she shot back over her shoulder. "I can hold a beer every bit as good as you can Marvin. Now are you havin' another one with me or not?"
Marvin looked hesitant.
"Um …. Long as it's just one Josie. I gotta drive you home remember?"
"Yeah I know." she mumbled. "I haven't got a car no more either."
He watched her go and cursed himself for letting his guard down and making mention of his Father. No-one knew about his private misery and he didn't want anyone to know either.
"Here." she said putting down the glass in front of him. "But the sounds of what you've been sayin' to me about your Daddy just now I think you need another beer nearly as much as I do."
He coloured and began to stammer.
"Marvin there's no use gettin' embarrassed in front of me." she said seriously. "You can't help your family situation any more than I can help mine."
"I know I can't Josie but I don't want you thinkin' ill of me. It's bad enough I never finished High school."
"Marvin Landers why in the blazes would I think ill of you? It ain't your fault your Daddy can't stop drinkin'."
Marvin gave her a relieved look. Josephine Brown had hit the nail right on the head when he thought about it. He couldn't help it if his Father was an alcoholic. He wondered why he hadn't realised that before.
"If you want my opinion Marvin I think you should forget worrying about what people think, stop acting the fool all the time and put your energies into goin' to night school." she continued. "Then you could put yourself through College."
At his look of disbelief she added.
"Marvin, you were the smartest in my classes when we were in Junior High. You deserve better than what you got in your life right now."
She lifted her chin and muttered.
"Don't know about you but there's no way in hell I'm lettin' my Daddy destroy me."
Her sincere eyes and strong belief in her own words stirred a long-buried dream he had for himself back into life.
He had always wanted to become a Doctor.
He allowed himself to remember back to their days in Junior High. Josephine was right. Before his mother left he used to be the brightest student in the class. Maybe instead of drinking in the bar on a week night to avoid going home to his Father he could do something constructive and enrol himself in night school.
He took her hand again.
"Thanks Josie." he said with real gratitude in his eyes.
She placed her own hand on top of his and smiled at him.
"You're very welcome Marvin Landers."
"I've never told anyone about my Daddy before." he admitted shyly. "I've always been too ashamed to let people know my family ain't perfect."
She shrugged.
"Nobody's family is perfect Marvin." she said. "You only got to look at mine to know that for a fact."
Those words were a fitting introduction to the voice which now sounded out beside them.
Marvin groaned in silence.
Of all the people he least wanted to have a conversation with right now, it was the high and mighty Victoria Brown.
But much to his surprise Victoria didn't appear to be acting as obnoxiously as she normally did. Her usual condescending manner seemed conspicuously absent as she stood beside the table nervously twisting her hands together.
"Ummm … Hi Josie... Marvin." she began.
"Evenin' Tory." Marvin acknowledged glancing across the bar to where her attorney friends sat watching with avid interest.
Josephine ignored her completely and said nothing.
He watched Victoria trying to pluck up the courage to continue.
"Josie… Ummm…I … I saw you when you were up at the bar just now."
"So naturally you had to come over and find out why I'm sitting here holdin' hands with Marvin Landers right?" Josephine responded coldly. "Well Victoria before you go runnin' home and tellin' Daddy your big news just remember Grant knows all about this and he don't have a problem with it."
Victoria shook her head.
"No … No Josie. That isn't why I came over." she said earnestly. "I just wanted to check you were all right."
"I got a roof over my head if that's what you mean." Josephine replied without emotion. "Least for now."
Victoria shivered at the ice in Josephine's voice. She was the first to admit they had never been close but at least they had always loved each other as family. Her eyes clouded. Josephine was acting as though she was a stranger and an unwelcome one at that.
"Josephine I was outta line the other day." she admitted tearfully. "Honest I didn't mean those things I said about Grant."
She paused and continued twisting her hands together.
"Please forgive me and come on home." she pleaded. "I miss you. And …and so does Bella."
Josephine remained unmoved.
Victoria flinched at her hardened, emotionless face.
"Josie ... please. Momma's worried sick about you." she continued. "And um… even though he isn't sayin' so … I know Daddy is too."
Marvin watched Josephine swallow hard. He knew how much she loved her family. The Browns had always been a close, tight-knit unit who supported each other through thick and thin. But determination marked the face of the eldest Brown daughter and without flinching she looked at Victoria.
"I ain't ever comin' home." she replied in a firm voice. "Far as I'm concerned the lines been drawn in the sand where Grant's concerned and I'm not backin' down…not even for Momma."
"Please Josie …Momma's really upset." Victoria begged finding to her horror she was starting to cry openly.
Josephine watched the group of young attorneys nearby frown.
"Better watch the tears Victoria." she scorned. "Your well to do friends over there don't seem to like the fact you're lowerin' yourself to cry in front of a couple of losers who work in a market."
"I don't care what they think Josie, you're my sister." she sobbed.
"WAS your sister." she reiterated stonily. "Now if you don't mind Victoria Marvin and me were havin' ourselves a quiet drink together before you saw fit to interrupt. Marvin ain't no Rhodes scholar like your friends over there but in my estimation he's got a hell of a lot more goin' for him than they do."
She stopped, glared at the attorneys who were joking loudly and then added.
"Least my friends don't laugh at me Victoria."
The faces of the Brown sisters told the story of a family now in total crisis.
Josephine; aggrieved, angry and determined.
Victoria; remorseful, apologetic and distressed.
Without a word Victoria Brown turned away from them all and moved in the direction of the door.
The voice from beside Marvin Landers called after her.
"Tory."
Victoria turned back and looked into the deep blue eyes of her sister.
Those eyes were filled with tears too.
"Please tell Momma that I love her … and I'm so sorry Daddy made me choose."
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Walter Brown wiped the dust off the fine bottle of red wine he had just brought up from the cellar and carefully studied the label.
He smiled at the irony of it all. The wine was twenty two years old, the same age as Josephine.
He had hoped to open this one at the end of the year when he celebrated his tenth year as Manager of the Bank but given what had happened over the past week he decided it was better if he opened it now.
He fiddled with the corkscrew and looked nervously in the direction of the lounge-room.
Alice hadn't stopped crying about what had happened with Josephine in over a week and he didn't know what else he could do to try and make things up to her. He had sent her flowers every day, purchased expensive chocolates, even offered to pay for her to take another shopping holiday in New York. But it had all been to no avail. If she wasn't lying on their bed in tears, she simply sat in silence, completely devastated.
And now it was Saturday night.
As per their normal routine the girls were out and they had been left at home alone.
Usually she took the opportunity to cook him his favourite meal and the two of them shared a bottle of wine together. The rest of the night was pretty much their own. Sometimes they walked together in the darkness, other times they simply watched a movie in each others arms. But Saturday night had always been their special night and they looked forward to it
Until tonight.
Tonight Alice Brown sat alone reading a book.
Tonight Walter Brown stood alone wondering what to do next.
She hadn't made him his favourite meal. She hadn't made him dinner for seven nights now.
She wouldn't even talk to him.
And unless he did something soon she would go to bed alone for yet another night.
Locked away in Josephine's room where she cried the night away.
Walter finally won his battle with the corkscrew and placed the opened bottle on a small tray to breathe for a while. He reached into the ornate glass case and moved the contents about until he found the ones he wanted.
Two exquisite Venetian wine glasses
The glasses they had used to toast their happiness at their wedding.
He carefully wiped them out with a cloth before setting them on the tray and carrying it through to the lounge room.
He set the tray down on the coffee table and proceeded to sit next to her.
The cushions on the expensive velvet couch sank under the force of his weight.
"I thought you might like to share this bottle of red with me tonight Alice." he began uncomfortably. "It … it's the best one in the cellar."
She didn't reply.
Walter leaned forward and poured two glasses and motioned her to take one from the tray.
She didn't move.
"Alice …" he implored. "Please honey … I don't know what else to try to make things right between us."
Alice Brown's face remained like stone. Walter could apologise all he liked. Josephine was gone from their lives and no matter what he did to try to make things up, nothing would ever be right between the two of them again.
It had all started the morning Walter stormed into the house after being up all night looking for Josephine. It escalated when Josephine came home an hour later fired up and upset at the ultimatum he had given Grant in the farmhouse. It exploded as the two of them began to argue in the kitchen at the tops of their voices.
Arabella stood dumb-founded at the intensity of the argument but Victoria immediately jumped to the defence of her Father.
"Daddy's right Josie. I've been tellin' you for ages. Grant Tracy's nothin' but a loser and the sooner you get that through your head the better."
"Shut up Victoria before I do it the hell for you." Josephine spat.
"I've told you before not to speak to your sister like that." Walter shouted. "I've had enough of your mouth Josephine."
Alice Brown intervened by standing in the middle of all of them.
"What in the hell is goin' on in this family!" she shrieked "Stop screaming at each other and tell me what's wrong so we can discuss it like civilised human beings."
Josephine immediately blurted out the whole story to her without taking a breath and in her usual style held none of the details back. Within minutes everyone, including the neighbours knew she had gone to the farmhouse the night before to make Grant dinner, one thing had led to another and she and Grant had spent the night together. She also added she was now aware of the reason Grant had broken up with her, made it very clear how much she resented her Father as the result of it and defiantly stated she intended to marry Grant and take up residence at the farm as soon as she could.
"Tell her she's being ridiculous Alice." Walter demanded. "No-one in their right mind runs off and gets married to someone who has nothing."
"I'm NOT being ridiculous Daddy." Josephine fired back. "I love Grant and he loves me. Money's got nothin' to do with it. I got a job. I got a College degree too if I wanna use it."
"Walter." Alice interceded sharply. "This isn't a choice for you to make. Josephine's of age to choose for herself."
"Yes she is." he roared back. "And I'm sure Grant has made her very aware of the implications of making that choice too."
"What are you talking about Walter?" Alice frowned. "There are no implications here. The girl only wants to get married."
Josephine's eyes flashed to her Mother's.
"Oh yes there is Momma. Daddy said he's gonna leave us with nothin' if we get married." she bristled. "He's gonna sell the farm outta spite without even givin' Grant a chance."
Alice Brown spun around to face Walter, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"WHAT???????" she gasped.
Walter Brown lifted his chin with determination.
"Josephine, Grant Tracy has had all the chances in the world. He owes my Bank a lot of money and if he can't pay it back regularly, he sure as hell can't support you. And let me say right here and now young lady if he tries to put a ring on your finger when he can't support you, as your Father I'll force him to wake up to himself. "
He took a deep breath and added. "And if that means repossessin' his farm to prove the point, so be it."
She held up her left hand and rebelliously showed him the band-aid.
"Well you better get ready to do it then Daddy because this band-aid is that ring." she challenged.
Victoria burst into laughter.
"You call THAT a ring Josephine?" she mocked. "What a God-damn joke!"
Josephine clenched her fists in fury.
"For your information Miss high and mighty Grant used to have the most beautiful ring in the world to give to me. It belonged to his momma."
She fixed her eyes on her Father.
"But he had to sell it for half its value to pay for his Daddy's funeral. And last night he told me why too. He sold it so he didn't have to borrow no more money from you. "
She glared at the two of them almost with hatred.
"So the pair of you can make fun of the bandaid if you want but as far as me and Grant are concerned we're engaged and no matter what you threaten to do to him Daddy I ain't changin' my mind."
Victoria then stepped in front of her Father to face Josephine direct.
"Don't be such a fool Josie. Grant Tracy ain't worth this. Open your eyes and see things for what they are. He's a useless Farmer for God's sake."
"I've told you to shut up about Grant too many times already Victoria." Josephine fired back. "Now I swear I ain't tellin' you again."
"Forget him. You know as well as I do he's just another man in bed Josie." Victoria stressed. "Enjoy the moment and move on."
"How dare you speak about Grant like that!" she exploded and lunged forward in fury. "You might sleep with anyone who's got a College education and money in their pocket but don't make the same filthy assumptions about me."
Arabella and Alice desperately tore the two of them apart.
"Arabella, get Victoria the hell outta here." Alice demanded holding Josephine firmly by the arm.
"She started it Momma." Victoria argued as Arabella tried to lead her towards the door.
"It was you and your trumped up opinions." Josephine retorted. Not me."
"I don't care WHICH one of you started it. I'm ENDIN' it right now!" Alice thundered. "The two of you have said far too much for my likin' already. "
"No-one speaks ill of Grant in my hearin'." Josephine stressed. She fixed her eyes on Victoria one last time. "Least of all a self-centred cow like YOU."
Walter started to feel his temper sliding out of control. Twenty-two years of age, raised never wanting for anything and now standing there large as life upsetting the whole family.
"By God don't you push me much further Josephine." he warned dangerously. "I've turned a blind eye to the Tracy family's inability to pay for three years because of you."
"WALTER STOP IT!!!" Alice yelled at the top of her voice. "This isn't just some faceless client. This is our daughter."
"Who's lost all sense of family since takin' up with that Tracy son." he roared back.
It was now Josephine's turn to start shouting.
"How dare you talk about family Daddy. Look at you. You're prepared to let me start my married life livin' in a truck."
The force of her words suddenly drove home to her what might really happen if she didn't hold her tongue in front of her Father. Her eyes filled with frightened tears as she faced Walter Brown in real anger for the very first time in her life.
Gone was the affectionate, loving Father she had adored. Now he was nothing more than the Bank Manager.
To her mind came the tall, gentle man with the southern drawl who had always made her feel so welcome in his home. The man who never had a dime to his name but who somehow always found a little bit extra when Grant invited her to stay at suppertime. The man who said if she had family and friends in her life she would always be a rich woman. The man cancer had taken before his time.
The words escaped her lips before she realised she had said them.
"Mr Tracy never had much of anythin' Daddy. Money or possessions." she began to sob. "But I know he wouldda given Grant and me the shirt off his back to make sure we were happy and had a roof over our heads. Family was everything to him and it'll be the happiest day of my life when I can call myself Josephine Tracy and forget to hell I ever had the misfortune to be known as Josephine Brown."
Walter lowered his voice almost to a growl.
"Do you really mean that Josephine?" he thundered.
She clamped her teeth down hard on her bottom lip.
"Yes Sir I do." she sniffled still refusing to back down.
He walked to the front door in silence and opened it.
"Fine then." he said in a low and angry voice. "Go."
Alice Brown's eyes filled.
"No Walter." she gasped in horror. "Please … what are you doing?"
She watched in dismay as her eldest daughter and the man she had loved for over twenty-five years stared at each other unrepentantly.
"Go on Josephine." he rumbled. "You've made the statement. Now make your choice."
They continued to stare each other down. Neither of them relented.
"Very well then I'll go upstairs and pack my things." Josephine finally responded.
"Oh no you won't Josephine." Walter Brown said pointing in the direction of the sandstone fence. "If you believe you can make it through life without money you can start proving it to me right now."
"I will then" she said without emotion. "Cos I ain't giving up Grant."
Alice Brown watched helplessly as Josephine threw down her car keys, pushed past her Father and walked out of their lives without a backward glance.
Those same helpless eyes now looked deep into the remorseful eyes of Walter Brown. He leaned forward and picked up the two glasses. He extended one towards her.
"Here Alice." he said softly. "Please … take it."
She remained motionless and Walter felt a lump the size of a football welling in his throat. Alice was the most precious possession in his life and for the first time it occurred to him that he might be about to lose her.
"Please… I'm trying to make things up to you honey."
Her hand extended for the glass.
"So it's expensive wine this time." she said quietly running her eyes over the glass. "Flowers meant for nothin'; chocolates even less; guess this is all you got left to try."
"Alice … I'm sorry about what happened with Josephine." he said sincerely. "Anything you want … you just say it … and I'll get it for you."
Alice shook her head.
"Don't you see? Material things mean nothin' to me no more Walter. Money will never replace Josephine no matter how hard you try."
She looked at him accusingly.
"Or make me forget the fact you made my daughter leave this house with nothin' but the clothes she had on her back."
He immediately became defensive.
"Alice … Josephine and her uncontrollable mouth went too far this time. You heard the things she said. What was I supposed to say?"
Alice changed the subject.
"Tell me the last time we held these Walter." she said abruptly indicating the wine glasses.
"Our wedding day." he admitted. "Twenty five years ago. "
"That's right. You were twenty two and still in College after failin' your fourth year." Alice reminded him. "Nothin' to your name but dreams and aspirations my Daddy said."
She allowed the words to sink into his head before continuing.
"Had to borrow money off your Father to buy me an engagement ring, couldn't afford to take me on a proper honeymoon, and then made me endure livin' with your parents till you graduated. Hardly a good start to a marriage my Daddy said and most likely destined to fail."
She sipped the wine.
He sipped his too.
"Then struggling to make ends meet on a paltry accountant's salary. Raisin' three little girls with not one bit of money to spare."
She looked at him stonily.
"Those days were hard Walter. Damn hard. And you know as well as I do that we only got through them because we were young and in love and simply happy to reach out and rely on each other. Plus your parents were willin' to help us out."
She took another sip of the wine.
He took another sip too and forced himself to remember.
"Then of course the day came when someone finally saw fit to give you a break." she said pointedly. "And Mr. Walter Brown was elevated from nothin' to become the high and mighty Bank Manager in Chase County. Now look at the two of us. Saturday night, a big fancy house, everything we need …and absolutely nothin' to say to each other."
Walter lowered his head in shame.
Alice knew she had made her point when he swallowed the rest of his wine in one gulp and poured himself another.
"Always wondered what wouldda happened to you and me if we didn't get any help back then. " she continued. "Guess my love for you wouldda been tested a bit earlier than it is now."
She rose to her feet and put down her glass.
"Josephine and Grant's start in life ain't no different to ours. But unlike us I know they'll stay together because they love each other Walter and they don't need no-one else to lean on except themselves."
She went to leave the room on her way up to bed but turned at the door to look at him.
"Grant Tracy's never done nothin' to you personally Walter Brown. Nothin' except love the daughter you threw out of our home with all his heart."
She watched him redden as the truth pierced his very soul.
"And for what it's worth Walter , the day you see fit to throw that decent young man off his farm and leave my daughter homeless again, is the day our marriage will end."
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The day had been long and frustrating and at nine thirty in the evening it had just taken a turn for the worst.
The tractor had all but packed it in, he'd damned near broken his back in a fall an hour ago and to top it all off he had now turned on the shower to find he didn't have any hot water.
Grant Tracy cursed loudly as the freezing cold water chilled him to the bone. He couldn't believe he had to endure this too. He gritted his teeth and showered as quickly as he could but it had been a hard day and the mud was caked all over him.
Surely things would be better tomorrow.
He'd rise at dawn and try to fix the tractor. Then he'd see what he could do about the hot water. Josephine was having a hard enough time dealing with things already without any hot water too.
He'd lost count of the number of times she'd dissolved into tears over the conditions in the farmhouse and the devastating argument she had endured with her Father.
"It's my fault you're gonna lose your farm." she sobbed night after night in his arms."I'm so sorry Grant."
He had assured her gently he wouldn't lose the farm. Things would be all right. He'd grow them a crop and pay back his debts. In a year or two they would have also have money to spare.
But after today he wasn't so sure.
"Whole place is packin' it in." he scowled and grimaced as his back and shoulders reminded him of the fall.
"Includin' me."
Still he couldn't afford to be negative. The rain had made such a big difference to the farm already and with more rain predicted in the coming weeks he was quietly confident the crop he promised her would become a reality. Prices were high at the moment and if he could do it, he could wipe out two years of debt to Walter Brown.
Or slightly less if he put some money aside and brought Josephine her engagement ring.
He grappled within himself. His Father's romantic story of a brash young farmer driving into town and spending the money he owed the bank on an Engagement ring had always struck him as irresponsible. Josephine of course thought it was wonderful.
He heard his Father's words echo in his head.
"It was the happiest day of your Momma's life when I gave her that ring." Daniel Tracy had said. "Things like that mean nothin' to a man but they're everythin' to a woman."
Grant pictured Josephine's band-aided finger.
No.
If he grew them a crop, he would pay as much as he could back to Walter Brown.
The ring could wait.
Josephine was everything to him and he had to keep a roof over their heads.
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Author's Note - Part 2 of the Epilogue follows.Please review!
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FENCES & FAMILIES
STORY ONE - EPILOGUE PART 1- GRANT AND JOSEPHINE TRACY
A FAMILY CREATES A DYNASTY
Picture a Fence - ""A protective barrier for something dear"
then
Picture a Family - "A group of like individuals
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It was Saturday night in the quiet little town in southern Kansas.
But tonight was no ordinary Saturday night.
For the first time in many months, the sleepy main street had come alive with people and activity.
There was a dance to go to over in the community hall, heads were down playing bingo in the local church hall and the out of town Farmers were back in the bar enjoying a few well earned drinks.
The rain had made such a difference to everyone and after so many years of drought there was a feeling of hopefulness in the air.
Amongst the bustle and activity, the two of them walked along the street together, hand in hand. She looked up at him, laughed and pointed in the shop windows. He smiled and looked there too. To those who passed them by they looked like just another young couple in love.
But there was much more to it than that.
He fixed his eyes on her and gazed lovingly in her direction.
Long brown hair, big blue eyes, finely moulded body and the face of an angel.
Josephine Alice Brown.
The love of his life.
He could hardly believe after all this time she was finally his.
He let out a massive sigh.
Even if it was only for one night.
Marvin Landers knew he was on borrowed time when it came to the affections of Josephine Brown. She had promised to date him the night he agreed to open the market for her, and he was determined to hold her to the promise. But once tonight was over, the promise had been kept and Marvin knew he had to let her go.
Even though they would continue to work together every day at the market, he and Josephine would go their separate ways. He would return to his mundane life of loneliness. She would return to the arms of Grant Tracy.
Marvin shrugged.
Despite accepting the inevitable, the night was still young and he didn't have to give her back yet.
And he intended to make the most of things before he did.
He bit his lip and began to feel anxious.
It was a pity things hadn't gone too well so far.
The movie he had taken her to see earlier in the evening had been terrible and the two of them sat side by side in the back seat of the theatre in disbelief. He was speechless with disappointment. She was shaking with hysteria and trying not to make a sound.
"I can't believe you spent good money paying for me to see this." she finally whispered close to his ear.
"I can't believe I'm wasting valuable time pretending to watch it with you." he complained.
They sat for a while longer until Josephine's giggling became all too much for him. He wanted her to have a good time and enjoy being with him, not treat him like everyone else did and laugh herself senseless.
"Oh for goodness sakes Josie let's just get ourselves the heck outta here." he had frowned.
"I thought you'd never ask." she exclaimed, rising to her feet and happily following him out of the theatre.
Once outside on the sidewalk she leaned against a light pole, folded her arms and burst into laughter.
"That was so terrible Marvin Landers." she admonished him light-heartedly. "What the hell did you take me to see somethin' like that for? I thought you liked me!"
His face had completely fallen.
"Thanks a lot Josie." he murmured in disappointment. "I was hopin' you were enjoyin' yourself irrespective."
Josephine knew from his voice he was insulted. She grabbed his arm and looked up at him.
"Oh come on Marvin… no offence huh? I'm only foolin' around."
"Yeah well everyone takes me for a fool Josie." he pouted. "Even you."
"I do not!" she exclaimed. "Don't you dare go puttin' words in my mouth!"
Her face lit up at his petulant expression and she began to chuckle.
"Come on … even you gotta admit it was terrible."
He allowed himself to lighten up. There was no way he could stay mad at Josephine Brown but deep down it irked him that she treated him like everyone else.
"Yeah OK Josie." he said allowing a half smile to permeate his lips "I admit it. It was a shocker!"
The two of them laughed and then looked from one end of the street to the other.
"So now what will we do with ourselves?" he asked. "The dance is on over in the hall if you wanna go."
Josephine looked dubious.
"I've never been one for dancin' Marvin." she replied.
Marvin breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't dance at all and as far as he was concerned he'd made a big enough fool of himself in front of her tonight without risking that too.
They continued to look up and down the street.
"You could always take me back to the farmhouse." she said hopefully.
He shook his head. There was no way his special night with Josephine Brown was going to end so soon. They had a deal and she was sticking to her end of the bargain if it killed her.
"Josephine we're supposed to be out on a date!" he chided her. "You don't go home from a date at eight thirty."
"I KNOW!" she exclaimed testily. "It was only a suggestion."
He looked up the street for the last time. He'd had enough procrastinating. He knew where they could both go to have a good time.
He reached out his hand and took hers.
"Come on." he said determinedly. "You and me are goin' to have a beer."
She turned towards him and frowned.
I ain't goin' into that bar holdin' your hand Marvin Landers." she flashed. "There's Farmers in there who know Grant."
"Josephine you promised me." he reminded her firmly. "You said if I opened the market for you you'd go out with me. Just you and me you said."
"I know that but …" she began.
He interrupted.
"And when you said it Josie you didn't put no restrictions on it." he reminded her.
"No I didn't did I?" she acknowledged half-heartedly and sighed as he kept hold of her hand and began to walk down the street towards the bar.
"Why don't we skip the beer and I get you to open the market for me again." she suggested with a wink. "Remember what happened the last time you did that!"
He stared back at her with a sullen expression. What did she have to go and bring that subject up for?
"Yeah I remember what happened to you all right Josephine. You went on out to the farmhouse and got yourself engaged to that Farmer boy." he said in a sulky voice.
An amused look stole across her face. Marvin was jealous and it wasn't half obvious.
"Do I sense my engagement to Grant is botherin' you Marvin Landers?" she teased.
He took and deep breath and bared his soul.
"Yes Josephine Brown." he said matter-of-factly. "Yes your engagement does bother me if you must know. You could've at least waited until you gave ME a chance before commitin' yourself for life."
She laughed.
"Oh Marvin stop it! Jealousy doesn't suit you any better than it suits Grant."
She looked at his perplexed face, pictured Grant's and laughed louder.
Grant had been absolutely beside himself with jealousy when she informed him she intended to go on a date with Marvin Landers. Even after she'd explained the reason behind it all, he was still disgruntled at the thought of her being hand in hand with his nemesis from the market.
"I've always suspected he's had eyes for you Josephine." he complained. "I can tell just by the way he looks at you that he wants to be more than friends."
His brow furrowed and his lips pursed.
"No Josie." he finally said. "I don't want you to go."
She had grinned at his surly face and determined, unwavering expression. He had never revealed this side of his personality before and she was flabbergasted at how possessive he was.
"Oh come on Grant. I have to." she replied in her most persuasive voice. "I promised him."
"Yeah but that was before you promised yourself to me." he argued.
"It don't matter." she re-iterated firmly. "A promise is a promise."
She tried not to laugh. Grant could hide a lot of things about how he felt but he sure as heck was having trouble hiding his jealousy. His face completely gave him away.
"Anyway Grant you gotta remember if it wouldn't have been for Marvin, you and me would never have got back together.
Grant really frowned then.
"Are you tryin' to tell me I should be grateful to him or somethin' Josephine?" he muttered.
She nodded, wrapped her arms around his neck and proceeded to kiss him heartily on the lips.
"That's exactly what I'm sayin' to you handsome." she laughed as they broke apart.
Grant sighed unhappily but in the end had reluctantly agreed to let her go.
"You just make real sure he understands the way things are with us Josie." he warned. "I sure don't wanna have to go through hell and high water with you again."
"Why?" she ribbed. "Ain't I worth it to you Grant?"
He pulled her close to him and looked deep into her eyes.
"Of course you're worth it Josephine." he said sincerely. "But as far as I'm concerned the courtin's all done and you belong to me."
His voice was firm and his face was deadly serious.
Her voice on the other hand was full of mischief. She loved teasing him at the best of times and now that she had discovered his jealous streak it was more enjoyable than ever.
"I might warn you Mr Grant Daniel Tracy that I ain't wearin' no engagement ring that says so yet." she grinned.
She paused and tormented him further. "And without one Marvin Landers might think he can rustle in on me when you ain't lookin'."
His face dropped. Not a day went by when he didn't wish he still had his Mother's beautiful ring to give her.
"I'll buy you a proper engagement ring Josie." he promised intensely. "I … I will …"
Her own smile faded. She knew Grant hated the fact he couldn't give her anything.
She looked down at the bandaid he had placed around her finger over a week ago. If only he knew it was worth more to her than the most expensive ring he could buy.
"I know you will honey." she whispered lovingly. "I was only kiddin' around."
A tender smile stole across her face as she sat herself down at the table in the bar and Marvin went to get the two of them a beer.
It hadn't been easy for Grant that explosive morning in the farmhouse. Her marriage proposal had placed him in a position where he didn't have a choice any more. If he wanted her he had to put his farm on the line and stand up to her Father.
Josephine shuddered at the memory.
Walter Brown had been mortified when Grant returned her to the farmhouse and stood with his arm around her prepared to state his case. The shirt she wore was completely saturated and totally transparent. It certainly left nothing to anyone's imagination and Walter simply didn't know where to look next.
"For God's sake Josephine…" he spluttered.
Grant saw his embarrassment and motioned her in the direction of the bathroom.
"Go on through and find yourself some dry clothes Josephine." he said. "I got things to discuss with your Daddy."
She had stood defiantly by his side glaring at her Father.
"No I ain't goin' anywhere 'till all the talkin's been done."
"Josephine do as you're told!" barked Walter Brown. "You're an absolute disgrace standing there like that."
She opened her mouth to argue again but Grant stopped her mid-sentence. He turned her to him and looked her firmly in the face.
"Josie that's enough huh." he said quietly. "Your Daddy is right."
She paused as he held her eyes with his own.
"It's OK honey." he re-iterated. "I can handle things."
His firm voice reassured her and after a glare in her Father's direction, she turned and went in the direction of the bathroom.
What was said between them after that she didn't really know but when she emerged her Father had gone and Grant was in the kitchen fixing the two of them breakfast.
"Where's Daddy?" she asked looking around the room in surprise.
"Gone home." he replied, carefully avoiding her eyes.
"AND?" she insisted.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"And I hope you like the idea of us livin' in a truck Josephine." he said matter-of-factly. "Cos that's what your Daddy said is gonna happen if I go against him and put a ring on your finger."
She had fired up immediately.
"Oh really?" she flashed, snatching up her coat and looking about for her car keys. "Well I'll just see about that!"
Her eyes caught his anxious expression as she went to walk out the door. She stopped and turned back around.
"Grant you're not thinkin' about backin' down to him are you?" she asked.
He reached up to take a coffee cup from the shelf above his head. He held it in his hands for a few moments and studied it intently.
"No ma'am." was his quiet reply "No I'm not. "
After a while he lifted his face to hers.
"But please Josie before you go stormin' outta here again like a woman possessed let me do just one thing huh?"
She looked puzzled.
"What?"
He put down the cup and opened a nearby drawer. From out of it he took a band-aid and proceeded to take her left hand in his.
"This that's what." he said, wrapping it around her finger.
"What on earth are you doing?" she frowned.
"Josephine." he said with resignation. "If you're gonna go on home, aggravate your Daddy further and get me tossed the hell off my farm, you'd better at least be wearin' a ring of some description to justify it all."
He lifted her hand to his lips.
"Ain't much of a ring I know but as far I'm concerned it means the two of us are engaged to be married."
She looked down at the bandaid and felt a sudden feeling of happiness surge through her body. This was the moment she had waited for. It wasn't quite as romantic as she had pictured it might be but after everything that had happened these past few months she didn't really care.
"Now Miss Josephine you go and take yourself on home." he continued squeezing her hand gently and giving her his magical Tracy smile. "I got things to do around the farm."
"Hey!!!!"
Josephine startled back to the present as Marvin put the beer down in front of her.
"Penny for your thoughts." he challenged.
"Huh?" she said in a distant voice.
"You were a million miles away Josephine." he observed sitting down beside her.
She gave him a brief, embarrassed smile.
"I'm real sorry Marvin. You're right. I was thinkin' about somethin else."
Marvin rolled his eyes. He could imagine what she was thinking about or should he say who. Grant Tracy was all she ever thought about.
"Well think about talkin' to me and enjoyin' our night out together instead." he said taking a large gulp of his beer. "You'll be back in the arms of your precious Farmer boy soon enough."
The sarcasm in his voice caused her temper to flash unexpectedly.
"Don't call him a Farmer boy Marvin." she snapped. "His name is Grant and I won't tolerate you callin' him nothin' else."
Marvin was completely taken back. Josephine had never snapped at him like that before. She'd put him in his place on more than one occasion but never as decisively as that.
It was obvious the fall-out with her Father over Grant ran deeper than he thought.
Josephine immediately felt guilty. Marvin was a good friend and she was supposed to be out on a date with him. She reddened.
"I'm sorry Marvin." she apologised. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
He gave her an understanding nod.
"It's OK. Josie I guess given the circumstances even someone like you can't be perfect."
She smiled warmly at his pathetic attempt to charm her. He was such a sweet man and she felt really bad that she had vented her frustration out on him.
"Thanks for understandin' Marvin but you don't deserve to be on the receivin' end of my problems all the same."
Her finger slowly traced the sides of the beer glass and the silence between them soon became awkward.
"You wanna talk about it Josie?" he offered after a while. "I know I ain't Grant or nothin' but I'm willin' to listen if you want."
She sighed. It was doubtful talking about the situation would help. It certainly wouldn't change what happened last week.
"No Marvin." she finally replied. "Ain't nothin' you or anyone can do about my Daddy."
His own face became gloomy.
Josephine had confided in him earlier in the week about the dreadful confrontation she'd had with her family. To his mind came the situation with his own Father and the confrontations he experienced on an almost daily basis.
"No more than I can do anything about my own." he admitted in return.
"Daddy can only relate to one thing these days … money."
"My Daddy only relates to one thing too … the drink."
"He don't seem to see the value of our family no more."
"My Daddy ain't seen the value of our family since I was in Grade school."
Her face contorted with sadness.
"Wish I'd have just kept my big fat mouth shut."
"Wish I was game enough to open mine."
"Sure wish Daddy and me could make things up and I could see Momma again ."
"Wish I could just see my Momma."
The two of them continued to drink their beer and look at each other miserably. Marvin reached out his hand and squeezed hers reassuringly.
"Things will be OK Josie. Your Daddy will come 'round one day, you'll see."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"If he don't throw us off the farm in the meantime."
Her eyes welled with tears.
"All me and Grant want is each other." she swallowed as a tear trickled down her cheek. "I don't understand why he's so dead set against that."
She quickly wiped the tear away and reached for her beer. She swallowed the rest of it in one gulp.
"Whoa Josie." Marvin cautioned. "You're ruinin' your amateur standin'."
She fixed her lips determinedly, rose from the table and headed towards the bar.
"Don't you feed me any of that amateur rubbish." she shot back over her shoulder. "I can hold a beer every bit as good as you can Marvin. Now are you havin' another one with me or not?"
Marvin looked hesitant.
"Um …. Long as it's just one Josie. I gotta drive you home remember?"
"Yeah I know." she mumbled. "I haven't got a car no more either."
He watched her go and cursed himself for letting his guard down and making mention of his Father. No-one knew about his private misery and he didn't want anyone to know either.
"Here." she said putting down the glass in front of him. "But the sounds of what you've been sayin' to me about your Daddy just now I think you need another beer nearly as much as I do."
He coloured and began to stammer.
"Marvin there's no use gettin' embarrassed in front of me." she said seriously. "You can't help your family situation any more than I can help mine."
"I know I can't Josie but I don't want you thinkin' ill of me. It's bad enough I never finished High school."
"Marvin Landers why in the blazes would I think ill of you? It ain't your fault your Daddy can't stop drinkin'."
Marvin gave her a relieved look. Josephine Brown had hit the nail right on the head when he thought about it. He couldn't help it if his Father was an alcoholic. He wondered why he hadn't realised that before.
"If you want my opinion Marvin I think you should forget worrying about what people think, stop acting the fool all the time and put your energies into goin' to night school." she continued. "Then you could put yourself through College."
At his look of disbelief she added.
"Marvin, you were the smartest in my classes when we were in Junior High. You deserve better than what you got in your life right now."
She lifted her chin and muttered.
"Don't know about you but there's no way in hell I'm lettin' my Daddy destroy me."
Her sincere eyes and strong belief in her own words stirred a long-buried dream he had for himself back into life.
He had always wanted to become a Doctor.
He allowed himself to remember back to their days in Junior High. Josephine was right. Before his mother left he used to be the brightest student in the class. Maybe instead of drinking in the bar on a week night to avoid going home to his Father he could do something constructive and enrol himself in night school.
He took her hand again.
"Thanks Josie." he said with real gratitude in his eyes.
She placed her own hand on top of his and smiled at him.
"You're very welcome Marvin Landers."
"I've never told anyone about my Daddy before." he admitted shyly. "I've always been too ashamed to let people know my family ain't perfect."
She shrugged.
"Nobody's family is perfect Marvin." she said. "You only got to look at mine to know that for a fact."
Those words were a fitting introduction to the voice which now sounded out beside them.
Marvin groaned in silence.
Of all the people he least wanted to have a conversation with right now, it was the high and mighty Victoria Brown.
But much to his surprise Victoria didn't appear to be acting as obnoxiously as she normally did. Her usual condescending manner seemed conspicuously absent as she stood beside the table nervously twisting her hands together.
"Ummm … Hi Josie... Marvin." she began.
"Evenin' Tory." Marvin acknowledged glancing across the bar to where her attorney friends sat watching with avid interest.
Josephine ignored her completely and said nothing.
He watched Victoria trying to pluck up the courage to continue.
"Josie… Ummm…I … I saw you when you were up at the bar just now."
"So naturally you had to come over and find out why I'm sitting here holdin' hands with Marvin Landers right?" Josephine responded coldly. "Well Victoria before you go runnin' home and tellin' Daddy your big news just remember Grant knows all about this and he don't have a problem with it."
Victoria shook her head.
"No … No Josie. That isn't why I came over." she said earnestly. "I just wanted to check you were all right."
"I got a roof over my head if that's what you mean." Josephine replied without emotion. "Least for now."
Victoria shivered at the ice in Josephine's voice. She was the first to admit they had never been close but at least they had always loved each other as family. Her eyes clouded. Josephine was acting as though she was a stranger and an unwelcome one at that.
"Josephine I was outta line the other day." she admitted tearfully. "Honest I didn't mean those things I said about Grant."
She paused and continued twisting her hands together.
"Please forgive me and come on home." she pleaded. "I miss you. And …and so does Bella."
Josephine remained unmoved.
Victoria flinched at her hardened, emotionless face.
"Josie ... please. Momma's worried sick about you." she continued. "And um… even though he isn't sayin' so … I know Daddy is too."
Marvin watched Josephine swallow hard. He knew how much she loved her family. The Browns had always been a close, tight-knit unit who supported each other through thick and thin. But determination marked the face of the eldest Brown daughter and without flinching she looked at Victoria.
"I ain't ever comin' home." she replied in a firm voice. "Far as I'm concerned the lines been drawn in the sand where Grant's concerned and I'm not backin' down…not even for Momma."
"Please Josie …Momma's really upset." Victoria begged finding to her horror she was starting to cry openly.
Josephine watched the group of young attorneys nearby frown.
"Better watch the tears Victoria." she scorned. "Your well to do friends over there don't seem to like the fact you're lowerin' yourself to cry in front of a couple of losers who work in a market."
"I don't care what they think Josie, you're my sister." she sobbed.
"WAS your sister." she reiterated stonily. "Now if you don't mind Victoria Marvin and me were havin' ourselves a quiet drink together before you saw fit to interrupt. Marvin ain't no Rhodes scholar like your friends over there but in my estimation he's got a hell of a lot more goin' for him than they do."
She stopped, glared at the attorneys who were joking loudly and then added.
"Least my friends don't laugh at me Victoria."
The faces of the Brown sisters told the story of a family now in total crisis.
Josephine; aggrieved, angry and determined.
Victoria; remorseful, apologetic and distressed.
Without a word Victoria Brown turned away from them all and moved in the direction of the door.
The voice from beside Marvin Landers called after her.
"Tory."
Victoria turned back and looked into the deep blue eyes of her sister.
Those eyes were filled with tears too.
"Please tell Momma that I love her … and I'm so sorry Daddy made me choose."
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Walter Brown wiped the dust off the fine bottle of red wine he had just brought up from the cellar and carefully studied the label.
He smiled at the irony of it all. The wine was twenty two years old, the same age as Josephine.
He had hoped to open this one at the end of the year when he celebrated his tenth year as Manager of the Bank but given what had happened over the past week he decided it was better if he opened it now.
He fiddled with the corkscrew and looked nervously in the direction of the lounge-room.
Alice hadn't stopped crying about what had happened with Josephine in over a week and he didn't know what else he could do to try and make things up to her. He had sent her flowers every day, purchased expensive chocolates, even offered to pay for her to take another shopping holiday in New York. But it had all been to no avail. If she wasn't lying on their bed in tears, she simply sat in silence, completely devastated.
And now it was Saturday night.
As per their normal routine the girls were out and they had been left at home alone.
Usually she took the opportunity to cook him his favourite meal and the two of them shared a bottle of wine together. The rest of the night was pretty much their own. Sometimes they walked together in the darkness, other times they simply watched a movie in each others arms. But Saturday night had always been their special night and they looked forward to it
Until tonight.
Tonight Alice Brown sat alone reading a book.
Tonight Walter Brown stood alone wondering what to do next.
She hadn't made him his favourite meal. She hadn't made him dinner for seven nights now.
She wouldn't even talk to him.
And unless he did something soon she would go to bed alone for yet another night.
Locked away in Josephine's room where she cried the night away.
Walter finally won his battle with the corkscrew and placed the opened bottle on a small tray to breathe for a while. He reached into the ornate glass case and moved the contents about until he found the ones he wanted.
Two exquisite Venetian wine glasses
The glasses they had used to toast their happiness at their wedding.
He carefully wiped them out with a cloth before setting them on the tray and carrying it through to the lounge room.
He set the tray down on the coffee table and proceeded to sit next to her.
The cushions on the expensive velvet couch sank under the force of his weight.
"I thought you might like to share this bottle of red with me tonight Alice." he began uncomfortably. "It … it's the best one in the cellar."
She didn't reply.
Walter leaned forward and poured two glasses and motioned her to take one from the tray.
She didn't move.
"Alice …" he implored. "Please honey … I don't know what else to try to make things right between us."
Alice Brown's face remained like stone. Walter could apologise all he liked. Josephine was gone from their lives and no matter what he did to try to make things up, nothing would ever be right between the two of them again.
It had all started the morning Walter stormed into the house after being up all night looking for Josephine. It escalated when Josephine came home an hour later fired up and upset at the ultimatum he had given Grant in the farmhouse. It exploded as the two of them began to argue in the kitchen at the tops of their voices.
Arabella stood dumb-founded at the intensity of the argument but Victoria immediately jumped to the defence of her Father.
"Daddy's right Josie. I've been tellin' you for ages. Grant Tracy's nothin' but a loser and the sooner you get that through your head the better."
"Shut up Victoria before I do it the hell for you." Josephine spat.
"I've told you before not to speak to your sister like that." Walter shouted. "I've had enough of your mouth Josephine."
Alice Brown intervened by standing in the middle of all of them.
"What in the hell is goin' on in this family!" she shrieked "Stop screaming at each other and tell me what's wrong so we can discuss it like civilised human beings."
Josephine immediately blurted out the whole story to her without taking a breath and in her usual style held none of the details back. Within minutes everyone, including the neighbours knew she had gone to the farmhouse the night before to make Grant dinner, one thing had led to another and she and Grant had spent the night together. She also added she was now aware of the reason Grant had broken up with her, made it very clear how much she resented her Father as the result of it and defiantly stated she intended to marry Grant and take up residence at the farm as soon as she could.
"Tell her she's being ridiculous Alice." Walter demanded. "No-one in their right mind runs off and gets married to someone who has nothing."
"I'm NOT being ridiculous Daddy." Josephine fired back. "I love Grant and he loves me. Money's got nothin' to do with it. I got a job. I got a College degree too if I wanna use it."
"Walter." Alice interceded sharply. "This isn't a choice for you to make. Josephine's of age to choose for herself."
"Yes she is." he roared back. "And I'm sure Grant has made her very aware of the implications of making that choice too."
"What are you talking about Walter?" Alice frowned. "There are no implications here. The girl only wants to get married."
Josephine's eyes flashed to her Mother's.
"Oh yes there is Momma. Daddy said he's gonna leave us with nothin' if we get married." she bristled. "He's gonna sell the farm outta spite without even givin' Grant a chance."
Alice Brown spun around to face Walter, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"WHAT???????" she gasped.
Walter Brown lifted his chin with determination.
"Josephine, Grant Tracy has had all the chances in the world. He owes my Bank a lot of money and if he can't pay it back regularly, he sure as hell can't support you. And let me say right here and now young lady if he tries to put a ring on your finger when he can't support you, as your Father I'll force him to wake up to himself. "
He took a deep breath and added. "And if that means repossessin' his farm to prove the point, so be it."
She held up her left hand and rebelliously showed him the band-aid.
"Well you better get ready to do it then Daddy because this band-aid is that ring." she challenged.
Victoria burst into laughter.
"You call THAT a ring Josephine?" she mocked. "What a God-damn joke!"
Josephine clenched her fists in fury.
"For your information Miss high and mighty Grant used to have the most beautiful ring in the world to give to me. It belonged to his momma."
She fixed her eyes on her Father.
"But he had to sell it for half its value to pay for his Daddy's funeral. And last night he told me why too. He sold it so he didn't have to borrow no more money from you. "
She glared at the two of them almost with hatred.
"So the pair of you can make fun of the bandaid if you want but as far as me and Grant are concerned we're engaged and no matter what you threaten to do to him Daddy I ain't changin' my mind."
Victoria then stepped in front of her Father to face Josephine direct.
"Don't be such a fool Josie. Grant Tracy ain't worth this. Open your eyes and see things for what they are. He's a useless Farmer for God's sake."
"I've told you to shut up about Grant too many times already Victoria." Josephine fired back. "Now I swear I ain't tellin' you again."
"Forget him. You know as well as I do he's just another man in bed Josie." Victoria stressed. "Enjoy the moment and move on."
"How dare you speak about Grant like that!" she exploded and lunged forward in fury. "You might sleep with anyone who's got a College education and money in their pocket but don't make the same filthy assumptions about me."
Arabella and Alice desperately tore the two of them apart.
"Arabella, get Victoria the hell outta here." Alice demanded holding Josephine firmly by the arm.
"She started it Momma." Victoria argued as Arabella tried to lead her towards the door.
"It was you and your trumped up opinions." Josephine retorted. Not me."
"I don't care WHICH one of you started it. I'm ENDIN' it right now!" Alice thundered. "The two of you have said far too much for my likin' already. "
"No-one speaks ill of Grant in my hearin'." Josephine stressed. She fixed her eyes on Victoria one last time. "Least of all a self-centred cow like YOU."
Walter started to feel his temper sliding out of control. Twenty-two years of age, raised never wanting for anything and now standing there large as life upsetting the whole family.
"By God don't you push me much further Josephine." he warned dangerously. "I've turned a blind eye to the Tracy family's inability to pay for three years because of you."
"WALTER STOP IT!!!" Alice yelled at the top of her voice. "This isn't just some faceless client. This is our daughter."
"Who's lost all sense of family since takin' up with that Tracy son." he roared back.
It was now Josephine's turn to start shouting.
"How dare you talk about family Daddy. Look at you. You're prepared to let me start my married life livin' in a truck."
The force of her words suddenly drove home to her what might really happen if she didn't hold her tongue in front of her Father. Her eyes filled with frightened tears as she faced Walter Brown in real anger for the very first time in her life.
Gone was the affectionate, loving Father she had adored. Now he was nothing more than the Bank Manager.
To her mind came the tall, gentle man with the southern drawl who had always made her feel so welcome in his home. The man who never had a dime to his name but who somehow always found a little bit extra when Grant invited her to stay at suppertime. The man who said if she had family and friends in her life she would always be a rich woman. The man cancer had taken before his time.
The words escaped her lips before she realised she had said them.
"Mr Tracy never had much of anythin' Daddy. Money or possessions." she began to sob. "But I know he wouldda given Grant and me the shirt off his back to make sure we were happy and had a roof over our heads. Family was everything to him and it'll be the happiest day of my life when I can call myself Josephine Tracy and forget to hell I ever had the misfortune to be known as Josephine Brown."
Walter lowered his voice almost to a growl.
"Do you really mean that Josephine?" he thundered.
She clamped her teeth down hard on her bottom lip.
"Yes Sir I do." she sniffled still refusing to back down.
He walked to the front door in silence and opened it.
"Fine then." he said in a low and angry voice. "Go."
Alice Brown's eyes filled.
"No Walter." she gasped in horror. "Please … what are you doing?"
She watched in dismay as her eldest daughter and the man she had loved for over twenty-five years stared at each other unrepentantly.
"Go on Josephine." he rumbled. "You've made the statement. Now make your choice."
They continued to stare each other down. Neither of them relented.
"Very well then I'll go upstairs and pack my things." Josephine finally responded.
"Oh no you won't Josephine." Walter Brown said pointing in the direction of the sandstone fence. "If you believe you can make it through life without money you can start proving it to me right now."
"I will then" she said without emotion. "Cos I ain't giving up Grant."
Alice Brown watched helplessly as Josephine threw down her car keys, pushed past her Father and walked out of their lives without a backward glance.
Those same helpless eyes now looked deep into the remorseful eyes of Walter Brown. He leaned forward and picked up the two glasses. He extended one towards her.
"Here Alice." he said softly. "Please … take it."
She remained motionless and Walter felt a lump the size of a football welling in his throat. Alice was the most precious possession in his life and for the first time it occurred to him that he might be about to lose her.
"Please… I'm trying to make things up to you honey."
Her hand extended for the glass.
"So it's expensive wine this time." she said quietly running her eyes over the glass. "Flowers meant for nothin'; chocolates even less; guess this is all you got left to try."
"Alice … I'm sorry about what happened with Josephine." he said sincerely. "Anything you want … you just say it … and I'll get it for you."
Alice shook her head.
"Don't you see? Material things mean nothin' to me no more Walter. Money will never replace Josephine no matter how hard you try."
She looked at him accusingly.
"Or make me forget the fact you made my daughter leave this house with nothin' but the clothes she had on her back."
He immediately became defensive.
"Alice … Josephine and her uncontrollable mouth went too far this time. You heard the things she said. What was I supposed to say?"
Alice changed the subject.
"Tell me the last time we held these Walter." she said abruptly indicating the wine glasses.
"Our wedding day." he admitted. "Twenty five years ago. "
"That's right. You were twenty two and still in College after failin' your fourth year." Alice reminded him. "Nothin' to your name but dreams and aspirations my Daddy said."
She allowed the words to sink into his head before continuing.
"Had to borrow money off your Father to buy me an engagement ring, couldn't afford to take me on a proper honeymoon, and then made me endure livin' with your parents till you graduated. Hardly a good start to a marriage my Daddy said and most likely destined to fail."
She sipped the wine.
He sipped his too.
"Then struggling to make ends meet on a paltry accountant's salary. Raisin' three little girls with not one bit of money to spare."
She looked at him stonily.
"Those days were hard Walter. Damn hard. And you know as well as I do that we only got through them because we were young and in love and simply happy to reach out and rely on each other. Plus your parents were willin' to help us out."
She took another sip of the wine.
He took another sip too and forced himself to remember.
"Then of course the day came when someone finally saw fit to give you a break." she said pointedly. "And Mr. Walter Brown was elevated from nothin' to become the high and mighty Bank Manager in Chase County. Now look at the two of us. Saturday night, a big fancy house, everything we need …and absolutely nothin' to say to each other."
Walter lowered his head in shame.
Alice knew she had made her point when he swallowed the rest of his wine in one gulp and poured himself another.
"Always wondered what wouldda happened to you and me if we didn't get any help back then. " she continued. "Guess my love for you wouldda been tested a bit earlier than it is now."
She rose to her feet and put down her glass.
"Josephine and Grant's start in life ain't no different to ours. But unlike us I know they'll stay together because they love each other Walter and they don't need no-one else to lean on except themselves."
She went to leave the room on her way up to bed but turned at the door to look at him.
"Grant Tracy's never done nothin' to you personally Walter Brown. Nothin' except love the daughter you threw out of our home with all his heart."
She watched him redden as the truth pierced his very soul.
"And for what it's worth Walter , the day you see fit to throw that decent young man off his farm and leave my daughter homeless again, is the day our marriage will end."
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The day had been long and frustrating and at nine thirty in the evening it had just taken a turn for the worst.
The tractor had all but packed it in, he'd damned near broken his back in a fall an hour ago and to top it all off he had now turned on the shower to find he didn't have any hot water.
Grant Tracy cursed loudly as the freezing cold water chilled him to the bone. He couldn't believe he had to endure this too. He gritted his teeth and showered as quickly as he could but it had been a hard day and the mud was caked all over him.
Surely things would be better tomorrow.
He'd rise at dawn and try to fix the tractor. Then he'd see what he could do about the hot water. Josephine was having a hard enough time dealing with things already without any hot water too.
He'd lost count of the number of times she'd dissolved into tears over the conditions in the farmhouse and the devastating argument she had endured with her Father.
"It's my fault you're gonna lose your farm." she sobbed night after night in his arms."I'm so sorry Grant."
He had assured her gently he wouldn't lose the farm. Things would be all right. He'd grow them a crop and pay back his debts. In a year or two they would have also have money to spare.
But after today he wasn't so sure.
"Whole place is packin' it in." he scowled and grimaced as his back and shoulders reminded him of the fall.
"Includin' me."
Still he couldn't afford to be negative. The rain had made such a big difference to the farm already and with more rain predicted in the coming weeks he was quietly confident the crop he promised her would become a reality. Prices were high at the moment and if he could do it, he could wipe out two years of debt to Walter Brown.
Or slightly less if he put some money aside and brought Josephine her engagement ring.
He grappled within himself. His Father's romantic story of a brash young farmer driving into town and spending the money he owed the bank on an Engagement ring had always struck him as irresponsible. Josephine of course thought it was wonderful.
He heard his Father's words echo in his head.
"It was the happiest day of your Momma's life when I gave her that ring." Daniel Tracy had said. "Things like that mean nothin' to a man but they're everythin' to a woman."
Grant pictured Josephine's band-aided finger.
No.
If he grew them a crop, he would pay as much as he could back to Walter Brown.
The ring could wait.
Josephine was everything to him and he had to keep a roof over their heads.
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Author's Note - Part 2 of the Epilogue follows.Please review!
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