Eddie Walbrun was working at the White House Biscuit Company. The place had been in operation since the 1900's and was originally called the Dubuque Biscuit Company. They made crackers, cakes, and anything pertaining to the baking industry. You name it, they probably made it! Anyway, there Eddie was working, extremely early the next morning. He was nearly done with his night shift. He was so tired he swore he started to nod off and he could have used the dough for crackers he was kneading by hand, for a pillow! Eddie had been kneading countless large batches of cracker dough for that day, by hand all morning since about 5am….. He was startled when the whistle blew, signaling to all the hard working men and perhaps a few women too, that it was quitting time.
"Saved by the bell!...er,….whistle!" Eddie thought out loud and let out a long breath. He loved his new job, it was great….but…he equally loved "quitting time" too. He scrubbed up to get all the sticky bits of dough off of his rough hands, hung up his bakers apron, and flew his awful hairnet into a nearby trash can. He hated that little item with a passion. Always messed up his slicked back hair that was as black as the night. He tried his best to re-part his hair and slicked it back with his fingers as best he could. He grabbed his coat and hat and almost ran to the line to punch out and then flew home on his 1930's bicycle (he had taken it with him the night before when his father had given him a ride to work, as it was too dark to ride) to the little Brick house on Rhomberg Avenue. Around 7:30 in the morning, he threw open the front door and there she was at the little cookstove, in his robe, cooking up his bacon and eggs for his breakfast. Just exactly how he liked them.
"Morning Babe!" Eddie grinned and came up behind her gave her a big kiss on the cheek and a loving squeeze and held her a moment. "My favorite part of the day!"
Helen's deep brown eyes gleamed at him and a smile crept across her face. "What's that now?" She seemed to melt in his arms. She enjoyed the touch of a man. Her man. His gentle yet strong arms around her. She had craved it all last night when she was home alone in their own bed.
Eddie's smile got wider and he flashed his gleaming white movie star smile. Eddie looked like a movie star too. Even more handsome than Mr. Gene Kelly or Mr. Cary Grant. "Hearing that whistle blow,…..rushing home….giving the wife a big hug and kiss…." Eddie hugged her closer and gave her such a kiss it nearly took her breath away. "Sitting down to breakfast with you, my dear "Aviado" Babe…." Aviado meant Beloved in Portuguese or Spanish. Even though the couple were both German, they liked to talk and share words in different languages. French….Russian….Hungarian….it was fun to them and interesting to learn.
Helen smiled and sat down with him at their little kitchen table and he decided to scoot his chair over closer to hers. " Another kiss…." He said before he gave her another soft, long kiss…." And the check!" His crooked grin was oh so proud. Proud of himself. He was the breadwinner in these hard times. He was "the Man!" Finally feeling like an adult! At nearly 24 years old, he felt he could take on the world!
"I love every morning you come home….to me…." Helen smiled and pressed her forehead against his. "I'm so sorry about our fight last night, Bunnie."
"Me too, Babe….Me too." He whispered, his forehead still pressed against hers. He longed to kiss her again. "I'm sorry….Really, I am Babe…..I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
"I told you before I shouldn't have raised my voice at you either, honey." Helen said softly and spent a few seconds running her fingers threw his coal black hair. "Your hairs all mussed up and I think I made it worse!" She giggled.
"I don't care, Babe." He grinned and pulled her closer to him. He sighed. "I did a lot of thinking last night at work. I never want to make you cry like that again, Sweetness…..and….I'm swallowing my durn pride! Your parents can help us out…once in awhile….if they want. You didn't tell 'em we were struggling a little….did ya?"
"Why no!" Helen started to raise her voice a little but caught herself and quieted down. "Papa just…..Well I don't know how he knew. He was just concerned for us."
"Just want to show him I'm good for you, Babe….." Eddie said as he cut into his sunny side up eggs and took a big bite. "That I can and I am providing for ya."
"Eddie, he likes you…." Helen said laying a soft hand on his broad shoulder. "He may not show it, but that's just his way. Papa loves you like he does Freddie. So does Mama. Like you're another son."
"What a mother…." Eddie smiled, thinking of his mother-in-law. "Your mother's adorable! I laugh every time she tells me to be a good little onion!" He chuckled a little bit and gazed at his wife, who was just beaming at him. "Oh, I love her like my own mother." Eddie just adored his mother-in-law. "I'd do anything for her." He said softly but seriously.
"Is your breakfast alright, Sweetheart?" She asked him after awhile.
"Just perfect…" He chewed his breakfast and his lips pursed into a grin. He took a swig of his black coffee. "I tell you Babe, we should go have a little fun and go to a movie tonight…."
"I thought we couldn't afford that…." Helen let a breath out, hoping they wouldn't argue again. She took a small bite of her scrambled eggs.
"I just got paid, Babe…." Eddie grinned and laughed softly.
"Well, what's playing then?"
"The Bride of Frankenstein " and that new John Wayne movie "the Desert Trail" The second one sounds real swell!" It was April 22nd, 1935 and those movies were both playing at the old movie theatres in town.
Helen sighed. " I just feel like staying in tonight, honey. A nice quiet evening….just you and me…." She shot him a flirty look and smiled at him.
"That sounds good too, Babe.." Eddie smiled "I'll just have to take you out for your birthday. Spoil the Heck out of you." Her birthday was gaining on them soon, April 30th. She would soon turn 21.
"Sweetheart I'm sorry I didn't get breakfast on for you and the men as soon as I should've…." Gilbertha was so concerned for her husband Paul and the ranch hands they hired to get them started off right. "My first big breakfast meal for you men and I had it on the table late!" Paul's two brothers Herbert and Byron lived nearby too and were helping out too.
"Bert…..Sweetie!" Paul smiled and held her face in his hands a moment. "It may have been late but it was tremendous!"
"Your fried taters were amazing, Mrs. Bardrick!" A young teenaged farm hand said. He was quite the stocky young lad and could eat like the other men!
"That egg thing you made was great too, sis. What was it again?"
"That was called a quiche, Herb." Bert said to her brother-in-law. "And thanks. I was so worried over it! I thought I burned the crust on the bottom."
"Not that I could tell…." Paul's brother Byron chimed in. "Then again, I'll eat anything!"
"I wouldn't doubt it!" The tall, manly and swarthy haired, Paul Bardrick laughed at his older brother. "You'd eat an old work boot if it was covered in….Well anything….cheese….gravy…." Paul laughed at his own joke.
Byron laughed and soon the whole group laughed after he said,. "You're probably right, baby brother." Paul was the youngest of the Bardrick children. First was their sister Lucy May Bardrick Hollingshead (born in 1905. She had passed away just a few years before in 1927, at the age of 21.) then Herbert Franklin Bardrick (born in 1907), then Bryon Oliver Bardrick (born in 1910. He was Gilbertha's age) and lastly, of course Paul Ivor Bardrick (born in 1913).
"You all are being so kind to me." Bert told the men. "Just give me time, I'm sure I'll get the hang of being a ranchers wife." Bert wrapped an arm around her husband and beamed at him. "Lets just hope I'll get your lunches on the table in time….and that it all tastes good!"
"Can only get better from here, Bird!"
"Herb!" Bert laughed at her brother-in-law . "I shouldn't have told you my other nickname. Only my brother Eddie calls me Birdie!"
"Well, I'm shortening it, sis." Herbert laughed and smiled at his sister-in-law. He just loved to tease her a little. He left the house and a few of the other men followed him. Paul stayed in the room with his wife. He wrapped her up in his arms. Paul stood about an inch or so shorter than his wife and she was 3 years older….but they barely noticed. They didn't even think of it at all…"You nervous about being a rancher's wife, hmmmm?" His cheek rubbed up against hers and she felt the scruff on his face as he hadn't shaved today. She actually didn't mind it about him. It added to the ruggedness of being a young cattle rancher.
"I'll get there, Paul…." She then breathed out a sigh and planted a kiss on his lips.
"You're sure you don't want to move back to Dubuque? Or Waukon? We could move back there if you wanted to be back in Waukon." Paul and Bert settled there in Waukon, IA when they first got married.
"We just got here, Sweetheart." Bert smiled and cocked her head and held her husband by his strong shoulders and gave him another kiss. "This is your dream, Paul….What kind of wife would I be if I didn't let you live your dream?"
"Our dream….eventually. " Paul smiled at her and placed a gentle hand on her small pregnant belly. She was barely showing yet. "You're feeling better now, I hope?"
"I feel just fine. Don't worry about me…..I'm trying not to worry too….5, 6 or so months to go, Honey." Bert beamed at her husband and leaned to give him such a kiss he'd remember for hours later….but….Paul's brothers were calling for him.
"Sorry Sweetie….I gotta head out. We've gotta check on a couple of the cows. You're not the only pregnant female I've gotta take care of."
"Oh Paul!" Bert laughed and shook her head as he grinned and winked playfully at her and after that he went outside. "Come back hungry!" She called out and leaned in the little ranch house's doorway.
"You bet, Sweet!" Paul called to her and trudged out to the barn. Bert cleaned up her new little kitchen a bit and tried to think of what to make for the men's lunch. Something hearty she thought. It would be the main meal.
"Meat and potatoes….. Meat and potatoes once again." Bert let out a sigh. "Wouldn't they get tired of it?!" She said to herself. Bert shrugged and began peeling and slicing potatoes, and decided she'd make a hearty beef and scalloped potato dish and a side of corn with sweet red peppers and one of the men had given her a small head of cabbage and so she decided that she would make another vegetable side.
"Cabbage casserole….Looks like it's casserole night!" Bert laughed to herself. She tried to work fast so she could have the food on the table no later than noon. Bert was thankful for the blessing it was that they had apricot trees out in the yard, thanks to whomever built the little ranch house had planted them in the yard. She and Paul had picked a few bushels of them just the other day. The men would have fresh apricots to dine on with their luncheon. And she thought she'd save some of them though for an apricot cobbler. To have something nice later with their light supper. Luncheon was soon ready so she stepped outside to call the men in. She glanced at her dainty wristwatch. "20 minutes after noon…..Oh bother!" Bert muttered. She clanged a huge old cowbell. It was so loud she wished she could cover her ears! She even wondered if they heard it so she walked down to the barn. "Next time I guess I should just holler like a wild Indian!" She said, laughing to herself. Bert walked inside and was instantly hit with the awful smell of very fresh cow manure. "Goodness gracious!" She exclaimed and being the slightly prim and proper lady she was, Bert took a clean, white hanky and covered her little button nose and tried to at least breathe! Some of the men were shoveling cow manure out of the barn, others were stacking hay in the corner. Herb and Byron were each brushing a bull's coat. And Paul was knelt down at one of the cow's sides.
"How is she?" Bert asked, curiously.
Paul turned his head and smiled at her. "Pregnant…." Paul laughed. "Might deliver in a couple days….the other girl…" Paul motioned to one of the cows that a ranch hand was brushing her coat. "she'll probably deliver close to when you do…." Paul's eyes shone like diamonds at his wife.
"Gee, looks like I've got someone to talk to about it all…." She petted the cow's side softly and chuckled a little. Bert then stood tall and proper and smiling. "Luncheon's ready, gentlemen. " the men started for the ranch house and Paul and Bert stood in the barn a few moments.
"I'll come up and wash up in a bit…Then after there's milking to do and we'll put them out to pasture till suppertime…." The Bardrick's mostly had male cattle….but a few milk cows too and so they thought they'd get some experience in and if things went well, they'd purchase more females for breeding and of course for milk and to make cheese and things like that they could eat or sell.
"Won't you teach me how to milk the girls?" Bert smiled with her hands on her hips.
"If you want me to." Paul told her and they started for their little ranch house.
"Don't they have names?"
"What?" Paul laughed a little.
"Do the cows have names?" She asked with a slight smile on her face and glanced at her husband.
"We'll name the one pregnant one Bertie after you." Paul joked with her.
"Oh I don't care…" Bert laughed and put an arm around her husband's waist. "Myrtle…..the other one looks like a Myrtle." She joked.
"Bertie and Myrtle it is then!" Paul laughed along with his wife.
Each man washed his hands and face at the big well pump out in the yard before they went inside. Bert had bars of soap and towels out there for them. It was easier on her than all those dirty men getting her kitchen all mussed up with mud and who knows what else. She insisted they take their work boots off at the door!
"What's on the menu, Mrs. Bardrick?" a farm hand asked.
Bert rattled the spread off to the men. She was proud of it but worried if they'd like it. "Beef steak, potato and onion casserole,….corn with sweet red peppers…..cabbage casserole…..rye biscuits with butter….fresh picked apricots…..there's leftover sautéed mushrooms too from breakfast if you all would like those too." The men all ate ravenously as well as Paul. Each man really worked up a hearty appetite. Bert ate with them too. "So…I guess I'll get a little milking lesson then go and start on supper, I'm guessing."
"Nah, I want you to go lie down for awhile, Sweet." Paul told her.
"Honey, I've been taking little rests here and there….I'm feeling fine. The baby's fi-"
"You shouldn't work too hard, Bird….Can't believe my baby brother's making you do this. Slaving away…." Herb started to say.
"Paul is NOT making me do this…" Bert insisted. "I want to…plus, I'm his wife…..and somebody has to cook for all of you!"
"You let us make our breakfast meal from now on…." Paul told her. He looked sternly at his brother and then looked at her again. "You can sleep longer and get all the rest you need."
Eddie and Helen were sitting in their cozy little living room just after they ate an early supper. They wanted some time together before Eddie went to work that night. Helen was looking over the baby name book, Eddie was smoking his pipe with the cozy, homey aroma of the Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco he put in his pipe. The little radio was playing tunes of that time in the 1930's.
"Just an echo…..Ooooooo-oooo….in the Valley…..Ooooooo-oooo-oo….and it brings back, Sweet memories….of you-ooooo-ooo-ooo…." Eddie sang with the radio in between puffs of his pipe. He was amazing at doing bird calls, and so that's what the little Ooooooo-ooooo-ooo sounds were like. Soft bird calls. Helen's lips pursed into a sassy little smile and she spied over at him in between looking at the book.
"What a good little warbler you are…."Helen chuckled and set down the book and went over to him and sat on his lap. She giggled a soft low giggle and pressed her forehead against his. "I'm shocked I can still sit on your lap, " She laughed at herself and ran her fingers through his soft black hair. She didn't care she messed up his hair. It only made him more rugged and handsome, she thought. "Pretty soon I definitely won't be able to….I'll be way too big…and uncomfortable."
"Oh you're….deadening my knee!" Eddie joked and feigned like he was in pain, but brought her closer to him, softly and carefully..
"Bunnie…." She laughed and kissed him….
"Can you hear it….in the twilight…" Eddie sang with the radio in between soft kisses. "I lo-ove you….I do….oooo-ooo oooo-ooo…"
She breathed in while he kissed her and let the breath out in a rush and gazed into his lovely chocolate colored eyes. She softly tapped him on the nose and drew little loving circles on his scruffy cheek. "You're a regular Bing Crosby…." Helen chuckled slightly and changed the subject…."What happens…Mr. Walbrun…."She whispered. "If I don't get my figure back after the baby, hm?"
Eddie grinned at her. "Then you'll just be my permanent little Chubby Darling!"
"Mhmmmm…." She laughed leaned in to kiss him again. "And I know a little peanut who wears a size 18 shirt…." Helen giggled as she kissed him again, fooling with the little buttons on his shirt.
"Now that deserves a whisker rub!" Eddie laughed and rubbed his scruffy cheek against her smooth velvety face, which made her giggle and she squirmed to try to not let his short, prickly scruff touch her face.
Helen continued her little "speech" after awhile…"….And he has oh so very soft, coal black hair….and little scruffy whiskers sometimes….and his ears and nose wiggle and twitch….and he's my very own Bunnie…." She gazed at him lovingly and sighed happily. "I've never loved anyone but you, Bunnie…I never want to love anyone else…."
"I wondered sometimes!" Eddie laughed.
"Who?" Helen questioned. "Who else would I love but you, darling?"
"Eddie Graff!...The whole town thought it was Eddie Graff!"
Helen kissed him again and cuddled up to him. "I sense some jealousy!" She said softly and teasingly, and her deep brown eyes gleamed at his own. "It was never Eddie Graff….I wanted Eddie Walbrun instead!...and did I get him!" Helen lay her head in the crook of his neck. "I hear Eddie and Lucille and their mother and Mr. Blades are over there at my folks for supper….we should stop by and say hello…." She teased him again.
"And have him sit there and gaze at you all night?! Heck no!" Eddie said to her. "Now that's my job… This too…." Kisses grazed her lips and jawline and neck and she let out a long, contented sigh. He sighed a happy sigh and his hands grazed her sides and carefully wrapped around her and laid his hands on her belly. "How the other "little peanut", huh?" He kissed her neck and Helen grazed her fingers around his own. "He's wonderful…I keep feeling him kick me…" She laughed and looked down. "Have you felt him yet?"
"Me?" Eddie chuckled a little.
"There it is…." Helen laughed and moved his hand over to a spot. "Can you feel him,…right there? I think that's a tiny foot!" She giggled with amazement and Eddie was blown away almost too.
"So strange…." He remarked but a sweet smile tiptoed across his tanned face. "Any names yet for the little Bambino?" Eddie whispered and kissed her again. Helen started to laugh softly. "Oh you sound like, Pop!" She smiled as she mentioned her father. Her father Fred knew how to speak several languages, Italian being one of them. "…Speaking of which, if we end up having a boy….His middle name is going to be Frederick…."
"You already say it's a boy…" Eddie crooned…."and you got it all planned out already huh?"
Helen shook her head at him. "Not the first name…..I'll need a little assistance with that one….." Her brown eyes gleamed at him and she cuddled up to him in his big favorite armchair.
"Eddie Jr….." Eddie suggested and grinned at her.
"Edward Joseph Frederick Walbrun…." Helen said the name all together. "I would love a little Eddie Jr. running around…." Helen beamed at him and softly ran her small fingers through his dark hair. She just loved doing that.
Eddie changed his mind. "Nah….It don't sound….perfect…." He thought quietly and had an idea. "What about both Grandfathers? Frederick and John….or Henry after dad's middle name. Nah, lets go with John. Frederick John, what do ya think, Babe?"
Helen immediately cracked up laughing.
"Now, what, Babe?"
"Frederick John….that IS my Papa's name!" Helen closed her eyes and laughed with glee. "Oh, he'd probably claim the baby was named for only him!"
"Well, we can do that too. Your dad's a great guy."
Helen nodded her head at his comment but then quickly shook her head and laughed. "Can't he have his own first name?...One no one's used in our family before?"
"Well what then?!" Eddie never thought choosing a little name would be so hard! Helen got up from his lap and got the baby name book and sat down on his lap again and cuddled with him while they looked at the book together. She started to hum her song "In the Valley of the Moon" that song had softly come over on the little radio. It was that song and also the "Echo in the Valley" song that Eddie and Helen had mentioned to each other in their letters when Eddie was stationed in Red Wing, Minnesota in the C.C.C.. They gazed over a few names and eventually both touched a name on the page.
"Dale…." They both said in unison. They both laughed a little and Eddie kissed her temple ever so softly.
"Look at the meaning, Sweetheart…." Helen pointed to it. "In the Valley…." She smiled and her soft yet flirty brown eyes beamed at her husband, while he held her close. "Its beautiful, isn't it?" Helen smiled at him and pressed her forehead against his and stayed like that a few seconds.
"Dale Frederick Walbrun…" Eddie said the name out loud. "You like it, Babe?" He asked her.
"Oh I love it…." She whispered breathlessly.
Eddie smiled like a Cheshire cat and stretched a little and looked at his loving wife who was gazing at him. "….'Dale Frederick' it is then….I love you, Dushka." Dushka meant Sweetheart in Russian.
"Hello….Hello! Hello Graff family!" Fred was standing at the front door of the Lay's home and welcomed their visitors for supper. It was Frances' girlhood friend, Maggie….or Margaret Graff, her daughter Lucille who was Helen's best friend, and son Eddie Graff. He shook each of their hands as they came in through the door and then an old friend followed them in.
"Well old Bill Blades!" Fred smiled and extended his thick hand. "Put 'er there, my friend. Long time no see, Bill!" Fred's low voice crooned and he shook the man's hand. Fred stood to about 5"6 but tall, lanky Bill stood to roughly over 6 foot tall. Bill's piercing blue eyes looked Fred straight in the eye, as he did everyone. He was a strikingly good looking Scottish man with a hawk like, hooked nose with a long face, as did Fred, he had a long face too…., and Bill had a thick head of now at this time, salt and pepper hair. Bill looked like an old 1870's cattle rancher and always dressed in a grey suit and vest. He took off his wide brimmed dress hat and kindly smiled down at Frances as she came to greet him too.
"Why hello Bill!...What a surprise, we didn't expect you too!" Her brown eyes sparkled and she kindly patted his arm.
Bill smiled and cocked his head. "Hope I'm not intruding, Fran. Maggie kind of invited me….I'm courting her now. "
"No, she didn't tell me!...well ain't this nice! Come on into the kitchen!" Frances said and ushered everyone into the kitchen to eat. And they caught them up on how everyone was doing in life. "I never thought I'd be with anyone after my Joseph died….but Bill here has been so kind and patient with me…."
"Took me awhile though too after my wife past away couple years ago…." Bill spoke up.
"Well we're happy for you and Bill, Maggie!" Frances told them after awhile and then turned her attention to her daughter's best friend, Lucille. "What about you, young lady? Any gentleman callers?" She teased.
Lucille smiled widely and her eyes lit up. "Actually I have! I've met a man….his name is Bernard Carnicle. He's from Harper's Ferry, Iowa….." Lucille told them a little about him and then she asked how Helen was doing. Eddie Graff piped up just a bit when they mentioned Helen but put his head down and ate his meal as they filled Lucille in about Helen and Eddie and how life was treating them. Eddie Graff just shook his head slightly when he was asked if he had met someone yet. "Nah…." He muttered. Fred had leaned back in his chair at the table and was studying the young man all throughout their supper. The men were served bottles of some of Fred's homemade wine. "Say, Ed…..lets….step outside a moment…." Fred told him and they went through the few rooms to the front door and stepped out onto the large open porch.
It was quiet for some time in the coolness of the evening, and Fred took a sip of his homemade wine and set it on the ledge on the porch and crossed his arms over his chest. Eddie Graff took a gulp of his wine too. He coughed a bit as the alcohol slid down his throat. "Good wine…." He muttered.
"Thanks…." Fred said and motioned up over to the grape vines up by the woods behind the house. "Brought the seeds over from the Old Country."
"Germany?"
"Ja….Germany." Fred said yes in German and smiled a little. Fred decided to stop fooling and cut right to the chase. "You're still in love with that daughter of mine, aren't ya, boy?"
"Nah…" Eddie Graff muttered and leaned against the wall of the house by the front door. He let out a rough sigh after awhile and nodded. "Yeah…" he finally admitted it and glanced at Fred in the cool darkness...
"Always have…." Fred said quietly and smirked a little.
"Sometimes I feel like I always will…." Eddie Graff said quietly and he was silent for awhile. "I know it seems silly but ever since we were kids and you all would come to our place for picnics every summer….."
"And you'd follow that sister of yours everywhere when they'd pal around together. " Fred chuckled.
Eddie Graff nodded and tried to smile. "Perhaps we just weren't meant to be….our families knew each other too close, I don't know….and yet, sometimes, I feel I can't help but be in love with her…..She's a most beautiful woman. Those soft doe-like eyes, cute nose, velvety smile…her neck….."
"Watch it there, sir…..you go any lower than that- -…That's my daughter you're describing, remember now…..She's a married woman too…and...well, I'm sure you know…." Fred looked at the young man. "You can't live your life always pining for her, boy…."
"I know…..I know she is…and it's wrong for me to want her….but I do….and I wish that was...my kid. " he said softly. "God, that sounded creepy." Eddie let out a breath. "I ain't like that to her face, don't worry!" Eddie laughed a little. "I saw her in the grocery store the other day and…and I can't hardly talk to her…..and she's so sweet and polite too….."
Fred slapped the young man on the shoulder, lightly.. "You ain't no creep. You just want what they have…..Just can't have my daughter now." Fred's lip turned upward in a crooked grin.
"I know. Don't worry, I may want her, but I'll never act on it…..but she's just so beautiful though…..not only her looks…..but her as a person. She's so kind, and sweet and giving. She's everything I've thought I ever wanted in a woman…."
"You're right on that one…..She's an amazing young lady." Then Fred questioned him. "Why didn't you ever ask to go with her? I never understood you, boy."
"I was shy, didn't know how to talk to her….sometimes….and then later on,…I saw how her eyes lit up around Ed Walbrun….and deep down…I knew I couldn't come between two lovers." Eddie Graff was quiet for a long time. "I used to hate the guy and….and wonder why she didn't want me….He and are alike in some ways."
Fred took a gulp of his wine and set it back down on the ledge "I'll admit, I didn't quite like the idea of my little girl meeting that boy when she was 14, dating at 16,….but things happen...don't they. "But…. he is a good man and I have nothing against him…..but so are you, Ed….." He was quiet a moment and spoke again. "You know boy,….if she had become Helen Graff instead, I wouldn't have minded that either, I think ….You're not only like Walbrun, but I think you're a bit like me too, boy…"
Eddie Graff smiled a bit but sighed. "That don't make me feel any better, Mr. Lay."
"Sorry, boy...hey but don't give up. You'll find the girl meant for you someday too…"
"Sometimes it feels like I never will…."
"Don't give up hope, son…"
"Guys….I made a spiced plum cake with white frosting for dessert, come in and have a slice….Everything alright out here?" Frances stuck her head out the front door.
"Yeah, Mrs. Lay…that cake sounds interesting. I'll take a slice!" and he and Fred followed her in. Frances gave her husband a questioning look. He put his hand on her shoulder as they hung back and watched Eddie Graff head into the kitchen.
"Just a man to man talk is all."
"Is he alright?" Frances asked.
"He'll be fine…" Fred nodded. They walked together towards the kitchen, with Fred's hand resting on her back. "Plum cake, huh…you haven't made that since 1922!" He chuckled. "Mrs. Dollar prize winner…." Fred had brought back a little memory of how she had won a $1 prize for several of her recipes and had them and her name and a few helpful household tips published in the newspaper. $1 was a lot of money in those long ago days and she was delighted to have won that money to help out her husband and little family. "You silly man….I make it for church functions!"
"How come I never get any of it then?!"
Frances giggled, laying a hand on her husband's torso and rubbed his arm with the other. "Sorry, perhaps it's all gone when you finally TRY to get your paws on it!...Come on and let's go have some. See if it still wins first prize!" She joked and grinned at him.
"You should submit some more in the paper." Fred encouraged her, "That tuna fish and noodle casserole of yours is to die for!"
"Mmm…mhmmmm…Oh Paul…." Gilbertha let out a tired breath late that night in their bed, under the covers with him. She felt him snuggle even closer to her and kept kissing her neck and collarbone and went lower….. "Paul…Paul, Sweetheart…I don't want to say no to you….." She chuckled a bit but he didn't let up and covered her lips with his own and Bert felt she could melt into a puddle right there. Somehow she found herself on top of him and then she kissed him and after that, let out a powerful yawn and buried her face In his chest. "Ohhh,….I can't tonight….I'm so exhausted…" she mumbled, her face squished against his skin and she let out another yawn. "I'm exhausted...Aren't you exhausted?!...Mr. cattle rancher…."
"Not enough…it was kind of a slow day for me..." Paul grinned and kissed her again. "Not like you to turn me down!" He whispered and ruffled his fingers through her soft black tresses and gave her such a kiss again! "First night in our whole marriage,…I think!"
"No doubt that I'm a Walbrun through and through!" She whispered and laughed softly. " We just go…go.…go…"Mmmmmm.." Bert lost herself in his arms and his kisses again. "Your brothers are in the next room….I don't want them hearing me…." She whispered and laughed in a whisper as she felt his scruff rub against her cheek.
"They've got wives…." Paul started to say but then there came a manly whisper out of the dark blackness of the night. "We hear you now!"
Bert felt herself turn a hundred shades of red and tried to find her husband's face in the dark. " I told you!" She whispered laughing. Bert felt his loving kisses again. There came another whisper. "We Bardrick men make wonderful husbands and lovers…." Paul grinned, trying to see her reaction.
Bert found his face in the dark with her soft hands and planted tons of kisses on his lips. "Yes you do…..Mmm…..mmm…mmm…..mm. " Bert kissed him several times and looked down at him in the dark. "I guess I'm just a horrible little wife..." She teased him and she heard him chuckle, "Yeah, you little monster!..." Bert sighed and laughed while giving him a squeeze and laying her head on his bare chest again "Oh,...Tomorrow morning, I promise! First thing...Let me sleep, I'm so tired!" She groaned and they both laughed and she rolled over and felt him cuddle against her back. She soon fell asleep but was woken up about an hour later to the sound of Paul's painful moaning and she lit a gas lamp that was on the bedside table.
"What on earth….." She gasped and saw him rubbing his eyes. "Paul, honey what's the matter? Your eyes hurt?" Bert questioned, placing her hands on his face and inspected his light brown colored eyes in the lamplight…..They're so dry….Sweetheart, I think I've got some eye drops." Bert whispered, rummaging around in one of their dressers. "Here,…." She sat down on the bed again and put a drop or two in each eye. "It's ok…..now don't blink, Paul." Bert said softly. "There….does that feel better?"
"Gah!" He remarked in pain and an eyedrop ran down his cheek, and he sat there blinking repeatedly.. "Do you need eyeglasses, Sweetie?" Bert asked him. Wiping his cheek with her handchercheif. "You poor Honey…." Bert gave him a tender kiss on the tip of his nose. She loved to do that, because it always made him start laughing!
"Have you ever heard of a cattle rancher wearing eyeglasses?!" Paul chuckled.
"I'll make an appointment for you tomorrow in my spare time…"
"No need….I'm fine, Bert…." He said and lay his head back down on the pillow. Bert blew out the lamp and snuggled up to him. "I think we should get you a pair,…if your eyes are hurting you…..Go get them checked out just in case….." Bert told him.
"I don't have trouble seeing….I'm fine…." Paul insisted and they fell back asleep again…..
"…Just lie back and enjoy…." Paul breathed as he kissed her before dawn the next morning.
"Mmmmm…morning Sweetheart." Bert mumbled, letting out a sigh and giggled a little when she whispered something into his ear, and gave him an Eskimo kiss... She could sure tease a fellow back when she dated other men before she met and married Paul. It all changed when she got with him though. She directed all her flirting and teasing and tempting to only him now. And she wouldn't change it for anything in the world!
Author's Notes: I didn't know much about the White House Biscuit Company before but did a bit of research and found what little information I shared here. I also just used my imagination on how things were run there in the 1930's. I assume they did a lot by hand. Kneading, cutting, packaging, Etc, etc.
The interactions of Eddie and Helen are inspirations from their letters they shared when he was in the C.C.C. from 1933-1934 I believe. Before they were married. He sometimes called her my little Chubby Darling, Aviado Babe, Dushka, Sweetness…..things like that. She indeed called him little peanut (I think there's a funny reason why but IDK know for sure) and taunted him about wearing a size 18 shirt, Etc., Etc., Etc.
I do not know much about Paul and Bert and their marriage and their background, so I just used my imagination. I saw one picture of Paul Bardrick one time,…other than his wedding photo from 1937. He was tall, looked like he was very swarthy. Perhaps dark eyes and dark hair, tan complexion. Very good looking man! He was indeed 3 years or so younger than his wife, and according to their wedding photo, perhaps an inch or so shorter than her.
I actually had a Filipino coworker ask me if I would ever date a Filipino. I said I didn't know and then he proceeded to tell me they make good husbands and lovers…..I couldn't help but smile and laugh a little….because I do want that type of guy (Yes, I take after the Walbrun side too! Lol! I just want to save it all for when someday I marry the right man….) But it sure shocked me too! I'm not sure about a Filipino though….religion and custom issues, language barrier…..no thanks….no offence, sometimes it works for some people….but anyway, I sort of took inspiration from that,….(and I'm steering clear of that coworker.) Someone told me once something similar about Paul Bardrick but I wasn't gonna add that in with exact words! Lol. And no, Paul was not Filipino. He was Caucasian. Real tan from working on his cattle ranch of course..
The thing about Paul's eyes, I took inspiration from a 1980 letter Bert had written, saying Paul had had a certain eye surgery but his eyes were still very sore. So I thought maybe he had some kind of eye condition and had to wear glasses? So I put that in, although he's a young man here…..but it very well could have been the start of something….
Eddie Walbrun indeed adored his mother in law and she indeed loved him like her own son Freddie. It was said that Fred liked Eddie, seldom showed it "but that's just his way." Also the bit of Frances telling him hello and to "be a good little onion" is true. I laugh every time I hear that. It's too cute and quirky.
I found out the little info about Paul's family on the Find a Grave Website. It listed his siblings (I mentioned them here) and his parents, John Edward Bardrick and his mother Cora Edith Middleswart Bardrick. Lucy May Bardrick Hollingshead indeed past away in 1927 at the age of 21. It does not mention why. (Perhaps childbirth? Yet, it doesn't list them having any children. Some people who do these Find a Grave things don't know much about the person, and just list the basics, I assume) She was married to a Carroll Marsene Hollingshead and according to a photo of his gravestone, he is buried with a woman named Juanieta, so he obviously remarried. However, Lucy May is the only one on the Find a Grave thing listed as his spouse. Lucy May has her own gravestone.
Frances won a $1 prize for her recipes posted in the old Telegraph Herald newspaper, I believe. The cake was actually a prune cake and a lady at the nursing home where I work at said it was like a spice cake with white frosting and you'd make it for church functions and showers and things like that. She said it was very good. A lot of women made it in those days. I thought, prunes are just dried plums…..I like plums! Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
Eddie Graff was indeed in love with my great grandma Helen. Even till his dying day, it seemed. At Helen's funeral, my mother saw Eddie Graff walk up to the casket, although she didn't know who it was at first. Eddie G. gazed at her, and said something like, "She was a beautiful woman….or, a most beautiful woman…." And mom thought he was going to lean in the casket and kiss her! Great grandma Helen was quite a giving person and would feed a bum or hobo or man down on his luck, so she seemed like one sweet, amazing lady. More beautiful than just her looks. She was quite pretty in her younger days.
Being the wise man my great great grandfather Fred was, I can just picture him and Eddie G. having a man to man talk like that. If Fred sensed there was a problem, he would have.
I love how my great grandpa Eddie mentioned his dreaming of married life in one of his letters "What could be sweeter than thinking of you, Babe? One thing. Hearing a whistle blow, grabbing hat's and coats, rushing home, throwing open the door, giving the wife a big hug & kiss, washing up & sitting down at the table & giving her another kiss & the check, helping with the dishes, going to a place of entertainment & then to bed. Boy! What a thought. Wouldn't it be lovely if I had a steady job? It's too good to be true, but we won't give up without a fight..."
Gosh, I guess I'm a dreamer just like my great grandpa. Makes for good writing I guess.
