A Better Idea
Chapter Six
In the morning, Ennis and Jack went downstairs to find Claire Twist just coming out of her bedroom.
"Good morning!" Mrs. Twist greeted them both cheerfully. "What a beautiful day we've got goin' on here." Claire kissed Jack and then walked over to Ennis. "May I?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'm?" unsure of her intentions, Ennis gave her the lead.
Jack's mom took Ennis' face in her two hands and kissed his cheek, then patted his shoulders in such a way that it was almost a hug.
Ennis was so pleased by this, he just beamed. "Now I know where Jack gets it" he thought.
Due to the long previous day, each had slept a little later than usual, so they decided among themselves to have a simple breakfast of cold cereal, fruit and some leftover corn muffins before beginning their day's errands and chores.
All three pitched in, getting the table set, and the food prepared. Jack pointed Ennis in the right direction for bowls and plates. In no time, they were around the table ready to eat.
Mrs. Twist extended her left hand to her son and her right hand to Ennis. The three held hands and bowed their heads. Claire began in a clear, firm voice, "Dear Lord, we thank you for the food we are about to receive, may it nourish our bodies as you intended. We especially thank you, Lord, for bringing Ennis Del Mar into our home to help us in our time of worry. We ask you Lord, to look after John in his time of sickness, bless him Oh Lord, and restore him to health, if that is your will. Bless all our families and our loved ones, near and far." Jack and Ennis murmured "Amen."
The coffee had finished perking while they prayed, so Claire immediately stood to fetch the pot to the dinner table. Turning to take the first step back into her dining room, her heart caught in her throat and she paused, coffee pot upraised.
"I've waited twenty long years to see this day come." she said sincerely. Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar sat just as she had left them, fingers interlaced on the table, smiling into each other's face, sun glinting off their heads, one so blond, one so dark. They were appreciating this new experience, and had lost touch with the world outside their eyes.
"Excuse me, ma'm?" said Ennis.
"Twenty years I've waited to see my boy this happy, and for Ennis Del Mar to have his boots under our dinner table." She said, pouring their coffee cups full.
Dumbstruck, Ennis spoke "You've known about me, about us, all this time?"
"Since you left each other in 1963, and Jack came home and fell apart in my arms. Yes, young man, I've known about you all these years."
There was a brief quiet, a stunned silence in the room.
"The thing I never knew, and never could know, was whether you loved my boy Jack, here, as he loved you. Until now. "
Jack tried to stem the tide of her words because it was just too much. It was too sad, and it was too happy.
"Oh, mama …" Jack began.
"Wait Jack, your mother deserves an answer, and so do you. Yes, ma'm, I have to say that I've loved Jack all these twenty years, same as he's loved me. But I was always afraid to say it, or show it, or live it. He was the brave one. I can see now where he gets it."
"No, Ennis" explained Mrs. Twist, "Do not give me the credit. You see dear, and Jack will bear me out, I have never been a person to speak up about these private thoughts. It's only been in this past week with my husband struck with a sudden illness, where we almost lost him, that I have realized how quickly your life and those you hold most in your heart, can be snatched from you in a second. I've learned that we need to appreciate those most dear to us, and let'em know how precious they are, before it's too late.
Ennis added hesitantly, "I want to live free to love your son, ma'm to have us a life of our own, like regular people expect. But I am not a brave person when it comes to the safety of my man here. I'm still afraid. That hasn't changed."
Three pairs of eyes filled with tears, but not one drop rolled down a cheek.
Ennis said, "Twist, I'm gonna need my hand back now, if I'm gonna eat my breakfast."
Jack and Ennis were giddy with joy over being able to show their feelings in front of another person. It's a whole new world, thought Ennis. Or at least, I hope it's beginning to be a new world.
The brief meal over, Jack said he would call the hospital for an update on his dad's condition this morning, and then call Uncle Walter about that new hydraflex connector he wanted.
Ennis stayed to clear the table and help with the dishes. Mrs. Twist let him help clear, but refused his offer to dry the dishes, "I like 'em air dried" she said. "Besides, we only have a couple, Ennis."
"You got a broom, I'll sweep up after us in here." Said Ennis, and this she allowed.
Ennis just wanted to stay near to her. He couldn't believe he was sharing chores with Jack's mother. He was eager to please her.
There was another reason Ennis wanted to stay near Mrs. Twist; he was dying of curiosity about somethin' she had said. Ennis looked soulfully at Jack's mother and asked, "He really came back here and fell apart?"
Nodding, she said, "Yes, he sure did. He stayed in bed for days, cried, wouldn't eat. We had to tell his daddy he had the flu. I'm the one sent him to Texas to rodeo, He had give up."
Ennis described his own bout of despair and longing, and said, "But I didn't have no lovely mom to give me a boot in the .. uh … backside."
Claire turned from the sink, both hands sudsy and wet. She put her arms around Ennis Del Mar, and consoled him, "Well, you do now, son. Whatever you two work out or don't. You have a mom now." Ennis held on for dear life, and hoped he wasn't cracking her ribs.
Jack walked back into the dining room in time to catch this, and he said "Come on, you two, you're killing me here." And he walked over and put his arms around two of the people he loved most in the world.
" Any new word from the hospital, Jack?" asked his mother.
"Just that dad had a good night, and he was already in the Physical Therapy room getting his workout when I called." Jack informed those waiting to hear. "Looks like he may be tired or sleeping when we get there, but he should be alert around lunch time, mama. You will still get a chance to help him eat lunch and talk to him awhile. We can stay as long as you like, did you pack the book you were reading last night? What else should I gather for you that you might need?"
"Oh," said Jack, "Uncle Walter said he and Aunt Iris are going up today too, but he wasn't sure what time. He said Roger and Kenneth may come over here and help Ennis awhile till they have to go in to the plant. How about that? I thought that was more than decent of them, don't you?"
They decided to take Jack's daddys' truck today, it had been sitting idle for several days and could use a good run. Soon they were packed and ready to go, with Ennis standing on the porch to see them off.
"You sure you got everything you need, Cowboy?" asked Jack.
Ennis' eyes crinkled in a wide smile; he just said, "you bet."
"Well, you need anything, you got the number for over at Uncle Walter's place and they'll know or it ain't worth needin'. " Jack knew that was going to be no problem, because as soon as he checked on his dad, he was going to call back here to talk to Ennis privately, while his mother sat with his daddy.
"Oh, Ennis, there's a phone in the barn. Did you see where it was? Right up by the front stall? Anybody calls, I'd appreciate you getting it, and takin' a message. Awwright?"
"Sure enough, pardner, guess I can handle that. Anythin' else I need to know?" inquired Ennis, teasingly.
Finally, they were off, Ennis was alone, and he could start working off the items on his list. "Whew, what a day he thought! It ain't even 9:30 in the mornin' and I'm worn out. All this talkin' 'bout feelin's could wipe a person out, that's for sure." Smiling to himself, Ennis headed out to the barn.
End of Chapter 6