32
(Normal Pov)
Violet drove home with a calm look on her face. She herself was calm as she returned home. Her husband was sitting calmly in his rocking chair on the front porch, cigar in his mouth and smoke blew out from between his parted lips. As she pulled in to the driveway she got out and smiled warmly at her husband who smiled back. Dohn grinned and the noticed his daughter was not with his wife.
"Where's Eula?" he asked. Violet smiled and pranced her way up the steps.
"At the Bondurant's bar, I let her stay to help move some things around." she replied. He grumbled.
"You know. I don't like Eula getting all cozy with those men. You know there's talk that one of them has a crush on her. One of the younger boys, Forrest." he said. Violet grinned at her husband and nodded moving between his legs sitting on his lap.
"And if the rumors are true? Eula's an adult now. She'll be nineteen next month and we'll have to have a little party for her. It's time for her to be courted anyways." she explained. Dohn looked his lovely wife up and down and new her well enough to notice she was playing a cunning game.
"What do you know?" he asked. Violet took her time and gently stroked Dohn's cheek and sighed.
"She's in love, Dohn. In love with a Bondurant." she said. Dohn paused in his rocking movements of his chair and chewed on his cigar for a second before standing up brushing his wife off and moving inside. Violet knew his reaction and followed after him.
"No. Not Eula. She's too young and in love with a white man." he said with disdain and paced around the room. Violent closed the door and nodded.
"Honey, you can either deny this or pick it up and run with it. They are in secret and no one knows except you, me, and the other Bondurant boys. You are her father-"
"That's right I am her father and she don't need to be hanging around those boys, Violet. What if someone finds out?" he asked with worry in his thick tone. Violet remained calm ignoring the fact he interrupted her.
"You know as well as I do that it is common for a white man to be with a black female. As long as it's not a white woman and black male society will do nothing but scorn them…and Eula is already scorned enough because she is black. She is safe with Forrest Bondurant. Don't turn your back on her now, Dohn she needs you and Ray and Arliss." she explained. Dohn shook his head.
"The boys cannot know about this. We have to just keep it quiet." he said. Violet smiled knowing that her husband had accepted her daughter's choice. She moved over and wrapped her arms around her husband's waist.
"Nothing bad will become of this as long as we play it safe." she said. Dohn wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on her head. For now she would keep quiet about the wedding and Eula's pregnancy, but it would have to be before her birthday because soon her daughter would show signs of her grandchild.
(Eula's Pov)
When Bertha arrived she looked so excited. I liked her a lot and she was like my best friend. She hugged me and told me how happy she was for me.
"Well what do you all plan to do for the wedding?" she asked. Forrest was calmly sweeping the floors of the bar but I could tell he was a bit excited for he was shaking a bit. I ran my fingers through my hair.
"Well it will be in secret. I am inviting you, Jack, and Howard. My mother will be there and that's it." I replied. Bertha bit her lip in thought and looked down then up.
"Why not get married somewhere in the forest? I know this wonderful field that grows these beautiful flowers and I can help you find a wedding dress and decorate the area so it looks somewhat nice." she said. I smiled and Jack held her close.
"That sounds lovely. We need a date now." I replied and looked at Forrest who was still sweeping and when he felt his eyes on me he stopped and lifted his head and looked at me.
"What?" he asked. I chuckled.
"When would you like to get married?" I asked. He blinked and looked around at Bertha and Jack and then at me.
"Uh. Whenever you'd like?" he asked as if making sure not to say anything wrong. I shook my head and looked at Bertha.
"Well it can be in a month. My birthday will be coming soon. So we can get married the day after my birthday, May 23th." I told. Bertha grinned.
"Wonderful. It'll be hot and just right." she said. Jack looked at Forrest.
"Hey Forrest am I going to be your best man?" he asked. Forrest huffed.
"Maybe if you're good." he mumbled and Jack frowned but Bertha kissed him and he smiled and kissed her back. Howard returned with a smile and he looked around.
"Tonight we'll have a full bar." he said. I huffed.
"Oh great now I have to come in and work." I replied playfully. Forrest placed his broom down.
"Oh no you're not. You can't work with your condition." he said. I looked at him and chuckled.
"Forrest I'm not even showing yet." I replied and he crossed his arms.
"So? I don't need you to tire yourself out and pass out and stress out the baby." he told. I arched a brow.
"Forrest the baby isn't even formed yet." I told. He shifted now looking uncomfortable at the conversation.
"Well still. Sunday nights are your day off. We'll handle things here." he said. Howard moved beside the bar.
"Yeah Eula, I told everyone it was Jack's birthday and so it'll be like those bachelor parties or something for Forrest." he said. Forrest arched a brow.
"I don't need no bachelor party." he said already looking disturbed at the thought. Jack smirked.
"Oh come on it'll be fun." he said. I heard a honking outside and I looked up knowing it was mom, but she was here early. I looked at everyone.
"I have to go. I'll see you all tomorrow." I said. Bertha smiled and hugged me.
"Bye Eula. Maybe I can come over and we can secretly talk about baby names and wedding plans." she said in a soft tone and I smiled and nodded.
"Alright." I replied and looked at Forrest to see him already moving up to me and he took my hips in his hand and kissed me softly.
"Bye." he said softly. I smiled against his lips.
"Bye." I replied and moved out of the bar only to see it was not my mother who came to get me…but my father.