well.”
“Are you and Father having trouble?”
“Oh, baby, these are night thoughts, not stuff to lay on my kid.”
“If something happened, would you marry someone else?”
“An heir to millions. Now look, you don’t have to sit around here keeping me company. Go to bed.”
But I did have to. I got a book, and we both stayed up till dawn.
Next day when I came downstairs, in the early afternoon, Mother was spread out on the oceanside porch. She said Father was at the bay. Then through the kitchen window I saw Zina walking in that direction. I let Blackheart come along, and we followed her. I was careful to keep dunes between us so if she turned around I could drop down. From behind the boathouse I watched her stand at the foot of the dock. Father in the water beside the Angela watched her too. After a while she walked out, stopping once as if to go back. He helped her into the water. I waited for a sign of intimacy, a kiss, a touch. But they stood apart, facing each other. Nothing else was in sight, no people, no boats moving in the bay. The sky was gray, and the seaweed gave off its damp, rotting smell.
Suddenly he slapped her. She put her hand to her cheek and examined it as if looking for blood. Then the most remark able thing—she kissed the palm of her hand. He turned away from her, and she waded toward shore. Blackheart raced past me and out onto the dock. Bending low and keeping the boathouse behind me, I hurried back to the house. In a little while Father showed up. He looked at me severely and said nothing. This was not the person I knew. Whatever else he did, my father didn’t hit people.
15
The Labor Day Party
THE LABOR DAY party was two days later.
One of its traditions was Father’s ferry service to and from town. This year we picked up Hillyer and Mr. Walton. We brought the Angela into the marina about noon. It was a brilliantly blue, gusty day. Mr. Walton was dressed for the occasion in Bermuda shorts, Topsiders, a nautical cap. He carried a small duffel bag printed with anchors. As usual, he apologized for his wife, the beautiful Elaine, who couldn’t make it.
In the open water Father asked him to bless the boat. Mr. Walton leaned over the gunnels to see the Angela’s name. “Dear Lord,” he said, “keep this proud boat, the Angela,shipshape, seaworthy, and snug. As she mounts the waves and embraces the wind, may she always ride high, reach port, and be ever eager to take to the sea once more.” We applauded.
A strong gust suddenly tipped the Angela far over. Mr. Walton gripped the rail with both hands.
“Don’t worry, padre,” Father said, “the Lord provides.”
Mr. Walton held on tight and said, “ ‘And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, “Lord, save me.” And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” ’ ”
“For faith shall make thee buoyant, is that the way it works, padre?”
“Yes indeed.” But he continued to hang on.
Father seemed strained and his good humor forced. As we approached the Point he asked Hillyer if he had changed his mind about love.
“Not yet, sir, but I could see how I might.”
“You’ve met Miss Right?”
“Yes, sir, in a way.”
“I trust she’s a virgin.”
“Hard to say, sir. I was thinking of Zina.”
I couldn’t believe Hillyer’s nerve.
Father looked quickly at me and then at Hillyer. “You think you could care for Zina,” he said.
“That’s about it, sir.”
“You find her attractive.”
“Powerfully attractive. But what would you say about the virgin aspect, sir?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, Hillyer.”
“No, sir, your guess would be better.”
“Why so?”
“My experience is with younger females, as you know, sir.”
“Well, Hillyer, I wouldn’t want to
“Are you and Father having trouble?”
“Oh, baby, these are night thoughts, not stuff to lay on my kid.”
“If something happened, would you marry someone else?”
“An heir to millions. Now look, you don’t have to sit around here keeping me company. Go to bed.”
But I did have to. I got a book, and we both stayed up till dawn.
Next day when I came downstairs, in the early afternoon, Mother was spread out on the oceanside porch. She said Father was at the bay. Then through the kitchen window I saw Zina walking in that direction. I let Blackheart come along, and we followed her. I was careful to keep dunes between us so if she turned around I could drop down. From behind the boathouse I watched her stand at the foot of the dock. Father in the water beside the Angela watched her too. After a while she walked out, stopping once as if to go back. He helped her into the water. I waited for a sign of intimacy, a kiss, a touch. But they stood apart, facing each other. Nothing else was in sight, no people, no boats moving in the bay. The sky was gray, and the seaweed gave off its damp, rotting smell.
Suddenly he slapped her. She put her hand to her cheek and examined it as if looking for blood. Then the most remark able thing—she kissed the palm of her hand. He turned away from her, and she waded toward shore. Blackheart raced past me and out onto the dock. Bending low and keeping the boathouse behind me, I hurried back to the house. In a little while Father showed up. He looked at me severely and said nothing. This was not the person I knew. Whatever else he did, my father didn’t hit people.
15
The Labor Day Party
THE LABOR DAY party was two days later.
One of its traditions was Father’s ferry service to and from town. This year we picked up Hillyer and Mr. Walton. We brought the Angela into the marina about noon. It was a brilliantly blue, gusty day. Mr. Walton was dressed for the occasion in Bermuda shorts, Topsiders, a nautical cap. He carried a small duffel bag printed with anchors. As usual, he apologized for his wife, the beautiful Elaine, who couldn’t make it.
In the open water Father asked him to bless the boat. Mr. Walton leaned over the gunnels to see the Angela’s name. “Dear Lord,” he said, “keep this proud boat, the Angela,shipshape, seaworthy, and snug. As she mounts the waves and embraces the wind, may she always ride high, reach port, and be ever eager to take to the sea once more.” We applauded.
A strong gust suddenly tipped the Angela far over. Mr. Walton gripped the rail with both hands.
“Don’t worry, padre,” Father said, “the Lord provides.”
Mr. Walton held on tight and said, “ ‘And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, “Lord, save me.” And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” ’ ”
“For faith shall make thee buoyant, is that the way it works, padre?”
“Yes indeed.” But he continued to hang on.
Father seemed strained and his good humor forced. As we approached the Point he asked Hillyer if he had changed his mind about love.
“Not yet, sir, but I could see how I might.”
“You’ve met Miss Right?”
“Yes, sir, in a way.”
“I trust she’s a virgin.”
“Hard to say, sir. I was thinking of Zina.”
I couldn’t believe Hillyer’s nerve.
Father looked quickly at me and then at Hillyer. “You think you could care for Zina,” he said.
“That’s about it, sir.”
“You find her attractive.”
“Powerfully attractive. But what would you say about the virgin aspect, sir?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, Hillyer.”
“No, sir, your guess would be better.”
“Why so?”
“My experience is with younger females, as you know, sir.”
“Well, Hillyer, I wouldn’t want to
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