The Legacy by Howard Fast Page B

there’s not much else in the way in inflicting punishment — except to make it impossible for us to be friends. I think I love you, but that’s not enough, is it?”
    â€œI have no intention of inflicting punishment. I simply forbid it. I don’t want you to marry that woman.”
    Carson shook his head.
    â€œNothing more?”
    â€œI’m going to marry her, mother. That’s it.”
    And now, watching Lila embrace Jean Lavette, Carson admitted to himself that he knew his mother hardly at all.
    When Barbara informed her son that she intended to marry Carson Devron, his reaction consisted of a blank, stony silence, an inner withdrawal such as only a twelve-year-old son can achieve. He did not take to Carson. Carson tried mightily, with charm, gifts, and even to the extent of inviting himself onto the cutter. He was a good sailor and he bowed cheerfully to Sam as the captain of the craft — all to no good effect. Sam remained locked in himself.
    â€œIt’s nothing he does,” Carson said to Barbara afterwards. “It’s what he doesn’t do. I thought the boat might make a difference, but it only made it worse. There’s no way I can reach him.”
    â€œGive it time, please,” Barbara begged him. “He’s never had a father. His grandfather was someone he worshipped. If you had asked me, I would have said stay away from the boat. That was his and Dan Lavette’s domain.”
    When the wedding was finally scheduled, Sam announced that he would not come. “It has nothing to do with me,” he said flatly. Then they talked. It was the first time Barbara had ever talked openly and seriously with her son, holding nothing back, revealing her own fears and doubts.
    â€œI’m no good at living alone,” she said. “I’m forty-five years old and I’m frightened. I’ve always had you. But that comes to an end, and sooner than you might imagine.”
    â€œWhy does it come to an end?”
    â€œLet me try to tell you. It’s not something that’s easy to spell out. For your own good, your own health, and your own life, you and I must each of us stand on our own feet. I’ve always tried to have it that way. In a few years, you’ll be going to college, and after that — well, whatever you decide to do with your life. We can love each other, but heaven help us if we cling to each other.”
    â€œYou mean you don’t want me around?”
    â€œSammy, Sammy darling, that’s the last thing in the world that I mean. I do want you around. I want to look at you and embrace you and feed you. But I want you to be free, and in the same way, I must be free. Carson is not like your father, but no one can be like him and I can’t go back and become a young woman again. I found a good, decent man who loves me, and I’m lucky, very lucky, and that’s something I want you to understand.”
    â€œI’m trying to,” Sam said. “I’m trying.”
    â€œAnd you do understand that after the wedding, we’ll be going away for a few weeks, Carson and I. School will be over then. If you wish, you can spend the time at Higate.”
    Sam nodded.
    â€œDon’t be provoked with me, please, darling,” Barbara begged him.
    She told Carson about it afterward. “There’s nothing as closed, as unreachable as a boy his age. So it’s your decision. I won’t send him away to school again. I can’t. It was just too awful for him.”
    â€œWe’ll give it time. I’m not an ogre.”
    â€œHardly. You’re right. We’ll give it time.”
    â€œAnd the honeymoon?”
    â€œHe’ll stay at Higate. It’s the place he loves best, and we’ll only be gone for a month.”
    Adam Levy was president of Higate Winery. His father, Jake Levy, sixty years old now, still ran the sprawling farm in the Napa Valley and supervised the work at the winery;