Confessions to Mr. Roosevelt Page 14

  Ellen looked around, recognizing several faces in the crowd, including Ivy and Agatha seated near the front with their sons and daughters-in-law. She caught a glimpse of Iris Hewitt but had no clear view of the woman’s husband, who, according to Miss Jewell, sold insurance and liked to dabble in local politics. Ellen realized that after only a short time in Opal’s Grove, she wasn’t entirely an outsider.

  The city band was an assorted mix of old and young, male and female, and musical skills. The evening’s entertainment began with a labored rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” but the band charged through “Stars and Stripes Forever.” A polka, a waltz, and then a popular romantic tune followed. Despite the occasional squeak or offbeat of a drum, Ellen had to admit she was enjoying herself. Miss Jewell happily tapped a foot to the beat of each song.

  One musical number followed another. As the evening wound to a close, the conductor, who Miss Jewell explained was the high school music teacher, turned to the audience.

  “We’ve got a special treat for you tonight,” said the middle-aged man, his forehead shining with perspiration. “A few of our musicians have been working with one of the WPA workers who just came to town. When he’s not talking to the older folks, he’s playing a guitar and singing. So, here, with some of our band members, is Cowboy Joe.”

  The conductor stepped back as musicians moved to the front and Joe bounded onto the stage all smiles.

  Ellen felt her jaw drop. She leaned around Miss Jewell to see Audrey was just as surprised.

  “You didn’t know?”

  “No idea,” answered Audrey.

  Joe stepped close to the microphone, swinging his guitar into place. “We’re gonna play a couple of tunes you folks have been hearing on the radio,” he announced. With a nod to the musicians gathered around him, the group swung into a song about somebody being stranded on the highway of love. Ellen didn’t know the song, but she’d heard the next one, “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” several times on that radio program Miss Jewell liked so much. When the song finished, Ellen and Audrey cheered and applauded with the rest of the crowd. Joe really should be on the radio, Ellen thought.

  When Joe thanked the crowd and tried to leave the stage, people shouted for just one more song. Smiling sheepishly, he looked at the other musicians and nodded. At the first notes of a well-known hymn with a rousing melody, the crowd got to its feet. Some people sang along. Others simply clapped to the rhythm. When the song came to an end, several people approached the stage to shake Joe’s hand.

  “Well, I never expected that.” Ellen turned to Audrey, but she was gone, one of the many heading toward the bandshell.

  Miss Jewell stood, fanning herself with a hankie. “My goodness, that was exciting. I can’t thank you girls enough for bringing me along.”

  “I’m glad we didn’t miss it,” said Ellen, folding up the chairs. She stood on tiptoes searching for Audrey and had almost given up on finding her when she saw Audrey pushing back through the crowd with Joe in tow. Following in their wake was the professor, looking unhappy and overheated. While most men in the crowd were in their shirtsleeves, Ralph wore his shabby tweed jacket like a badge of the professor he used to be. Ellen wanted to throw up her hands. The man was hopeless.

  “Ellen!” Audrey gushed, breathless, pulling Joe by an arm. “Joe and his group are going on to the Hurley-Burley to perform. He wants us to come along.” Ralph hung back.

  Ellen looked past her roommate to a smiling Joe. “You were wonderful,” she said. “Miss Jewell thought so, too.” Ellen moved slightly to one side to include the woman in their group. “But I don’t know about the Hurley-Burley.” She gave Audrey a look, hoping she’d get the hint. It didn’t work.

  “Well, I’m going. Joe will give me a ride, or maybe Ralph.” She turned to the man as if just remembering he was there. “See ya later,” she said, turning to walk away with the two men.

  CHAPTER 17

  ELLEN AND JASON

  Miss Jewell didn’t utter a word until they were almost back at the boardinghouse. “I wish Audrey hadn’t gone off to that place,” she said at last, her good humor gone. “Something’s bound to happen that’ll end her up in trouble.”

  Ellen couldn’t have agreed more. She had no explanation for Audrey’s behavior. One minute, she was earnestly writing publishers about her book or sending letters to librarians. Then, she’d turn around and do something that might get her fired from this job and maybe ruin her chances for another.

  “I don’t know what goes through her head, Miss Jewell. I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed she gets home safely.”

  Jerusalem Jewell was silent. Ellen shared the woman’s displeasure. She wanted to get her hands on Audrey and give her a good shake. She turned down Miss Jewell’s street and slowed to park in front of the boardinghouse. Ellen drew in a breath when she realized she knew the car sitting just ahead at the curb. She’d recognize it anywhere, even with its Iowa license plate.

  “Who’s that sitting on my porch?” Miss Jewell asked as she climbed out of Ellen’s Packard. In the deepening twilight, only a silhouette of a man could be seen, sitting on the porch swing.

  “Jason Davis. He’s a friend from college,” Ellen explained as she joined her landlady on the sidewalk.

  Jason pushed himself out of the swing. Even in the dim light, Ellen could see the shock of dark hair that stubbornly fell across his forehead. She watched as he crossed the porch, his movements unhurried.

  She’d told herself that if she ever saw Jason again, she would be casually friendly. Bygones were just that, but that’s not how it felt, seeing him step off the porch.

  Miss Jewell huffed and raised an eyebrow. “Was he expected?”

  “No. I’m as surprised as you are.” Ellen tried to reassure her, but the woman was in no mood to be mollified.

  “First, it’s the Hurley-Burley, of all places,” she huffed. “Now, a gentleman caller. I’ve a good mind to speak to Iris Hewitt. I run a respectable boarding establishment.”

  The woman marched toward her house, arms swinging. Ellen followed behind her. Jason met them on the sidewalk halfway to the porch.

  Before Miss Jewell could say a word, Ellen was beside her. She stumbled through the introductions. “Miss Jewell, this is Jason Davis. Jason, Miss Jewell, owner of the boardinghouse.”

  Jason briefly took one of the woman’s hands, although she had not offered it.

  “Miss Jewell, it’s a pleasure. I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty of enjoying your porch swing, but I’m passing through town on business for my father and thought I’d stop to see Ellen. Your neighbor across the way said you went to the park for a concert, so I decided to wait. I hope you don’t mind.”

  The woman melted under his smile. Jason moved to her side, gently leading her up the porch steps and to her door.

  “Would you mind if Ellen and I sat out here for a little while? I don’t have much time to visit. I’m staying at the hotel downtown. I would have waited till morning to stop by, but I have to get an early start.”

  “Not at all.” The woman beamed at Jason. “You visit. I’ll just turn on the porch light and leave you two alone.”

  A moment after she was gone, the porch light flickered on in a yellow glow. Seconds later, lamps in the front room were switched on, spilling light across one end of the porch. Jason smiled at Ellen and whispered, “I guess that means no hankypanky.”

  Ellen shook her head. The man was irrepressible. She wanted to be angry at his sudden appearance, at least a little cross. He had some nerve just dropping back into her life. She turned toward the street. “I have to get the chairs out of the car.”

  He caught her hand, leading her into the shadows and the swing. “That can wait. C’mon, aren’t you a little glad to see me?”

  “Surprised.” She pulled her hand away and sat.

  Jason settled beside her, all nonchalance gone. “Look, I have to say this quick, or it won’t come out at all. Mile after mile in th
e car, I’ve gone over what I was going to say when I got here. Maybe I’m being a sap for showing up like this, but I’d like to try to set things right.”

  Ellen felt glued to the swing. Even if she wanted to follow Miss Jewell into the house, she couldn’t. It was like being at a movie that, no matter how awful, you had to stay for the ending.

  When Ellen didn’t move, Jason plunged ahead. “I’m on my way to Oklahoma. Dad’s thinking of buying a radio station there. We’ve got one in Iowa, and it’s doing well. As I’ve been learning, it’s not just about giving farmers useful information but also providing good all-round programming.” He stopped. “Sorry, I’m rambling. The thing is, Dad wants me to look at this station in Ponca City, and I had your address.”

  “From Nancy,” Ellen interrupted. “She wrote me.”

  He took a deep breath. “I thought since I had to drive through Kansas anyway, I’d swing by here.”

  Ellen smiled and cocked her head. “This is a long way from the Oklahoma line, but I appreciate you taking the time. It’s good to see an old friend.”

  He groaned. “Look, I’m sorry about the way things ended up with us. It’s just that . . .” He stopped, unconsciously pushing that unruly lock of hair back from his face. “Ah, hell, Ellen, I miss you. I can’t talk to anyone else the way I can with you. I never said you shouldn’t have a career. You’re the one that said it had to be either that or me.”

  Ellen started to snap that he hadn’t listened or tried to understand, but she stopped before the words were out.

  “Ellen, I owe you an apology. I took your talk about working too lightly. I didn’t begin to understand how you feel until I met two of the women who write for Dad’s publications. If there was a place for you on one of the papers, you’d have it.” He paused for a breath. “The point is, I’ve watched these women at work. I’ve gotten to know them a little. I see it’s not just a job to them. It’s important and satisfying. That’s what you want.”

  She felt a catch in her throat. It had taken a lot for Jason to say that. She wasn’t going to push for more. “Yes, it is something I want.” She shifted uncomfortably. “Tell me about your job.”

  Jason followed her lead in changing the subject. “I like the work fine, but some of the fellows who’ve been at the paper for a long time think I’m just there because my old man gave me a job. I’ve got to prove myself to them. It hasn’t been easy.” It was something he’d admit to Ellen but no one else.

  “I’m sure it will work out for you,” she answered. “Sooner or later, the skeptics will realize you’ve got a talent for the job.”

  Jason lightly touched her arm. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but enough about me. Tell me about this.” He flung out a hand, meant to take in the whole of Opal’s Grove.

  Ellen hesitated. She was tempted to talk about Mr. Calley and his newspaper contacts. She had such great hopes, but she would keep those close to her heart. There had been too many times she was sure something would come her way, only to be disappointed.

  “Tell me about this interview job.” He began to gently push the swing with one foot. The old ease of being together settled on them.

  “There isn’t enough time to tell you everything about the people I work with or the woman in charge.” Ellen smiled. “But you might get a kick out of knowing some folks have the idea President Roosevelt will see their interviews. And one or two, being lifelong Republicans, have complained about that.”

  Jason laughed with her as she told him about the man Ralph had interviewed.

  “There are two ladies in particular I’ve gotten to know,” Ellen continued. “To see them rocking on a front porch or handing out clothes in a church basement, you’d never guess what they’ve lived through. But they just get on with life. They’re smart and funny and always trying to help somebody. I hope I can be like that when I’m eighty.”

  “They sound great.” Jason leaned closer.

  “They’re special, and most of the people I’ve interviewed have been the sort you’d like to know. But not all.”

  She told him about Nettie and the train.

  “You were bound to run into somebody like that,” he reasoned. “As some people get older, they live more in the past. I remember this man down the street when I was a kid. He couldn’t remember what he ate for breakfast, but he could tell you every detail of his days in the Union army. All us kids would sit on the man’s porch and listen to him, just fascinated.”

  “I suppose Miss Vine is fascinating, but not in the way you’d want to spend much time with her.” Ellen stood. She didn’t want to waste her time with Jason discussing the woman.

  In the far distance, there was a flash of lightning.

  “Rain would sure be welcome,” said Jason.

  “I better get the lawn chairs.” Ellen got up and went down the front steps to the car. Jason followed.

  “Here, let me help,” he said as she opened the car trunk and grabbed for a chair. Jason reached around her. She felt his breath on her cheek.

  She scooted to the left, letting him remove the chairs. As he closed the trunk, she lifted one chair under an arm and indicated he could bring the others. She led him along the side of the house to the backyard. “Just put those under the arbor next to this one,” she said.

  Night had fallen. The moon was obscured by clouds scuttling in from the west. The vines covering the arbor filtered out the light shining from the kitchen.

  Jason stepped into the space. “Very cozy.”

  “At the end of the day, my roommate and I sit out here with Miss Jewell in the shade.” Ellen righted a chair, putting distance between herself and Jason. The arbor had suddenly become too cozy.

  “Where’s the roommate?” Jason set down the chairs he carried.

  Ellen shook her head. “At a beer joint out on the highway, and Miss Jewell is fit to be tied. I’m not too happy about it either. She could get fired. I could get fired just for knowing about it.”

  She took a step. “We better go back. I don’t want Miss Jewell to find us here. With the mood she’s in, she might send me and Audrey packing.”

  “Sure, whatever you say.” He reached for Ellen. She tried to step back, but he pulled her a step closer. “Just tell me this trip wasn’t wasted.”

  “I don’t know. You complicate things.”

  Jason ran a finger along Ellen’s cheek, stopping at the tip of her chin.

  Ellen knew he wanted to kiss her. When he hesitated, she acted for him. The peck on his cheek lingered before she stood back at arm’s length.

  “Well, that’s a start.” He gave her one of his devilish grins. “I guess that means you do want to see me again.”

  “Not at all,” she answered, skirting past him with a smile. She paused, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “It was the only way I could think of to get you out of the backyard.”

  “I guess that’s what I get for thinking I could sweep you off your feet.” He took her arm as they walked to the front. “Can I stop and see you when I head home in a week or so?”

  Ellen shook her head. “I honestly can’t decide if that’s a good idea. Just when I think things are going in the direction I want, you show up and I get confused.”

  He reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m coming back. You’re not quite rid of me.”

  With a brush of his lips against hers, he was gone. Ellen watched him drive away before walking back to the house. She found Miss Jewell in the front room, putting away some mending.

  “Seems like a nice young man,” she offered. “What line of work is he in?”

  “His father owns the Farm Land Newspaper Company. Jason works on one of the papers, but it sounds like he might be getting more involved in the company’s radio business.”

  Ellen could see her landlady was impressed. “It looks like it might rain. Want me to help close windows?”

  Miss Jewell said they’d worry about the windows when, and if, the rain came.

  “Okay, th
en. I’m going to sit out on the porch for a little while.”

  “You go right ahead. I’m heading to bed.” Miss Jewell stopped for a moment. “Tell Audrey I’m upset with her. She’s too impulsive. I had a teacher boarder like that once. She fell head over heels for a book salesman, and the next thing you know, she lost her job and was living in a home for unwed mothers.”

  Ellen worked to keep from laughing. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll tell her.”

  She flipped off the porch light as she returned to the porch. As she settled back on the swing, she wondered how she was ever going to get any sleep after Jason’s sudden appearance. She tried to sort out her feelings, but every rational reason she could think of for keeping Jason out of her life was countered by arguments for why he should stay.

  An older car pulled to the curb, interrupting her thoughts. Audrey reached through the open window to pull the door handle from the outside. She said something to the driver before stepping out of the vehicle.

  Ellen went to stand at the top of the porch steps. She said a prayer of thanks that Audrey didn’t look tipsy, but when she came close, Ellen smelled beer and cigarettes.

  “Waiting up for me?”

  “No, just sitting here thinking.” She walked back to the swing.

  A clap of thunder and a flash of lightning made both of them jump. “Maybe we’ll get some rain,” Audrey said hopefully.

  “Maybe.” Ellen began to rock the swing. “How was your evening?”

  Audrey plopped down on the top step. “Joe was great. The crowd loved him. We were having a wonderful time. I even got Ralph to dance with me a couple of times. Then, these two women got into a fight, pulling hair and throwing beer at each other. Of course, that got the men they were with started, and then somebody else threw a punch. I grabbed Ralph by that scruffy jacket he wears. I swear I’d like to burn that thing! Then, we hightailed it out of there.”

  “What happened to Joe?”

  “Oh, he’s fine. He and the band ran out through the kitchen when the fight started. He jumped in the car with us before the police got there.”