Read Online The Towers of Love by Stephen; Birmingham - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t that,” he said. “I just hadn’t quite made up my mind what I was going to do.”
    â€œOh, you probably wanted to take some nice trip by yourself, or go off to some place like Boca Grande with Anne. The last thing in the world, I’m sure, that you wanted to do was to come up here and spend a few days with your poor old dowager mother.”
    â€œIt’s always good to be home, Sandy,” he said. “Really.”
    â€œOh good. Then don’t be solemn. Tell me about your walk.”
    â€œWe had a nice walk.”
    â€œWhere did you walk to?”
    â€œDown to the old field in back—the one we used to call the Enchanted Valley. And to the brook.”
    â€œThe Enchanted Valley . How charming. I’d forgotten we ever called it that. Who named it that, I wonder?”
    â€œIt was Dad,” he said.
    â€œOh, was it? Was it really? How surprising. That must have been in his extreme youth, mustn’t it?”
    â€œYes, I guess it was—in his extreme youth, Sandy.”
    â€œYou’re being solemn still! Hurry , Pappy.”
    â€œA minute, miss.” He was slowly turning bottles in their nest of ice.
    â€œWell, I’m glad you had a nice walk. I’m glad you had a visit with Edrita.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou’re not still fond of Edrita, of course. Are you?”
    He looked at her down the length of the table.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Oh, you mean Pappy? My God, don’t you know that Pappy can’t understand a word we’re saying? Can you, Pappy darling? Pappy, what are we talking about?”
    â€œPardon, miss?”
    â€œYou see? He doesn’t understand a word. Pappy only understands me when I talk a certain way, don’t you, Pappy?”
    Nodding, Pappy said, “Yes, miss.”
    Pappy and his wife Maria, who was the cook, had been in the house for nearly twenty years. And by now, Hugh supposed, they did understand his mother, when she spoke to them a certain way, and possibly even loved her. Pappy and Maria were another of the changeless things about the house.
    â€œWell,” she said, “you’re not, are you?”
    Though he knew what she meant, he said, “Not what?”
    â€œNot still fond of Edrita.”
    â€œI’ve always liked Edrita.”
    â€œOh, of course you’ve always liked her, darling. I don’t mean that. I mean fond of her. That way.”
    â€œNo, I don’t think I am,” he said.
    â€œWell, forgive me for asking, but when I saw you together this afternoon I couldn’t help, you know, wondering, and remembering.”
    â€œSure,” he said. “Sure, Sandy.” He spooned his soup, concentrated on it.
    â€œYou were wise about that,” she said. “Wise about her. She was never for you, and you were very wise to realise it when you did. You’ve always done the wise thing. I’m proud of you for that.”
    â€œThanks,” he said.
    â€œAnne was the right one for you, the perfect one. You were wise to see how right Anne was.”
    â€œYes.”
    Behind him, with a soft pop, he heard the first champagne bottle being opened. “Oh, goody!” his mother said.
    Then she said, “Oh, I hope you don’t think it was too dreadful of me to tell you not to bring Anne. It’s just that you and I have always been able to talk so well together, just by ourselves. So I was being selfish. I wanted it to be so that your father and I could have you all to ourselves for a little while.”
    â€œYes,” he said. “Well, Anne’s pretty busy right now.”
    â€œI know. She’s always so busy with everything. How I admire her. How I wish I had her energy.”
    â€œYes,” he said.
    Pappy stood beside him now and was filling his champagne glass. Then he moved down the table and filled his mother’s glass with ginger beer.
    She lifted her brimming glass. “To you,” she