Chapter 10

We were third in line to take off from the Nashville airport. I felt more pressure than when I shorted most of my trust during my steroid period. It was between Karen and Pris; really it was did I want to lose Pris. Karen wasn't going anywhere. So the question was 'Was I sure that Pris was the one?' I put the lavaliere I had given Karen in my pocket. I rubbed the fine chain of lavaliere from Eunice between my fingers.

We moved to the active and started our takeoff roll. We took off, and the First National pilot banked the plane to the south. I looked at Thornton.

He said, "I can't help. I knew Eunice was the one when I was in Avondale Elementary."

It's lavaliered for heaven's sake. It's less than wearing a class ring in high school.

I felt it was time I decided what was most important and that meant a number of changes. When I thought of Pris I smiled. I was ready to settle down if Pris would have me and our relationship developed like I thought it would.

To the pilot I said, "Oxford, please."

I held up the lavaliere toward Thornton "Are you sure Eunice won't mind?"

Thornton said, "She thinks you should throw away any lavaliere you get back. I'm sure she has another one. She thought she lost one once, and I got her another. Then she found the first one."

I said, "Pris may not accept it."

He said, "It's against the laws of nature for a Kappa to turn down a DKE lavaliere."

I thought of what I needed to say all the way and failed miserably. I was so uncool. Pris had to have decided she wanted me. I knew it wasn't going to be because I was a smooth talker.

We landed at the Oxford-University airport. I was anxious to see her.

The pilot gave me his card. "I'll fly Mr. Canter to Birmingham and wait there for your call. I can be here in less than an hour."

I disembarked and saw Libby at the gate to the general aviation terminal. We hugged.

She said, "Good choice."

She drove to the Kappa house. There she handed me one red rose and a key. "Take her to our house. As soon as you leave, I'll go in and visit with friends. She needs to be back at ten-forty-five. Leave my car at the airport. I'll get it tomorrow."

I asked, "And if I want to stay over?"

Libby gave me a look that told me I wasn't very bright. She said, "It would be better if you flew back tomorrow in your plane. How are you going to get back tonight?"

I gave her the pilot's card. She said, "As soon as you leave, I'll call and tell him to be back here before eleven. You can take Pris, Beau and me to dinner tomorrow night as repayment."

I looked at her. She said, "You're getting lavaliered, not pinned or engaged. This is a big small step. You and Pris need to talk tonight. This is new to Pris."

I nodded.

"Of course, you WILL call Lib as soon as you drop Pris off."

I nodded.

"You look handsome. There's a split of champagne in the fridge and cheese. One glass for a lavaliere. You need to talk most of the time." She smiled.

I walked in the door at Kappa, went to the desk inside the door, and a pledge greeted me. "How may I help you?"

"Rob Jenkins for Pris McIver."

She walked up the stairs, and Pris came down with her.

I gave Pris the rose, and we went into the parlor.

She smiled and said, "I'm glad to see you. Thank you for the rose."

My coming wasn't a total surprise. Very clumsily, I said, "I have something for you."

I held up the lavaliere by the top of the chain. My hand shook a bit.

She grinned, "I accept. Would you put it on me?"

I smiled, "I'm not sure I can handle the clasp. Can I put it over your head?

She smiled and nodded. "Any way you can put it on will be fine."

I put it over her head and kissed her.

She pulled her hair out and put the chain under her hair.

"Would you like me to sign out? I have to be back at ten-forty-five."

I said, "I'd like that very much." Now, I was all smiles.

She signed out, and we walked to Libby's car.

"Libby's here?"

"She's waiting for us to leave. She's staying here at the house tonight." I said, "She thought their house would be a good place for us to talk."

I opened the car door for Pris and drove to the Lauder's house. When we went in, candles were burning and cheese was out.

She said, "You were pretty sure of yourself."

"I confess; Libby did this. She picked me up at the airport. I came to the Kappa House straight from the airport."

Libby had left a bud vase filled with water on the coffee table. I walked to the kitchen. I filled two flutes with champagne and brought them into the living room. We touched glasses.

I said, "I'm so happy."

She said, "Me too."

We kissed, and then kissed again. She asked, "You wanted to talk?"

"I'd rather do this, but I think we need to talk about some things."

She asked, "Like what this means to each of us?"

"I thought that would be a good thing to talk about. I'm not dating, or seeing, or anything else with anyone else, but I'm in law school. I don't expect the same of you."

She asked, "Do you want to go out with others?"

"No, not even a little bit."

Pris said, "So, it would be alright for me to as long as I didn't have sex with him?"

"I'd hope you would want to be more exclusive than that. What I would like to know is what you want?"

She asked, "What if I want to be very exclusive?"

I said, "I was thinking, maybe like a fraternity sweetheart. You go out and do things, but you don't have a relationship with anyone."

She asked, "Isn't that a bit risky? I could fall for someone."

"I would ask if you did, you'd tell me immediately."

She said, "I've waited long enough for someone that makes me feel like you do. I don't want to talk. I want you to kiss me, to touch me."

We kissed rather passionately.

She said, "Wow! I like that."

We kissed some more. She said, "I'm not experienced like you. Is that a problem?"

I said, "Not for me. We're not in a race." We kissed again.

I said, "I'd like to come back tomorrow night. I think Libby wants us to go out to dinner with them."

She asked, "Are you sure you don't want to go out with anyone else?"

"I'm very sure."

"Me either," she said.

"But..."

She said, "But nothing. I'm not giving you up for anyone else, anytime. That's my decision to make."

I said, "Sleep on it. I'll see you for supper tomorrow night."

We kissed more. She said, "I think you better take me back now."

I said, "It's not even nine."

She said, "I don't want to go back, but I'd better."

I drove her back to the Kappa House.

She asked, "Do you mind if I show you off a little?"

We walked into the house, and she signed in. I noticed she put the chain and lavaliere under her blouse.

She said, "I'm not supposed to show it until after we have a candle lighting. We sit in a darkened room and candles are passed. If you got lavaliered, you blow it out when the candle first comes to you, pinned the second time, and engaged the third time. Sisters drop a candle in the box when they get lavaliered, pinned or engaged."

"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening." I gave her a quick kiss and left.

I called Lib from the airport in Oxford. "I'm in Oxford, and Pris is wearing my lavaliere."

Lib said, "I'm happy for you, for both of you."

The First National plane arrived early. By ten o'clock, we were in the air. I was very keyed up when I got back home. I typed notes from the classes I missed that day. I hoped I had done the right thing with Pris.

Friday morning, I went to a required lecture. Before I went to the lecture, I put vegetables in the steamer and opened a jar of relish. I took cornbread from the breadbox and a piece of roast from the refrigerator. I added the roast to the steamer. I called Dorothy, Carolyn and my secretary at Jenkins. There were no problems that needed my immediate attention. Then I called Eunice and thanked her for the lavaliere. That reminded me, and I made a trip to my jewelry box. I looked forward to seeing Pris. I called Brooke and made an appointment to go see Will together.

By the time I finished the calls, it was time for the lecture. I left the lecture for the airport. On the way to the airport, I stopped at Dreamland and bought a box of ribs. At the airport, one of the ground crew asked, "On this miserable day, why do you look so happy?"

"I think it's going to be a really good weekend." I loaded the ribs and weekend clothes into the plane.

The sky was dark and cloudy, but the ceiling was high, well above minimums. By noon I was at the general aviation side of Eglin.

Brooke said, "Will's work release is in the final stages. Sergeant-Major Rodriquez is working to get you appointed as a special deputy US Marshall. That would allow Will to travel with you."

I said, "The sergeant-major talked with me about it. I have some news. I'm getting serious about Pris at Ole Miss, and I've had to reevaluate things a bit. I have to step back from the law firm and bank in New York. I don't know enough to do a good job. I need Will's advice on who can run them."

Brooke said, "Libby speaks mostly highly of Pris. I hope we can meet her."

I said, "We're only got lavaliered last night, but I would like for her to meet you, after you are settled at Summerdale."

Brooke asked, "Does she know Will is here?"

I said, "She knows and that's not a problem. It's a little soon yet for her to meet the family and Summerdale would be a better place than here. When you're settled at Summerdale, we can have a family gathering to celebrate. Just Will, your family, Pris and me."

Brooke said, "That sounds good. I hope you can get to know your niece and nephew better."

I said, "I'd like to give you and Will a little time alone. I can take them and Dorothy's children to Lauderdale for a weekend. Lib loves to have Freddie and Howard; I'm sure she would like your two also."

Brooke said, "My parents have offered to keep them anytime. The only problem is getting them to come back. Their grandparents spoil them rotten."

I said, "Dorothy has the same problem with Lib."

Brooke smiled, "Nice problems to have. I know we can't be like we were, but it's wonderful to have you back." She gave me a look of love.

We arrived at Eglin. Will, Brooke and I walked out to a table on the grounds of the facility.

Will said, "It shouldn't be long now. Summerdale and working with Brooke's father have been approved. A few custody and supervision issues remain. Are you willing to be a sworn Special Deputy Marshall?"

I said, "Not a problem, Colonel Mac and the sergeant-major had me fill out an application. I had a security clearance from working with Colonel Mac and the Signal Group at Barin. There's an unrelated problem I'd like to talk about."

Will asked, "Anything I can do to help?"

I said, "New York is more than I can handle. The bank and law firm aren't doing well, and I've tried all I know to do."

Will said, "Truth be known, it was more than I could handle. I've learned a few lessons. Strangely, I'll be able to work more closely with the law firm, even though I was disbarred, than at the bank. SEC rules won't let me be involved at all."

I asked, "Who should I get to run the bank and the firm?"

Will said, "Kenny Geel would be a good man for the bank. He left Wallingford before the trouble and wasn't implicated legally. He worked at W&R when it was in New York and worked with Jenkins. He's a good man, but was too conservative and rule bound for the Wallingford culture. I think he would fit perfectly, and he has good experience and understands innovation enough to get Jenkins back on track in the direction you would like to go."

I asked, "Would he be interested?"

Will nodded, "He thought the world of Grandfather. I think his reputation was hurt by what Wallingford did after he left. The last I heard he was struggling at his own small advisory firm in Philly."

I said, "I'll give him a call."

Will said, "Thanks for all you've done. I didn't deserve all the help you've been. I can't thank you enough and really appreciate that you took care of Brooke and the children."

We hugged and parted.

Brooke took me back to the plane and I flew to Fairhope. I wanted to be face-to-face when I told Karen I had lavaliered Pris. We met at her condo.

We went in and sat on the couch in the living room. Karen could tell something was up and that it probably wasn't good.

Very clumsily I said, "I've really enjoyed being with you these last few months, but I can't take it further."

Karen said, "You can't forgive me. I understand."

I said, "I've forgiven you, but I can't make the next step and don't think I ever will. It's not good for us to be in limbo. I'm not doing this well or saying it well. It's really hard for me."

Karen nodded. "Do you want me to go back to Ensley?"

I said, "The only thing that's changed is our level of personal involvement. I think it's time for us to move on. I hope you can continue here in Mobile, and I'll have Thornton title the condo to you. I'm sorry. You are free to get on with your life and find someone special. I expect you to call if you ever need help. I don't anticipate any problems at the Register or stations." We hugged and I left.

I hadn't handled telling Karen as well as I would have liked. It was difficult for me.

I preflighted the plane and thought of things I wanted to know about Pris. I landed at University-Oxford Airport a little before five. I arranged for hangar space on the weekends until June.

I took a taxi to Beau's house and put away my clothes. I walked to the Kappa House, where I checked in with the duty pledge at the desk by the door. "Rob Jenkins to see Pris McIver. I'll wait in the parlor." When the housemother came through, I stood and introduced myself.

In a few minutes, Libby came down. "Mr. Jenkins, funny to see you here."

"Mrs. Lauder, I'm surprised they allow young married women in the house. Aren't they afraid you'll corrupt these innocent women?"

Libby smiled and said, "I had an enjoyable time with Pris and my classmates. Have you been in long?"

"I got in about five. I arranged for hangar space. I dropped off some clothes and walked here from your house."

Libby said, "I'm going to pick up Beau at the airport. I'll meet you at the house."

Pris had a hanging bag and a small suitcase. I took her things to her car while she signed out. She had her hair in a ponytail and wore a khaki skirt and a white blouse.