Falling for Your Madness (25 page)

“Yes. Good idea. Let’s sit. Do you want tea?”

“No, thank you.” We chose two seats at an empty gate. Now, how would I say this?

“David? Do you still have the paper and the pencil?”

“Always.”

And I waited.

I looked in those thoughtful, sensitive brown eyes and really saw him. He was waiting. He had given me power. He wanted me to be in control. He was one of the bravest men I had ever known.

“Ask me what I see.”

He brushed the hair away from my face. “Laura, love of my life, what do you see?”

What did I see? I saw a tall, dignified educator who was fastidious about his clothing. I saw an interesting, intelligent reader who challenged me to fill up on beautiful words. I saw a knight who wore his rules like armor against pain. I saw a troubled, emotional boy who clung to ancient tales for guidance. I saw a faithful, caring son who feared disappointing his father. I saw a young man who disciplined himself in every area of his life so that his behavior was under control. I saw a man who wrestled almost daily with a heavy destiny, and I still wasn’t sure if it was real or imagined. I saw a hidden mad man who knew his limitations and feared a future darkness, yet bore it bravely. I saw my true love who would happily discard his denomination, his precious family heirloom, his wardrobe choices, and his dream job to please me. I saw a man who didn’t even hesitate when sacrificing for me, and yet I feared sacrificing for him. I saw a warrior who wielded words so powerfully and precisely that he could speak a truth into my life,
lady,
and compel me to greatness. I saw a man whom my family loved and respected. I saw a man who took responsibility and apologized. I saw a tender father of daughters; I saw an inspiring father of sons. I saw my defender. I saw my confidant. I saw leadership. I saw humility. I saw my sweetheart. I saw my friend. I saw a man whom I could proudly stand next to the rest of my life and cheer on, no matter what his crazy vision might be.

I saw someone who deserved the only reward I had to give.

I drew a caricature of David complete with beard, sunglasses, and hair in his eyes. Then I drew on him a long robe, with ermine trim. I put a scepter in his hand. I put a jeweled crown on his head. I made sure that those size 16 and a half Italian shoes were sticking out at the bottom.

Next to him, I drew myself. I drew my wavy hair cascading down my back. I drew my arms holding a bouquet of flowers. I drew a long dress. I drew a veil.

David lost his patience and tried to see what it was. “Oh, Laura.” He put his arm around me and pulled me into him.

“Hold on. I’m not done.”

At the top I wrote in cursive:
Dr. and Mrs. David Julius Arthur Bowles.

At the bottom I wrote:
Marry me as soon as possible.

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Boston Tea Party Tea Shop

1477 Beacon Street

Brookline, Massachusetts

3:23 p.m.

“Can we cancel tea today?” David kissed me hello. He led me to the car. “Would you go with me instead to tell Father our big news? I’ve invited us both over for an early supper.” He looked exhausted. Neither of us had fully recovered from our trip, and we had stayed up late last night at my place talking, making our plans. Yet, we were never alone. Merle was with us, and I did find it a little creepy.

David opened the car door for me, and I got in. On the seat was a plastic box: a gardenia corsage. “This is beautiful.” Then it occurred to me that no matter what our financial future held, I should have David plan for a flower budget.

“I thought it was perfect for a bride.” He settled in and fastened his seat belt. He took my hand. “Laura, we’re not just going to Beverly to make our announcements. I’m going to confess to him what I’ve done. I have to tell him everything.”

“You can do this. I believe in you.” I squeezed his hand.

“I am taking great comfort in this one thing.” David wrapped his arm around me as Merle drove the Crown Vic out of Brookline and through Brighton. “Regardless of what Father thinks about what I’ve done, you are still my future bride. How could that not please him?”

“He’s proud of you. He loves you.”

“I have been given everything I ever wanted in the last week. Now I may lose him. Darling, it could be that in a matter of hours, I’ll lose my fortune too. You need to be aware of that.”

I
had
thought of that. “I fell in love with an ordinary college professor. An eccentric gentleman who is tall, funny, and treats me like a queen. What else could I want?” I kissed him. “You never did have to give the sword to William on my account. I would have taken you regardless. Madness and everything.”

David sighed a big sigh. He brushed the hair off my face. I brushed his out of his eyes. “I didn’t just do it for you. I did it for me. I did it for England. I did it for our children, especially our boys.” David was still worried. It was as if David feared that Dr. Bowles would release him. David had recovered from the loss of all of his past sweethearts, except me.

But he had only one father.

Monday, November 26, 2012

158 Orange Street

Beverly, Massachusetts

7:34 p.m.

“Now, David, the next time you visit, give me enough warning and I’ll serve you something more hearty than chicken soup from a can.” Aunt Honoria stood to clear the table. David and his father stood when she did.

David patted her arm. “It was fine, Aunt Honoria. We didn’t come here for a fancy meal. Please, don’t clear anything just yet. I need to speak to you and Father.” David motioned for her to sit. When she sat, the men did too. David was seated between Dr. Bowles and me. I squeezed my fiancé’s hand. I hoped he heard my message.
You can do this. I believe in you.

David looked at me for just a second. “Thank you.”

David cleared his throat. “Father, I’ve done something. I don’t expect you to understand why I did it, but I did it, and it cannot be undone.” David swallowed, and I saw his Adam’s apple bob. He moved his chair closer to his father and looked him in the eye. “I gave Excalibur to Prince William. Our sword has been returned to England.”

“What’s this? You did what?” Dr. Bowles fiddled with the spoon on the table.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Dr. Bowles understood what was going on. I was frustrated for David.

David, though, showed great patience. He took his father’s hand. “Father, I gave Excalibur to Prince William. I no longer have it. It’s gone. It’s gone for good.”

“You gave him our sword?” Dr. Bowles sat up straight.

“Yes. It needed to be done.”

“Oh,” Dr. Bowles frowned. “It’s gone then?”

“Gone.”

“Will Charles get his mitts on it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Wait!” Aunt Honoria gasped. “We saw this on television. Julius, don’t you remember? You said it was our sword. You recognized it. I thought it was impossible. What would our sword be doing with all those ragamuffins and gadabouts? Was that you?” She gasped again. “David! Tell me it wasn’t you in that hideous costume! What a fright you were!”

“That was me. And if you can believe it, I smelled worse than I looked.”

Then Dr. Bowles seemed to understand. “Yes! It
was
you! Boy! You did it!” Dr. Bowles stood and clapped his hands. “You did it! I never thought I’d see the day! But it’s gone! We should celebrate! What do we have for pudding, Honoria?”

“You’re happy it’s gone?” David was surprised.

“We’ve been trying to decide what to do with that oversized butter knife for years. And every time we set out to get rid of it, something happened. But not now.” Dr. Bowles was delighted.

“Then you’re not disappointed?”

“Disappointed? In you? Never! You’re my son! And you’re the king, too, I might add. If you say we need to get rid of it, then we need to get rid of it. I trust you, Davey.” Dr. Bowles shook his hand, then a flash of madness sparked in his eyes. “David did it! You did it! Of course you did! You’re the smartest of all of us! And the bravest! And probably the most sensible! The only one of us crazy Bowles men who was actually worthy of being king just abdicated. How’s that for irony? Hah! Oh! What will happen now? You can go to Oxford! Davey! Call Oxford right away and tell them what you did!”

“They called me, Father! They’ve offered me a position! I start in January!”

Dr. Bowles clasped his hands for joy. “Huzzah! Oh my dear David! You’ll have to take me with you!” He pulled David to his feet, and they both embraced. Aunt Honoria was clapping her hands and wiping her eyes.

“Now, Father, I wasn’t planning on taking you with me. At least not right away. There’s someone … ”

Then Dr. Bowles took my hands. “Oh no! Poor Laura will miss you terribly! She’ll have to stay here and do her beautiful drawings and watch her American football. You poor girl …”

“No, Father, there’s even more good news. Laura’s agreed to marry me.”

Aunt Honoria squealed and burst into tears. “I knew it! I could tell by the way you looked at each other!” She squeezed me until I could barely breathe. “Oh! I must go get mother’s ring!” She left the dining room and nearly ran up the stairs. I was impressed by her speed, for such a grand lady.

“Laura, is this true? Come here, child. You’ve agreed to marry my boy?” Dr. Bowles held both my hands.

“I have.”

“You love him, then?”

“I do.”

“And you know all about our family’s nonsense?”

David put his arm around my shoulder. “She figured it out, Father. I didn’t have to tell her much.”

“That’s what you get for falling for a smart one, Davey! She’ll find out your secrets before you’re ready to tell them!” Dr. Bowles had a serious look about him. “What is it about my David that made you agree to such a thing?”

I could have said so much about my David: that he keeps his word, that he takes responsibility, that he is a gentleman. I only said this: “His accent.”

“Aha! I told you it would work, didn’t I, son?” Dr. Bowles winked at David.

David nodded. “You did, Father.”

Dr. Bowles wasn’t finished with me. “Does my David treat you well? I raised him to be a gentleman, and I won’t have him treat any lady badly.”

“He treats me very well. He is thoughtful and caring and brings me flowers every time I see him.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Not every man can be king, but there’s no excuse for men not to behave as gentlemen. Now, you’ll tell me if you have any complaints about him, won’t you?”

“I will.” I sat down so that they would too.

“Very good. I’m delighted.” Dr. Bowles sat down on one side of me, and David was on the other. “This is better than I could hope for. You are a treasure, my dear, and you make my son very happy. That’s all I expect out of my life, dear, except for maybe some grandchildren; you’ll get started on that right away, won’t you?”

David looked pale. “Father, one thing at a time, maybe …”

I took my fiancé’s hand. “How many do you want, Dr. Bowles?”

David looked at me in awe. “Laura, we haven’t even discussed …”

I wasn’t quite sure how to make a look of madness show up in my eyes, but I was trying. “David, aren’t you up for another adventure?”

“I want six! Six grandchildren! And David, all the boys must be as tall and as smart and as brave as you. And Laura! The girls should have your beauty and your talent, and you’ll teach them all to make drawings of bulldogs.”

“Six!?” David choked. “Laura!”

“You’ll get me a proper English nanny, right?” I winked at him.

David smiled. “Anything you say, dear lady.”

Aunt Honoria returned. She had a bottle of champagne and four glasses on a tray. “This is such a happy day!” She couldn’t pour the champagne, as she was crying and wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. “Here, David, you’ll need this.” She took a small black box out of her skirt pocket and gave it to David.

I thought for sure he would give the ring now. We were engaged after all.

Instead, David put it in his jacket pocket. “Is there something wrong?” His eyes had that crazy look about them. He knew what I was thinking. I usually didn’t mind the looks of madness, but I had trouble with this one. It was keeping me from a diamond I’d heard was spectacular.

“May I see it?” Surely he would defer to the lady.

“Oh no,” David handed me a glass of champagne. “Not yet. I haven’t spoken to your father.”

Friday, December 21, 2012

332 Babcock Street

Brookline, Massachusetts

10:00 p.m.

I put my Christmas gifts to David on the coffee table and sat on the couch. He sat on the other end.