Chapter 21
Jonathan
Carter, Lila Pennington, Mrs. Connolly, Dr. Young, and Mrs. Jennings were the
five judges for the dancing. There would only be one dance and the judges would
decide on first, second, and third. The small band struck up a tune and ten
couples whisked out onto the dance floor and began twirling to the music. Caleb
and Belle started off well; Caleb whirled Belle around gracefully. Joe and
Cassandra danced by at a fast pace. Belle noticed Davy and Danielle dancing in
a corner. To her surprise, they weren’t doing too badly. Danielle was
never a big dancer even though she knew how. Out of the corner of her eye,
Belle saw Paul and Lillian absolutely eating up the competition. They
were dancing around the outside, feet dashing back and forth, arms swaying, and
faces smiling.
“They’re
good,” Caleb breathed as he quickened their pace to try and match the O’Neal’s.
“Let’s catch up.”
Belle
agreed and the two took off after Paul and Lillian.
~~~
“We have
competition, Paul,” Lillian said, looking past Paul to see Belle and Caleb
eagerly dancing away.
Paul
glanced over his shoulder. “I think you’re right. Let’s step it up a
notch.”
~~~
“Oh boy,”
Caleb muttered watching Lillian and Paul fly across the floor.
“I never knew they could dance that
well,” Belle added, watching the O’Neals.
“Let’s
match them!”
“Caleb!”
“Aw, you
can try!”
“And trip
and fall in front of everyone?”
Caleb
sighed. “We can do it, come on.” Belle and Caleb started to pick up speed
until they were matching Lillian and Paul.
The applause was getting
louder. Caleb and Belle saw Lillian and Paul moving in sync. This
time they were dancing in a rocking motion. Their heads bobbed up and down
together. Caleb and Belle copied them again.
Paul looked over. “Copycats!”
he boomed with a laugh. “We’ll shake you yet!”
“Not
without a fight!” Caleb called back.
By this
time, the other eight couples had left the floor to the two competitors.
Everyone was cheering wildly.
~~~
Lillian
was beginning to get tired. Her heart throbbed in her chest and a dull
pain was slowly growing in her sides. Her breath came in short gasps. “Paul I
think we should—”Lillian began but was cut off.
“Alright!”
Paul called to Caleb, “I bet you’ll never do this one.” He looked at Lillian
and shook the sweat off his forehead. “Remember that dance your Pa hosted when
you were eighteen?”
“Yes…”
“Remember that routine that
couple—the Petersons—did?” Paul was talking fast and sucking in gulps of
air.
“Oh, yes.
The one they taught us?”
“That’s
the one. Caleb and Belle will never get this one.” Paul smiled at Lillian
and began dancing in a deliberate pattern. Lillian reluctantly followed his
lead. They continued the concise actions until they heard Caleb and Belle
drop out. A loud cheer went up for Paul and Lillian as they both stepped
wearily off the dance area.
“Paul and
Lillian O’Neal take first place!” Mr. Carter called out above the racket.
“Caleb Carter and Belle Hansen take second with Adam and Jane Pilfer
taking third.”
Paul and
Lillian made their way to the refreshment table. Lillian’s face was flushed and
she felt very tired. Caleb and Belle were taking big gulps of water at the
table. They joined them and drank plenty of water too.
“Well
done, Caleb,” Paul said, shaking his hand. “I never met anyone who kept up with
Lillian and I before.”
“It was
fun, sir,” Caleb said. “But I do have one question.”
“Go ahead
and ask,” Lillian smiled despite her exhaustion.
“Would you
mind teaching Belle and I that routine you did at the end?”
Paul
laughed, “We don’t mind at all. In fact, we learned that from a couple at a
party some years ago.”
“Were you always good
dancers?”
“Yeah. We
only got beat one time…” Paul glanced around. “And here they come.”
Robert and
Lila Pennington walked over.
“Why
weren’t you two in the competition?” Lillian asked.
“We didn’t
want to embarrass you in front of your friends,” Robert replied curtly.
“Or perhaps
you’re just out of practice,” Paul quipped.
“I can assure
you Lila and I are in tip-top shape.”
“You know we only danced twice together. We
beat you the first time; and you the second time.”
“Let’s
settle that then.” Robert said.
“Monday.
Same place. Noon time.”
“Paul…”
Lillian said biting her lip.
“Robert…maybe
we should…”Lila said with a worried glance at Lillian.
Paul
turned to his wife, “You love dancin’, love, this will be fun! You’ve never
turned down a competition before.”
Lillian
nodded her head somewhat reluctantly. “You’re right.”
“We’ll see
who can out dance the other,” Robert said to Paul. “May the best dancers win.”
Paul and Robert shook hands and
parted ways. Lila and Lillian exchanged a strange glance before they rushed
after their husbands.
~~~
The
following afternoon, after the church service and lunch, Lillian sent the girls
to their rooms or to go outside. She said the adults needed to talk together
without interruptions. Elsie, Lynn, Faith, and Megan all headed outside while
Belle, Cassandra, Danielle, and Nadia were inside. The four inside went
inside the girl’s bedroom and sat there quietly. Danielle pressed her
ear against the door to listen.
“Get away
from that door!” Belle said sharply.
“I want to
hear what they’re saying. Shh!” Danielle continued listening.
~~~
Lillian waited until the girls had
left before she began talking. “Paul, we can’t go through with this competition
tomorrow. Don’t you remember what happened last time?”
“I
remember we lost to your sister and brother-in-law,” Paul responded slowly.
“Lillian
and I ended up sick that weekend,” Lila corrected.
Robert’s
mouth parted, “Oh, I see.” He sent a worried look Lila’s way.
“See
what?” Paul asked him.
“See that you men need to be more
careful when competing,” Lillian said quickly. “We’re women; we wear out easier
than men.”
“I didn’t think about that,” Robert
said quietly. “We’ll call off the competition.”
“Thank-you,” Lillian and Lila
said.
Paul shrugged and agreed with
Robert. “Sure. I don’t want you ladies to hurt yourself.” He grinned
at Lillian.
Paul and Robert left the table
to go outside. Lillian and Lila stood and began clearing the table.
“Lillian,
does Paul know the true reason why we won’t dance as much as we used to?” Lila
looked at her sister.
Lillian
didn’t answer at first. “No…I am afraid to tell him.”
“Lillian! You
need to tell him! I told Robert and he was very understanding.”
Lillian
stood silent for a while thinking of years ago when she was just seventeen.
While she was a teacher at the school, she had been playing games with the
younger children at recess. She had fainted suddenly and the worried children
took her to the doctor. Lila was summoned and the doctor explained shocking
news to the sisters. He diagnosed a heart condition to them both. He had
guessed that the girls would end up with the same condition their mother had
but he didn’t realize their condition would be more advanced. He
explained that the sisters’ hearts were weaker than most women’s. He said they
would have to learn to go a little slower than most people. He
strongly advised against hard work and against having children. Lila
solemnly agreed with the doctor, but Lillian hadn’t. She had always been an
overachiever and now she must stop? She was very upset. She refused to tell
anyone and married Paul a year later. Then the following year,
she became pregnant. However Lisa O’Neal was pronounced dead a few
minutes after her birth. After that, Lillian refrained from having any children
for a few years. But then she decided she wanted to try again and she had
Oakley. She had defied the doctor and while Doctor Young was not pleased, he
calmly insisted she be careful. She could tell Doctor Young was worried
when Lillian gave birth to Oakley but everything was going much
better now.
“Lillian,”
Lila said, taking her sister’s hand. “I understand how you feel.”
“No, you
don’t; not entirely. I was always the overachiever…I was always stronger than
you. It’s hard for me to accept.”
“But you
still must tell him.”
“What will
he think when I tell him, ‘Oh, Paul, I’m weaker than most women,’? He’ll make
me rest all the time and have the girls take everything over. I don’t want
to be babied.”
~~~
“Wow!”
Danielle whispered loudly.
“What?”
Cassandra asked.
“Lillian and Lila are talking about
something…oh my!”
“What is
it?”
“Girls!
Eavesdropping, still?” Belle looked disapprovingly at them.
“Lila said
they both are weaker than most women or something…” Danielle paused and
she leaned closer to the door. “They stopped talking.” She moved away from
the door.
“Why is
she weak?” Nadia asked sitting beside Danielle.
Danielle’s
face bore a mischievous smile, “Because she didn’t eat enough
vegetables!”
Nadia’s
blue eyes widened. “Will I be weak?”
Belle came
over to Nadia. “No, Sweetheart. But you do have to eat your vegetables.” Belle
looked at Danielle sternly. She turned back to her little
sister. “Now, Nadia, listen to me. You are not allowed to say anything
about Lillian being weak. She is probably just…ill. Okay?”
“My lips
are sealed!” Nadia whispered in Belle’s ear.
~~~
That
night, Danielle couldn’t sleep. She felt guilty about eavesdropping, but
curious as to what Lillian had meant. Danielle slipped downstairs and into the
kitchen. She got a glass of water and sat down at the table. Moments later,
Lillian walked into the kitchen.
“What are
you doing up so late?” she asked in her soft way.
Danielle
looked over at Lillian and shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Is that
all?” Lillian sat down beside Danielle. “Usually there is a reason why people
can’t sleep.”
“No
reason…really.” Danielle tilted her glass back and forth so the water sloshed
from side to side.
“Is it a
boy?”
“No!”
Danielle turned to look at Lillian in surprise.
“Just
asking,” Lillian replied calmly. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll just keep
guessing.”
Danielle
sighed. Lillian was the most persistent person she knew. “Okay…I’ll tell you.”
Danielle frowned before continuing. “I sort of eavesdropped on someone.”
“May I ask
who?”
“You.”
Danielle played with her robe strings.
Lillian
looked at her daughter. “Is that all?”
“No. I
heard some things I shouldn’t have heard.”
Lillian’s
muscles tensed in worry and she quickly thought back to her recent
conversations. “What kind of things?”
“You and
Lila were talking about how both of you are weak or something. It worried me
when I heard how upset you sounded.” Danielle looked at Lillian sadly. “I’m
really sorry…”
“I knew
eavesdropping you get you in trouble someday,” Lillian said with a dry tone. Her
temper flared as she realized Danielle had learned her secret. Danielle had no
business eavesdropping! Lillian didn’t say anything for a few minutes until she
finally said, “I suppose I need to explain now.”
Danielle looked
away and waited for Lillian to continue.
“You see,
a long time ago, I fainted during the afternoon. I was taken to the doctor’s
office and I was examined. That’s when I received disturbing news. I was
‘fragile’ as the doctor put it. My body was much weaker than other women. I got
tired more easily. I would have to slow down and not do hard work and I wasn’t
to have children.”
Danielle
looked at Lillian in shock. “But you had Oakley,” she said.
“I wasn’t
supposed to have Oakley…the doctor said I shouldn’t
have but I did anyway.” Lillian sighed. “Paul has no idea about this…I’m
afraid to tell him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t
want to be babied. I want to be able to be a hardworking wife and mother!”
Lillian’s fists balled as she spoke. “Danielle, you and I are very different, but
when I was younger I had your driving and aggressive attitude. I yearned to be
the best at everything. I was always good at school, I was always the best
dancer, and I had every boy in town dreaming of me.” Lillian smiled sadly at
the memory. “Girls were jealous of me and I was pleased with it. I was a very
prideful young woman.”
Danielle
thought over the words Lillian had just said. She couldn’t imagine Lillian as a
young woman capturing the heart of every young man and she couldn’t see Lillian
being the competitive type.
“I knew I
would have to tell Paul at some point…I’m just not prepared.” Lillian cupped
her head in her hands.
That
moment, while Lillian and Danielle were both digesting everything that had been
said, Paul walked into the kitchen. “What are you ladies doing up so
late?”
Danielle
was startled and looked up quickly. “Uh…”
“Just
chatting,” Lillian said. She sent Danielle a sharp “don’t-you-dare-say-another-word”
look. Danielle looked away from Paul and Lillian.
“Well it’s
late and you better try to get some sleep,” Paul raked a hand through his bushy
hair and yawned.
Lillian
and Danielle nodded and Danielle headed upstairs to the loft. Lillian waited a
few moments to be sure that Danielle wasn’t eavesdropping again before she
began talking to Paul.
“Paul…we
need to talk.”
Lillian motioned for Paul to take a
seat beside her. He obeyed and sat down. He watched her with curiosity. Lillian
clasped his hand in hers and began her story. Through tears, Lillian began at
the beginning when she had fainted and was taken to the doctor. She proceeded
on how she refused to obey or listen to such things.
For once, Paul
listened intently to Lillian. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Paul’s eyes betrayed
the hurt he was experiencing. “I thought we agreed not to keep secrets from
each other.”
“Paul…I’m so sorry but this was
different.”
“Different? I don’t see any
difference.”
“I couldn’t tell you. I was
afraid for you to know. I didn’t want you to think I need special care or
anything…I’m sorry.” Lillian twirled a piece of hair around her finger.
“But you
do need special care.” Paul turned his deep eyes over at Lillian’s blue
eyes.
“I don’t
want it though! I want to be able to do things myself. I don’t need people
fussing over me.”
“You obviously have a special
condition. Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve been keeping an eye on you. I
could’ve made sure nothing bad happened to you.”
“Paul, please, I didn’t want this
to happen. You’re overreacting.”
“I have a right to overreact! You
kept a secret from me; a secret about your health. What if something would’ve
happened? What if I made you work too hard? Lillian…the fire…no wonder the
doctor was shocked that you lived! You almost died…you were so close!”
“But you didn’t…and I’ve told you
my secret now. Please don’t be cross,” Lillian pleaded.
Paul shook his head. “You shouldn’t
have had Oakley.”
Lillian
looked up in astonishment. “Paul! Oakley is the God-given blessing we’ve always
prayed for.”
“Lillian, Oakley could’ve killed
you!”
“A price I would have gladly paid!”
Lillian said in a mixture of anger and shock. “Paul, how could you say such a
thing? Do you know how long I have prayed for Oakley?”
Paul
looked away, “I know; I prayed for him too but the strain on
you…”
“I’m
fine,” Lillian insisted. “And just think we would never have adopted
Danielle and the girls if you knew.”
Paul stopped
a moment and bowed his head. “You’re right…but I’m still going to make sure you
rest more. The girls can help you out more and take care of the more strenuous
work.”
Lillian
sighed but knew better than to argue.
The two
sat in silence for a few moments. Paul finally stood and led Lillian back to
the bedroom. He paused in the center of the parlor. A small shaft of pale
moonlight slid through the window and landed on the couple. Paul smiled at his
wife and picked up her slender hands in his calloused hands. He then whispered
in her ear. “I love you, Lillian. Always.”
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