Playing by the Rules: A Novel Read Online Free Page B

Playing by the Rules: A Novel
Book: Playing by the Rules: A Novel Read Online Free
Author: Elaine Meryl Brown
Pages:
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that.” Clement smiled at the responsefrom his son. “It’s just, I see the way you two been lookin’ at each other over the years. And at forty-four, you’s old enough to get married. Matter of fact, son, you’s old as hell. You been round long enough to be married and widow’erd and married again, if you ask me. Don’t want people talkin’ about you like you was your Uncle Bootsie.”
    Bootsie wasn’t a blood relative, but since Clement and Bootsie had been friends since high school, he might as well be family deserving of the title.
    “It doesn’t bother me what people say,” Medford added. “They’re supposed to be minding their own business anyway.”
    “As you know, Bootsie sings in the Pursuit of Happiness Jubilee Choir. At least all your singin’, as far as I know, is done in the shower.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Ain’t ‘spose to mean nothin’. You know Bootsie is like a brother to me …” He paused to take a puff on his pipe. “Just want to make sure you still like gals, is all.” He slapped Medford on his knee, creating a reflex reaction that made it jerk against the steering wheel.
    Medford looked at his father as if he were crazy. There were times when Medford thought he actually was.
    “I know which way Bootsie likes the wind to blow, but I don’t think he’s decided on which direction to follow,” Clement continued, pushing another stream of smoke out the window. “What I wanna know is why you been so quiet lately and what’s goin’ on with you.”
    “I just have something on my mind, that’s all.” Medford was hoping he didn’t sound defensive. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Clement’s feelings. “I’m sure I’ll bring it up some other time… later, when it’s not Christmas… maybe tomorrow. But right now I just want to enjoy the holiday.”
    “Then tell your face it’s enjoyin’ the holiday, ‘cause it looks like it’s going to a funeral.”
    Medford finally forced his mouth into a smile, and Clement took another draw on his pipe, happy to get his son to talk even if it wasn’t about the thing that was bothering him. Clement already knew, based on experience, that whenever a man was quiet, the silence usually had something to do with a woman.
    With the eggnog chilling in the refrigerator, Granddaddy went upstairs to take a shower. While Nana was waiting for him to finish, she counted the number of boxed lemon desserts to make sure she had the right amount of gifts for her guests. Making a few trips, carrying the boxes to the living room, she organized them neatly under her fully decorated red spruce tree. As a final touch, she plugged the cord into the outlet and the lights came on, making her feel her tree was now completely dressed. She put the Nat King Cole Christmas album on the stereo and set the needle down easy, because it wouldn’t feel like Christmas until she heard him sing “The Christmas Song.”
    Turning her head toward the fireplace, Nana looked at the stockings that were hanging and stuffed with smaller items, each embroidered with the names of her grandchildren: Billy and his wife Elvira, Louise, and Faye. Despite Faye’s absence, Nana appreciated the memento of her granddaughter and held out hope that she might arrive home for a surprise visit.
    Walking to the front of the house, Nana stood on the enclosed porch overlooking the snow-capped mountains that looked like their peaks had been dipped into Granddaddy’s heavy whipping cream. The porch extended half the length of the house, with windows that gave her breathtaking views of the extraordinary beauty that lay before her. No matter how many times she stood in this position looking in the same direction, she never tired of the gloriousscenery, and with the winter upon them and the dogwoods standing naked, she could see clear through the branches to the rambling mountain vistas. Land that God made that stood the test of time, that she could depend on being there

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