The Whipping Club Read Online Free Page A

inviting to such a wedding?”
              Nobody answered. Marian rose now, standing close to Ben.
              “Where would you do it?” his mother asked, coming closer, clutching his arm for balance.
              “A civil ceremony. Nice and quiet,” he said. Ben looked at Marian, and she nodded her approval. Father Brennan’s words came back at her, but he was wrong. Ben was enough, and she was enough, and they were more than enough together. She would tell Ben later tonight about their baby, and they would more than manage.
              “No canopy? No breaking of a glass? I’m sorry, it’s not a real wedding without the chuppa ,” Beva said.
              “How about I’ll break a glass here, right now?” Ben said.
              “Don’t be smart.”
              “When would you do this, Marian?” Sam asked.
              “Very soon.”
              “I was thinking in May,” Ben agreed.
              “May?” Marian said.
              “I’ve found this house. I think I’ll be able to put a down payment on it by mid-April. I have a raise now. That’s my surprise.”
              He looked worried as if he could sense her disappointment.
              “That okay?” he asked into her ear.
              “We can talk about that later, Ben.” Marian turned to Beva. “Please try to accept it. I know it’s hard.”
              “She knows it’s hard,” Beva said. “I wanted our son, our only child, to marry a Jewish girl. Is that hard to understand?”
              “You know mixed marriages are difficult,” Sam said, looking from her to Ben.
              “Well, of course, they are,” Beva said.
              “No doubt you’ll come across some hard times,” Sam said to them.
              “And where will you live?” Beva said. “You can’t stay in this district. You’ll be stared at.”
              “I was thinking of Donnybrook,” Ben said, giving Marian’s hand a squeeze.
              “Full of goyim ,” Sam said.
              “It’s a mixed neighborhood, Tatte.”
              “And what about the k inder ? Did you think of them? Your children will suffer. Neither Jew nor Christian. They won’t belong. You have a lot of chutzpah , Marian,” Beva said.
              “Excuse me?” Marian said.
              “A lot of nerve.”
              “And your son, Mrs. Ellis. What has he got?”
              “He’s the big savior. Had to do his part to raise educational standards for the Zion School children. And boom, there you are, like out of a Doris Day movie.” The woman threw her arms in the air as she walked into the living room, stared out the bay window.
              “Mammy, let me ask you this” Ben said. “Did you marry Tatte for love?”
              “Of course,” Beva said.
              “Remember how you felt, being in love?”
              “Not often,” Beva said.
              “Can’t you try to understand?” Ben said.
              “I’m sorry. It’s very different.”
              “You know, Mammy. I dream every night of receiving yours and Tatte’s blessing. You’re robbing me of that.”
              “And I’m being robbed of a good son. And Jewish grandchildren.”
              “It’s a new world, Beva,” Sam said, rising slowly. “They’re freer in their thinking than we were.”
              “Hogwash,” Beva said. “I’m calling Sylvie Rosenblatt tomorrow. Her