Anticipating this, Dad said, “Once that bus drove off, I knew I had made a mistake, I ran after it even though it was a city block away. I saw the brake lights come on and the door open up and your mom came flying off that bus crying, she dropped the duffel bag, running to me and we hugged and kissed as passersby cheered.”
“What about your girlfriend, Mary, the nurse!” I demanded to know. The volume and agitation of my voice caused everyone in the bar to look at me. I noticed my Uncle Jack just smirking at me.
“Mary Katherine Ellington. Also known as Aunt Kate. Once your uncle got out of the service I asked him to come up here and settle down. The moment he saw your Aunt Kate, it was over for the both of them. Whereas, I never got to first base with her, she and your uncle made love on their first date. He told her, he liked the name Katherine or Kate better, so she changed it for him. That is why you had no inkling that your aunt was once known as Mary.”
“But Mom became a nurse,” I marveled as I tried to wrap my head around what transpired.
“Yes, your mom was inspired by Aunt Kate to finish school and apply to nursing school. They worked at the same hospital for a couple of years and became best friends despite how they met. Your Aunt Kate decided to quit nursing and we voted to make her the fulltime manager at the bar.
“You see, Mike, I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. I have a lot of regrets. I have a lot to answer for when my time comes to face God. But, having and loving your Mom, having you as my son, getting to live with the two of you has been my joy in life. It gets me out of bed every day to go out in a world where people get hurt every day. I couldn’t make it without y’all.
“And that’s what you finally have to decide in the long run, Mike. You have to decide whether you are better off with her or without her in your life. We knew instantly when we met Lila what type of person she is. That’s why we’ve bonded with her so fast. If you look at her, she’s your Mom just wrapped in a younger, different package.
“I see them coming to the door so I’m going to drop one thing I wasn’t supposes to tell you until you two flew back from Paris. Your Mom and Lila have been house hunting for the past week in the midst of preparing for the wedding. Consider it part of the nesting ritual.
“Lila found a house she fell in love with to raise her family. Me and your mom have bought the house and you two will get the deed to the place as a late wedding gift. You’ll also get an early wedding gift of your tickets on the flight have been upgraded to first class. All courtesy of the money we took from the mob all those years ago. The same money that helped raise you, paid for our family vacations, and for your tuition. So, enjoy it.”
I didn’t know what to say to my Dad, so I remained speechless as the front door opened. There, backlit by the sun in the threshold stood my mom and my bride, side by side. I was struck by the similarities of these two strong women I was blessed to know. Courage holders of a sort that I would never have; strong, nurturing, souls that would love and defend their families with their lives. How could I have ever doubted?
I slid off the bar stool and walked to my bride. My mom walked by me and gave my shoulder a reassuring pat as we passed each other. Lila, still teary eyed, still unsure of my decision, braced herself with the indomitable core that made her who she was. The core that would allow her to bravely face whatever the world threw in her way. Her eyes steeled with fortitude mixed with the hopeful anticipation that I would accept her in my life.
I stood in front of her, “I’ve been such an idiot, Lila. Please forgive me.” I begged her quietly. Tears started rolling down her face as she smiled and quickly nodded yes. Her hands reached around, took my biceps and slid down until she grasped my hands. She guided my palms to the firm swells of her butt and planted them, then she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and fiercely hugged me as we kissed and swayed gently, oblivious to everything.
“Of course, I forgive you, Mike,” she cried when we finally broke our kiss. “I’m so sorry that I caused such a grave misunderstanding, but I honestly thought you understood what I tried to tell you back then.” She declared with every iota of sincerity.
“I know, Baby, it was my fault. You aren’t to blame; this is all on me.” I said to her. “At least, we’ll get to have some incredible make up sex in Paris,” I joked.
“You mean about our incredible make up rutting in Paris, don’t you?” she joshed back.
“Make up honeymoon rutting in Paris is the best,” I agreed. We kissed over and over. Over the bar’s stereo system, I heard the opening restrain to ‘B4’ on the jukebox. I finally understood the significance of its permanence and its phonetic implication.
Before; a testament to the healing power of love. Before; an acclimation to the world that a couple united could withstand any hardship. Before; a declaration that love can overcome any transgression. Before; a simple word that the past is the past.
In my peripheral view, I saw my parents sidle close to us as they began slow dancing to their song. The high, bluesy notes from the guitar solo drifted into the ether. I told Lila we needed to dance and she placed her head on my shoulder as we shuffled lovingly together.
I looked over and saw my mom looking at me. From her expression, I knew Dad had told her that I knew their history. I smiled at her and was rewarded with the same loving smile that my mom had always given me. I could tell she relaxed knowing the weight of her history was finally off her shoulders.
The gravel raspy voice of Bob Segar began:
I remember standing on the corner at midnight
Trying to get my courage up
I felt Lila gripping me, as the import of the lyrics sunk in.
There was this long lovely dancer in a club downtown
I loved to watch her do her stuff
We swayed to the beat as she nuzzled my neck and gave it a light kiss.
Through the long lonely nights, she filled my sleep
Her body softly swaying to that smoky beat
Down on Main Street
I looked over to my parents and saw my Dad caressing my Mom, seeking her daily reassurance that she loved him.
In the poolhalls, the hustlers and the losers
I used to watch them through the glass
Well I’d stand outside at closing time
Just to watch her walk on past
Unlike all the other ladies, she looked so young and sweet
As she made her way alone, down that empty street
Down on Main Street
We and my parents continued to dance through the song played through the solo and final restrain:
And sometimes even now, when I’m lonely and beat
I drift back into time and find my feet
Down on Main Street
I felt Lila stir as the song finished. She looked up at me, “Mike, about the baby…”
I hushed her with a kiss.
“When we get back from Paris, we’ll need to go to the Animal Shelter and find our French Mastiff puppy. Our child will need the best guardian available growing up,” I said as I looked in her happy adoring eyes.
“Lila?”
“Yes, Mike?”
“If we have a daughter and she ever express any interest in dancing?”
“Ballet, Mike. Just ballet!” Lila firmly and emphatically answered that question for all time.
I could live with that.