“Especially in mixed company.” Mrs. Donohue’s eyebrows knit sternly together. “You should know that, Pearl. A lady’s moral virtue is so important. If you want to be a respectable member of society, you need to think before you speak.”
“I’m sorry,” Pearl said meekly.
John just nodded and said, “Apology accepted. No harm done.” He turned to Howie. “Since we’ll be neighbors, perhaps you can show me how things are done around here.”
“I’d be happy to,” Howie said.
“Howie is always glad to serve,” Mrs. Donohue declared. “He follows the path of Jesus in that way.”
“Of course,” their father said. “He’s a fine young man and a credit to his mother.”
Mrs. Donohue beamed with pride and turned back to her cobbler.
“This is delicious,” Alice said, indicating her plate. “And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Daisy would lick the pan if I’d let her.”
“Can I?” Daisy’s little voice piped up. Normally, the younger girls didn’t join the conversation unless spoken to first, but after their mother died, their father had become lackadaisical about the rules.
Alice smiled down on her. “No, you may not.”
When the last bite was taken, the family adjourned to the parlor, all except the four oldest girls, who cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen. Pearl found herself wandering back to the dining room to sneak peeks at John, who was talking animatedly with Howie while Mrs. Donohue looked on with satisfaction. It seemed the two young men, both destined for higher education, had found kindred spirits in each other. Their father and the younger girls sat quietly and listened.
By the time Alice had put the last dish away and Pearl had hung up the dish towels, the sun had started to lower in the sky and Mrs. Donohue was saying goodbye, eager to leave before it got too dark.
They were all out on the porch when Howie drove the wagon around to the front of the house, his mare stepping brightly, glad to be going home. Mr. Bennett helped Howie’s mother up to her seat, and the girls waved goodbye.
The family and John Lawrence were still on the porch when they heard the roar of a motor coming down the road. Their heads turned collectively. They were amazed to see such a rare thing, an actual automobile, with Alice’s admirer, Frank, at the wheel.
The black Model T came to a stop in front of them. Frank swung the door open and bellowed, “Will you take a look at this!” Mae and Maude ran forward to admire the new automobile while Daisy remained next to Alice, her hand clutching her older sister’s skirt. Even their old dog, Shep, was curious. He came trotting out from behind the barn to check out the ruckus.
“Were you expecting Frank to come calling this evening?” Mr. Bennett asked his oldest daughter, his voice subdued compared to the hubbub in the front yard.
Alice shook her head. “No. In fact, I have asked him many times not to come.” She folded her arms. “He never listens.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
1983
“Wait. Let me make sure I heard you right,” Joe said, then repeated Pearl’s words back to her. “You killed someone but not on purpose?”
“That’s right,” she said. The horrified look on his face made her sorry she’d even brought it up. Ancient history, that’s what it was, and nothing she could take back at this point. Obviously, Joe was the type who would hold it against her. Maybe all Arneson men were the same.
“What does that mean?”
“It means there was a death, and your father thought I was responsible.”
Joe mulled this over for a second. “Were you responsible?”
She sensed there was a lot riding on her answer. He could bolt out of here, just like his father did so many years ago. “I don’t know. That’s for the good Lord to decide. When I meet him—if I meet him—I’m sure he’ll let me know.” Mentioning God was a smart strategy, she thought. The association of a higher power was a good one. It made her look humble.
“So what happened?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not tell you just yet. I want you to get to know me first before you hear about the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’ve long believed that no one should be judged on the worst thing they’ve ever done. And not on the best thing either, for that matter.” She sighed. “Human beings are much more complex than one event that happened on one day in a very long life.”
He nodded as if it made sense.