90 Miles to Freedom (4 page)

“
Well,” Betty began one time, “we always knew that Collin was going to be an entrepreneur. We’ve known that ever since he was in grade school. He went about it in the most ingenious ways. One of my favorite stories is about the time when he brought his entire allowance to a small general store. He purchased a ton -”

“
Not a ton, Mom,” Collin objected.

“
Oh, all right. At least a few pounds of candy. You know the ones? The long clear plastic wrappers that held multiple colors of little chocolate covered round candies.”

Morgan frowned. “But how did that make him -”

Betty held up her hand. “Just wait. It gets better. You’ll understand in a minute. The next morning before the school bus arrived, Collin had stuffed his backpack full of the candy. I remember that. It was full to the brim along with all of his books. I figured he was taking it to school to share with all of his friends.”

“
Mom … ” Collin started. Betty smiled sweetly and waggled her finger at him like she always had. He just shook his head and grinned, knowing what was to come.

“
That afternoon,” Betty continued. “I got a call from the principal of the school.” She chuckled, then set her face in an expression of astonishment and looked right at Morgan. “Can you imagine? Apparently Collin was selling the candy for ten cents apiece! The kids were using their lunch money to buy the candy from him!”

“
That bastard principal!” Collin interrupted. Betty and Morgan glanced his way, startled. “He took the rest of my candy and all the freaking money!”

Everyone laughed and teased Collin, who was a very good sport about it all.

“
Okay. Okay. That’s enough of the stories for one day,” Collin said, trying to take the attention off himself. He was fairly embarrassed and had a feeling Morgan was probably only laughing to be polite.

“
Oh, Collin,” Betty purred, smiling that smile that Collin could never refuse. “One more story can’t hurt.”

“
Yes please! I want to hear more,” Morgan exclaimed. Her eyes shone with laughter.

Collin couldn’t possibly refuse, despite the fact that he was at the receiving end of all the teasing. The two women he loved most in the world were enjoying themselves to no end. No matter the story that was told, it was a wonderful feeling to see them both happy. Even his father, who was still painting the side of the boat, looked like he was having a good time.

“
Okay,” Collin announced, giving them all a big-hearted smile. “One more story.” He looked over at his Dad, his eyes pleading for help, but none was offered. “I don’t think I could handle much more embarrassment beyond that.”

George chuckled, not looking up from the fresh white paint he’d just spread. “Sucker,” he silently mouthed at Collin.

“
You’re getting a kick out of this aren’t you, old man?” Collin growled.

George said nothing, but his eyes danced. He gazed at the ceiling, whistling a quirky little tune. He pretended he hadn’t heard Collin just so he could pester his son even more.

Betty reached over to the radio and slid in a CD, then pressed play. Romantic music flowed through the speakers and filled the room with words about someone hoping not to fall in love.

“
What is it,” Collin asked with a smile, “about that song that makes you realize just how much you love the people that you love?”

“
Have I ever told you the ‘Bucket’ story?” Betty asked Morgan, her voice smooth as liquid honey. Morgan shook her head and smiled with encouragement.

Chapter 7

God, she was beautiful. Every time Collin looked at Morgan he fell more in love with her. He was the luckiest man in the world. He watched her reactions while his mother told her another embarrassing story he’d heard a million times, and heard it brand new through Morgan’s ears. His heart melted a little more every time he looked at her.

Collin loved hearing his mother and father laugh. And hearing Morgan laugh with them was the most wonderful sound he could imagine. He could tell Morgan enjoyed teasing him as well, and smiled. He would never hear the end of it. The relentless teasing would begin before they were even married.

Just the thought of Morgan becoming his wife made Collin a happier man. He could put up with endless teasing just for that honor.

“
Oh, Collin!” Betty suddenly exclaimed, clapping her hands. “You’re going to have such beautiful children!”

Morgan and Collin exchanged a startled glance, then Collin watched with fascination as Morgan turned a healthy shade of red. He wasn’t entirely surprised by his mother’s outburst. She was generally compelled to say things like that. It’s just that usually she waited until after Morgan had left.

“
Morgan is so gorgeous and oh, such a wonderful girl,” she would say. “Charming, delightful, attractive … I couldn’t be any happier for you. You have made a wonderful choice, deciding to marry Morgan. You are both going to be so happy.” Then she’d turn to George, her eyes gleaming with happiness. “Isn’t that right, George?”

This was the first time she’d said anything like that with Morgan still around, but her outburst caused only the tiniest break in the conversation. Betty didn’t seem to sense any awkwardness at all. Collin stole a glance at his father, who was still pretending not to hear. But Collin saw his secret smile. He continued to paint, waiting to hear the outcome of this conversation.

“
Yes, Mother. I completely agree with you on all counts,” Collin said, smiling at his mother. “But may I add a few of my own descriptions of Morgan?”

Betty narrowed her eyes, suspicious that Collin was up to something, then nodded when she realized there was no way on earth Collin would embarrass Morgan. She cocked her right eyebrow, warning her son to behave and be nice. “By all means Collin, I would love to hear your portrayal of your future wife.”

Morgan blushed ferociously, sensing the attention coming her way. She was used to this demonstrative family, though, and completely at home in the midst of them.

“
Well,” Collin said, then cleared his throat. “We shall begin with the obvious. Morgan is a delicate five feet tall with long, gorgeous brown hair. She barely wears any makeup at all, because she doesn’t need any. She is naturally perfect.”

“
So sweet of you,” Morgan said. “You can stop now.”

Collin gave Morgan a smile which clearly said “I love you” without the need for words. Then he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Morgan, but there’s more.”

She put her hands over her face, hiding, but giggling.

Collin continued, addressing his audience of three as formally as if he were speaking to a stadium full of people. “As you can see, Morgan is more than just stunning. She is breathtaking.” Collin glanced towards his mother, whose eyes were sparkling, her mouth slightly open as she took in her son’s words. He took his fiancée’s hand in his and returned his full concentration to Morgan, kissing the top of her hand before continuing. “Morgan moves me like no other woman ever has. She has taken over my mind and my soul.” Collin’s chest tightened, seeing Morgan’s beautiful eyes well up.

George stopped painting and glanced toward Betty and Collin. Betty dabbed at the corners of her eyes, sniffling at her son’s beautiful tribute. George smiled, watching his romantic wife. Based on the speech Collin had just made, it was obvious that he had inherited some of those traits from his mother. George was what Collin called a “closet romantic”. He’d never admit to enjoying those emotions, though he did feel them. George didn’t usually declare such feelings in front of anyone, except for when he was all alone with Betty. Collin and Joey knew all about it from the times Betty occasionally enlightened them, giving them her own version of the story. He figured his dad would be glad to know that he’d given her something to brag about.

Betty had taught her sons well. She often preached to them about loving a woman for more than just her outward appearance. She often told the boys that “the gem within a woman is the most precious jewel you will ever discover.”

All this romance had settled the mood into something resembling calm. Apparently George felt the need to put a stop to that. It was time to laugh again.

“
Okay, Collin,” he said, waving his paint brush vaguely in Betty’s direction. “I’ve heard the romantic version of Morgan, which your mother would want to hear. Now give me the version a son would tell his father, a.k.a. me.” George smiled from ear to ear, waiting for Collin’s reply. Collin glanced nervously at Morgan, but she only giggled with encouragement.

“
Well,” Collin said, then shot a tentative grin at George. He wasn’t quite sure what might be appropriate to say in front of his parents. Especially while Betty continued to murmur something along the lines of, “That’s my boy. Romantic at heart. I taught him well. Yes, I did.”

“
I’m waiting,” George teased.

Collin cleared his throat, then smiled. He knew perfectly well that all his father wanted was for him to make his mother gasp. “Well,” he repeated, “I would probably tell a.k.a. you that my Morgan is not only adorable and gorgeous, but that she is also very passionate.”

“
Passionate and adorable,” George repeated slowly, testing the feel of the words in his mouth. “Yeah. For sure. That’s what I would want in the bedroom. I gotta tell you, son, ‘passionate and adorable’ sounds like something out of one of those romance novels your mother is always reading.” He chuckled, then shook his head, looking sadly disappointed. “Tsk tsk, boy. You can do better than that.”

“
George!” Betty cried, using her firmest, most disapproving tone.

“
Come on. Have I ever called you passionate and adorable?” George raised both eyebrows, waiting for Betty to reply, but she only narrowed her eyes at him and said nothing. Her expression very clearly said that she wanted to strangle George. Her husband smiled smugly. “No. I thought not. I use more vivacious words to describe you, my love.”

Betty still said nothing, but continued to glare at him as if to warn him not to say another word. But George was having way too much fun. She knew she couldn’t stop him even if she tried.

“
Well? On out with it, Collin! Let’s hear it. I haven’t got all day … well, actually, maybe I do. But that’s beside the point.”

Collin began again, trying desperately not to blush. “Morgan is … she is … ” He squinted, then glanced at Morgan, who was watching him with a wide-eyed grin.

“
Well, all right, Dad,” he said, keeping his mischievous eyes on his fiancée. “But keep calm. I wouldn’t want you to have a coronary or anything.” Collin paused, stumbling to find the right words. In the end he decided to color it a bit, to lighten the mood, and did so by speaking with a strong British accent. “My Morgan is sexy, to say the least. And might I add that she is exceedingly erotic at the same time.” Morgan gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth again, but her eyes looked thrilled. “And, much to my delight, she is extremely … pleasing.” Collin took a deep breath, then looked his father straight in the face. “And she is the most flexible woman that I’ve ever met, if I do say so myself.”

Morgan and Betty gasped, looking momentarily shocked. Collin grinned from ear to ear, but Betty shot a furious look at him. Morgan’s laughter caught Betty off guard.

“
Yes, you certainly may say so yourself,” George exclaimed, totally and completely approving. He adopted Betty’s chorus: “That’s my boy! I taught him well! Yes, I did!”