Runabout (42 page)

"I only feel that way in the mornings," she told him. "Right now I feel like I could dance all night."

He gently laid a hand on her still flat abdomen. "Well, I guess we'd better dance then. From what I remember when you were carrying Mavis, in a few months I won't be able to get close enough!"

She slugged him playfully in the ribs and he pretended great injury. They walked to the two-car garage at the far edge of their property. Luther pulled the cord that brought the electric light to life. The shiny, new 1919 Chevrolet touring car sat ready to go. Luther politely opened the door for his wife. She hesitated.

"Let's take the Runabout."

Luther's eyes widened in surprise. He turned his gaze to the rather sad-looking old-fashioned autocar whose snappy wine-colored body and shiny brass lamps were scarred and faded.

"I was hoping that you'd win the Bearcat and we could paint 'rest in pieces' on this thing and leave it out in the pasture."

Tulsa May tossed her head haughtily. "You are never getting rid of
my
car, Mr. Briggs. I intend to keep it always. We need it."

"We don't need it."

"Yes we do. We never know when we might get stranded and this is the only auto in the world that can wear a brassiere."

Luther shook his head and chuckled, but he set the spark on the tired old vehicle and cranked it until it sputtered.

"Your coach, ma'am," he said, handing her inside.

Laughing together, they backed out onto the street and set out for the festivities at the slow, sedate Runabout pace.

"Are you happy, Tulsy?" Luther asked as he leaned across to take her hand.

She looked at him and smiled. "I couldn't imagine a woman being any happier."

"Me too," he admitted with a sigh of gratitude.

"And Miss Maimie said it would never work," Tulsa May said with pleasant laughter.

"Miss Maimie?" Luther shook his head. "I bet that old biddy is rolling in her grave to see how happy we are."

"No, she's not in her grave, Luther," Tulsa May said softly. "She's in heaven with her husband."

Luther looked at his wife with surprise.

"She really loved him, I think," Tulsa May said quietly. "I imagine that she was a much kinder and happier woman before he left her a widow. Now that they are back together again I'm sure her disposition has improved."

Luther made no comment.

"Of course, by now I'm sure she's reconciled with your father and come to love your mother as well. I'm sure they all are delighted about Mavis and just as expectant as we are about the new baby." Tulsa May sighed pleasantly. "Yes, I suppose that all four of them are probably looking down on us right now full of joy that we've found such love together."

Luther raised an eyebrow skeptically. "None injured in overnight blaze," he mumbled.

"What did you say?"

"I said that I'm so glad I married a wife who is such an optimist."

THE END