War Torn Love (13 page)

             
My ears were ringing in shock. I was holding firmly onto Abram’s hand as we had waited for Poppa to give us his permission.  I guess I got carried away as I squeezed the life out of his poor hand - it was turning white, and yet he was gentlemen enough to have never said a thing. I was shocked he hadn’t asked me to let go. Abram must have ignored the pain. He seemed to be preoccupied studying Poppa, for any positive sign. I know I could barely breathe.

             
Then in disbelief, those wonderful words rolled out of my dad’s mouth. I couldn’t hold back my joyful emotions any longer. My whole life was in the equilibrium, everything depending on the next few words out of his mouth.

             
After Poppa said all right, we both quickly stood up,

             
“Oh my gosh, Abram, we’re going to get married!”

             
“I know, isn’t that great!”

             
Abram romantically swept me off my feet, I wrapped my arms around him, and he excitedly twirled us both around. My dress was swirling wide as if I were dancing. We both began kissing one another, the fireworks began going off immediately, as our two set of lips looked. All the passion and fire came through in that one fantastic kiss, all the wonderful things I dreamed of saying to Abram on this day, somehow came through in our kiss. More passion than I had ever felt in my life. Both completely forgetting that we were kissing one another right in front of my parents especially Poppa, who is strict about this sort of thing. I think we were both so wrapped up in the moment.

             
Being subtle, my father cleared his throat rather loudly, attempting to get both our attention in the process, he then piped in, “Alright you two, you’re not married just yet, and you have only received my blessing not two minutes ago. I promise that once you two are finally united in matrimony, then in God’s eye, as well as mine you can kiss one another in such a manner. But until that time has come to pass, you will both have to reframe from taking
such actions, and patiently wait. Do you both understand me? Have I made myself heard?”

             
“Yes Sir, thank you so very much! You have my word; you have made me so happy!”

             
“Oh yes Poppa! We understand, thank you so much! You have made me so blissfully happy by allowing us to marry!” I at once let go of Abram, not wanting to press my luck with my Poppa. I had to remind myself that I was still part of my father’s house; he was head of the family.  I desired nothing more than to thank him, I walked over with tears welling up in my eyes, giving him a great big hug, and a kiss on his cheek. I then whispered in Poppa’s ear, “I love you Poppa!” I didn’t dare say anything about it, but I could see even Poppa was wrapped up in the moment he was fighting back the tears, not at all actually shedding a single tear, but his eyes were watery. My Poppa was a very loving man with a pure heart of gold. He would give the shirt off his back, if he had seen someone in need. But it was quite rare that he cried. He is a strong, proud man.

             
Then Abram timid, walked over like a man to where Poppa was standing, be sure he was making eye-to-eye contact. Dad really liked that. I had coached him ahead of time. His hand trembling as he did, he reached out to shake Poppa’s hand, as a measure of showing respect. Poppa took this gesture and grabbed firmly onto his hand, and swiftly caught him off completely off guard, by abruptly pulling him into his body. He was showing him, that a line was being crossed. He was now part of the family. Poppa then placed his arms firmly around the man I was in-love with,
he did not have a chance to pull away, and then Abram for the first time, began to hug my Poppa back. There were the two most important men in my life lovingly embracing, who would have ever imagined that. How precious was that? If that did not warm my heart, then I did not know what would. Looking at Momma it appeared she was happy with thisrecent development.

             
Poppa spoke very softly to Abram,

             
“I just wanted you to know I always thought of you as a son, I had always hoped it would be you that won my daughters heart. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

             
Abram smiled, “Thank you sir! That means a lot to me.”

             
I walked over to Momma, who was wiping the many tears from her eyes, running down her cheeks. The two of us began to then hug one another. Unbelievably, she and I were quite good friends, though, only a couple of years ago we had had a rough patch. I realize now that had a lot to do with me.

             
“Congratulation my child! I’m so happy for you two, oh your getting such a handsome man, I should be so lucky.”

             
“Thank you Momma, but I might add Poppa’s quite handsome. Well it looks like we get to plan for my wedding Momma!

             
“Yes my child, I guess we do, and a grand wedding it shall be!”

             
Poppa chimed in to Momma and my little chat, as the two of them looking back over at Momma and me, tapping him on his shoulder, “Son you see that, look, you better get use to the women in this family crying at the drop of the hat.  As a word of advice, try carrying around a handkerchief with you. But don’t mistake their tears as a sign of weakness - no, no my dear boy, quite the contrary, it took me a couple of years after her mother and I had married for me to learn this. See, they have a hearts of gold, and it’s the men of our
family’s responsibility
to try and cherish those few precious moments, whenever they start crying. To witness their softer side is a gift blessed to us - but my son, learn quickly never to take advantage of this. The women of this family are moody, and surprisingly strong, and can have a temper. I would venture to say stronger than us men - there has been many of times I would not have gotten through a difficult time, without my dear wife’s strength. They tend to only show this softness to the ones that they love the most, and feel that they can trust.”

             
“Yes, I think that I understand you sir!”

             
“That’s kind of you to say young man, but I would have to disagree, no you don’t. But that’s ok, over the years you will learn. And as a piece of advice you’ll never figure them out. Twenty-five years of marriage and I still don’t” The look on Poppa’s face grew serious, “I never want you to hurt her. Can you promise me that?”

             
“I could never hurt her!”

             
“Funny thing son, I somehow already knew that. I just wanted to hear it from your lips, man to man. I think a man’s word is everything, don’t you?”

             
“Yes Sir!”

             
Poppa suddenly gave his protective, defiant stare back at my dear vulnerable Abram -I could see my dear Abram was feeling a bit uncomfortable under the collar. He turned and looked at me in a near
panicked
state. However, in this circumstance, I thought that I would
acquiesce
to my father on this one. And not get involved he was a man now and had to let him fight his own battles. He was the head of this family, and seeing that he had just given permission for us to marry. I could let Abram squirm just a little, before I came to his ultimate rescue.

             
That is when Poppa flabbergasted Momma, Abram, as well as I, by excitedly piping in, now with a warm awkward lovely wide smile, from chin to chin.  “Momma it looks like our baby is going to get married; I would say we should celebrate wouldn’t you?”

             
He then took out a cigar from his personal wooden box on the mantle, where he keeps his all his cigars, bit the tip off, then lit his lighter holding it to
the flame. He took a couple of deep puffs, as he got the tobacco lit up, and enjoyed the fresh smoke before going on.

             
“Momma let’s open up that bottle of Champagne, the one we have been saving, this certainly is a special enough occasion, wouldn’t you say darling?”

             
Smiling, she cried,” oh yes!”

             
Poppa said, “Oh my goodness, we need to let everybody know the fantastic news, this simply can’t wait until tomorrow. I’ll tell you all what where going to do, Abram why don’t you run next door and retrieve your future sister-law Marym - have her and her family come over at once. And please invite your parents, they’re certainly going to want to know the good news! I’ll tell you what, tell them we would be honored if they were to come over for dessert. This family has some celebrating to do.  Oh please! Now listen Abram, do not let on to our little surprise. Let’s wait until they arrive for that, I want the honor of telling them.”

             
“Yes Poppa I understand!”

             
“Oh Abram, could you wipe that smile off your face, goodness sake you’re going to give the surprise away.”

             
Momma hastily rushed into the kitchen, I followed close behind her. I wanted to give Momma a hand with things - luckily, for us, she just so happened to have made her famous German chocolate cake, with sour-cream frosting. I brought the cake out, and set it on the dining room table, directly under the light. I snuck a lick of frosting just before Momma saw me.  She brought out her best china plates, and crystal wine glasses.  She hardly ever let us eat from those dishes. I knew just how much they had meant to her. It was not long after that, that everyone was arriving at our front door, none the wiser. I was nervous just how they all were going to react to the news! I had
woken
grandmamma
from her nap so she could hear the news as well.

             
Poppa waited
impatiently out
on the front screen porch, puffing away on his cigar. He welcomed them as they arrived at the house. They all showed up at the same time. We all at least got together at least once a week; this was going to prove to be our second time just this week.

             
“So good of you all to come on such short notice, I apologize for that, it was my idea. Please would you all go in and take a seat? Hana dear would you please give everyone a glass.”

             
“Yes Poppa!”

             
Momma was following quickly behind me, with the
Champagne
, not pouring too much in any one glass, trying to ensure that everyone received equal shares. It was more about the toast.

             
Once Poppa could see all our glasses were full, enough for a toast, and everyone was comfortably sitting. I sat down next to Abram we held hands. With a measure of swollen pride written all over his face, I could tell that he was happy for me, he was positively glowing by this point.

             
“Well thank you for all coming here this evening. I suppose you are all are wondering? Trust me it was completely unexpected. The motive as you could imagine may be no kind of a surprise to any of you once you have heard what I have to say, that all being said, I assure you I have a joyful announcement to make in front of my dearest
of friends, and all those I love sit here in this room! Tonight after having a lengthy conversation, with Abram.”