Claws For Concern

Much of this indecision had to do with my upbringing. My parents had always been proud of my achievements. I had made good grades in school and had graduated second in my high school class. I had even acquitted myself well in sports, though I never had the talent to play beyond high school. My parents had taught me that a gentleman, a man of honor, doesn’t push himself forward in order to get attention. His behavior and his deeds should speak for themselves. A man who goes around calling attention to himself, seeking glory, is no gentleman. And to my parents, not being a gentleman was a bad thing indeed.

I had instilled the same beliefs in my children, and I found it somewhat ironic that my daughter had chosen to be an actress. Laura hadn’t performed simply for the sake of attention, I knew. She loved the art and the craft of assuming a role and bringing that character to life. If she had valued empty attention and accolades beyond other things, she never would have decided to become a teacher and stay in Athena with her husband to raise a family.

Sean was thriving as a small-town lawyer. He had quickly come to hate practicing corporate law in Houston. Here in Athena he knew he was helping people who needed honest legal counsel, not a huge corporation, and that brought him great satisfaction. I was proud of him for his dedication to his work and to his family.

Helen Louise called me out of my reverie, and I became aware that Clementine, the Ducotes’ housekeeper, stood by me with a tray of cake and cookies.

“I’m sorry, Clementine.” I picked up a dessert plate from the tray and helped myself to a small slice of cheesecake and two chocolate chip cookies. “I was off in my own little world.” That is an understatement, I thought. The way my mind meandered these days surprised me, hopping from one thought to the next like a frog in a jumping contest.

Clementine chuckled. “Not to worry. You just enjoy.” She set the dessert tray down on the coffee table and picked up the tea tray. “I’ll be back with more tea in a minute.”

“Thank you, Clementine,” Miss An’gel said. “Now, Charlie, what had you looking so perturbed? I wish you could have seen the frown you were giving us.”

“Looked awful serious to me,” Miss Dickce said. “Whatever it was.”

“My apologies, ladies.” I glanced at Helen Louise and could see she was holding back a smile. I figured she knew what I had been fretting over. “I hope I didn’t alarm you. I was simply thinking about, well . . .” I paused for a moment as I sought the best way to express myself without being overly personal. “About having been raised by my parents to be reticent about certain things.”

“Behaving like a gentleman, in other words, and not putting yourself forward unnecessarily,” Ernie said.

She was a bit unnerving, I decided, the way she could read my thoughts, not to mention the way she cut right to the heart of things. I nodded. “More or less.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” Miss An’gel sniffed. “Far too many people these days have no concept of manners or decent behavior.”

“And far too many other people think it’s their business what everyone else is doing,” Miss Dickce said.

“That’s how small towns work and probably always have.” Helen Louise smiled as she reached for a cookie from the dessert tray.

Diesel, who had been extraordinarily quiet for several minutes now, must have decided to add his thoughts to the conversation right then. He sat up and emitted a couple of loud meows, followed by a trill. Then he went back to his relaxed position on the rug, having had his say.

Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce exchanged amused looks, while Ernie Carpenter laughed aloud. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a cat talk like that before. I’m sure he was agreeing with y’all.”

“He usually has to put in his two meows’ worth.” I grinned and shook my head.

Miss An’gel, perhaps sensing my discomfort at having the conversation focused on me, changed the subject. “Speaking of gentlemen, Ernie, didn’t you tell us that young cousin of yours, Andy, I believe, has recently published a book?”

“He certainly has,” Ernie said. “His dissertation has been published.” She glanced at me, then at Helen Louise. “He has a doctorate in medieval history, and he and his partner live in Houston where they both teach. I don’t have a copy of the book yet, but I’m heading to Houston soon for a visit and will get one while I’m there.”

Helen Louise and I both said the appropriate things, and Ernie and the Ducotes talked about cousin Andy and his book for a few minutes. I noticed Helen Louise glance at her watch a couple of times, and I got the signal. Time for us to be going.

When a lull came in the conversation, I explained that we must be heading out. I thanked the sisters, as did Helen Louise, and expressed delight again at having met Ernie Carpenter. A few minutes later, after Diesel had been appropriately noticed and petted, the three of us headed for the car and drove back home.