Easter Bonnet 1930's
The Easter weekend was fast approaching and I wanted to do something to get our minds off Charlie and the strain of the past week.
It was already Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. On my way into work, I wracked my brain to find some relief from the stress of the past week.
I hit on the idea of a weekend getaway for Marilyn and me, but almost immediately, discarded the notion. The fact was, Marilyn hadn’t even been to my apartment, so the possibility of her going away with me for a weekend was highly unlikely.
It’s not that Marilyn was a prude—she just had the morals and upbringing of a woman of seventy years ago—even though she was born in 1985.
Just trying to wrap my mind around that made my head spin—that way madness lies, I mused, —let me shun it.
I couldn’t make sense of our lives either and I wasn’t going to go down that road again, chasing the tail of my own mind, and stressing myself out further.
Note to self: the weekend getaway is out.
It was for the best anyway, because, despite her own trauma, Marilyn seemed preoccupied with Ella’s welfare. She sure as hell wouldn’t go on vacation and leave Ella behind to worry about her, especially while Charlie was still on the loose.
Besides, she’d want to spend at least part of the weekend with her Gran, regardless, so any plans would have to take that into account.
I hit on the only other option, besides the stay-at-home, old fashioned Easter weekend—I’d take both women out for Sunday dinner.
“It sounds like a great idea,” Marilyn enthused, when I phoned her. “The shop will be closed for four days and Ella will be at loose ends—this way we’ll all get to spend some time together and you’ll be able to get to now Gran better.”
“Will I see you tonight?” I asked.
“Oh, sorry, Scott—I promised Gran I’d take her to Bingo—we always go.”
“Bingo?” I laughed incredulously, “People still play Bingo?”
“Of course,” she sniffed, “I won fifty dollars last time I went with Gran.”
“Aha—a mercantile motive,” I parried.
“Nevertheless, “ I promised Gran, and I never go back on my word.”
“I know you don’t disappoint, Love—that’s one of the reasons I adore you. You and Ella have fun tonight—but be advised—I want to spend Good Friday with you.”
“Uh, that’ll have to be a little later in the afternoon, Scott—unless you want to accompany Gran and me to the Good Friday service at St. Michael’s Cathedral.”
“How about I pick you both up afterwards and drive you home?”
Her voice brightened. “That sounds great! But I wish we had a fourth for Euchre—Gran really loves that game.”
“I could phone Harry Greenspan,” I suggested.
“Oh, would you Scott? That’d be wonderful!”
“I’ll get on it right now,” I smiled. “Whatever it takes to win your heart, Milady.”
“You won my heart a long time ago, Joey—and you never—ever, have to fear losing it again.”
My throat constricted and I began to tear up. She sensed it and saved me further embarrassment. The line clicked off.