The Judge

On the way I commented, “We’ve never discussed your family, so I’m curious about whom I’m going to meet.”

“There’s Mother, whom you’ve already met, my Dad, a 16 year old sister who will probably flirt with you. I also have a brother,

22, who is in the navy, and not at home. You haven’t told me about your family.”

Here I hesitated before replying, “I have only one living relative, my brother, who is 7 years older than I and lives in Boston.

Both my parents were killed in an automobile accident when I was 15.”

“How awful!”

“Fortunately, my maiden aunt, who lived nearby, took me in and was my guiding light through high school. She helped me get

a scholarship to Yale. Without her help I don’t know which way I would have gone. She died of cancer three years ago.”

When we arrived, it was so dark all I could tell about my surroundings was that it was a large house on a large lot with many

trees.

Vivian took me by the hand and led me to where all her family, except her brother, had assembled in the living room. Mrs.

Randolph welcomed me with a warm embrace then introduced me to her husband, Jack, a tall, balding man in his early

fifties, and to Vivian’s sister, Kaitlin, who also gave me a hug. What a reception.

“Come and join us, Jack Randolph said. “We were all about to have some apple pie. “Can I twist your arm to have some?”

“You don’t have to twist my arm, when apple pie is offered,” I replied.

We all moved to the dining room where Jack motioned to a chair for me to sit in. Before Vivian could sit next to me Kaitlin

rushed to the chair and sat. Then, with a giggle, moved to the next chair and bowed to Vivian.

“I told you she would flirt with you,” Vivian said.

With another giggle Kaitlin retorted, “If you haven’t already decided to marry him, I’ll take him.”

This caused both Vivian and me to blush while the others laughed.

When the hilarity stopped Jack leaned towards me and said, “Vivian tells us you’re going to be a writer but haven’t quite

reached there yet. And you’re working for a judge. Somehow, the two seem inconsistent.”

I explained to him that the job was one that provided me with a decent income and also gave me the chance to examine an

aspect of life I had no experience with, jurisprudence.

“There are many possibilities for stories in Judge Summers’ trial transcripts. The judge has given me all the freedom I want to

write, and I consider what I’m doing important research.”

As we sat around the table making small talk for the next hour or so I discovered that Mr. Randolph ran an insurance office,

and apparently had a good income.

I had to ask him, “Is it true what the old jingle says: There’s no one with endurance like the man who sells insurance?

“I believe it is, although I would say lawyers probably work longer hours. Fortunately, I’m in the actuarial end of it and don’t

have to sell door to door anymore.”

All the time we were sitting at the table Vivian remained quiet until I squeezed her hand and winked at her.

I think she took this as an invitation, and perhaps it was. She rose from the table, took my hand and said, “Charlie and I are

going to excuse ourselves and go into the den.”

At this Kaitlin giggled again and teasingly said, “And what will you be doing in there?”

Vivian stuck her tongue out at Kaitlin and led me to the den. She led me to a comfortable looking couch, took off her shoes

and had me take off mine then lay down on the couch and motioned for me to lie down next to her. I felt like I might fall off but

knew if I did Vivian would fall with me, as she crushed me to her body.

“Well, what do you think of my family?” she asked.

“I think Kaitlin is cute, I replied.

“So does she, but she’s not going to get you.”

“I don’t think so either.”

Vivian pulled me even closer, which I had thought impossible. She kissed me with so much passion it was several minutes

more before I could get my breath back.

“I love you Charlie Ashton,” she whispered. “With all my heart.”

“And I love you, Vivian Randolph,” I replied. And, if we can work out the logistics of you being in New York and me in New

Haven, I would like to marry you. Will you marry me, Vivian Randolph?”

“Oh yes! When, we’ll have to work out. But I know I want to marry you; I knew the first time I met you.”

“I guess I’m a slow learner; I didn’t know until now that I was going to ask you.”

“Well, you had another girl on a string, didn’t you? What was her name, Virginia?”

“Oh, you knew about Ginger. She’s past history; a brief fling, that’s all.”

“I’m glad. I thought she was too fast for my taste.”

“I agree.”

By then I was getting uncomfortable, and aroused. When I pulled away and sat up Vivian didn’t object.

In the morning I’ll show you around the house and we can take a long walk so I can show you the neighborhood. Okay?”

“Okay.”

She led me to the room I would be using during my stay, saying, “This is John’s room, when he’s home.”

We kissed goodnight then, a lingering kiss with “I love you” at the end from each of us.

* * *

Saturday was a beautiful late summer day. I woke early to the sound of Vivian playing the piano. I showered, shaved, and got

dressed quickly and went downstairs to enjoy her playing close at hand but she had stopped by the time I reached what she

called the music room.

When I located her she was in the kitchen eating breakfast. “I heard you playing,” I said, after kissing her good morning. “But

you had already stopped by the time I made it down the stairs.”

“I usually practice first thing in the morning,” she replied. “My family tells me that they love to wake up to my music.”

“I’m looking forward to that, among other things,” then I kissed her again.

“I’ll play for you later,” she said. “Right now have some breakfast with me; then we’ll go for a walk.”

Following breakfast we went out into the neighborhood, and what a fabulous neighborhood it was. The house itself stood on a

half acre of forest, with a small segment cleared for the house and an immaculate lawn.

The entire neighborhood, as we walked, appeared to have been carved out of dense woods; all within a half hour or so drive

to Pittsburgh.

“It’s beautiful,” I told Vivian. “I can see why your parents bought here.”

“We love it; it’s a little bit of heaven close to a big city, but we never know Pittsburgh is close until we drive about 10 miles.”

“Maybe we can find a home here after we get married,” I replied. “And after I’m no longer working for Judge Summers.”

When we returned to the house more than an hour later the rest of the family was just finishing breakfast. Vivian took my hand

and said, “Come and I’ll show you the house.”

It was larger than I had first thought. It was a sprawling, two story affair with four bedrooms, all upstairs, three full bathrooms,

two up and one down. Down- stairs was the living room, dining room, and kitchen, all of which I had already seen, and an

addition which Vivian told me had been added four years ago, which housed the music room and a den.

“Wow!” I exclaimed. “This is a beautiful house; I can see why you love it here.”

“I do,” she said, then sat at the piano and played for me. As always, I was enthralled by her playing.

The afternoon was a quiet one. Vivian and I sat on a porch swing and talked about the future. For the immediate future Vivian

told me her mother had arranged room and board for her in an all girl facility close to Julliard. “I’ll be moving there two weeks

from today, so next weekend is my last one of un-impeded freedom. While there I’ll have to check in and out each time I enter

or leave and record where I’m going and the time I will return. That will throw a few wrinkles into our dating until I find a way of

getting around it.”

“I’ll sign you out and vouch for you,” I offered.

“I don’t think so,” Vivian replied.

For the long term we talked about hoping we could each succeed in what we wanted to do, compatibly.

“I don’t see myself in a full-time career,” Vivian said. “I would be happy with an occasional concert, or even appearing with the

local philharmonic chapter and playing in the area. It doesn’t matter where I play, only that I play.”

“I hope to do most of my writing at home,” I said. “I will need a room where I can work without being disturbed; which might be

asking a lot. We’ll need a big house, especially if we have a dozen kids.”

“A dozen?” she gasped.

“Half a dozen?”

How about two or three?”

By now we were laughing so hard Mrs. Randolph came out to see what the commotion was about.

“We were talking about how many children we were going to have. Charlie suggested a dozen.”

Mrs. Randolph looked at Vivian with a bemused look on her face and asked, “Shouldn’t you get married first?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m the future Mrs. Charles Lynn Ashton.”

At this Mrs. Randolph almost fell over. She needed to sit in a nearby chair to regain her composure. “Are you sure?” she

asked. “Isn’t it kind of sudden?”

“Charlie proposed last night and I said, “Yes.” We are very much in love and I’m as sure about this as anything I’ve ever

wanted to do.”

“Well, I guess I’ll have to accept that. Have you told your father?”

“No, I was planning to drop the bombshell at dinner tonight but you came out here and I had to tell you.”

“Okay, I won’t spoil your surprise. Drop your bombshell at dinner. She then turned to me and said, “Charlie, I know you’re a

good match for her; I’m happy for you both.”

After Mrs. Randolph went back into the house we talked about when we could get married.

“I’d like to get married right away, but Mother would never approve; I know she wants me to finish college first. How about next

June? That’s the traditional month for weddings.”

“Sweetheart, if you can wait that long I can also.”

“I don’t think we need to wait any longer to make love; after all, we are engaged.”

“That’s something you should discuss with your mother.”

That evening, as soon as we all sat down for dinner Kaitlin decided to tease. “I saw you kissing Charlie, on the porch,” she

said, with a smug grin on her face.

Vivian retorted, “I didn’t kiss Charlie on the porch, I kissed him on the lips.

I think you’re jealous. Have you ever been kissed?”

“None of your business.”

“My point exactly.”

Mrs. Randolph thought it an appropriate time to enter the conversation. “When you’re in love, you kiss a lot. Your dad and I still

kiss a lot and we’ve been married almost 25 years.”

This gave Vivian the opening to unload her bombshell. “We’re more than in love; we’re engaged. Last night Charlie asked

me to marry him and I accepted.”

Jack looked at Vivian, then at his wife before saying, “Did you already know about this?” When Mrs. Randolph nodded he

continued, “I could tell something special had happened by the way you’ve been acting all afternoon.”

“I think they’re an ideal match, Jack, just like you and I are. I didn’t tell you because Vivian wanted to spring it on you herself.”

“Well, it’s good news then.” Jack walked around the table to hug Vivian and to clasp me by the shoulders and say, “If

Elizabeth says you’re a good match, I believe her. I’m happy for both of you.”

After dinner we gathered around the dining room table and they tried to teach me how to play pinochle. They tried, but I didn’t

play very well.

As it was still warm out after the game, Vivian and I went out to the porch swing to cuddle. Before we got settled in Kaitlin

came out and apologized for being rude. “Vivian, you knew I was kidding, but Charlie might not. I’m sorry I teased you. I’ll bite

my tongue next time.”

“Won’t that hurt?” I asked, poker-faced.

Kaitlin looked at me as if I was nuts, then grinned and replied, “Now you’re teasing me. Charlie, I think I’m going to like you;

and Vivian, I’m happy for you.” With that, she left us to do our cuddling.

“It’s been quite a day, hasn’t it,” I commented.

“A beautiful day,” Vivian replied. “I think you’ve made a great impression on my family. “I don’t think they will ever love you as

much as I do, but they will love you.”

We cuddled contentedly for a time, with my arm around Vivian and her head on my shoulder. In this position Vivian fell

asleep, and so did my arm. I woke her gently and said, “It’s time to go to bed, Sweetheart.”

“With you?”

“I wish.”

She kissed me with all the love in her heart before we made our way to separate bedrooms.

In the morning I woke early and went downstairs to hear Vivian as she began her practice. When she saw me enter the music

room she smiled and began a medley of love songs from Broadway shows.

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