Reckless: Shades of a Vampire(41)

David retrieves a napkin from the glove compartment. He wipes off the roof, and his hand. He zips back up, throws the napkin out the window, and starts the car.

"Well," he says. "I guess I have no further complaints."

"I am forgiven?"

“You are forgiven, Emma” David says. “But only this once. I expect that we will not have further surprises like this, right?”

“I’m sure you are right about Michael being a heathen and all,” Emma says, making sure David is completely smoothed over. “I just didn’t really know. I’m not even sure where they live. I don’t know anything about them.”

“They stay near Ider but outside the limits,” David says.

“Where?”

“Just off Grinder’s Switch road I’ve heard. Somebody said they’ve got a giant American flag flying at their driveway. Like that makes it okay.”

David pulls up in the Mays’ driveway and stops.

“I’m not going to tell your father about this,” he says. “It’s my job to manage you now. I think you’ve learned your lesson.”

“Yes, David,” Emma says. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m sorry. Let’s forget about this and move on.”

David gets out of the car, walks to the passenger door, opens it, and reaches for Emma’s hand to help her from the car. She takes it, clutching tightly as she hoists herself from the seat.

“Well,” she says upon standing, “that was an experience.”

“Perhaps one trip to Ider is enough,” David says. "But maybe we could go back down that dirt road."

They laugh.

He leans his head toward Emma. She turns her face to the side, exposing her right cheek. He gives it a peck, with pursed lips. She closes her eyes and smiles as he backs away, job done.

“Mmm,” he says. “The sweet taste of an innocent child of God.”

“Good night, David,” Emma says.

“Good night Emma," David says. "See you next Saturday. Time we start making some Christmas plans.”

Emma turns away, walking inside the door, and clutching her left cheek.



David calls Emma’s house the next Friday, telling her he will pick her up at four thirty on Saturday afternoon to take her to meet his parents at their home in Henagar.

“Okay,” Emma says.

He knocks on the door precisely on time. She’s waiting in the parlor with a plate of chocolate chip cookies in a bag that she made in the afternoon as a gift to his family. Driving to his house, David tells Emma what is expected.

“This is important, you know,” he says.

“I know,” Emma responds.

“My father and your father were called by God to make this happen before we were,” he said. “But my father has never met you. He has heard about you, but he doesn’t know you. And your father makes him nervous with the snake-handling bit.

“This is your time to make a good impression. Show him what a beautiful Christian servant you are and everything will be fine.”

“What do I say? What do I do?” Emma says.

“They will want to see that you love God. They will want to see that you love me.”

“I see.”

“But, David, I barely know you,” Emma says.

“You know me. As much as a woman can know a man until they are married. Until they join together after marriage to make children as God calls. You will know me soon enough. But don’t let them know that. They have to see respect. That is knowing me.”

Emma quivers with chills up her arms.

“Are you chilly?” David asks.

“No,” Emma says.

They wind through the mountain highway to Henegar, with Emma studying the path, taking note of each turn and marker. David reaches for and takes her hand, wrapping his around hers. She makes a ball, as if her fingers are in retreat.

But, neither does she pull her hand away.

“We will need to hold hands,” David says.

“What?”

“Hold hands. In the house, when we meet my parents. We will need to hold hands. To show we are together. And one more thing: don’t say anything about the snake handling. I haven’t told my father yet.”

“You haven’t told your father?”

“I’m not sure how he feels about it,” David says. “When he and your father made the arrangement, it was discussed. Your father felt strongly that snake handling is an important part of the church.

“My father wasn’t sure. They decided it wouldn’t be an issue as long as it was not an issue. Understand?”

“They decided it wouldn’t be an issue?” Emma says. “Well, apparently your father did not know my father as well as her thought.”