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“Oh, Duke, I’m so proud of you,” Marge murmured as she hugged him. “What an amazing young man you are.”
“Thanks, mom, but you might be a bit upset with the next thing I have to tell you.”
“Before you do, sit down. Your father and I have news as well, and I hope you won’t feel let down.”
“Why? What’s happened?”
“Carl, do you want to—”
“No, no, this is your department.”
“Very well. Duke, I’m sorry to tell you this, but Maria called. She’s met someone else and it’s serious.”
“Maria?” Duke mumbled, trying to place the name, then suddenly remembered she was the daughter of the petroleum magnate. “Oh, no problem. I know you thought she was ideal, but I didn’t think we were particularly suited.”
“I was sure you’d be heartbroken.”
“No, mom, not even close,” Duke replied with a grin, then added, “In fact, I may have met someone special.”
“You have? What’s her name? When can we meet her?”
“Her name is Mandy, but I’ll tell you more about her later.”
“My goodness, what an evening this has turned out to be,” Marge declared. “But that’s how things happen. All at once.”
“By the way, this is the best chocolate cake you ever made,” Duke declared, taking another bite. “I want to eat the whole thing. It’s as good as the one they serve at The Tavern.”
“Ah, well, that’s because itisthe one from The Tavern,” Carl said with a chuckle.
“You always talk about it, and when your father said you’d be coming over I didn’t have time to bake, so I had one delivered.”
“Mom, you are the best,” Duke exclaimed, pecking her on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“Is there anything else you need to talk about?” she asked, smiling up at him.
“Nope. That’s it.”
“In that case I’m going to say goodnight, but I’ll see you at breakfast. I’m making French omelettes and fried rosemary potatoes.”
“I’ll clear up the plates and be up in a few minutes,” Carl promised.
“I know, I know, it’s men talk time.”
* * *
Duke waited until his mother left the room, then took another slice of the cake and poured himself more coffee.
“Didn’t you have any dinner?” his father asked.
“Now that you mention it, no, I didn’t. It took me almost four hours to follow the horse van and get back, but this will tide me over until morning. I take it there’s something else you want to talk to me about.”
Rising to his feet, Carl walked across to the floor to ceiling windows and gazed out over the landscaped yard.
“Yes, there is,” he finally replied. “Something’s going to happen and you need to know about it. “
“This sounds serious.”
“It is,” Carl said solemnly as he opened the sliding glass door. “Bring your coffee and come outside with me for a minute.”
