In mid-June, Cliff and Marie check into their room at Watertown’s Peninsula Hotel and immediately order drinks from Room Service. It had been a rough flight from Cincinnati and a frustrating drive through the morning traffic from the Norfolk airport.
“I think I lost my stomach over Wheeling,” says Marie.
“That martini should put you in fine fiddle.”
“Don’t you mean fettle?”
“Yes, but when I’m down here I don’t want the home folks to think I’m putting on airs.”
“I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to start chewin’ tobacky.”
“No ma’am. I give that up when I was twelve.”
“Oh, hush. I need a hug.”
Cliff gives her a manly squeeze and they tumble into bed.
Two hours later Cliff parks the rented car and they walk into Frank’s farm market.
“This place is huge,” says Marie, “almost as big as the Cincinnati Reds ball park.”
“I’ve already named it ‘An Acre of Farm Under One Roof.’”
“Only an acre?”
“I didn’t want to overdo it.”
“Modesty becomes you.”
“Looks like Frank is coming to greet us.”
“Hi Cliff,” says Frank.
“Frank Walker meet Marie Walker.”
“Pleased to meet you, Marie.” He gives a lingering once-over. “You‘re the prettiest thing ever to visit this old town.”
“Thanks, Frank. How sweet.”
“I mean it, Marie. We’ve never seen the likes of you in Watertown.”
Cliff chuckles. “That’s why we’re going to feature Marie on your posters, Frank, in her farmer’s daughter getup.”
Frank, who hasn’t taken his eyes off Marie since they were introduced, says, “That should bring in some customers. Yes sir!”
“That’s the idea,” says Cliff.
“What about the big truck?” says Marie.
“Oh, that’s around back where the fellows are hooking up the refrigeration and the sound system.”
“Good,” says Cliff. “You should also call in someone to do a big sign on the truck.”
“The sign painter will be here tomorrow. What’s the sign going to say?”
“Everything you need to know is here in this proposal.” He hands a copy of the proposal to Frank. “I think the sign on the truck should say something like, “Captain Jack is here! The freshest produce around at the lowest prices in town!”
Franks says, “Don’t you think “cheapest prices” would sound better?”
“Yes, good point, Frank.”
“I’m wondering about Captain Jack,” says Marie. “Why not Farmer Jack?
“Marie, I think you’re smart as well as pretty.”
“Well,” says Cliff, “the only reason I suggested Captain Jack is because some of the people in town might remember the old man.”
“I don’t think there are many of those folks alive anymore.”
“Ok, let’s go with Farmer Jack, or better yet, Farmer Frank.”
“What are we going to call Marie?”
“What about, Fanny May, the Farmer’s Daughter?”
“I don’t care for Fanny,” says Marie. “It’s not my best feature.”
“Looks damn nice to me,” says Frank. “But if you don’t like Fanny, how about Bessie?”
“Now you make me sound like a cow. How about Dolly? Then you could pick up that music refrain from Hello Dolly.”
“Sounds good,” says Cliff, “but it might cost too much to get the rights to the music. We don’t have to decide on it now. What I‘d rather talk about is getting Frank a small advertising agency to handle the radio, tv, newspapers, and posters, and any other promotions we happen to think of.”
“Like what?” says Frank.
“I was thinking of a weekly hoedown here in this big barn. You know, with country music, square dancing, and maybe soft drinks and a buffet table.”
“Good idea, Cliff. All we need is a banjo, guitar, and a fiddle. Art can prepare the food in the Blue Crab kitchen.”
“How about a door prize or a raffle?” says Marie.
“Yeah,” says Frank, “this thing is sounding better all the time.”
Cliff says, “About that ad agency. Why not keep it in the family? We can let Jack run it as soon as we get him out of jail. In fact, we can use that as a bargaining chip with the New Jersey judge. A good lawyer should be able to prove that the boy is prepared to make himself a worthwhile member of his community.”
“You really think it’ll work?:
“I don’t know. Will it work, Marie? You’re the lawyer in the family.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. At least, it’s worth a try.”
“Ok, Frank why don’t you talk it over with Matt and urge him to get a good attorney as soon as possible. Remember, it should be a New Jersey attorney.
“I’ll talk to Matt, but he’ll probably want you to handle it.”
“I will if I have to, but Matt should take responsibility for his own son.”
“Right! So what else do you have in mind?”
“Well, as soon as you can, check out the city ordinance and find a convenient place in town to park the truck, preferably somewhere near the big shopping mall.”
“I own a little stretch of land about two blocks from the mall. Will that do?”
“We’ll take a look at it, but sounds good to me.”
“What next?”
“Read the proposal. And talk to Matt.”
“Will do.”
“Marie and I have to leave here tomorrow, but we’ll be back next week for a book signing at the local book store. Lew will try to be here too, as well as Sally and the young man who collaborated with me on the book.”
“What book is that?”
“Oh, I thought I told you. We wrote about the human side of the early history of Virginia, with the focus mainly on the Lower Peninsula?”
“Damn, you’ve gotten to be an important man.”
“Yes, he is,” says Marie.
“As far as I’m concerned, Lew is the important man in this family.”
“If you say so,” says Frank. “Will he be coming alone?”
“I think so. Does it matter?”
“Folks around here don’t take to his kind of lifestyle, if that’s the word.”
“To hell with them.”
“Well, Cliff, I don’t think we can afford to offend people, do you?”
“No. You’re right, Frank. I think Lew will be coming down alone. His friend is supposed to be directing a movie in Hollywood.”
“I’m glad. It’ll be good to see Lew again. I guess he still remembers the old town.”
“Yes, he remembers,” say Cliff with a chill on his voice.
“Good. Will you and Marie join us for dinner at Art’s place? Matt will be there.”
“What about your wives? I’ve never met them, and I’d like for them to meet Marie.”
“Yes, Cliff, I’ll see that the wives are there too.”
“What are their names?” says Marie.
“Art’s wife is Alice, Matt’s is Janice, and my wife’s name is Louise. It’s been a while since we’ve had a family get-together. It should be fun.”
“Yeah,” says Cliff, as he takes Marie’s hand and heads for the door. “What time should we show up at the Blue Crab?”
“Is seven too early?”
“We’ll be there. I want to show Marie the beach. I wish the old amusement park was still there. We could take a spin on the merry-go-round. And dance at the Pavillion.”
“Art has a juke box, if you really want to dance.”
“If Marie is not too tired.”
Marie pokes him in the ribs. “Who do you think you’re kidding, old man?”
Arm in arm, and laughing, they walk to the car, turn to wave goodbye to Frank. When they drive away, Marie says, “Let’s stop someplace for a sandwich. I’m starving.”
“I know just the place,” says Cliff. Fifteen minutes later he parks the car at the curb in front of a small lunch counter called Donato’s. “You’ll love this place, sweetheart. Best chili dogs in the world.”
“I was thinking more of a Reuben or corn beef on rye.”
“Just wait till you taste Donato’s chili dog. It’s a work of art.”
“When did your taste become so sophisticated?”
“When I was nine or ten. I could buy a chili dog and a Coke for a dime.”
“Well, then, my dear gourmand, let’s dine at Donato’s.”
At six-fifteen, Cliff decides to give Marie a brief tour of the town en route to the Blue Crab. His last stop is the old army fort visited by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. He points to the nearby harbor and says, “That’s where the Merrimack and the Monitor fought.”
“Weren’t they the first ironclad boats?”
“Yes.”
“Who won?”
“I think the battle ended in a collision. They had to use this giant can opener to untangle the mess.”
“I hope you didn’t put that in your book.”
“It’s getting late.”
“Let’s go to dinner.”
“How can you be hungry after that marvelous lunch?”
“I’ll never eat chili again.”
By the time Cliff and Marie arrive at the Blue Crab, the other members of the family have assembled. They are greeted by Art who announces to the group, “Folks, this is brother Cliff and his wife Marie. Come up and introduce yourselves.”
Immediately they are surrounded by family members all speaking at the same time. Cliff is having difficulty trying to remember which wife goes with which brother. Of course, Marie is the focus of Frank’s attention.
Eventually, Cliff is able to pull Matt to the side and ask, “Can we speak privately for a moment?”
“Yeah, Cliff. I suppose you want to talk about Jack. Well, I’ve decided to drive up to Jersey tomorrow to see about hiring a lawyer. Got any recommendations?”
Cliff pulls a card from his wallet and hands it to Matt. “Give this guy a call. He’s supposed to be tops.”
“Thanks. I hope he can get poor Jack out of jail.”
“Me too. Be sure to impress on the attorney that we’re going to set up Jack in the advertising business. We want the judge to believe that Jack is prepared to be a model citizen.”
“Ok, Cliff. I wish you were going with me, but I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will, Matt. Good luck.” Cliff walks away to look for Marie. He finds her talking with one of the wives.
“Cliff, this is Frank’s wife Louise.”
“Oh, Cliff, how can we ever thank you for all you’re doing to help Frank save his farm market? He’s like a new man since you and Marie came to town.” She lowers her voice. “But after the way the family treated you and Lew, I’m surprised that you care enough to help us.”
“I guess I’m more of a family man than I thought.”
“Well, I’m proud of you. And so sorry to hear about the death of Jane.”
“Thanks,” says Cliff, then decides to search for the bar. “Marie, can I get you a martini?”
“Yes, I’m beginning to go into withdrawals.” She follows Cliff to the bar.
“Louise seems nice,” says Marie. “I wish Frank would pay more attention to her.”
“Sweetheart, I’m afraid that won’t happen as long as you’re around.”
“I know. So please stay close.”
Cliff puts both arms around her. “Marie, I can think of nowhere I’d rather be right now than close to you, alone, just the two of us.”
Before she can speak, Art informs the group that dinner is ready.
“Please remind Art that we have to leave early in the morning to catch our plane.”
“I’ve already done so. As soon as I’ve eaten three or four crab cakes, we’re out of here.”
“You glutton.”
“Yes,” says Cliff, as he caresses her derriere.
