“Then I don’t know,” she said. “I do know I’m not going back to Bryn Mawr, or any college, period.”
“I’ll see what Orrin Fox has to say,” he said.
Ann walked to his desk and pushed down on the intercom TALK switch. “Mrs. Gregg, would you get Mr. Fox of the Advocate for Daddy, please?” she said.
When he didn’t cancel the call, Ann knew that she had gotten her way. Orrin Fox, the managing editor of the Advocate, would probably have given her a job even if her father didn’t own the newspaper And she was right. Orrin was even willing to start her out cityside, covering hospitals and funerals, which was more than she thought she’d get.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she said, beaming, and kissed him.
“Don’t look so smug,” he said, trying to sound stem-but she couldn’t help notice the approval and the pride in his voice. “There’s still your mother to consider. She hasn’t heard about you quitting college, much less about wanting to go live by yourself in Memphis. I wouldn’t think of entering that argument.”
11 can handle Mother9″ Ann Chambers said, “and with a little bit of help from my generous daddy, I can find a nice little apartment. Until the paper pays me enough to support myself.”
“I’m serious, Annie,” he said. “She’s not going to like the idea of you living alone in an apartment in Memphis.”
“I won’t be living alone,”Ann said. “Sarah Child will share an apartment with me.”
He didn’t know what to make of that.
“And why,” he asked finally, “would Sarah Child want to drop out of college and go live with you in Memphis, Tennessee?”
“Because she’s pregnant Ann said. “And not married.”
“Christ Jesus!” he boomed. “So the crazy little bitch got herself knocked up!”
“Dad!” Ann cried.
“I didn’t think she had it in her.”
“Dad!” she screamed. “That’s cruel! And it’s crude! And it’s unfair! And Sarah is my friend. She needs help and she needs me.”
“So that’s it. She’s it,” he said, angry. “She’s why you’re quitting school.”
“I was ready to quit anyway’ ” Ann said. “But I have to help her. She might as well have no family. Her father’s too busy taking care of his bank to take care of her; and her mother’s crazy, you know. A certified loony.”
“And Sarah can’t take care of herself9” He paused to let that sink in. “Or else you may be aware-even as virginal as you arethat these things have now and again been handled successfully with the help of what has come to be called marriage.”
“Don’t be sarcastic, Daddy.” She was crying. So he softened and let up on her.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart; but I’m upset too. I just don’t want the kid I love to throw away her education so she can mother a knocked-up little girl. And besides, what about the father?”
“He’s in China,” she said, holding in her sobs. “China? Who does little : Sarah know in China?” Then he remembered. “Oh my God! My God, do you mean it happened at The Lodge when you were all down there in the spring?” Ann nodded. “Canidy! ” he blared. “Christ!”
“Wrong,” Ann said. “It was Cousin Eddie.”
“Ed? You’re kidding.”
“It was Cousin Eddie, Dad, but if you tell anyone, I’ll never forgive you. I gave her my word, and you’re the only other person who knows.”
Brandon Chambers shook his massive head and exhaled audibly. She was going to win this one, he knew. He might as well acake care cept the inevitability of it. Ann was going to Memphis to t of the little girl. So that was that.
“And what has Ed got to say?”
“Eddie doesn’t know,” Ann said. “She won’t tell him, and she made me give my word that I wouldn’t tell him either.”
“Why not?”
“She said because she believes what happened is her fault, not his-”
“It takes two,” he flared up, but only halfheartedly.
“But what I think it is is that she’s a Jew.”
“That wouldn’t make a difference to Ed,” her father said.
“Wouldn’t it?” Ann asked her father. “Would you bet big money on that, Daddy?