Finding Amy Read Free Page A

have, but I wanted to spend as much time alone with her as I could.  Get to know her.”  My parents nodded, but I missed the concern written all over their faces and hurried on.  “Now, I want to tell you all about her.  I want you to know how special she is and how much she already means to me.”
    “Moving a little fast aren’t you, son?”  Dad questioned.
    My face was still draped in a wide smile.  “Yes.  Real fast.  I don’t want her to get away.  In fact, tonight I asked her to marry me.”  Mom gasped.  I hurried on.  “She said yes.  And that’s what I need to talk to you about.”
    Worry etched itself into their faces as I rambled on in my excitement.
    “You see, I have to go to Boston with her so we can tell her parents.  She said they probably wouldn’t be receptive because they’re some high society snobs.  I’m going back there, put on all my charm and win them over.”  I was grinning from ear to ear.  Then, I noticed they were not smiling.  In fact, Mom was visibly upset and shaking her head.
    Dad spoke first.  “Son, don’t you think you’re rushing things a bit?”
    Mom found her voice.  “Yes, we would like to meet the girl and get to know her.  We want you to be happy, Danny, but … but … well maybe …”
    “You need to simmer down some.”  Dad finished her sentence.  “Take a breather.  Maybe you need to let her go home by herself and let things cool down a little.  Then in a few weeks, maybe a month or so, go on back there and meet her folks.  See if you both still feel the same.”
    I knew he was giving me good advice, but I also knew I wasn’t going to take it.  I stood up.  “I know you think I’m crazy, but I know what I’m doing. “  I looked at Mom.  “She is so fine.  I’m sure, really sure.  I don’t intend to let her out of my sight for one day, one week or one month.”
    My folks tried for the next half-hour or so to talk me into biding my time, sit back and take a breather, but I hardly listened.  I knew what I wanted.  Dad finally relented and agreed to give me some of the money they’d saved for me from my work as a ranch hand before I went in the Army.  It was after midnight when I called the airport in Houston and made reservations for us to fly out to Boston the next afternoon.
     
    *****
     
    By three the next afternoon we were on a plane headed east.  The closer we got to Boston, the more nervous Amy became.  She closed her eyes, but I could tell she was only pretending to sleep.  My heart went out to her.  I couldn’t imagine dreading one’s parents.  I didn’t always agree with my folks, but I never doubted they loved me and I knew they were always in my corner.
    The plane landed after dark on a hot, humid East Coast night.  In the baggage claim area, the family chauffeur greeted her stiffly.  He asked for our claim tickets, then escorted us to a silver Rolls Royce parked in the loading zone.  We waited quietly in the back seat while he collected our luggage.  During the ride from the airport to her home, I watched Amy draw further into herself.  All attempts at conversation were met with a weak smile or nod of her head.  Her small hand tightened its grip on mine as we drove through the night.
    Her parents stood waiting in the foyer of their home.  Its oversize area radiated an aura of cold sterility.  The domed ceiling was centered by an imposing crystal chandelier brilliantly lighting the room.  It was impressive and dominating rather than beautiful due to the stark walls with no pictures or color for the crystals to absorb.  I shuddered as my eyes took in the stern faces that made no attempt to welcome their daughter home.
    They were worse than I expected.  Their stiffness reminded me of the pictures on the society pages of the newspaper.  Her father didn’t have the rugged good looks of my Dad, but he was a nice looking man in a smooth sort of way.  Her mother was a strikingly good-looking