A tree grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith [203]
“I have been waitin’ many years and now the time has come when ’tis no longer disrespect to the dead to speak out.
“Katherine Nolan, I’m askin’ to keep company with you. Object, a weddin’ in the fall.”
Katie looked quickly at Francie and frowned. What was the matter with Mother anyhow? Francie wasn’t even thinking of laughing.
“I am in a position to take care of you and the three chilthern. With my pension and salary and income from real estate in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, I have over ten thousand dollars a year. I have insurance, too. I offer to put the boy and girl through college and I promise to be a faithful husband in the future as I was in the past.”
“Have you thought this over, Mr. McShane?”
“I don’t need to be thinkin’. Sure didn’t I make up me mind five years ago when I saw you first at the Mahoney Outin’? ’Twas then I asked the girl if it was her mother you were.”
“I am a scrubwoman without education.” She stated it as a fact, not an apology.
“Education! And sure, who was it taught me to read and write? Nobody but meself.”
“But a man like you—in public life—needs a wife who knows social business—who can entertain his influential business friends. I’m not that kind of a woman.”
“My office is where I do my business entertainin’. My home is where I live. Now I’m not meanin’ you wouldn’t be a credit to me—you’d be a credit to a better man: But I’m needin’ no woman to help me out in my business. I can handle that meself, thank you. Need I be sayin’ I love you…” he hesitated before calling her by her first name “…Katherine? And is it time you want to think it over?”
“No. I don’t need time to think it over. I will marry you, Mr. McShane.
“Not for your income. Although I’m not overlooking that. Ten thousand a year’s a lot of money. But so is one thousand to people like us. We’ve had little money and are well trained in doing without it. It’s not for sending the children to college. Your help will make it so easy. But without help at all, I knew we’d manage some way. It’s not for your grand public position although it’ll be fine to have a husband to be proud of.
“I will marry you because you are a good man and I’d like to have you for my husband.”
It was true. Katie had made up her mind to marry him—if he asked her—simply because life was incomplete without a man to love her. It had nothing to do with her love for Johnny. She’d always love him. Her feeling for McShane was quieter. She admired and respected him and she knew she’d be a good wife to him.
“Thank you, Katherine. Sure it’s little enough I’m givin’ in exchange for a pretty young wife and three healthy chilthern,” he said in sincere humility.
He turned to Francie. “As the eldest, do you be approvin’?”
Francie looked at her mother who seemed to be waiting for her to speak. She looked at her brother. He nodded.
“I think my brother and I would like to have you for a….” Tears came into her eyes as she thought of her father and she couldn’t say that next word.
“Now, now,” said McShane soothingly, “I’ll not have you worryin’.” He turned to Katie.
“I’m not askin’ that the two oldest call me ‘father.’ They had a father and he as fine a lad as God ever made—the way he was always singin’.”
Francie felt her throat tightening.
“And I won’t be askin’ that they take my name—Nolan bein’ the fine name it is.
“But this little one I’m holdin’—the one who never looked on a father’s face: Would you be lettin’ her call me father, and lettin’ me legally adopt her and give her the name that you and I will be carryin’ together?”
Katie looked at Francie and Neeley. How would they take it—their sister called McShane instead of Nolan? Francie nodded approval. Neeley nodded approval.
“We will give you the child,” said Katie.
“We can’t call you ‘Father,’” said Neeley suddenly. “But we’ll call you ‘Dad,’ maybe.”
“I’m thankin’ you,” said McShane simply. He relaxed and smiled at them. “Now I’m wonderin’ if I could smoke me pipe?”
“Why, you could have smoked anytime without asking,” said Katie in surprise.
“I didn’t want to be