From the Relief Society Magazine, February 1957 –

Hearts United

By Frances C. Yost

Calvin and Susan Deaton sat before the fireplace. Its cheerful warmth felt good on this cold February evening. Occasionally Calvin would reach down with the fire tongs and turn the log, burning on the hearth. Then, too, he would reach over and pat Susan’s work-worn hand as she rested it on the armchair. It had been quite sometime since either of them had spoken.

Calvin wondered what Susan was thinking It wasn’t like her to sit with her hands idle. Usually as they chatted in the evening, she crocheted or knitted. He hoped she was happy, that she was glad to share the September of her life with him. He remembered their wedding day, just a year ago. Valentine’s Day seemed such an appropriate day to be married. Some of the children, his mischievous Carl and Susan’s Roger, had decorated their car while they were being married. Calvin remembered so well the drawing on the back of the car. It was two hearts united, and with the words inside, “United.”

Calvin looked over at Susan again. She seemed lost in thought as she watched the firelight. This wasn’t much of a way to treat a lady on her wedding anniversary. If the car hadn’t broken down, he could have taken her to a movie. But what Susan would like best, and Calvin admitted to himself that he would, too, would have been for the family, his grown children, and hers, to drop in and spend the evening. He had thought at the time of their marriage that all the children approved, but if they were happy about this second marriage, some of them would have called and wished them greetings today.

Calvin looked again at Susan and spoke affectionately. “Susan, my dear, you are so quiet tonight. A penny for your thoughts.” He patted her hand tenderly.

”I was thinking, Calvin, that it’s been a good year for us. I was thinking that I’m very glad you proposed to me at that old-fashioned party, and that we chose Valentine’s Day to be married.” She sighed softly, “But I must admit I’m disappointed that the children have forgotten entirely. If even one of them had remembered to call on our anniversary, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Sometimes children are thoughtless. They don’t mean to be, it’s just that they are so busy living their own lives. You know how it is with growing children and all. If the old car hadn’t quit on us, I’d ask the sweetest person I know, to go see a movie. Would you like to hop on a bus and go downtown to see a show?”

“No, Calvin, I like it here, really. Except I’d like to see some of the family.” Susan smiled sweetly and patted Calvin’s hand.

“Well, if my old jitney hadn’t balked,” Calvin said, “I would take you to see them all. We’d go calling from house to house like we did on Christmas morning.”

“That would be nice, but it’s pleasant here by the fire. Perhaps some of the family will think to call even yet this evening,” Susan assured him.

“You’ve been so quiet, I got to wondering if you regretted marrying an old codger like me. Your children were mighty devoted to you. It wasn’t my intention to come between you and your loved ones. But, by George, I don’t know how I managed without you for those fifteen years,” Calvin sighed.

“I must admit, I’ve wondered this evening, if your family really likes me as a stepmother. Oh, they’ve treated me lovely, Calvin, really they have. But your girls did hover around and sort of pamper you all those years, and I’ve wondered if you’ve missed it. I wonder if they sort of resent my taking their mother’s place.” Susan felt better now that she had aired her thoughts. She hoped Calvin would not misunderstand her.

”Of course, my family loves you. They couldn’t help loving you. You’re so sweet-natured, and as for the girls not dropping in each day, it’s just that you keep the house so spic and span, and keep cookies, pie, and cake around for my sweet tooth, so that they don’t need to come so often. But 1 did think some of the family would drop by today.” Calvin could not hide his disappointment.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Calvin, your Carl did stop by this morning, right after you left for work. He asked if he could store some long picnic tables in our basement, lie said Karen was making room in their basement for the children to roller skate and bicycle during the bad weather. I thought it would be all right, so I told him to bring them in.”

”Sure, that’s fine,” Calvin replied.

“It was sort of funny, though. My Roger had just been here a few minutes before that, and asked if we would mind if he stored some boxes and things in the basement.” Susan laughed. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, that’s okay. There’s plenty of room in the rumpus room. We don’t have the parties there like we used to when the kids were home. I’m glad to help them out any way we can, but didn’t either of the boys say anything? Didn’t they even say happy anniversary. Mom?” Calvin questioned.

“No, they didn’t, Calvin. I guess that’s what made me sort of down in the dumps. I’ve tried to shake it off all day, but, it just keeps coming back, try as I may.” Susan looked at Calvin for some kind of reassurance.

“I guess we have to make our own happiness, Susan, not expect someone else to hand it to us like a valentine.” Calvin was more serious than usual.

“I guess you are right,” Susan agreed. Then silence enveloped them as they each lived with their thoughts and watched the firelight glow. Yet they knew that real happiness includes outside contacts, knowing that loved ones love you and approve of your decisions. Perhaps the children hadn’t approved of their marriage, and this was their way of showing it: this complete ignoring of their first anniversary!

“I’m thinking too much and not working enough.” Susan wiped an escaped tear from her lashes, and picked up her crocheting from the end table. She watched her fingers work with the thread, the way she liked them to, but her mind kept dwelling on the family, the whole united family — hers and Calvin’s children. It wasn’t as if they lived a long way off— everyone of them was within driving distance. They knew that Calvin’s car wasn’t working, they knew the repair man had said it wasn’t worth fixing. They could have dropped in if they had wanted to.

Susan looked at Calvin, his gray, thinning hair was evidence of years of toil and service for his family and the community. She hated to have him hurt. For his sake, she wished his children would come by and wish them well.

Calvin watched Susan crocheting and thought if only one of her children would come this evening, and let her know they were happy that she had remarried. Children shouldn’t hurt their mother like this. It was like a sharp blade against Susan’s heart, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.

“Well, I’d better put another log on the fire, the evening is still young,” Calvin said, rising from the chair.

It was after he had placed the log and straightened up, that Calvin noticed a golden crimson light fall across the window, like the glitter on the cake of a centenarian. Then they heard some peculiar noise outside. Calvin looked quickly at Susan, then suddenly the front door burst open, and it seemed the very hosts of heaven were shouting, “Happy Anniversary, Mother and Dad!”

Their faces lighted up as they looked first at each other then at the throng of happy people tramping through the front door. They both were pale, but it was from pure joy. Calvin’s children with their husbands and wives, and Susan’s children with their husbands and wives, came marching in two by two, filling the room as Noah filled the ark. All were singing an unrehearsed song from an old familiar tune, every line ending with the words, ”happy anniversary.”

As the large group of married young folks circled the room, Calvin and Susan found themselves standing in the center of all of their loved ones. It was such a good feeling, having all the children together. They seemed like hearts united, as they grouped themselves according to age, like one big, happy family.

When the song was finished, and the door closed against the evening’s chill, Calvin’s oldest boy, John, cleared his throat, a signal for complete silence. Then John acted as spokesman for the group.

“Mother and Dad,” he began, “in behalf of all of us, to show you our love, we want to give you a little present.” There was a chuckle from the crowd, then John resumed his speech. “Well, it’s sort of big, folks, we couldn’t get it through the door, so if you’ll step outside.”

John took Susan’s arm and John’s wife. Vera, took Calvin’s, and they were ushered to the front porch, with all the others following. Outside it was so dark the stars seemed to pull the sky down close. Then someone turned on a spotlight at just the right moment, and there in the driveway was a new red car. It looked like a valentine all wrapped in cellophane and tied with ribbons.

John handed them the biggest valentine they had ever seen, and attached to it were the keys to the car. Susan was overcome with joy. She looked at Calvin and gained strength. He was like a boy with his first ice skates at Christmas time. She thought her heart would burst with joy when she read aloud the card: ”Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine greetings to both of you.” Then underneath in neat handwriting, with the signature of all of the two families, was the little message, ”An anniversary gift from all of us.”

The group grew suddenly quiet, and Susan knew it was time to say something. She turned to Calvin. Susan was glad he had chosen to speak first, perhaps her heart would stop fluttering by the time he had finished.

Calvin’s voice choked as he spoke: “It’s hard to tell all of you what this means to me. After driving a car for as many years as I have, a fellow sort of gets used to having one around that will run. I guess, even though I am getting along in years, I never figured I was quite old enough to start riding a bus all the time.”

Everyone laughed a little, and then Susan knew it was her turn to express her appreciation. “Children, all of you, my children, and Calvin’s, and all of you dear, sweet sons and daughters-in-law, we want you to know we love you all very dearly. We appreciate your opening your purses and buying the car we so needed, but it’s this coming to see us, this remembering . . . .”

A lump rose in her throat and Susan knew she couldn’t go on.

Then Martin, who was always so understanding, came to her rescue and said, “We know. Mother.”

Then it was that three of the young men jumped in the back seat and insisted that Calvin and Susan take them for a ride around the block. Someone shouted from the porch: “Remember, just around the block, the party is only beginning.”

Susan felt it was just as well the ride was short, because Calvin was much too excited to do his best driving. When they returned, they found themselves being ushered down the basement to the recreation room.

But she was not prepared for the surprise which greeted them. Everyone had been busy as beavers while they were driving around. The very picnic tables that Carl had brought over were set up, and the tables were decorated with valentines and cupids with arrows, and entwined hearts.

Susan noticed that her son, Roger, was pulling folding chairs out of the boxes he had brought over to store that morning. How very stupid I have been, Susan chided herself.

Then down from the kitchen came the girls, each wearing a little paper valentine apron, and carrying large platters of cold turkey, salads of all kinds, relishes, punch, and hot rolls. As they walked around the table hunting for their places, Susan could hardly hold back the tears of joy. Why the place cards were made from old photographs of each of them when they were children.

She remembered the clay Karen and Mary had come gathering pictures. It was right after the Christmas rush. Why, they had been planning this big party for a long, long time. It would take a long time of planning to … to buy a car. Susan knew, because even though all of the children were successful, they would have had to make some very dear sacrifices to present them with such a wonderful gift.

How could she ever have thought they were against her marriage to Calvin? Oh, how she had misjudged them! Susan caught Calvin’s eye to sort of ask forgiveness for those moments of distrust. But he only winked back at her mischievously.

The big dinner was topped with homemade ice cream and cake for dessert. Martin and June had brought a five gallon freezer and everyone else must have brought a cake, because there was such a variety of delicious ones.

There followed a homey little unrehearsed program. It reminded Susan of the home evenings they used to have when the children were growing up, with each person participating, even though a little timid.

Then the tables were folded up, and Carl laughed and said that he would get the tables out of their way one of these first days. They could have put a record on, but everyone seemed to want family-style music. Ruth was ushered to the piano, Dick had brought along his violin, and Roger, the clown of the family, improvised a drum from some laundry equipment. Paul started calling for the square dancing. There were enough to make two full squares of dancers, with the four-piece orchestra.

After a square or two of dancing, Calvin’s boy, Paul, came over and said: ”Dad, let me dance with Mom, you call the changes lots better than I can.”

Susan felt light as a feather, and as young as any of them as one young man after another “promenaded the prettiest gal in town.” But it was her heart that seemed the lightest, and dispelled entirely was any doubt but that the family was completely satisfied with their marriage.

Then, only too soon, Susan and Calvin were standing in the doorway with arms entwined as they bade their children goodnight. Some jokingly said, ”Good morning,” because it was more early than late.

When the last car had driven away, they stood in the doorway, looking at the car, their anniversary gift. Neither of them spoke for some time. Words were not needed. The children hadn’t forgotten; all was right with their world.

“I’m glad their surprise went off so well. They did a lot of work and planning.” Susan sighed.

“Such a wonderful surprise as this was worth the little tinge of unhappiness we experienced the first of the evening,” Calvin said.

Then, as Calvin closed the door and they turned facing the glow of the warm fire, Calvin spoke for both of them: “And to think they all chipped in and bought that fine car for us. They just don’t make better children than ours, Susan.”

“Yes, Calvin,” Susan replied, “all hearts united.”