CHAPTER 2
Aunt Viv and I were stunned into silence. Then Viv said "What are you talking about? Are you crazy? When did you decide that? When did you meet with Harris?"
Aunt Molly grinned. "That was a showstopper, heh? Well, you know last November Harris called me and asked if I could come out and see him and Bob. They sent me a plane ticket. They didn't ask to see anybody else, just me because they knew anybody else in the family would not want to go, them being queer and all."  From the backseat I said "Gay, Aunt Molly, it's called Gay, now." "Whatever," Aunt Molly said unperturbed. "I told y'all I was gonna fly out there to see 'em, just to check on Bob and all, you know, since he had the stroke."
"So I get out there and see that Bob is a lot worse off that I thought he'd be. His whole right side was paralyzed, and his speech was slurry and he had trouble swallowing. But worst of all, to him at least, was he lost control of his bowels and kidneys (she pronounced it "kitneys.") And I found out that Harris had spent most of the money they had put away, and cashed in their stocks and such to pay for private duty nurses and round the clock care for Bob. Harris was exhausted and failing himself from taking care of Bob."

"So I say Bob you and Harris come back to Mississippi with me and live on the family farm with me so I can help out. But they been together for 50 years and California was their home, and Harris says they want to stay in their home as long as they can." So Bob says to me "When I go, take care of Harris. I have family, but he has no one anymore." He starts to cry and I made a promise to take care of Harris as long as I lived, and even after. The three of us talked it over. I already been to a lawyer. Me and Harris will get married after Bob's death, and I'll make sure he has a home even if I die first. Harris will get whatever I have and he will be comfortable."

Viv stuttered, "But Molly, why get married?" "Viv," Molly was impatient, "You know what the rest of the family might do if it's not all tied up in a legal package----kick Harris out? I saw how much they--she hesitated-and didn't say love, that sounded sappy--she said cared for each other, and I won't let them down. I'm going to take care of that." I've had three plots in the Sweet Home churchyard for years, and when I go, they can be side by side along by me". "But Molly," Viv protested "You don't love this guy. That sounds fradulent to me." Aunt Molly said in a loud voice "Viv, people get married for all sorts of reasons, love sometimes ain't in the equation!"

Part III. " A Funeral And A Wedding" next....susil