Chapter 37 The Answer to His Question

  "Chip!  There ye be.  It has been a long while has it not?  I haven't seen ye since yer pa hadn't a gray hair upon his head!"

  "Brother Chip if ye please.  It is good that ye haven't been back to see me pa.  My very soul rejoices for you."

  "Brother Chip yer pa and I have spent much time together..."

  "'Tis no wonder ye are so happy to see me then.  Ye must have a heavy heart.  Ye can turn now from yer sinful ways.  Confess yer sins and turn unto the Lord that ye may be cleaned of yer sin."

  "Brother Chip yer pa is about the most christian man this gypsy queen has ever met.  He hasn't commited any sins with me."

  "I pray often that me pa not be tarnished by the sinfulness he encounters as Reeve.  I thank the Lord that my prayers are so answered.  But this does not absolve ye from the sins that brought ye to me pa.  Would it not be better that ye see me pa no more?  Would that not bring ye joy?"

  "Yer pa and I have been quite happy..."

  "So ye are happy to be caught for yer crimes?  Would it not be better to not commit the crimes in the first place?"

  "Me gypsies and me have done no crimes."

  "If ye had done no crimes ye would not be seeing the Reeve so often now would ye?  Even though he is me pa and me pa is the Reeve, I will not be telling yer sins to him.  I will leave it to ye to tell him as yer Reeve anything that ought to be punished by the law.  I am not the law.  'Tis only yer soul that interests me.  Please, confess.  If not here than later at the monastery.  Or if not to me than to one of the other monks or the sisters of the convent."

  "Chip!"

  "Yes pa?"

  "Come hither."

  "Son the only crime Yolanda has commited is stealing me heart.  I do not bring her here as a thief to be punished.  Ye and she are me most honored guests, me son and me love."

  "Yer....yer...  Pa how could ye?  Ye love ma.  I know ye do.  Ye were always gettin' her pretty things when ye could.  I know it weren't fer yer pride, it is 'cause ye love her.  And all those nights ye cried out in yer sleep, cryin' out ma's name.  Ye love ma."

  "Yes Chip.  I love Elle.  She would want me to go out with women."

  "Pa!"

  "She is long buried Chip.  Man is not meant to live alone."

  "Pa, ye have been keeping this from me?"

  "Chip I didn't want ye to feel like yer ma is being replaced."

  "Pa, ye ought to be on yer knees begging for forgiveness fer this."

  "Yer right Chip."

  "Yolanda Patel, queen of the gypsies, would ye forgive this old man fer not speakin' to his son about ye?"

  "Ye want forgiveness from this gypsy woman?"

  "I want forgiveness from this gypsy queen."

  "Granted."

  Kenneth stood and moved to the side.  He bowed as she walked past.  As he stood he met his son's eyes.

  "I love ye Chip."

  "Pa..."

  "I love ye Chip."

  "I love ye to pa."

  "Run along and play now."

  "Pa, I ain't a child!"

  "Neither am I."

  "I'm sorry pa."

  "Me too."

  "I'm still sore about it."

  "I know Chip."

  Using an old parenting tactic Kenneth ended the conversation by busying himself.

    Now where has Yolanda wandered off to?

  "Queen Yolanda?"

  "Reeve Kenneth?"

  "How I adore your hands."

***

  "Yolanda wait.  Before ye leave, I'd like to ask ye something.  I jest wanted to wait until everyone else had gone home."
  She stood there in the road, a regal look upon her face.

  "What say ye Queen Yolanda?  Me son misses his ma.  Will ye be wanting to see this old man again?"

  "Ye have to ask?"

  "I was afraid ye might say that."

  "That isn't all I'm saying Reeve Kenneth."

  "Ye deserve to say what needs sayin'."

  "It doesn't need sayin'."

  "No?"

  "No."

  And that was the answer to his question.