‘I’ll be honest,’ Muriel said, ‘my baby was not exactly planned for. If you want to know the truth, the baby was the reason I married Norman in the first place. But I didn’t push him into it.’
She looked past Macon at Edward, who lay on the hall rug. He’d had to be pushed down, but at least he was staying there.
‘Now I’m going to turn my back. You watch how he does.’
She walked into the living room. Macon anxiously watched Edward, and Muriel went on talking. ‘ My folks didn’t want me to get married. Norman and I were just kids, playing at marriage.
It was pretend! And then it turned real, and now I’ve got this great big seven-year-old boy. What’s Edward doing now?’
‘He’s still lying down,’ Macon said.
‘Maybe tomorrow he’ll lie down on his own,’ Mariel said
‘You think so?’
‘If you practice. If you don’t give in. If you don’t go all softhearted.’ She came close to Macon and touched his arm. ‘Never mind,’ she told him. ‘I think soft heated men are sweet.’
Macon backed away. He just missed stepping on Edward.