But Julian said, "Aren't you going to introduce me to Muriel?
"She's busy.'
"I'd really like to meet her.
Why? Hasn't Rose given you a full report?
Macon,' Julian said, "when I marry Rose, I'll be your brother law. It's only natural that I want to know Muriel. Anyway want to invite her to the wedding. So can I talk to her?"
"Oh. Well. I guess so.
In the kitchen Muriel, Claire, and Bernice were seated roun e table, looking at a notebook. Macon introduced everybody.
"Hello, ladies, Julian said cheerfully. "I've come to invite y my wedding, Muriel. And your little boy.'
"Oh, well. . . er, thank you Muriel waved the ballpoint pen she was holding. "We're working on this song for a country music competition," she told Julian. "We could win a trip for two to Nashville. Listen She began to sing in a high, scratchy voice.
When we kissed in the rain, when we shared every pain,
When we both enjoyed happier days.
“Very good,” Julian said. But I don't know about "shared every pain'. I mean, in happier days they had pain?'
"He's right," Bernice told Muriel.
Rain, plane, main, contain Julian said. "How about, When we traveled by train, when all of life was a game. . .
"I'm sure you've got other things to do, Julian,' Macon said.
"When I hadn't met Jane, when she didn't know Wayne. . .
Wait!' Bernice said, writing it down as fast as she could.
I'll see you to the door,' Macon said to Julian.
When her face was so plain, when our love had no stain. . . Julian said, following Macon out to the hall. "Don't forget the wedding!" he called back to Muriel. To Macon he said, "l'm taking Rose to Hawaii. Do you think she'll like it?'
I know nothing at all about Hawaii,' Macon said.
At the front door Julian stopped. "She may be exactly what you need, this Muriel person," he said. "She's not so bad! I don't think your family understands how you're feeling.'
"No, they don't. They really don't," Macon said. He was surprised it was Julian, of all people, who saw that.
Julian's final words were, ‘When we drank wine from Spain. . .’, and Macon shut the door firmly behind him.