Agnes Amour: Daughters That Swap

Maybe he was dead? No one ever heard of a Jamison in the business* and she had asked everyone.

She walked all the way to Vanderbilt University before turning back east on Broadway. When she came to Mike's place, she stopped and wondered whether or not to go inside. She knew Sean wasn't in town, so he wouldn't be inside. Finally, making up her mind, she walked into the dining room and on through. As she walked down the stairs to the basement pub she heard voices, but didn't recognize any. It wasn't until she turned into the basement room toward the bar that she realized who was there. Big Bob was the first one she saw. He paused with his drink halfway to his mouth, then sat it suddenly on the bar, spilling it.

"Sue!" he called out and was off his stool and over to her in two steps. He picked her up and hugged her. "Little girl, I've been all over this town looking for you. Where have you been?”

"Walking and thinking," Sue said, her voice sullen.

"Listen you," he growled, in a make-believe gruff voice, "You didn't let me finish this afternoon. I said I wanted to start being a real daddy to you. Then before I could finish it you ran out. I wanted to say, It's about time I become a real daddy, 'cause I am your real father, and I want to make it all up to you after all these years.”

Sue studied his face to see if he was lying. He appeared to mean what he was saying, "I don't understand. You said your name wasn't Jamison. How could you be my real father?”

"After I left Nashville, I got to thinking that you could be my daughter, and I got plenty upset about what we were doing, so I went back to Georgia and did some checking. You could have done the same thing if you'd thought it out. Your mother never did know my real name. We just lived together. I hate to say it, but she was running around on me all the time and I finally just skipped out. When you were born I came back and you were legally given my name, Evans. But when your mother and I separated again, I never did go back. Your mother took up with a guy by the name of Jamison and when you started to school she just registered you as Sue Belle Jamison. Actually your name is Sue Belle Evans, that's the way your birth certificate reads.”

Sue was lost for words, finally she buried her face in his broad shoulders and cried. Big Bob continued to hold her in his arms.

After what seemed like an eternity to Sue, Mike, the owner, came over and said, "I think this calls for a celebration.”

He called out to his wife, "Anne, bring out a bottle of that old Irish Mist and a coke.”

"Who's the coke for?" Sue asked, wiping the tears.

"For you," Big Bob said. "You're going to spend some time as my little girl again, before I let you grow up.”

Sue grinned and tightened her grip on his neck.