by Afton Locke
“Have you all decided what you’re going to do?” Leroy asked.
“We made a plan.” Caleb knelt at Pearl’s side and took her hand. “But we need to make sure everyone agrees.”
Pearl gazed at her husband with trusting green eyes. “Tell us.”
“I’ll stay here so I can keep the plant going and earn an income.” He bowed his head and squeezed her hand until his knuckles turned white. “You and…and Opal will stay with the Johnsons. If it’s all right with them.”
“Of course it is,” Sadie said.
Sadie’s mother smiled. “It’ll be nice to have a baby in the house again. The two of you will fit in Leroy’s old room.”
“And I could go over and help sometimes,” Rose added.
“Not too often,” Henry warned. “We don’t want anyone to know they’re there.”
“Then we’re in agreement.” Caleb stood, the leader once again. “Rose, you can help with the packing now.”
Pearl lurched out of her chair, upsetting her cup of coffee. “Well, I’m not in agreement! I can’t leave my husband…er…Caleb.”
“And I’m not letting you get arrested again.” Caleb pulled her into his arms and glared into her eyes. “We have to do this, for Opal.”
“It’ll be temporary,” Henry assured them. “The mayor’s son got his revenge. He’ll tire of the chase eventually.”
She sniffed as she traced her trembling fingers over Caleb’s face. “Will you visit?”
“As often as I can,” he promised.
Henry gazed at Sadie across the table, wishing they all had a brighter future.
Chapter Eighteen
Pearl entered the Johnson cottage, reminding Sadie of two years ago when she’d arrived to live with them after her mother died. She’d hated the beautiful girl with her fancy dress, shoes, and hair. Especially when Pearl had recoiled at the sight of the shabby quarters, as if they lived like pigs.
Her cousin looked horrified again, but this time Sadie’s heart ached for her. Pearl’s beauty still shone through, but the difficult childbirth, a night in jail, and being separated from Caleb had taken its toll. Opal cried and squirmed in his mother’s arms.
“Thank you for letting me stay here,” Pearl said in a small voice. “It seems I’m depending on your charity once again.”
“Things come full circle sometimes, don’t they?” Sadie led her to Papa’s old chair. “You can rest here while I fix up Leroy’s old room.”
“How are we going to afford to feed two more mouths?” Mama whispered in her ear. “Let alone the one you got on the way.”
She’d said something similar two years ago. Sadie would have laughed if the circumstances weren’t so grim. Instead, she drew Mama into Leroy’s room and closed the door.
“I’m sure Caleb will pay their expenses,” Sadie told her. “If not, Henry will. Everything happened so suddenly, a lot of details still need to be worked out.”
“I sure do feel sorry for them,” Mama replied.
“Then let’s make them feel welcome.” She laid some clean towels on the bed and fashioned a makeshift crib by lining a washtub with a folded blanket.
“I’ll see if they’re hungry,” Mama agreed. “It’s been a while since I took care of such a little one.”
When the room was ready, Sadie picked up Pearl’s bags and invited her inside.
She pointed to the washtub. “I did the best I could with what we have on hand.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Pearl placed Opal on the bed and removed her soiled diaper. “Thank you.”
Sadie sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s like old times, isn’t it?”
“A lot has happened in two years,” Pearl said as she slid the clean diaper into place. “I’m glad you stopped scowling so much. You have a glow about you now.”
“Henry has something to do with that.”
She missed him already. After this morning’s heart-wrenching events in Pearl Point, she needed to hug him for hours.
“Are you sure that’s all?” Pearl pinned the fresh diaper into place and turned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were with child.”
“Oh, Pearl.” A sob sprang from Sadie’s throat before she could stop it. She slapped her fist against her mouth and bit down on it.
Pearl gripped her hands. “Are you? Is it Henry’s?”
Sadie nodded twice.
“Congratulations!” her cousin said, hugging her.
“Thank you.” Sadie clung to her. It was so nice to have someone her own age and in the same situation to talk to.
“Whatever you do, don’t get married.” Pearl’s face was serious when she pulled away. “It’s not worth it. Because I insisted, I’ve lost everything.”
The old Sadie might have demanded marriage, too, to prove she was worthy of being loved. But any images of a wedding dress she might have had shattered today. She stroked the onyx ring on her finger. It was enough. But if they lived together as an unmarried family, would the Klan still come after them?
“I hope everything will turn out, for both of us,” she said as Pearl placed the baby in the washtub.
She gazed at the child, grinning at the tiny fists and feet kicking the air as Opal got used to her new quarters. The baby was safe, for now.
But for how long?
* * *
Mary Carter settled into one of the iron garden chairs on the front porch of her family home. After feeling like a prisoner all winter, it was glorious to be outside in the spring breeze. She opened the book on her lap but only read two sentences before her brother, looking angry as always, strode outside. The staccato beat of his shoes on the floorboards chased away her lazy mood.
“Where are you off to?” she asked.
It seemed no one stayed home anymore. Father spent his time supervising the new roads and drinking at the Sapphire Crab while Mother attended one charity meeting after another.
“Pearl Point.” His gray eyes flashed with purpose in the strong sunlight. “I need to check on something.”
The mention of Pearl Point reminded her of Rose, her friend from art school. Because they were different colors, the friendship had faded away. Jon wouldn’t let her visit Rose or go anywhere alone, for that matter, and her father had banished her friend from Oyster Island because she’d pretended to be white.
If only the two of them could sit on this porch and talk about love and men again. With the nightmare of her attack further behind her, Mary had a lot of questions. Because Rose was married, she surely knew the answers.
Cali, the woman who’d worked as a cook at the art school, approached them on the brick walkway.
“Here you are, Mr. Carter.” She handed him a key. “Please tell your Mama I cleaned the house and everything looks fine.”
Mary wished the art school was still operating in that vacant house, but Mother had lost interest in it. Cali’s golden eyes had always intrigued Mary. The woman was from Louisiana, which sounded like such an exotic, exciting place. Mary would never forget the mysterious voodoo candle Cali had lit in the kitchen at school one night.
“Thank you.” He grabbed the key, recoiling from her touch as if shocked. “Just a moment. I’ll get your payment.”
Mary observed her brother who was much more interesting than her book. Why were his cheeks so pink?
After Jon finished his transaction, Mary noticed the way he watched Cali walk away.
“May I come with you to Pearl Point?” She hung her head, expecting him to refuse. “I would so enjoy seeing Rose again.”
“She’s colored, Mary.” His nose wrinkled. “I don’t want you associating with the likes of them.”
“But you did. You danced with her and even kissed her.” He looked as if he might have wanted to kiss Cali, too, but she didn’t dare say it.
His cheeks blazed scarlet. “That was before I knew what color she was.”
“Why does that matter so much to yo
u?” To her, colors were just pigments on her canvas when she’d painted at school.
“Because they’re troublesome and dangerous.”
Her fingers hooked around the neckline of her dress as she remembered the awful night in Baltimore. Her attacker had been a white man. For a while, she had hated all men, but that was silly. After all, her father and brother were men, and she cared about them.
Her gaze drifted to the oyster plant down the road as she remembered how frightened she’d been when Jon had taken her there a few weeks ago. The noise, smells, and sight of so many men had overwhelmed her so much she’d thought she might faint.
But as they passed by the colored workers on their way out, one caught her eye because his hands moved faster than anyone else’s. When he looked up and smiled at her, his face was so sweet and caring she forgot all about her fear.
“White people can be dangerous, too,” she pointed out. “Why don’t you hate them?”
“I hardly have time to—” He glanced at his watch. “Say, come with me so you can pay Rose a visit. I’ll wait in the car.”
“Really?” Mary dropped her book. “What changed your mind?”
Eying her warily, he squeezed his lips together. “I need to know what’s going on, such as whether Caleb and Pearl Rockfield still live there.”
“Why?”
He gripped the back of her chair. “You don’t need to know. Simply ask the questions without being obvious about it.”
She stood and picked up the book. “I should change my dress.”
He grabbed her arm. “No, you don’t. There’s no time.”
Uneasiness twisted under Mary’s ribs from the fierce glow in her brother’s eyes. Why did his hatred grow every day? And why was he so interested in Pearl Point? The joy of calling on her old friend faded as she wondered which side she was supposed to be on and why she had to choose.
* * *
On Saturday afternoon, Henry sat on an overturned bucket at the tiny kitchen table in the Johnson cottage. Caleb, Pearl, and Sadie also crowded around the table on makeshift seating.
“This house ain’t big enough for everybody,” Mrs. Johnson declared as she dished beans into bowls.
When Opal cried from Leroy’s room, Pearl jumped up. “I’d better feed her first.”
Before she left, Caleb grabbed her hand and kissed it.
She laughed. “I’m only going into the next room.”
The look of love passing between them tightened Henry’s chest. Despite what had happened, the mood at the table was light. Almost a week had passed. The authorities had not pursued Caleb and Pearl, and both plants were still standing, unscathed.
Hopefully, the mayor’s spawn was satisfied with the havoc he’d caused and moved on. Too bad he wasn’t as interested in building roads as his father. Henry missed the water like an ache in his soul. Because of the danger, though, he’d made sure to spend each day in his office to watch over Sadie and the plant.
“So things are going all right down there?” he asked Caleb.
“So far.” Caleb dipped his scrap of cornbread into his bowl of beans. “Carter checked up on things, though. Would you believe he brought his sister to spy on us?”
“Mary?” Pearl walked in and took her seat. “I thought she never left her house.”
“She visited Rose under the guise of friendship, but she asked a lot of questions.” Caleb put his arm around her. “Luckily, Rose suspected and didn’t say much except we’re living apart.”
“When can I go home?” Pearl asked.
“Let’s not rush it.” He kissed her. “I plan to spend the rest of the day here…and the night.”
Henry covered Sadie’s hand on the table. “I’ve got plans for you, too, lady.”
Instead of crackling with intelligence and sass, her eyes were heavy and dead today. And why did she avoid his gaze? She’d barely even kissed him when he’d arrived. Her mood was as black as her dress. His first instinct was to assume he’d screwed up again, but bailing his brother out of jail convinced him he did a few things right, too.
Pearl and Caleb’s misfortune must have hit her like a ton of bricks because their situations were so similar. They couldn’t let fear rule their lives, though. He’d make sure she understood that before he left this evening.
Mama laughed. “When my Charlie built this house, I’m sure he never guessed how much lovin’ was going to go on under the roof.”
“Well, let’s free up some room.” He stood. “Sadie, are you up to a boat ride? We have a lot to talk about.”
But he had no idea what to say because when it came to taking care of his new family, he still had no answers.
* * *
Sadie watched the water rush by as Henry drove his boat deep into the river, away from the prying eyes at Oyster Harbor. They hadn’t said much since they’d gotten into the boat. All the talking in the world wouldn’t make their problems go away.
They’d made love a few evenings last week, but they’d both been so silent and distracted, the act felt mechanical. At work, they’d been careful to keep things strictly business in case the Klan had planted spies there, too.
Yesterday, she’d entered his office to look for a document. What she’d found on his desk had almost stopped her heart—a recruitment packet from the US Navy.
He clearly needed to escape—Oyster Harbor, her, and the baby.
Finally, he cut the engine and dropped anchor.
“You look pretty grim.” He rubbed her shoulder. “Do you feel all right?”
“Well enough.” Physically, at least. It was too late in the day for morning sickness, and she used his tips to help prevent seasickness.
How strange. Emotional upsets usually affected her physically. Her future was so hopeless, she was too dead to feel anything. She gazed at her belly, remembering the life inside her. Even if she lost Henry, she had to stay strong for the child.
“Is it strange living with Pearl again?” he asked next.
She nodded. “It makes me realize how much I’ve changed in the past two years. Because of you.”
If only she could go back in time, before she’d fallen in love with Henry, because then he wouldn’t have the power to leave her and hurt her. They all left eventually, didn’t they? First Buck and now Henry. She could kick herself for being so surprised.
He led her to the back of the boat, where they sat side by side. “We need to plan our future before the baby arrives.”
“We might as well ask the Klan,” she said, staring at the water. “They plan our lives, not us.”
“Come on, Sadie.” He gripped her wrist. “We have to come up with something.”
Looks like you already did, sailor.
“We can’t marry,” she said.
“I’m glad you agree.”
“Go on, Henry. Say it.” She gripped the seat. “When do you set sail?”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw the US Navy package on your desk.”
“So that’s what’s bothering you.” A small grin flashed across his face. “I’m surprised you didn’t hit me over the head with it.”
“I’m going to be a mother soon, which is going to take a lot of patience.” She stroked her belly. “I’m trying to control my temper better.”
“That’s wonderful.” His lids lowered. “I’ve had that folder for years, Sadie. I only went through my old papers to try to figure things out.”
“What’s there to figure out?” She flung her hand in the air. “If you joined, you’d have your fill of water day and night, free as the breeze. That’s what you really want, isn’t it?”
“I used to.” He gripped her shoulders with such intensity, she gasped. “What I want now is you and our child. Please believe me.”
Tears sprang to her eyes because she could see he meant it. Or at least part of him did. Was part of him enough?
“But you love the water,�
� she insisted.
“I do need to honor that somehow, but I can’t use it to run away anymore.”
“Can we even live together?” she asked.
“I’m sure willing to try it.” His dark-blue eyes lit with hope. “I think we should move away, though, to someplace safer.”
“Move?” She jumped up, making the boat lurch. “Move where?”
“Another state. Preferably north of the Mason-Dixon line.” He grinned as he gazed at the water. “As long as there’s water around, I’ll feel at home.”
Sadie’s fingers tingled with shock. “But our family is here. I can’t leave Mama to fend for herself.”
“Then we’ll take her with us.” He shrugged. “If she doesn’t want to go, she could always live with Leroy and Rose.”
Who was this stranger sitting in front of her? He must be out of his head to think she’d leave her home.
“What about Rockfield’s?” she asked.
“Caleb and I discussed it. We agreed family is more important than the company.”
“Where would we find work in some other state?” Her heart beat harder and harder as panic welled up inside her. “I can’t get a very good job the color I am.”
The thought of scrubbing floors after managing a business made her want to jump overboard.
“I could support you.”
She crossed her arms. “How are you going to support yourself, me, Mama, and the baby if you’re not running a company?”
“We’ll have to face each day as it comes.” He clenched his nails into his palm. “As you know, I’m not too smart.”
“You’re smart enough at sea.” She sat again, farther away than she had before, and pursed her lips. “I grew up here. I can’t leave, especially into that kind of uncertainty.”
Henry sighed. “Okay, we’ll stay here. What if we added on to the Johnson cottage or even built a second cottage nearby? I could keep my residence in town for appearances.”
Relief washed through her. “I like that idea much better.”
“Even though the Klan could take everything away anytime they chose?”
“Yes.”
He looped his arm around her. “Well, I’m glad that’s settled.”
