He let out a long pint up sigh, “I tried to make sure, it was just as good as what you left behind.”
“It’s better Jacob, much better. And it’s mine? All mine?”
“You better believe it is. Paid for in full, I have the deed. I’m gonna put it in safe keeping. I’ve been hearing about how some are losing their land because of losing the deeds, rather, the deeds being stolen. Don’t want that happening to you. This is a prime spot. Everything you need to survive, is right here. We just need to make sure you keep up with the taxes on it.”
She nodded smiling, “I will,”
“Well, I need to get back home. There’s still some wrapping up to do back there. Plus, I need to get back before my father returns. Plus, I wanna be here, when this little one is born, how much longer you think?” He asked. His eyes were so sincere, so loving and kind that he amazed Virginia all the time.
“I figure a couple more weeks, I’m thinking he’ll be here October sometime.”
“He, you think it’s a boy?”
“Can’t be sure, but - this time, it’s different from how it was with my girls. I was so sick with them, but this time not so much. And he moves around a whole lot more than they did,” She laughed out. Sobering she asked, “Would you mind, if it’s a boy, I named him Jacob after you? He’ll also have my father’s name, Edward, would that be okay?”
“Nothing would make me more proud.”
He came to his feet, “I better get on the road. I’ll be back in a few days or so, I need to get home, and face my parents - well, once and for all before I leave their home for good.”
She pushed to her feet, “Be careful Jacob, I don’t know what I’d do if anything were to happen to you.”
He caressed her cheek, “I’ll be fine. You got a stash, a good hiding place around here?”
She nodded, “For what?”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, removing from it two hundred dollars. “Put this away. It’s yours, do with it whatever you feel you need for around here, for the baby.”
Virginia felt as if he sometimes took her breath away, “Where is all of this money coming from Jacob?”
“Don’t you worry about that, it’s yours. Now put it away. Somewhere safe, help Bonita with some of it, even then that will last you a good while, and get whatever you need for the baby, you hear?”
She nodded speechless.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, “I love you Ginny, everything I do, I do for you.”
He backed away from her, slowly spun and out the door.
Back at his parents’ home, he entered looking for his mother. His father wouldn’t be back yet, but it wouldn’t be long before he returned home. He passed Nora asking, “Where’s my mother?”
“She not happy this day,” Nora started, her eyes and expression saying she knew he’d been up to no good according to his mother’s ranting’s, “She in her greenhouse, looking after roses - you know the only time she tend to them when she ain’t happy.” She carried on leaving him to seek her out or not. Instead of seeking his mother out, he decided to go to his room and start removing his things, all the things that is he didn’t wish to leave behind. As he was almost done, his mother showed up at his bedroom and entered, closing the door behind her.
“Where is she? What have you done with her? She had three appointments today!”
Jacob looked over his left shoulder at her, grabbing his duffel-bag to carry out. “Three appointments huh?”
“Don’t look at me like that, this is business. Business I might add that she wanted! I only made it possible for her, doing her a favor.”
“May be - but you gained far more from it than she did. You treated her like your personal slave, not - your partner. I know it, and you know it. She accepted it because things were just a bit better for her girls and as a black woman, what rights has she to demand anything more.”
“How dare you stand in judgment of me! You hypocrite! You carry on claiming to wish to do God’s will, when the first chance you were given to be a typical male with one thing on your mind, you dove right in. Because of you, her life has been made far more worse than anything I did!” She ranted, “Now, where is she? We have a business to run.”
“You should have thought about that before you threatened our baby. She’ll be giving birth soon, she got no time for making you out to be the Bell of the ball.” He sniped at her.
The temptation to slap him had been so strong, he saw it as well. He stood even taller regardless of the way she looked at him, “Having your baby! She should have thought about that business and what she was supposed to be doing before she let you climb in her bed! You should have thought about all we’ve done to set things up! Now, after just a few short months, it’s gone! Because of you, I’m going to be a laughing stock! I demand you return her here - today!”
“No.”
“Don’t push me too far son. Let’s face it, there are things I can do, that I can say. I would hate for it to get out, that she - robbed me, us - your father and I, then took off with our money.” The threat was clear.
Jacob stood staring with wide eyes at his mother. Realizing right then, she was far worse than he thought she was. Not even his father would be this low, sinister and evil. It was all fake. Her smile, her energy, her exuberance for life. Her beauty was nothing more than a cloak to hide the wolfish evil within.
“She stole nothing! She didn’t even want to leave, I forced her to go, because I knew she was being owned and slaved. Now, I see it’s far worse than I’d imagined.”
With grinding teeth, Lida Bell was on the verge of a full blown fit, a tantrum. “I want her BACK! We paid a great deal to get this business up and running. We paid…”
“For her? You feel that you own her? That she’s your property to make you look good? Your own lil’shop nigger-…”
“Yes damn you, exactly! When they know their place and serve us after we’ve made their lives better, they should be grateful, loyal to us. You ruined this! You and your stupid thinking and soft heart. You’ll never be half the man your father is. Now you get her back here.” Her tone still carried the threat.
Right then and there, Jacob knew that he was on a path of no return concerning his mother. Quite possibly, his father as well. His heart beat so, he could barely breathe. Not from losing his mother, but fear for the woman he saw as his wife. No, they weren’t married. But he knew that what happened between them happened because of her ‘husband’ abandoning her. Happened because she was left with little choice in order to survive and protect her children. All that happened was this way because of the inequality that existed in this so called land of the free. All that Virginia did to survive, few white women had to do. They didn’t bear the burden of anyone having a tantrum because they couldn’t have their way, and spinning a web of lies to sick other evil ones out to lynch them. Because his mother could even consider such a thing, he wanted nothing more to do with her. In fact, his love for Virginia was so overpowering, that he had no choice but to show his mother who he was.
“You dare… tell such a lie against her - you dare do anything to get the law or any other animals after her, I promise you - by the time I’m done, not only will that shop be gone, but everything you hold dear. I know some things, things that you don’t even know. Things that if I go to the right people, you’ll be sitting on the curb, begging the very people you think are your friends for scraps.”
Lida Bell stood with her eyes wide, her mouth open, her mind rushing through her memory bank trying to grasp what he might be talking about and finally forced the question from her tight lips.
“What are you talking about?”
“You think I’m stupid enough to tell you?”
“You’re lyin’! You know nothing!”
“God up above as my witness, if you don’t forget about Virginia right this moment, and figure out something else to save your shop, I promise you - your regret will know no bounds, leaving su
icide as your only relief.”
Lida Bell knew her son. She could see it in his eyes, in his manner. He knew something. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t even bring it up. Although he was human, rarely was he one to make false claims, tell lies or fake his intentions. He was a young man of his word, had always been so. In the deepest part of her gut, she had no choice but to believe that he did indeed have something on them. She also had sense enough to know, that it was tied into what his father did.
Breathing deep, feeling her face heat up and burn to red, she snarled at him, dragging out the words for emphasis, “Yo-o-ou disloyal trai - tor! You would destroy your own family, all that your father has built up, over some black slut who would no doubt bed a dog if she could get something out of it. You would betray us, for her!?”
Jacob stood tall and strong and firm, boring into his mother’s eyes so that she knew, he meant what he said, and so the answer was clear enough for her to see, there was no need for him to say it. Instead he advised her, “Since only white women can enter, sit in those chairs, get fittings and such, find a white woman to do the work. There’s enough poor white women desperate for work that’ll fill her shoes.”
“You arrogant - arrrgh!” She growled in exasperation, “Where am I gonna find anyone with the talent she has? Nobody did hair the way she did! Or designed the outfits she came up with - I’m ruined! My business is going to be no better than the average drib-drab salon found anywhere around here.”
“Knowing that, you should have treated her better. Shame you didn’t. Remember, you threatened to take her child away. A child that is your own flesh and blood.”
“I don’t wanna hear no more about that from you - you’ve done enough! Said enough!”
“Just as well, I’ll be leaving now - considering what I’m leaving, I won’t be back.”
Lifting his duffel bag, he made his way around his mother opening the door, and could hear a quick shuffle of quiet footsteps on their creaking floor. So Nora no doubt had been ease-dropping. He hoped that she heard enough to leave this place as well and never return. Moving quickly down the hall and then down the stairs he ignored his mother’s angry screeching behind him.
“You’re not my son! Go! You ingrate! You wicked-heathen traitorous nigger lover! It’s a sin what you’ve done! You no better than me, no better than your father! We did right by her, you hear! We did right - you the one who done the wrong here! You the one who robed us, used us - then ran off with our SLA-A-AVE! And may you both ROT IN HELL!!!”
Jacob tossed his things into his car, started it and took off. He still had money left that was for school. When his father returned, he was certain his mother would throw such a fit, he could expect nothing more from them. He would work along with the Baptist minister and gain his ordination through him. He would leave school, sign completely out in order to live in Greenville and start his new life there. Protecting Virginia and her children. This meant that he would have to find work until he stepped into the minister’s pulpit. No matter, he wasn’t afraid of honest hard work. Just in case, he would start looking into who he might turn his father in to for his bootlegging and gun running. He meant every word that he said to his mother. If either of them, dare come anywhere near his Ginny, they would have to kiss everything they had goodbye, he would make sure of it.
Series 13 - Episode 104 - Chapter 313
“Have you been drinking?” GM asked. He’d just gotten home after enduring a dangerous and trying event the last couple of days. Within his sanctuary he wanted to breathe in relief of the outcome. Things were getting hectic. He’d been forced to do some things that were a last resort, but - he’d been pushed to that need and so, not hesitating, took care of it. Critical times were present putting the status of the world at desperate. Circumstances being what they were, it was survival of the fittest - he would see to it, that he and his would be fit for survival - at whatever cost he would have to pay.
Now here he was, in his office standing in the middle of the floor, looking at his wife. At that very moment, she was sitting behind his desk, in his chair, and by the looks of her, inebriated off of his bourbon. His sweet, precious, always smiling - energetic and beautiful wife, was staring at him with a strangers eyes. For all intents and purposes, she was indeed, his wife - but the woman he presently viewed, was not. In truth, what he was seeing, gave him sensations of annoyance.
“Yes, I am. Care to know why?” She swayed forward and a bit back, her eyes bleary and blood shot.
GM stood a moment - his mind gone blank. Exhaling a tired sigh, a brow kicked up along with a smirk clearly showing, he wasn’t in the mood. “By the looks of you, you’re gonna tell me, wanting to hear it or not.”
Rolling forward, a voice that was gravelly gritty and ugly, one he’d never heard from her, spoke - “That’s right you gonna hear it! Know what he’s done, that son of yours?” Instead of waiting for his answer, she went on, “He’s made a laughin’ stock o’me!” She sucked in air to stop a hiccup, “I had to make excuses today - tellin’ impo’ant clients I couldn’t fulfill their needs, cause -(hiccup)- cause somethin’ come up.” She pushed up from his desk, clinging to it as she walked around it, heading towards him, “I was a success! Never been happier. Doin’ somethin’ perfect fo’me. Everythin’ goin’ wonderful - I was - the talk of the town. Now, no tellin’ what they sayin’. Wanna know why? Hm, I tell you why. I had three people booked today, three impo’ant people. One gettin’ her hair done with me the first time at ‘Bell of the Ball’. The other two, fittin’s for gowns. One - all paid for - gonna have to pay that back! Why… I almos’ had all them old stock dresses refashioned and sol’ - only two lef’ - two!” She held up two fingers, now in front of the desk, leaning back against it. “Now… nothin’, wanna know why?” She gave a half-hearted whimper. “What am I supposed to do? An’ it’s all his fault, the ungrateful brat! How could you let him do this to me?” She wobbled a bit while trying to turn back to pick up her drink she left on the desk behind her. She almost slid sideways, braced up and hauled herself straight once more and retrieved the drink. Turning back, she took two more un-lady like swallows. “Well,” She asked, waving the hand with the drink, sloshing the remainder of the brown contents about, in danger of it spilling out.
“Well what?” GM asked, standing and simply watching her. She was embarrassing him, and he was all that saw her. Well, there was Nora, no doubt she’d seen her in this condition as well.
“What are ya’gonna do about it?”
“Do - about what? You haven’t told me anything.”
“They ruined me, your son and that… that… black s-s-slut.” She snarled the last word and spat as if it left a bitter taste in her mouth. “You knew… knew that he was doin’er, didn’t you - you knew all along, an’ you let’em, just let’em knock’er up! Why would’ya do that?” She slurred, “She won’ give it up - we can’t have some lil’half-cast pick-a-ninny runnin’ round with our name. Don’t you care ‘bout your own name? That - that son o’yours has ruined us, ruined everythin’ for me, everythin’.” She began whining and sniveling, gesturing grandly, tossing a pointed finger at the floor, sloshing more alcohol from the snifter. “I wan’er back here - back here right now damn them to hell! You hear?”
“You watch your language.” He warned, and then, “She’s gone?”
“YES! Haven’t you been listening? He took her away - your boy took her off somewhere! An’ I wan’er back here! She’s got heads to do, gowns to sew. You find her, get her back here, tonight! They can’t do this to us, after all we did for her, an’ this is how she repays us! No wonder they use to whip them back when they were slaves, ohhh the good ol’days! This were back then, she wouldn’t dare pull this.” She proclaimed from a gruff throat - snarling with narrowed eyes. Then instantly, back to her pout again, as she stood from the desk on her feet. Thinking herself adorable, sexy, she eased up to her husband, “Find’er for me George,” She put her arms around his waist, pleading up at him, squeezin
g him against her body, “Find’er, teach her a lesson, teach her that she can’t do this to me… teach her George.” She murmured with an innocent squeak in her voice, the other gruff tone gone now. The drink had her going back and forth between aggression and feeling sorry for herself.
GM stood gazing at her and for the first time, he didn’t like what he saw. He never knew that she was this way. While he was certainly no saint, in fact, far from one - he didn’t believe in torturing blacks. Yes, he would take advantage of them if he had a need they might be able to fill, but he would do that to anyone, black or white, and all in between. He didn’t care about the color of one’s skin, his number one love was the color of money and the feeling of power. However, not by enslavement and lynchings. Even he had his limits and moral codes. GM was a crook. True he was. If forced, he would also kill, as these past few days forced him to do. As for blacks, unless they gave him reason to, he had no reason to kill them. As for Virginia Ruth Piercey, she was under his protection - she was hands off! Not even because of his spoiled, selfish and drunken wife who was feeling socially embarrassed - was reason enough to hurt Virginia. As hard as it was to be sometimes, he was, a man of his word.
GM finally moved into action. Grabbing hold of his wife’s upper arms, snarling with bared teeth, he squeezed and shook her to his attention - now that he had it, he pushed her back from him lifting her slightly to her toes - using a tone of voice and expression she’d never seen directed at her - with slow deliberation, he growled gruffly ordering her, “Get to bed. Sleep this off and don’t you ever disgust me like this again. Now go!” He released her with a shove. Because she was drunk, she stumbled and almost fell to the floor, grabbing one of the chairs beside her to break the fall. Stunned, she stared up at her husband in disbelief.
“George?” She whimpered pitifully.
“Get up to bed - now!” To show her he meant business, he grabbed an arm and slung her hard toward the open door. There she caught herself against the frame. Her eyes showed how stunned she was by his treatment of her. It was the first time he’d been that way. Looking into his eyes, they glared back at her with heat and disappointment. She felt her face burn with shame. Cloaked in humiliation she turned away and slowly left the room dragging herself up to bed.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 16
