She nodded and looked to Bonita, “I’m gonna lie him down and-…”
Bonita waved her off saying anymore, “I know, I know - go on.”
A few moments later, she put on her cape coat, not thinking really. After all, she had nothing else, her things had been burned up in the fire. But the expensiveness of the camel cape coat did not escape Jacob - the presence of it screamed his father. They walked out by his car, Jacob opened the door for her to climb in. A moment later he was seated next to her. That cape coat was distracting him. Traumatizing to the point that whatever thoughts he came to share, were momentarily stifled.
Virginia was waiting on him to begin, she wanted to know his reasons for being there first before saying what she must.
Taking a deep breath, he began saying, “I’m - I’m sorry Ginny, about all of this. I guess bringing you here - maybe wasn’t a good idea after all.”
“It was a good idea, I love it here. You did right Jacob. The rest of it, not your fault. This could’ah happened to us anywhere.”
He sat a moment shaking his head, “I’m so sick and tired of it. I hate the way things are - it makes no sense to be this way. It does nothing for the benefit of any of us - black or white. Why can’t they see that? Don’t they know, you reap what you sow? I just wish God would end it all.”
“He know what He doing. We don’t see the big picture Jacob. When the time is right, He will not fail. It’s not the time yet.” She returned gently.
He glanced her way and shook his head again, “I don’t understand how you folks can keep going through this, time after time - having these things done to you.”
Virginia smiled, she so wish that things had been different and she could be with him. She was divorced. If he knew, he would no doubt be all over her, despite everything. But she couldn’t bring herself to tell him. Because of GM, any chance of them was gone.
As if realizing one of the things he’d come for, he shifted sideways in the seat to remove his wallet from his back pocket, “I’ve got money for you.”
Virginia tried to stop him, laying her hand on his shoulder, “I’m fine Jacob - really I am.”
“Don’t care - you the mother of my son - I will not abandon either one of you.” He pulled out two tens and passed them to her, “Here, take it. I meant it.”
“I don’t need it Jacob.”
“It’s for my son - take it I said. He’ll need things, so will you and the girls - I’ll be bringing more as well.”
Because of his insistence she took the bills and folded them away. As she did so he was looking at the wide leg pants she wore and the nice blouse with it. “Never seen these clothes on you before, looks good - you make them?” He knew she hadn’t. All that she had was burned up in the fire. Including the little money she had left that was stashed in her home. It was plain to see, she had nice things from somewhere else, and he knew where.
Virginia took a long deep breath and decided not to delay it, “Your father - he provided these things for me Jacob.” She went quiet as those words hung in the air between them. And it hung and hung. But she wasn’t going to rush him into saying something. He let out a long exhale - paused and then, “You - you exchange anything for them? I take it wasn’t just one outfit.” He just knew.
“He bought me quite a few things.” She admitted, but the rest seem to catch in her throat.
Jacob sat quiet once more, thinking, trying to come to terms with what he knew. Knew about his father and the kind of man he was. Since being away from him, he’d learned quite a bit becoming his own man and circulating in the midst others who knew him, the him outside of the respectable business man of Lexington, SC. He let out a long exhale as if preparing his stomach, his guts for what was about to come. “Tell me he was just being kind because of all you’ve gone through - because of all you lost in the fire - please tell me that’s why.”
Virginia swallowed, sucked in her bottom lip to moisten it. It hurt her to her heart to have to hurt him. He of all people deserved nothing but love, loyalty and happiness. He certainly gave that in abundance. “I care too much about you to lie to you Jacob. I - I been with him Jacob. Been with him the way I been with you.” There - she said it. Again, she waited.
He suddenly struck the steering wheel repeatedly with both open palms, and then just gripped it, pushing against it as if he could shove his back through the seat, his arms shook, his knuckles went white as he braced and held himself a few moments, with a groan his right hand repeated striking the large wheel before him. His pulse throbbed, his jaw locked as he forced himself to swallow down the lump of pain in his throat. He sniffed and angrily swiped at the moisture gathering in his eyes.
Virginia stared into her lap, her clasped hands, waiting - enduring in the presence of his pain.
He finally choked out, “I knew it - when? When did it happen?” He croaked out. His heart felt as if it would beat clear out of his chest, just push through the hard protective rib joints before it.
She swallowed, cleared her own throat that had a massive lump in it, “He woke me out of my sleep the night they came. Told me to be quiet. He took me away from here. Took me where he could get me alone. I…” She sighed, “Don’t matter - none of it matters. I’m - I’m his now Jacob. He - he can protect me - the kids, our new home. He can and - you - you can’t.”
“Tell me you don’t want this Ginny! I’ll make him leave you alone!”
She turned to look at him asking, “How you gonna do that?”
Through bared tight teeth he fumed, “I know what - he - is!” He blazed through a jaw so tight she feared for his teeth.
“No Jacob, please don’t - he’s your own father. I’m begging you don’t.”
For the first time ever, Jacob shouted at her, “You want him?!”
“I want some peace!” She cried in her own raised voice, “I wanna sleep at night without somebody busted out my windows - yelling to me, Nigga come out! - Threatening to hang me - burning a cross on my lawn!” She wiped at her tears, “I want white folks to fear me - fear us for once, instead of us always having to be afraid of them! I want us to pick up where we left off and be left alone! You hear me Jacob? I just wanna be left alone - don’t you understand?” She was breathing hard with tears rolling and dripping off her chin, “This what I’m doing is the only thing to keep us safe - for now away.” She slammed back against the seat, both hands to her face, wiping it of the tears, praying out loud, “Godalmighty! We just wanna be left alone!” She couldn’t help it, she ended up bending forward sobbing.
Jacob felt his body burn with shame. He got it then. Not everyone could be him. Not everyone had the option of doing exactly what was right. He knew Virginian Piercey - she was a good woman, worth her weight in gold. No one had a right to judge her, look down their nose at her. She was a black woman, caught in a time and a place where she had to survive, not only for herself, but for her children. He would never judge her, see her with disrespectful eyes. If it was the last thing he did, he would raise his sons to always be respectful of women. Always! To walk in their shoes, to understand what they sometimes had to do to battle the harsh obstacles of life. And to forgive them! Yes, they were the weaker vessel and put through hell. That night, that moment marked him - set in him something hard, fast and true.
Jacob scooted over, grabbing her into his arms, hugging her close, “Shhh, don’t cry Ginny, please don’t - I can’t stand it - makes my guts a mess.” He squeezed her, rubbed her arms and back, “I so wish things weren’t this way.” He tried to calm her.
Sniffling, she tried to pull herself together, tried to explain herself, “You think I wanna be any man’s whore?”
“Don’t say that! You stop that right now! You’re nothing like that Ginny, nothing like it!”
She pulled away to look up into his face, his eyes, “Jacob, when a woman gives her body over to a man to do with it whatever he wants, in exchange for what he can give her and she wants - that’s being a whore darlin’ - an’ that
’s me.”
“No! It’s not the same! He’s forcing you - it’s against your will. Your God given right to free will. My father has taken that from you, has taken advantage of your misfortune and I swear to you, I will never forgive him for it - I will never!” Jacob swore and began to feel the first dregs of hardness building in him.
“He’s your father - don’t say that. How you gonna go to God with that in your heart? You don’t have to like what he’s done, but he’s the reason you alive. Leave him in God’s hands, and you continue to be a good son. Like it or not, he saved my babies - I owe him - I owe him.”
“Not your soul you don’t!” He growled, and went on to say, “If there was a hell, he’d be going there - but there isn’t one - this what we’re living, this is hell.”
“Yeah, well - you keep your slate clean.” She gave a gentle smile.
Jacob was still frustrated even though he knew she was right, ruffling his thick mane, he muttered, “If only there was a way!”
“Jacob - for now, this is the only way. And you and I - we - we can’t see each other anymore. It’s time for you to move on. It’s time for you to be true to your commitment. You have your own life to build and one day - you’ll fall in love with a special - a good white woman. She’ll have sweet and wonderful babies for you and you’ll be able to stand proud before the Lord.” She reached up smoothing his tussled hair.
Jacob grabbed her hand and held it to his mouth, kissing her palm and turning it to do the same to the dark side, “I don’t see how that’s gonna happen Ginny - I’ll be loving you ‘til the day I die.”
Her eyes watered up, “Time will fix it - you’ll see - time will fix it. Promise me you’ll leave it alone? That, with your father?”
Letting her go, he dry washed his face with both hands, looking out of the windshield, “I’ll do anything for you Ginny - even this. I still plan to send you money for my Jacob.”
“Put it away for him. Save it up - maybe one day he’ll be needing it. Way this world is, I know he will.”
He turned to look at her. She was so lovely. He loved everything about her, absolutely everything. He grabbed her to pull her close for one last kiss.
Virginia drew back and turned away from him, “No Jacob, don’t - let’s just leave it alone - no more.”
“Just one last time Ginny.”
She shook her head and pulled out of his large hands, rushing to open the car door to climb out.
“Ginny… please…”
She stood on the outside, bent down to look in at him, “Forget about me - you hear - forget me!”
“You have my son - how can I forget you? What about Jacob Edward - when can I see him?”
“It’s best that you don’t Jacob, you need to let us go - even him.” She gave a sad smile, “Go - go start your own life now - go find your happiness. You definitely deserve it.” She closed the door and rushed back inside.
Feeling gutted - like his insides had been ripped out, Jacob Paul McPherson sat gripping the steering wheel, unable to move. Leaning forward, his forehead rested on his white knuckles as his mind raced to find hope in an idea that could fix this - that could turn it all around so that it wouldn’t have to be this way. Yet, nothing came to mind. With little choice, he finally started his vehicle and with a broken heart - drove away.
The next day - as the town worked with their white neighbors joining them once more - progress was made. At around 11am a black sedan pulled up outside of Bonita’s home. A black woman stepped out looking around. She was better dressed than most, and the moment her eyes found Virginia she smiled. Sashaying her way she started speaking as if they’d known each other forever, “You forget? You bes’ come on, Ms Suzy say nobody do her hair like you, she don’t like to be kept waitin’ - she sen’ us for you.”
As Virginia had never laid eyes on this woman before, she instantly knew who Ms. Suzy really was - playing along, sighing in resignation she nodded replying, “I thought it was tomorrow, I’ah be right on.” So this is how he’d intended to fetch her. Thus began her new routine, every Friday she entered that vehicle to look before those who didn’t know the truth, all prim and proper, off to do - no doubt, some wealthy white woman’s hair. Truth, down the road about 3 miles, turning into a secret little hidden dirt path and within the woods out of sight sat the Cadillac awaiting her arrival. She stepped from one vehicle into the other.
From the first Friday of doing it that new way, Virginia performed her duties - but never with a smile. She held that from him because she knew how much he wanted her to “enjoy” her forced subjection to him. “Now what have I done wrong?” GM blasted, “… you don’t want me pulling up to get you with all those people around do you?”
She thought, ‘I don’t want you pulling up at all,’ but said instead, “This is fine - I have no complaints, what good would they do me?”
GM growled, “Why not leave it off at, you have no complaints - no, couldn’t do that, you just had to tack on the last of it.” He complained.
She said nothing as he went through the woods and found the way out to the main road.
Neither of them paid attention to the black couple GM paid to bring her to him. He was so full of his need to see Virginia, that he gave the woman eying him not a thought. He didn’t notice her sly shifty eyes paying close attention to what he carried on him, no mind or thought did he give her. His plate was full with loads on his mind, so never thought about how she noticed the time he spent religiously with this routine - all by himself, to get Virginia Piercey.
All that was on his mind was taking Virginia to the cabin. All he could think about was how he would get his own back at her. She made him feel as if she didn’t want him, well then - he refused to give her even a moment to remove her coat before he swept her off of her feet. If she wanted to play hardball with him, then he would as well. Immediately, he took her right into his room, tossing her on the bed - he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to show her who was boss there. Who was in control of who. No matter how hard she fought it, he forced screams, cries and squeals of pleasure from her. Now and then, even pain - because he could. Three days he spent doing what he desired. Whether she felt like it or not, he demanded she doll herself up, dress and come along with him on his runs. This went on for three months - and to his displeasure he found that she was with child again.
“Why didn’t you do something to prevent it?” He griped.
“Why didn’t you?” She returned.
He sat steaming, running his hand over his face, letting the idea of it run through his mind until he concluded aloud, “I’m not stupid, you let me knock you up so I would leave you alone. Didn’t you? You did it to get rid of me.”
She remained silent - simply because the fact was, she had. No more dress up. No more carting her all over showing her off as if she were his prize horse - or as it went through her mind, his prize whore.
Back at home, after his “business” trips, GM struck up a bit of conversation with his wife, he noted that she was drinking more regularly now. They were growing apart, she sensed he no longer felt the same about her - unable to cope with her failing shop and it would seem, her failing marriage, she drank. He was saying something to her then, “It appears that your son has gone and done it again.”
“Done what?” She asked, her back to him at the kitchen cabinet where she hid her vodka in a white vinegar bottle, sneaking a bit of it in her orange juice for breakfast.
“Virginia - she’s knocked up once more, I hear.” He lied smoothly, sipping coffee and reading the paper.
“He what?!” She spun from the counter, “Blast him - some kind of preacher man he’s turning out to be. Doesn’t even bother to come home and visit his own mama, or his little sister. Doesn’t he care how she misses him? Nooo, long as he gets to sneak off with his - argh, I tell’yah, he’s gone nigga mad!”
That angered GM, “You watch your mouth!” He snapped the paper irritated, correcting her. There were times he wanted to b
e out of town all week. Was in fact counting down the days to Friday. For the moment, he didn’t care that Virginia was pregnant - she wasn’t showing yet & he still had his needs. He was determined, he would ride her until he could ride her no more.
Sadly, his need for her would be his downfall.
Series 13 - Episode 105 - Chapter 315
The very next Friday he desired to rush to - Virginia waited for the black Sedan - but it never came.
She couldn’t believe that he’d just stopped - dead cold wanting to be with her. She would never tell a soul, but it hurt that the day went by and no sight or sound from him. Saturday, the same - no GM. Virginia suffered in silence, tried her utmost to hide her deep dark hidden secret - that she in fact, loved that wicked devil of a man, George Marshall McPherson.
Sunday came, and to fight her nausea, anxiety - she attended church with Bonita and her children. She sat in church and instead of listening to the sermon, she thought about how she should be happy to be free. Yet, there was no happiness or joy to be found from his release of her.
Monday came, the frame of her new home was done, the inner walls - done. The outer shell, was done with the lower half done in brown brick. At that time, where she lived, that was saying something. Because of GM, she even had the newest, latest and greatest of electricity and plumbing running through it. It wouldn’t be long now before she would be able to move into it. She was sitting looking over wall paper ideas, Josephine and Tara standing next to her, Jacob Edward laying across her lap knocked out as she gently rocked him.
“I like that one mama,” Josephine smiled pointing out her preference.
“This one mama, this one.” Said Tara, wishing to be the one picking it.
Hearing someone enter, she looked up to see Clay coming her way with a sober expression. Behind him, Bonita - looking sad as well. Her eyes went from one, to the other - her brows bunched, troubled. Then Clay handed her the paper he held in his hand. She slowly took the paper from him, while Bonita rushed forward and picked up baby Jacob from her lap.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 24
