Haunting Savannah: 8 Dark and Seductive Tales

by Lia Davis

  There was another possible scenario to factor in. One she didn’t want to think might be true, but it kept creeping into her brain. What if Cassie had something to do with it? What if she’d gotten to some parents, known members of the prestigious yet controversial organization, Confederate Families United, to stir the pot and make things difficult for her at school? That woman was so mortified by Noah’s revelations about their ancestry, she very well could’ve struck out in a malicious kind of way.

  It was just one assignment, though. Maybe Violet was reading too much into the brouhaha because she’d been steeped in the past with researching Noah’s family history. It wouldn’t be unnatural for her to be overly sensitive to anything that seemed the least bit racially motivated. Would she have obsessed over the issue had she not been involved with Noah?

  Yes. Yes, she would. Nothing about her assignment should’ve raised a brow or had parents up in arms to this extent. Someone had created the problem and fanned the flames. Violet wouldn’t rest until she knew the name of the instigator. So, the kids couldn’t write journal entries from the point of view of a slave? All right. Then they’d research the contents of newspapers from the South and the North during the 1800’s in order to write an essay comparing and contrasting the two. She’d see how their parents felt about that. If they even found out about it at all.

  In the meanwhile, she needed to talk to Bethany again and find out which history teacher had spoken to her. One thing was certain. She wouldn’t tell Noah. With all the stress he was under, he didn’t need this on top of it. She’d handle it on her own, if there was anything to handle.

  * * *

  Sitting in her tub, Violet closed her eyes and let the lavender do its work. No, it wasn’t Friday, but this particular Monday called for pampering. Not only did school piss her off, but she’d readied her house for the impending storm. Her body ached as well as her head. She grabbed her phone and emailed Bethany before she lost herself to the candles and the music and the comforting warmth of the water. Hopefully she’d get an answer quickly.

  Her phone didn’t buzz as the water cooled. It didn’t buzz while she sipped on a glass of Merlot on the couch. Bethany would probably not see her email until the morning. The bath soothed her somewhat, but she remained unsettled. She’d already spoken to Noah for the day and feasted on her dose of him. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to go down to the basement. To the safe room.

  Sliding into her flip flops, she bundled her long, damp hair into a messy bun, picked up a flashlight, and tromped down the stairs. Benjamin weighed on her mind. She stepped into the safe room and sat down on the ground in the same spot he had chosen.

  “Oh, Benjamin. I wish you wouldn’t have stopped coming by. I could really use to talk to you right now.” She leaned her head back and sighed. “My hot mess is nothing compared to yours and Annabelle’s, I know. I can’t imagine being you and having to live with the pain of not being free to love Annabelle the way you planned. And what of poor Annabelle’s heart? She probably thought her world had ended when she was kept from you. The rest of her life would be dictated by her family. I’d love to know how you handled it all. How you played the hand you were dealt.

  “I love Noah so much, Benjamin. I love him with every fiber of my being. He endears me with his quest for family, his artistry, and his strength of character. He rocks my world with the most amazing sex I’ve ever had. He offers me so much, and what do I give him in return? Exposure to a racist, privileged predator. I give him drama. When he comes back, what will he be met with? Lord only knows. I just want us to be able to live our lives in peace and love without the cloud of judgement over our different skin color. And what about school? If I’m not allowed to teach the way I should at this school, I might have to look elsewhere. I won’t continue to have my curriculum shackled by white elitists who demand their own perspective be taught rather than the balanced truth.”

  Her flashlight flickered and went out. “Great.” Only the dimmest of light from the basement illuminated the entrance to the room where she sat.

  “I miss my Annabelle.”

  “What?” Scrambling like a character about to die in a horror movie, Violet did her best to vacate the room. “Ow! Son of a bitch!” Her brilliant move landed her flat on her stomach, across the threshold.

  “Don’t be afraid, Missus. I won’t hurt ya none. You called me, so I done come ovuh.”

  Violet managed to twist around and right herself to find Benjamin sitting in the opposite corner from where she’d been sitting. “H…h…hello.” She smiled meekly and made a feeble attempt to gain some composure. It was one thing to see him during his nightly routine, and with Noah right beside her, but another to have him just pop up from out of nowhere! “I thought you’d gone for good. Not that you have to, but I just thought you had. Do you know who I am?”

  “You is Miss Violet, of course. You think I knows you as my sweet Annabelle, but I’m not stupid like them others. Just lonesome for my girl. I know what you was tryin’ to do before, and I thank ya for it. Looks like it’s my time to return the favuh.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. Speaking for Annabelle seemed the kindest thing. You came back to help me? You are a sweet man.” She paused a moment, a question lingering in her mind had to be asked. “Benjamin, you do know you’re a ghost, don’t you?”

  “Yes’m. After I said my goodbyes to my family up north and took my last breath, I came back to take care of some unfinished business between Annabelle and me. But she don’t come when I calls for her. Why don’t she come?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s occurred to me after watching you all those days, walking across my lawn, that maybe she can’t because she’s already somewhere else waiting for you.”

  “Somewhere else? But she was supposed to meet me here. Mistress Elizabeth had it all worked out for us.”

  “If she lingers on this earthly plane, too, then I think she could be at her house, stuck in her room. Are you free to go where you like?”

  “Don’t know. Haven’t tried. Can’t say for certain. Why’d she be stuck in her room? Miss Violet, seems you know more about me than I know about me. If you don’t mind, ma’am, I’d like to get educated on myself.”

  “You’d be right. Noah and I know about the missing pieces of your life. Annabelle’s story.” Violet went on to tell this gentle soul all the information Noah and she’d gathered about Annabelle, her family, and what went down the day they were supposed to run away together.

  He sat there, listening intently, not uttering a word until she finished. “I have a son named Henry, you say, and he growed up white like the Massa Hawkins?”

  “Yes. He and the children that came after and so on, all successful in their lives. In fact, there are Hawkins living to this day in that house. Annabelle lived there until the day she died. Her portrait from the Cotillion still hangs on a wall.”

  “I have a son named Henry.” He shook his head and swiped at ghostly tears. “That’s the name we decided on togethuh if the baby was gonna be a boy.”

  “Oh, Benjamin. That’s wonderful she honored you in that way. Your name lives on in the north, as well. Noah, the man who stood beside me, is your family. He comes from your marriage to Sarah in New York. I bet he would love to talk to you when he returns on Thanksgiving.”

  “My heart is so full right now, Miss Violet. So full. I thank you ten times ovuh for sharin’ my life with me.”

  “I’m just glad that Noah was able to complete his family tree.” Now it was her turn to wipe away tears.

  “Miss Violet, you asked questions of me. Wonderin’ how I dealt with the pain of losin’ Annabelle and the baby. I never got ovuh the pain. I just buried it deep down inside and nevuh took it out again. Sometimes, it’s all we can do to survive. That and bein’ grateful for what little the good Lord has granted us in our life. Remember, I lived. I made it to freedom and I nevuh looked back.”

  “Yes, and you have two fine branches of famil
ies to show for it. I’m so tired, Benjamin. I need to go to bed. Will you come back and visit with me again?”

  “If you call me, I’ll come, Miss Violet.”

  “Good, because I’m madly in love with your great, great, great, great, maybe a couple more greats grandson, Noah Blackman, and it’d be wonderful getting to know someone from his family.”

  “Sweet dreams and goodnight, then, Miss Violet.”

  “Good night, Benjamin. And call me Violet from now on, please. Just Violet.” She smiled her sweetest smile and managed to leave the room without stumbling or tripping over anything. Once her head hit the pillow, her eyes popped wide open. Of course, the wheels turned, her mind exploded with what she’d just encountered, and she made mental lists of what she needed to accomplish over the next few days and weeks ahead.

  * * *

  Bethany went home sick with the flu early the next morning and was out the rest of the week. Violet didn’t feel right emailing her, so when she returned to school the following Monday, Violet snagged her at the end of the day.

  “Hey, glad to see you back and among the living.”

  Bethany chuckled. “Thanks, I’m exhausted. Damn flu took everything outta me. How are you?”

  “Okay. Hanging in. I have a question for you, though. Last week you mentioned a history teacher had told you about the parent issue I had, but you didn’t know who it was. I wanted to know if the woman who spoke with you was older than me, or wore expensive clothing. Did she have blond hair worn in a severe bun at the nape of her neck?”

  “Yes to all of that. She looked very well put together. Polished. Like she doesn’t really need to teach, but does so for play money. If you know what I mean. That sounds like the woman. What’s her name?”

  “Cassie Windruff.” Violet couldn’t help but sneer.

  “Ah, okay. I’ll remember that if I ever see her again. Wish I could stay and chat more, but I have a follow up doctor’s appointment. See ya later.” Bethany hoisted her tote bag on her shoulder and trudged down the hall.

  So, it was Cassie! What a coincidence. Deep in her soul, Violet knew she’d caused the uproar. Circumstantial as it was, it was good enough for her. She stormed out of the building to her car, brain engulfed in a storm cloud of emotions. “Gosh dang it! How do these people get onto our campus to put ads on our cars?” She tore a folded paper from beneath the windshield wiper and tossed it on her passenger seat as she climbed into the car. As long as she didn’t speed and minded the road, the drive home would help her clear her head a bit. Enough to start thinking of a plan to ensure Cassie and her posse couldn’t make her life any more miserable than it already was at the moment.

  At home and flopped on the couch, she closed her eyes briefly to center herself. When she reopened them, she realized she still held the junk mail. “Let’s see what great offer is in store for me today.” She read aloud. “Violet Adams…oh, a personal touch to this one. How nice. Violet Adams, you are a scum-sucking, black-loving whore. A bitch of a—” Her voice cut out on her as she continued on, not believing what she was seeing- a scathing litany of filthy racial slurs directed at her, jampacked into one hate-filled anonymous letter.

  The paper crumpled as her fisted hand shook with rage. So, not only had parents attacked her professionally over an assignment, but now they attacked her relationship with Noah. Cassie’s meddling had gone too far. Violet had to do something before it turned dangerous. She called the police, and they took down her information. She stowed the letter in her top desk drawer in her office, then she got back in her car and drove.

  To Cassie’s house.

  She rang the doorbell a few times before Cassie answered. “Violet? Why on earth are you standin’ on my doorstep? I thought you recognized, after our last meetin’, you wouldn’t be welcome here anymore.”

  Violet ignored her and pushed passed to enter the foyer. “I just came here to tell you to call your dogs off. In fact, it would be in your best interest to do so since the police are now involved.”

  Annoyance washed over the woman’s face, but what Violet had just said must’ve piqued her curiosity enough that she didn’t immediately throw her out. “What in heaven’s name are you goin’ on about? Take a breath or two and then explain why I should be concerned about officers of the law.”

  “I know you made trouble for me at school with some parents over an assignment we’d already discussed and begun without issue. No sooner do I bounce back from that, then I get a lovely anonymous letter using quite the colorful racist language to describe me and what I should do with misplaced love for people of color. Doesn’t take much to connect the dots.”

  “Your wild accusations are not surprising, given who you choose to befriend, but I can assure you, I had nothing to do with either incident.”

  “Your assurance doesn’t hold much weight with me. The lesson I was forced to ditch, well, I just assigned something different, but still addresses both sides of the slave issue. The “love” letter is now a police matter. Dollars to doughnuts, as they investigate, information will be discovered. Do you really want to be exposed as the mixed-race racist of Savannah?”

  “You’re talking nonsense now, Violet, and wasting my time.” It didn’t pass Violet’s notice that a piece of mauled tissue floated to the floor by Cassie’s foot. She was sweating bullets, but putting on a great show.

  “You are wasting our students’ time if you think, as an Honors history teacher, you’re doing right by them, cherry picking facts that are convenient to the white minority’s sense of entitlement. You’re being downright irresponsible. You have an obligation to be impartial and present the facts as history has been laid out. Can’t you see that by acknowledging your true ancestry, you have an opportunity to build a bridge, to bring about an awareness of how complex our history was, including relationships amongst its people at that time? How amazing is it that you can be a primary source for your students! Your family lineage is not unique in the scheme of things, nor is it something to be ashamed of. Cassie, we are living in an enlightened age. The way you’re handling it, well, I’d expect so much more from someone of your stature and profession. Rein in your dogs, Cassie. I’ll call off the police and considered the matter settled. Accept who you came from and leave me and mine the hell alone.”

  Violet had stunned the woman into silence. She still stood, holding the door open with a white-knuckled hand, belying the confidence she exuded. Violet, fired up and triumphant, said nothing more and marched out to her car. She fought against the massive urge to tear away down her driveway, opting instead for a normal, mature getaway. As she hit the main road, however, she slammed her hands on the steering wheel, hooting and hollering like she’d won a championship game. Had she won, though? It remained to be seen. Home at last and all she wanted to do was share her bold move with Noah, but she didn’t. She wouldn’t until she was certain the situation was handled to her satisfaction.

  Over the course of the next few days, no more anonymous letters were found. The police never notified her of any arrests, convincing her all the more that Cassie was the instigator. She didn’t see the infuriating woman at school, either. Typical. She hoped some of what she’d said had gotten through to her about her family. If so, Cassie certainly didn’t let her know about it. Her students, although still salty over not being able to continue their prior assignment, were intrigued by all the old newspapers and dug into their research with zeal.

  As predicted, the storm came along the coastline, but as good as tracking maps were, the slightest deviation changed everything. The tropical storm stayed further off the coast than projected. The tarp, gate, and sandbags she used to cover the tunnel’s opening held beautifully, and none of windows blew out. The roof needed some repairs, but fared well overall, and when the power went out for a little while, the generator kicked in and no food spoiled. Noah had been ready to get her a plane ticket to New York, but as it turned out, he got it worse than she. Luck of the draw. There would always be another s
torm, and someone else would be the lucky one.

  * * *

  “I can’t believe it’s really time for you to come down. I thought Thanksgiving would never get here!”

  “I know. This long-distance relationship business is for the birds. You’re lookin’ fine tonight, Violet. Tell me you don’t have a secret date planned when we’re done talking.”

  “Then I’d be lyin’, because I do.” She flashed him a wicked grin.

  “What? You are foolin’ with me.” He laughed dismissively.

  “Nope, it’s the truth.” She’d shocked him so, all he could do was sit and stare at her. It took every bit of her control to keep from bursting out laughing.

  “All right.” He folded his arms across his chest and smirked. “I’ll play along. With who?”

  “With Benjamin.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Benjamin who?”

  “Benjamin Blackman.”

  “See!” He slapped his knee and pointed at her. “I knew you were messin’ with me. Wicked woman. Is he really back?”

  “Yup, he came back soon after you left. I’ve been chatting with him every now and again. He keeps me company, and I like learning about his life when he was alive. He asks about you, so I tell him what I know. He’ll be so glad to talk to you when you come.”

  “I can’t wait. Can’t wait to see you, sweetheart. Can’t wait to get my hands on you. All of you. I’m sorry I had to change my flight and come later, but I had no choice. At least everybody’s got cabinets and occasional tables before the holiday, and they’re satisfied, too. Makes my bank account really happy.”