Cranberry Winter

by Ruth P. Watson

  The next day we went to visit Ginny. We arrived at her house around 10 o’clock in the morning. We had decided to stop by on the way to the train. She answered her door and was surprised to see Hester and me standing there.

  “Lawd, come on in,” she said and directed us into the parlor with her walking stick. “I knowed you were coming,” she said. “I’ve been dreaming ’bout you for two days now. Usually when I dream ’bout somebody, they shows up. Make yo’self comfortable; y’all hungry?”

  “No, Ma’am,” I answered, and Hester said the same.

  “What y’all been doing; are you planning on staying awhile?” she asked, staring at us with those mysterious green eyes.

  “I’m down here on business.”

  “Now, what kind of bus’ness you got here in Jefferson?”

  Hester answered for me, “We’re trying to find out who Kindred is.”

  Ginny busted out in a laugh. “Join in. E’rybody wants to know about that man.”

  “Tell me about him, Ginny,” I requested, and waited. Ginny’s house had an eclectic look; nothing seemed to match. It was cozy, though, and everybody was welcomed.

  “Now ’fore we get to talking about all of that, tell me this: where’s my nephew?”

  “I left him in Richmond.”

  “Well, the next time you coming down here, bring ’em to see his auntie.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Who watching ’em for ya? Simon?”

  “My neighbor downstairs.”

  “You talkin’ ’bout the white woman I met.”

  “She is real good to him.”

  “She seems like a nice white woman. I just don’t trust too many peoples.”

  I decided to go back to my original question. I loved Ginny, and she and I could talk all day and night long. She had been the mother I needed when I was dealing with Mr. Camm. She was the wisest woman I knew.

  “Ginny, can you tell me anything about Kindred?”

  “I don’t know much ’bout him. He is the spitting image of that no-good Camm. He ’posed to be his twin. All I can say for sure is yo momma done took up with him. She say he is just a family member staying with her for a minute. Mae Lou is the biggest fool when it comes to men folks. Yo’ papa was the best thing that ever happened to her.”

  “Ginny, he gives me an eerie feeling. He asked me about Robert one day and it scared me.”

  “You don’t need to be scared of nobody. You got to stand up for yo’self. If the son-of-a-bitch say anything out of the way to you, you pick up something and bust it across his scalp. But, if he ain’t bothering you, leave him alone.”

  “Ms. Ginny, he looks just like his brother.”

  “Yeah, I’m sort of concerned ’bout it myself. I ain’t never seen a twin who looks just like the other one. There is always something different. One of ’em are taller or one will have a mole or something on the face. All of us make jokes and say he is Camm.”

  “There is something about him that disturbs me.”

  “You let me know if he say or do anything out of the way to you. If he didn’t die the furst time, he sho’ gonna die if I hear he done did you wrong.”

  “Ginny, will you look out for Momma for me?”

  “I’ll look out, but she hardheaded. You know she done fell out with Carl ’bout him. She done let that man run her own son away. Mae Lou was a fool for Herman Camm and now it seems like she a fool for Kindred Camm too.”

  “Do you think Momma knows anything about him?”

  Ginny laughed. “She is slow, Chile, like someone done fell down and hit their head. Yo’ momma knows schooling, but she don’t know nothing about life. Let her be. If he do her like Camm did, then she deserve it.”

  Chapter 18

  Nadine was peeking out of her window when I came down the street. I could feel her eyes on me as I walked up the stairs into the house. When I felt she was watching, I would glance in her direction and the curtain would be swaying from her quick release. She didn’t want me to see her. Amazingly, Simon was in the house sitting on the davenport, relaxing, with his feet up, reading the colored newspaper, Race and Place. Seeing him was surprising to me, since I thought he was on the road traveling with his baseball team.

  “Hi!” I said when I walked into the room.

  A smile rippled across his face. “Where have you been the last two days?” he asked.

  “I took a trip to Jefferson County.”

  “I stopped by the school. They told me you were here at the house.”

  “I didn’t let them know where I was going. I didn’t think it was their business.”

  He got up from the davenport and put his arms around me.

  “I was worried for a minute. I thought somebody had kidnapped you,” he said, smiling.

  I grinned.

  “Let me get your bag,” he said and grabbed it out of my hand and took it into the bedroom.

  I sat down on the davenport beside him. It had been a long time since Simon was home before the sun went down and was resting.

  “So tell me about your trip,” he said.

  “I went to see Momma.”

  “Is she all right?”

  “She is fine. She’s got Kindred living with her.”

  “Kindred don’t live in Jefferson; he is probably just visiting. Your momma don’t want him. She was married to his fool of a brother, so don’t get yourself riled up about that.”

  I didn’t say anything. It was no surprise Simon wanted to believe Kindred was who he said he was. I did too, but my gut said something different. Hester and I had not come back with anything but suspicions, and it didn’t prove anything. My papa had always told me to trust my instincts and I knew deep down in my soul that Kindred was none other than Herman Camm.

  “Did you pick up Robert from downstairs?” I asked.

  “He has been here with me for a day now. He is in the bedroom sleeping.”

  I went into the bedroom and Robert was still sleeping. I gazed down at him. How could someone as beautiful and innocent as Robert be connected to someone as evil as Mr. Camm? “He is still knocked out. He’s been running around here all day. After I fed him, he went off to sleep.” He patted the space beside him. “Come sit down. I want to talk to you.”

  I sat down and he put his muscular arm around my shoulders. “Tell me, why are you going from place to place trying to find out about Kindred Camm?”

  I relaxed into his arms. “I’m afraid, Simon.”

  “You don’t have any reason to be afraid. The man you see is not Herman; it is his brother. Don’t go looking for trouble.” Simon didn’t understand me. Kindred was more of a friend to Simon than an enemy, even though he was the mirror image of his brother. Adam had believed me the very first time. Simon tightened his arms around me and pulled me close to him. “Don’t you think I can take care of you?”

  “Yes,” I said, knowing he couldn’t take care of me if he didn’t believe me.

  Simon kissed me lightly on the lips and then over and over again. I succumbed to my emotions and let him roll on top of me, right on the davenport. Once he was on me, he unbuttoned my dress and pulled down my bloomers. We both were panting like dogs. He got on me and I didn’t think to get my sponge. He entered my moistness and I began to groan. Just as we were about to explode, I begged Simon to withdraw because I could not hold my urine. I really couldn’t risk getting pregnant. And I knew it was something Simon desired.

  Just when we were tired and beads of sweat dripped off our brows, someone knocked on the door. Simon and I quickly put on our clothing. I went into the bathroom and Simon went to answer the door. When I returned from the bathroom and went into the kitchen, I saw Nadine’s little girl standing in the kitchen with a cup in one hand. She appeared to be handing Simon a note with the other.

  “What is it you need?” I said.

  “My momma sent me over here to get a cup of sugar.”

  I took the cup out of her hand, opened the sugar canister and dipped out
a cup of sugar. I handed the cup back to her. She said, “Thank you,” and left.

  Simon went out the door behind her, stood on the porch and watched her cross the street. After she went in her house, he came into the kitchen.

  “Did I see her give you something?”

  He raised his voice annoyed. “Give me something? You must be seeing things.”

  “Simon, I saw her hand you something.”

  “She didn’t hand me anything,” he claimed, without blinking.

  I knew what I had seen. I didn’t understand why Simon was lying to me again.

  I turned around and walked back into the sitting area. I sat down on the davenport and waited for him to come in. He never came. After a couple of minutes, I walked back into the kitchen. He was stuffing a piece of balled-up paper into his pocket.

  My lips were sealed. I never let on that I had seen the paper; I knew he would only deny it. He gazed me in the face and not one frown was on his face. He had what the gamblers called a poker face. I could not tell what the note contained by his expression. Again, Nadine had disrespected me.

  “I’ve got to run out for a few minutes,” he said, glancing at the wall clock. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  I looked at him, shook my head, and walked back into the bedroom to check on Robert. He was still sleep. Simon went into the bathroom, washed up and headed out the door.

  I watched from the window as he got into his car, which was parked outside, turned it around and headed up the street in the direction of the club. I sat in the window seat and watched from a gap in the curtains as the sun went down. I was just about to leave and go to bed when I noticed Nadine come out her front door and walk in the direction of the club.

  Beads of sweat popped up on the brow of my nose—something that happened whenever I was angry. I wanted to see what was going on, but I had Robert. I sat down on the davenport and everything came to mind. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. After thinking about it for ten minutes, I woke Robert up. I took him downstairs and left him with the Halls. As usual, they were happy to watch him. Mrs. Hall gazed me in the eyes. “Something is bothering you, Child.”

  “I’m all right, Mrs. Hall.”

  “Well, don’t let whatever it is get the best of you.”

  “I won’t,” I promised her, and left.

  It was chilly at night in Richmond. With spring approaching, daytime temperatures had been mild, but at night, the frost would settle on the ground. It was fine because I was sweating. I briskly walked toward the club without knowing what I might find. All I knew was that something was going on and I was going to find out what it was.

  When I made it to the club, I saw Simon’s car parked in front. I inhaled to garner up the nerve necessary to confront whatever was going on. The night was young, and there were a few patrons going inside. Ms. Pearl was not performing.

  I walked inside the club and took a seat at a small table in the corner. I wanted to be incognito, so I attempted to blend in. The table was away from the lights, and I sat there waiting. I glanced around at the patrons. There were a few women dressed up with face powder on and vibrant pink and red lipstick. A couple of men dressed in suits were standing around the bar. The bartender, as usual, was standing in front of them talking. I did not see Simon anywhere, and Nadine wasn’t in sight, either. For a minute, I was at ease. But it didn’t last long.

  “Ma’am, you want something to drink?” the bartender asked and scared me, since I never saw him walk up. He had two roles—bartender and waiter.

  “I’ll take a glass of water,” I said, even though I could have used a drink, like the other sinners who had drowned their problems with liquor. I was not a drinker, though.

  It wasn’t long before the bartender came back with my water. I sat there listening to the music playing. The longer I sat, the more relaxed I became. I sipped on the ice water and took interest in everything going on around me. The men in suits walked over to the table where the three women were seated and started to chat. The longer they sat there, the louder their voices became. It wasn’t long before sounds were reverberating from all over the place. The room was coming alive.

  I sat there for over an hour before I decided to leave. Simon’s car was there, but he was nowhere to be found. As I got up to leave, Simon walked from the back of the room with Nadine following close behind him. I watched as he kissed her on the cheek and escorted her to the door, but before they got there, I had gotten up. My blood was boiling. I walked over to them with my water in my hand and tossed the entire glass of water on the both of them. Nadine started to buck up at me, but I didn’t scare. She lowered her eyes and ran out the door instead. Water was dripping from her face.

  “It is not what you think!” Simon yelled. “I’m soaked and wet, Girl,” he said, brushing water off his shirt with his hands.

  I didn’t say anything. I stood there with a scowl on my face, my chest heaving.

  He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the water off his face. “Can we talk, Carrie?”

  “Yes, when you are ready to tell the truth,” I answered, and threw my head up. All of a sudden, I had become fearless, ready for him.

  He put his hand on my arm. I shook it off, set the empty glass on the table, and walked out.

  I didn’t go straight home. I went to Nadine’s. I knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. The little girl opened the door.

  “Is your momma here?”

  “My momma is not home,” she said.

  “Well, I’ll just come in and wait for her.” I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The girl’s eyes popped wide open.

  “No, she ain’t here. You got to go home,” the little girl said, attempting to coax me back out of the door.

  “Go get your momma. I am not leaving.”

  Ten seconds later, Nadine walked into her sitting room. Her hands were trembling with fear. “Carrie, you need to leave. I don’t want you in my house,” Nadine said and then crossed her arms over her chest.

  “I’m not going nowhere. You are going to tell me what is going on with you and my husband.”

  “I told you we are just friends!” she argued, raising her voice to a level of intimidation.

  “If all that you say is true, then why won’t you talk to me?”

  “Carrie, you need to leave right now.”

  I walked toward her and she backed up. Her children stood around listening.

  “Y’all, go into your bedroom,” she told them.

  Her son left and went back down the hallway. Her daughter did not move.

  “Sammie, go on into your room, I said!” she yelled, but the daughter stubbornly stood there.

  “Nadine, you need to tell me why you were with my husband tonight.”

  She unfolded her arms and swung them by her side. She was nervous and it was obvious on her face, which had frown lines across her forehead.

  “I don’t want to talk about it. You need to ask Simon your questions.”

  I was getting tired of reasoning with her. I moved closer to her. I was about to push her down on the davenport when her little girl got in between us. “You can’t come into our house. You leave!” she yelled.

  “I will go when your mother tells me the truth.”

  “Like I told you, I’ve known Simon a long time. I knew him when I was thirteen years old, before I had any children, and my oldest is nine now.”

  “You are no-good trash, Nadine. You have no respect for me as his wife and I am sick of you!” I yelled.

  “Get out! You can’t talk to me like that; this is my damn house.”

  I turned to walk away, but could not leave. My fists were balled up waiting for her to make a move toward me, but all she did was stand in the corner swinging her arms nervously. She was upset, and I was determined to make her tell me the truth.

  “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me why you were with my husband tonight.”

  She yelled, “I had to borrow some money f
rom him. Is that all right?”

  “No, you have a man, so why don’t ask him for it?”

  “I needed it right away.”

  The little girl was standing watching as teardrops trickled down her cheeks.

  “Oh, Ma, just tell her!” the little girl sang out.

  “Go to your room,” Nadine demanded, but the child wouldn’t move.

  “What is it she wants to tell me?” I asked.

  “Nothing; just leave,” Nadine said.

  “Little girl, tell me what is going on here.”

  Nadine interjected, “You need to go. If you won’t leave, then I will. Sammie, go tell your brother to come on.”

  “I’m not,” the child replied.

  When Nadine tried to grab her hand, she pulled back and yelled, “Simon is my daddy!”

  I didn’t expect to hear what she’d said. I stood there gazing at Nadine, waiting for a reaction.

  “Now are you happy? He is my children’s father.”

  I went numb. All of a sudden, I was speechless. I didn’t have a comeback.

  I walked out the door, and went across the street. I didn’t look back. I walked past the front door of the Halls’ apartment and kept going straight up the stairs. I didn’t know what to think, but I had witnessed a certain relief in the little girl’s eyes once she’d blurted out the truth. I left Nadine in the sitting room with her arms around Simon’s little girl, who was crying like a baby. I was mad as hell.

  Chapter 19

  I felt defeated when I left Nadine’s house. I went home, sat on the davenport and peered out the window waiting for Simon’s car to come down the street. I fell asleep anxious to talk to him about the things I’d found out. He owed me some answers. I was his wife. How on earth did he think we could live across the street from them and I wouldn’t find out about his other family? After he didn’t show up, I found myself wiping teardrops from my eyes.

  When he did finally show up the next day, he acted as if I had done something to him. He walked past me in the kitchen and did not say a word. I shook my head. How dare he? Then he went into the bathroom, slammed the door and took a bath, dressed, and left the house without parting his lips. Once he was gone, I emptied every drawer in the chiffonier, stuffed all the clothes he owned into the duffle bag he traveled with, and put it at the door. I was young and naïve, but I was not his fool.