She looked in the direction of the coal mine, seeing the tipple looming ominously into the sky. She knew that below that earth her Papa and Alberto were coming to the end of their hard day's labor. Then she suddenly remembered Michael's words about the dangers of the mine—how each time the men were carried beneath the earth the chances were quite great that they possibly would not return . . . alive.
“What shall I do?” she whispered, now rushing on toward the house. “What can Michael even truly do? Nathan is so powerful. Nathan is so devious.”
The front door swung open, revealing the bulkmess of Mama Pearl standing there, smiling warmly as she wiped her hands on her apron. Her gray hair made a nice contrast with her brown face. And her attire was the same as before—a fully gathered cotton dress that caused her hips to appear even wider than they were.
Maria stepped onto the porch, looking around her at the white wicker furniture, knowing that she would have time to explore this mansion that was now in part hers. She hadn't been able to do so before. Nathan had been too anxious to sweep her away to Saint Louis, where he could transform her from an Italian waif into a grand lady of style.
Mama Pearl moved in a rush for Maria, pulling her into her embrace, hugging her tightly. “Sweet Baby,” she purred. “Ya'all looks so pale. Was the first nights of marriage so hard?” Her heavy, thick hands caressed Maria's back.
Maria looked in confusion around her, not under standing this heavyset woman's open affection for someone she had just become acquainted with. But Maria had to think that this Mama Pearl would probably feel a closeness to anyone she had just met. She had the jolly personality of someone who never met a stranger. Maria sighed deeply when Mama Pearl finally released her hold and guided her into the house.
“Your trunks arrived a while ago,” Mama Pearl said in her squeaky voice. “I had them taken to your private room. You would probably like a soaking in the tub before doing anything else. I drew your bath and filled the water with some bubblies for you to settle yourself beneath.”
Maria's mouth dropped open. “A bath? Bubblies? Does this house .. . have … a toilet?”
“Three,” Mama Pearl giggled. “One for my quarters, one for yours, and one for Mastah Hawkins's own private bedroom.”
“Do you mean that I will have a room … all to … myself… 7’ Maria asked hopefully. If she and Nathan weren't in the same bed each evening, maybe she wouldn't have to play the wife so often. Shivers raced up and down her spine, remembering how quickly he had always mounted her and left her lying feeling so used. Never once had he asked if she had enjoyed it. He had just thought of his needs. Only his needs. But, in fact, she had been grateful for that. In no way would he ever be able to arouse any sexual feelings in her.
“Mastah Hawkins's business hours often move into the awkward hours of the night,” Mama Pearl said, moving from chair to chair, fluffing cushions. “A private bedroom was his suggestion, so he wouldn't disturb you in the sometimes wee hours of the morning.”
“Oh, I see,” Mana said, still oh so relieved. Her gaze traveled around the room, seeing more of it this second time. A fireplace that covered the narrower, longer wall grabbed her quick attention. She knew that the chimney would have to be cleaned yearly. Were there chimney sweeps in the area? Would there possibly even be one she would have to hire? It made a strange sensation surge through her realizing that she was now in the position to do the hiring, instead of being the one being hired. But many things had changed since a few days ago. Many, many things.
She looked further around her, marveling at the lightbulbs shining so clearly from the crystal chandelier and the many wall sconces. What a marvelous invention to not have to strike a match to a wick to bring forth enough light to light a room. The lights of Saint Louis had been an incredible sight, as was everything about that marvelous city. She could understand why such a man as Michael would live there. Was he not a great man?
She moved to a back window, staring outward at the row after row of grapevines. She turned to Mama Pearl, eyes heavy with wonder. “Mama Pearl, why does Nathan have such a vineyard? Does he have such an interest in the growing of grapes with his thoughts being so full of his coal mine?”
Mama Pearl moved to her side and pulled a drape aside, also looking outward. “He hopes one day to have a wine named aftah him. How bettah than to start with growm’ his own grapes for wine?”
“A wine named after him?” Maria said, wanting to laugh out loud. It so sounded like something Nathan would want. He was so egotistical… so arrogant.
‘If ah knows mah Mastah Hawkins very well, he'll succeed,” Mama Pearl giggled. “He usually gets every-thin’ he hungahs foh.”
Maria moved away from the window, working her gloves from her fingers, one at a time. “You do like Nathan, don't you?” she asked softly.
Mama Pearl straightened the drapes, smoothing their lines with her deft fingers. “He's been good to me,” she said. “Can't ask foh more than that.” She moved to Maria's side. “Now are you ready to be shown your room, Sweet Baby?” She reached up and touched the softness of Maria's hat. Envy showed at the depth of Mama Pearl's eyes. Maria understood such envy. Up until only a few days before, she had felt such envy, almost a hunger inside when she had seen beautifully attired ladies.
Smiling, Maria reached up and removed two hatpins from her hat and lifted the hat from her head. “Do you like the hat, Mama Pearl?” she asked softly, handing it to Mama Pearl.
“One of the prettiest ah've evah seen,” Mama Pearl sighed, running her fingers along the satin-faced brim.
“It's yours,” Maria said, taking one of Mama Pearl's hands, easing her hat into it.
“Mine . . . ?” Mama Pearl gasped, eyes wide. “But ah'm sho Mastah Hawkins wouldn't want you to. . . .”
Maria straightened her back and set her jaws firmly. “I don't care what Nathan Hawkins thinks,” she said. “If I want to give a gift to you, it is my right to do so. Please accept this hat as a gift from me to you as a souvenir from the great city of Saint Louis.” “But.. . it's yours“
Maria sighed heavily, loosening her hair from its combs and pins. “Mama Pearl, didn't you see the many hatboxes delivered to this house? Nathan must have purchased one of each style for me. I won't miss just one. Please believe me.”
Maria placed her combs and pins on a table, then went to Mama Pearl. “Here. Let me place it atop your head,” she said softly. She took the hat and arranged it over the tight, gray bun, seeing a softness in Mama Pearl's eyes as she did so. Mama Pearl reached up and touched it gingerly, making Maria proud. Maria stepped back, eyes wide, smiling. “Like it, Mama Pearl?” she asked, clasping her hands together in front of her.
Mama Pearl's fingers movecl over it, then she broke into a fit of giggles. “Land's sake, Sweet Baby,” she said. “Nevah, no nevah have ah had such a thing of style on this head of mine.”
Maria giggled also, then tensed when a loud banging on the front door forced an awkward silence between her and Mama Pearl. When the knocking persisted, Mama Pearl rushed to the door and opened it, exclaiming loudly, “You again? Why do you con-tinue to pestah me so?”
Maria's heartbeat skipped when she heard the loud voice of Alberto traveling across the threshold into the room.
“I'm here to see Maria Lazzaro,” he boomed. ‘Just like I have been for the past several days. Has she arrived back here yet? If so, I must see her. Til put it even more strongly than that. 1 insist on seeing her.”
With weakened knees, Maria hurried to the door and stepped in front of Mama Pearl. “Alberto? Oh. Alberto,” she cried, rushing into his arms.
“Maria, what is this all about?” he demanded, pushing her away from him, holding her at arm's length, studying her. His eyes raked over her, over and over again, seeing the fanciness of her attire. He had never seen his sister look so beautiful. But in Nathan Hawkins's house? Explanations were due!
“Did you and Papa receive word by messenger, Alberto?” Maria asked, wiping
a tear from her eye. She now realized that a part of her had just been put in place again. She and Alberto had never been separated before. Seeing him now made her ache, knowing that she had put him from her mind so easily.
“Yes. We received word all right,” Alberto growled. “Word that you had ventured off with Nathan Hawkins to Saint Louis.”
“Didn't the message state that I was to become . . . Nathan Hawkins's wife?” Maria gasped, paling. Had Nathan felt it safer not to include that tidbit of infor- mation? Maybe he had guessed the anger of Alberto
Alberto dropped his hands to his sides, eyes wide. “Did you . . . say . . . wife . .. ?” he gasped, also pal-ing.
Maria's gaze lowered. She fluttered her lashes nervously. “Yes. I am now … his wife . . . Alberto,” she confessed.
Alberto grabbed her by the shoulders and began shaking her violently. “No,” he screamed. “No. No. It just can't be. You . . . wouldn't. . . .”
Mama Pearl pushed Alberto away from Maria and stood with hands on hips between brother and sister. “I don't think ah'd lay anothah hand on Mastah Hawkins's bride, suh,” she said firmly.
Maria moved to Mama Pearl's side and took a hand in hers. “Mama Pearl, this is my brother Alberto,” she said softly. “Please don't fret over me. My brother has reasons for such anger.”
“This is ya'all's brothah?” Mama Pearl said quietly. She frowned toward Alberto. “And why didn't ya'U tell me earlier? All the othah times ya'll came knockin’ on this heah door?”
Alberto's hands went to his whiskers and began to caress them. “I didn't think it . . . uh . . . wise,” he stammered.
Maria spoke again. “You see, Alberto and my Papa work in Nathan's coal mine. Alberto feared . . . Nathan“
“Feahed . . . Mastah Hawkins . . . ?” Mama Pearl whispered. “How can anyone feah Mastah Hawkins? He has always been so kind to me.”
“To hell with you,” Alberto exclaimed, glaring. “It is Maria whom I am so concerned about. Maria? Tell me. How could you do this? Have you lost all love and respect for Italians? You know how badly Nathan Hawkins treats all of us.”
Maria felt tears surfacing. Alberto looked so tired. His dark eyes were heavy with sadness, and his face was lined with coal dust. His clothes were even dirtier than when he had worn his chimney sweep costume. Maria's heart ached so, knowing even mpre now that Alberto hadn't bettered himself by traveling to America. “Alberto, there's so much to tell you.” she said, reaching for him.
Mama Pearl stepped away from them both, watching silently as brother and sister stood arguing with one another. Mama Pearl didn't understand any of this. Hadn't Maria willingly married Mastah Hawkins? Had he forced her . . . ? She knew that he had done this many other times before. Lawdy, she had learned to keep her mouth shut about things. She had no other choice but to. . . .
“Tell me then,” Alberto shouted. “Maria, tell me. Now!”
Maria looked at Mama Pearl who still stood glowering, ready to pounce on Alberto if he made another approach toward Maria. Maria didn't feel free to talk while in Mama Pearl's presence. She knew that anything they said would more than likely be repeated to Nathan. Mama Pearl appeared to have great loyalty to her . .. master.
Turning with wavering eyes, Maria whispered, “Alberto, I cannot tell you now. Please. . ..”
Alberto's rage increased. His eyes bulged as he yanked Maria into his arms and kissed her strong and hard on the mouth, feeling an inner excitement at such softness against his lips. He knew that he was swelling beneath his breeches, and felt shame, utter shame and contempt for himself, not having been able to control his feelings for Maria any longer. But love had almost become the same as hate, as he now realized what she had done. She had betrayed him. She had given herself to a man who was no better than a snake in the grass.
He clung to her for a moment, feeling his heart pound wildly inside him, then released her, watching her expression turn to one of mortification. He then rushed from the porch to the wagon and shouted loudly to the horse, anxious to get away from what he had just revealed to his sister. He now even knew the cause of his being incapable of making love to another woman. All along, it had been because of his secret passion for his lovely Maria. Tears burst forth from his eyes as he slapped the horse with the reins, yelling loudly into the wind. He knew of only one place to go. He couldn't face his Papa. Not after what he had just done.
Maria lifted a finger to her lips, stunned. She raced to the edge of the porch and watched as Alberto grew dim in the distance. Why had Alberto done such a thing? Had his hurt caused him to become suddenly deranged in the head? Then she remembered. The blow to his head on the ship. Was it still causing him trouble? She vividly recalled how worried she had been about him for so long after he had supposedly recovered. And now? To kiss her? As a man kissed a woman . .. ?
Lowering her eyes, she rubbed her lips furiously. Her brother. Her own flesh and blood. Now what was she to do?~
“Sweet Baby,” Mama Pearl said, moving to Maria's side. “Your brother. He has taken leave of his senses.”
Maria swung around, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I must go to him,” she said. “I have to talk with him. There's so much that needs saying. But my clothes. I can't go dressed so expensively. You did say that my clothes had arrived … ?” She paused, then added quickly,.”! need to change into something less fancy to go to my Papa's house.”
Mama Pearl moved toward the staircase, motioning for Maria to follow after her. “Yes, ma'am. Ah've already placed a few things across the bed for ya'all. Ah'll take ya'all to the room that's to be yours.”
Breathless, Maria lifted the skirt of her dress and climbed the staircase. She couldn't help but let hereyes wander around her, seeing the greatness of all that she continued to find in this house. The staircase led upward to a hallway of many rooms, and as she passed each, she peered into the rooms, seeing many styles of decorated walls and draperies. The furniture was all large, comfortable pieces, and the floors shone back at her as though never walked upon.
“In heah. This is your room,” Mama Pearl said, stepping aside. “Do you want me to assist you change ya'all's clothes? Or do ya'all want to be left alone?”
Maria stood wringing her hands. “Please leave me be, Mama Pearl,” she murmured. “Please go on about your duties.”
“Now you just quit frettin’ ovah things. Don't ya'all know things will work out? Mastah Hawkins will see to it. He's a kind man. Sho nuff is.”
In anger, Maria closed her lips tightly together. Then she said, “Please, Mama Pearl.” .She moved toward the bed. “Please. I'd rather not speak of Nathan at this time.”
“If ya'all needs me, ah'll just be down the hall.”
“I will be leaving as soon as I change,” Maria said, already unbuttoning her dress. “And please don't tell Nathan. He wouldn't approve. I am sure of it.”
“If that is what ya'all wants,” Mama Pearl said, shrugging, then left Maria standing alone in a room totally unfamiliar to her, though she knew that it now by legal standards was hers.
As she stepped out of her dress and began to unlace her corset, her gaze traveled around her. A great mahogany bedstead sat against a far outside wall beneath a window. The drapes hanging at the one window of the room and the bedspread covering the bed were of pale orchid velveteen. The bureau and night table were of a matching mahogany, as were the carvings of the legs of two velveteen-covered chairs.
Seeing herself in a pier glass that was set into the wardrobe's door. Maria quickly shook her hair to settle around her shoulders and down her back. Then she slipped into a full-length, black serge skirt and white shirtwaist, feeling now more ready for her first appearance in Hawkinsville since she had been forced to wed the man whose name the town bore.
She threw a simple knitted shawl (one of her personal choosing in Saint Louis) around her shoulders, then she raced down the staircase, on through the spaciousness of the brightly lighted parlor, to the outdoors, and began to run down the gravel
road. Oh, if by fleeing now she could only escape the memories of Nathan's hands and lips. They would always be revolting to her. But now she was remembering another's mouth against hers. It was as though her lips were burning even now. “Why, oh, why, Alberto?” she whispered to herself.
Lifting her skirt, she stepped from the road, into the Indian grass, slowed by its thickness. But she continued to push her way through it, feeling the breeze lifting her hair from her shoulders, making it whip around her face. She wiped it back from hereyes, hurrying onward until she reached the iron bridge.
Panting, she ran across it and began to move in front of all the bleak houses that made up this town of Hawkinsville. Aromas from the privies rippled through the air, and the breeze carried coal dust upward to settle on her lips and face. She sneezed, then rushed on up the steps that led inside her Papa's house.
A fresher aroma met her as she moved into the front room. She recognized it as the distinct aroma of turnip greens with only a faint fragrance of vinegar intermingling. As she drew nearer to the kitchen, she could hear movement from within. She hurried her pace and stopped when she entered, seeing her Papa even more slumped, and much, much too thin, making her heart ache.
“Papa?” she whispered. When he turned, she saw the familiar distortion to his face, knowing this to be the usual wad of chewing tobacco he kept formed into a cheek.
“Maria?” he said, paling. “My .. . Maria .. . ?”
Maria went to him and hugged him to her, seeing through his thin wisps of hair the signs of coal dust on his scalp and in the lines of his face as he searched hers
“Are you truly all right, Maria?” he said, tears causing his eyes to redden. “I was so worried. I had no idea why you would have gone with that. . . that. . . Nathan Hawkins.”
“This is why I have come home, Papa,” she said, sniffling. “To tell you the reasons. But, first. I have to see Alberto. Has he come home? I have a desperate need to speak with him first.”
Rapture's Rendezvous Page 28
