An Old Fashioned Southern Romance Novel (15 page)

“Hattie, you’re just and old fool. That’s all you are. You dream, dream, dream. All day – that’s all you do. No one wants me home.”

“Eudora, there ain’t nobody to object to you coming home. Mr. Devereaux is going to need someone to talk to in that big, old house and it ain’t going to be me. I have a home, a family. It’s high time I started acting like it. And it’s time you did, too.”

“I’ll take care of you,” Vidalia spoke for the first time.

“Hush up, child. You can’t take care of yourself. Now both of you listen. Get better. Take care of yourselves and each other. Soon, you will both come home and take care of each other. For now, just concentrate on getting better.”

Hattie had given new hope to two fledgling minds that thought their best years were behind them.
But, before long, Vidalia began to talk more and Eudora began to dream more. She started thinking about all the things she was going to do in her house when she got home. She thought about new window treatments, new paint. She was more excited than ever and it was all thanks to Hattie.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Caroline wondered what sort of magic or voodoo Hattie was privy to. There she was, as White as she pleased, walking down the main street of what was once the most segregated county in the south with her Black boyfriend and not one word
from a single soul. No one even gave them so much as a cross look. Chad was not the wiser, as he did not have those kinds of problems where he lived. Caroline was sure she would return home to find figures shrouded in white hoods posted on her lawn with shotguns. But that did not happen. How could this be? How could an old Black woman prevent an entire town of White people from doing what they damned-well pleased? Although Caroline was curious, she certainly was not going to complain. Hattie had lived up to her end of the deal and Caroline was satisfied with the results. Although Annabella and Warrenton were no closer emotionally than they were before, they certainly were closer in proximity and Caroline thought that might be the problem. The truth is that Caroline felt that despite Annabella’s neurosis, she could still do better than Warrenton. But, she was in no position to judge. Who knows why two people fall in love? Caroline was satisfied with her choices and she was not going to attempt to decide for others what is best for them. She did, however, find Hattie somewhat of a hypocrite, though. On one hand, Hattie thought Caroline and Chad should be able to have a relationship if that’s what they wanted, but when it came to Annabella, she tried to control who Annabella was with. Hattie tried extra hard to force the relationship between Annabella and Warrenton – even to the point of whisking her away from an eligible baron to be with Warrenton. For Caroline’s part, she was done minding other people’s business. She vowed that if other people stay out of her relationship, she would stay out of theirs.

“Do you love me?” Chad asked Caroline impulsively.

“Of course I do,” she reminded him.

“Do you think I could pass for White?” He wanted to know.

“You sure fooled me. And I consider myself the authority on the Caucasian persuasion,” Caroline joked.

“I’m serious, Caroline,” Chad told her.

“Chad, what’s this all about?”

“Caroline, I’m tired of being trapped between my race and my color. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I was just White. I mean, I already look the part and most people tell me I act the part.”

“Sweetie, I’m pretty sure that last part is not a compliment,” Caroline smiled.

“What if we moved some place where no one knows us and got married? We could be a happy, young, White couple.”

“And what happens when our bronzed, bouffant-headed children pop out of my milky-white uterus? The gig will be up, buddy.”

“I don’t need children. I just need you. Besides, I do not wish to curse a child with my bloodline. Let it end with me.”

“Chad, do you hear yourself? This is crazy. Running away? Changing your name? Passing for white? Have you gone mad?”

“Caroline, I know what I want. For the first time in my life, all the things that don’t seem make sense
finally do make sense. I want to be with you. That is first and foremost. I accept whatever potential fallout may occur. But, I promise that I will never let any harm come to you. I give you my word, Caroline. You will never have to pay for my decisions.”

“What about my family? What will I tell them?”
Caroline went along.

“Tell them you are going away to find yourself, to get in touch with your inner-self. Later, you can tell them that you met someone
wonderful and you are staying.”

Caroline looked down. She did not know what to do. She loved Chad, but she was
not prepared to leave her family, her life. She knew she had problems at home and she knew they would never accept Chad, but was she willing to give up everything for a man she barely knew?

Chapter
Twenty-Four

Dominique giggled as she walked across the promenade with her friends. She was a happy and confident college girl with a bright future. Suddenly, the two girls with which she was walking suddenly stopped. The saw a middle-aged woman standing on the grass, staring at Dominique. They didn’t know who she was but when Dominique finally looked up, she knew exactly who the lady was.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to see my baby. I miss you.”

“I’m not a baby,” she reminded her mother, looking around to see who else might have heard the woman.

“You are still
my
baby,” Hattie reminded the child.

“You must have me confused with
Annabella. I hardly got the time of day from you.”

Hattie did not know what to make of her daughter’s attitude. She knew Dominique had a certain resentment for her relationship with Annabella, but she had never t
alked to her mother that way – especially in front of others. She was hoping that one semester away at college had not turned her daughter into a terrible monster. Hattie knew that she had just popped in and surprised the girl, but she had no idea Dominique would react so strongly.

“Is there somewhere we can go and talk?” Hattie asked her daughter.

Dominique hesitated. She looked at her friends with a conciliatory nod. They walked on and Dominique stayed behind with her mother.

“Why are you here, mother?” she asked the woman as they walked towards the dormitories.

“Like I said, I just wanted to see you. You don’t call anymore. I even bought a computer and had Caroline set up an email address. You won’t even respond to my emails. I came to find out what is the matter with you.”

“There is nothing the matter. I am just getting adjusted to college life. It’s not as seamless as I thought it would be.”

“Nothing ever is. But, if anyone can do it, I know you can.”

“If only you were
this supportive when I was a kid,” Dominique let it slip out.

“What does that mean?” Hattie wanted to know.

“You were always there for Annabella. Every boyfriend, every weight gain. You were always there for her and when you came home from a long day of slaving over those White folks child, I had to hear all about it. Did you ever once ask me about my boyfriends? Did you ever try to console me when I gained weight? No. It was like I was your good girlfriend who you tell your secrets. I never got the attention or treatment that Annabella got – not from you, at least. Dad had to teach me all about my cycle and about boys. He just told me to stay away from them. But Annabella could just date whomever, wherever. She was living the life that should have been reserved for me! The worst part is that you are so intuitive about everything else, but when it came to my needs you were clueless. Did you even know I was a real person with real feelings and real needs?”

“Dominique, you have it all wrong. I would come home and tell you all about Annabella hoping you wouldn’t make the same mistakes she made. I thought you were learning a lesson. And you did. You are at college and she is somewhere chasing a fantasy.”

“And that’s why you are here now. Because your little girl is gone and doesn’t need her mammy anymore!”

Hattie slapped her daughter across the face. Dominique held her hand gently up to the raw cheek and peered at her mother.

“I am nobody’s mammy! I had to work for a living. I worked to give you clothes and food and shelter. You didn’t want for anything. I worked so you could go to this private college and not have to take out student loans for housing. Did you have to pay for one single thing? No, you didn’t. We all had to make sacrifices. But, I never left you alone. Your dad was there and he loved you. And I came home every night. Talking about Annabella was no different than anyone else talking about there their job. It was just a job. And Annabella did not leave me. I left her. I told her father I would stay until my daughter went off to college and then I was gone. I wanted to make sure you were taken care of – not Annabella. So, this hatred, jealousy, or whatever it is that you feel for her needs to stop. She doesn’t have anything on you. You are going to make something out of your life. All the money in the world can’t help that poor, confused child. But you, you have a chance to be somebody important. Don’t waste all that energy on someone who doesn’t give a damn about you.”

Dominique looked solemn. Hattie got up and picked up her purse. She walked towards the door.

“Where are you going?” her daughter asked.

“I’m going home to be with my husband. My work here is done.”

Hattie walked out the door and down the promenade. She marveled at the campus and the students. She knew she had done well by her daughter and someday Dominique would know it too.

Chapter
Twenty-Five

Warrenton seemed sad to see Annabella leave. But, the court had determined tha
t although Warrenton was not displaying it, he was mentally competent. He was reinstated at the executor over his father’s estate and his access to the money was restored. The experience, however, was not in vain. Warrenton learned a lot about himself during the period he spent with Annabella. He realized that he was condescending to Annabella because he wanted her to depend on his approval. If she was always trying to prove something to him, then she would always be around. Annabella became aware of this anomaly in their relationship during the time she was monitoring him and soon she was free from his psychological games. She was now free to be her sole approver and disapprover. Annabella never imagined that being stuck with Warrenton for weeks would actually help her to be free of him for once and for all. Now, she could care less whom he married. As far as she was concerned, Marigold was perfect for him. They both had the morals of a bar of soap. For Annabella’s part, she could hardly wait to get back to her baron. He never stopped writing and each letter was more intense than the last. She was sure they would have an amazing connection and who knows what the future had in store. One thing was for sure, when Annabella returned to London, she would be more free than she had ever been. In that respect, Hattie’s and Caroline’s plan worked. She finally had closure in her relationship with Warrenton. She was sure that chapter was now behind her.

Annabella made it to the airport with time to spare. She sat and reflected on the most unusual summer. She could hardly believe that things changed so much. Hattie had just seen Dominique off to college
and Hattie was preparing to move on. Caroline finally learned to love and respect herself with the help of an incredible man. They both grew a great deal from the experience. In an ironic twist, it was Chad’s family that could not accept the relationship and it served to prove Caroline’s theory that Black people could be as racist as White people. But, she was not bitter about the experience because Chad taught her so much about valuing herself. And then there was Warrenton and Marigold. Annabella was as shocked as anyone that those two ended up together. But, it just goes to show that one can never tell what relationships can work. Annabella hoped they would be happy, but ultimately she did not care one way or the other. She had an amazing man waiting for her in London and she was not going to blow her chance at happiness. She was finally ready to give all of herself to someone. The fact that he was royalty was just icing on the cake. Annabella was sure she could have been happy with a regular guy, but perhaps he was just a reward from God for being so patient and selective. At the end of the day, everyone was happy. There were no fairytale endings to speak of, but with a little luck, her story would turn out to be one.

As Annabella waited for the boarding call, she reflected on one unresolved matter. She was a Southern Belle to her heart and now that part of her life was about to be behind her. She no longer had that title to hide behind. She was sure she would make a fine baroness, but she
was not sure how to navigate that position. It was the one thing she was uncertain about. Before long, Annabella could hear her boarding call and she began to make her way to the gate. As she walked, she smelled a familiar cologne that she had only known on one man. She prayed under her breath that it was not Warrenton. But, her prayers were in vain. He stood in front of her and made eye contact.

“The biggest mistake I made in my life was not marrying you when I had the chance – and I had a lot of chances. I could not bear the thought of losing you forever and the last
time you walked out my door, I could tell it was forever. Annabella, you don’t need me. I know that now. But, I always hoped that you would want me. I realize that I have never done anything to make you want me. I was just hoping that you would see something in me that I didn’t know was there. I need you and I was never man enough to admit it until now. I know it’s a little late in the game and I swear I am not doing this now just because you have a fancy baron hanging on your every word. I know you can do better than me. You have always had the ability to do better than me. I was just hoping you wouldn’t want to. If you stay with me, Annabella, I cannot promise that you won’t have any regrets. I can’t promise you that you will be the happiest girl alive. I can only promise you that I will never stop trying to be everything that you deserve. And one thing I know about you, you will never stop reminding me that you deserve to have it all.”