Family Reunion (7 page)

He had stood
in shock seeing that, and hearing him beg her, "Please, I'll do anything for you, just a little kiss, give me a little kiss, oh you're so soft, I'll give you anything you ask Lena, anything! Let me have you just once ... just once, can you feel me? Oh I'm on fire for you-…"

"Mis-ter Ca-vat Ple-e-ease!" Lena had screeched.

"How much? How much Lena?"

She had twisted her head to the side feeling his tongue and lips on her neck as his teeth nipped. "Mister Cavat! Your wife is in the other
room...stop it…
what if... stop it! Please, do you wish to get caught ... Mister Cavat! Will you ... control yourself!!"

"I must have you, I can't control it! I haven't been - like this since… I don't know when. You're driving me mad with wanting you. Those eyes, your skin ...I can do things to you Lena, things that will make you cry for more!"

Having seen enough, Rory had broken in clearing his throat as loud as possible, making Mr. Cavat jump back, his fat round face reddening. He was balding on top, and stood maybe two or so inches taller than Lena. He had disgusted Rory; the man was practically drooling over his mother.

She had pulled her skirt
back into place, humiliated and glad it was Rory and not his wife who had walked in. Rory had blurted angrily a threat to tell his wife if he didn't leave the servants alone. The servant part he said to hurt his mother, angry at the idea that she’d let Cavat paw her, so it had seemed to him then, but now, looking at her and thinking back, he knew better. At the time the event had occurred he had only been twelve and so didn't understand that it was
them
and not her. Men in general, Mr. Cavat had not been the only one; there were others who wanted her for their mistress. Young handsome gentlemen had propositioned her as well but all had been turned down. Men of all kinds desired her,
'So why? Why was she the way she was?'

More importantly on his mind was –
'Who?'
Who was the man that had gotten to her? The one who had planted the seed he had grown from. She said he had not raped her. Then she must have given herself to him. Was he the reason she was this way?

Lena felt his eyes on her but she could not turn her head to look at him.
'Who? Who had told him the things I said and did? Why would they tell him such things? Things that most surely hurt him?
Does it matter? Had I not said them, done it, whoever told him, would not have been able to say such things were it not all true. There is no one to blame but myself.’
With her heart pumping, after the prolonged silence, and his eyes on her she finally said softly.

"I'm sorry Rory...I am guilty of it all, and I am oh so sorry. Though you may not believe me, the truth of it is, that it hurts me more than I can ever express." His eyes widened, stunned by her words, he turned away. They were nearing the mansion with their street coming into view.

"I can't stay for dinner ...because, after my few assignments, I'll be going to the docks ...I have a job there now."

Lena smiled glancing at him. "A job? Why? Whatever you need, I would gladly give you." She offered softly. He almost came back with a smart remark but held his tongue. "No thank you, I'd rather work ... it's only a job as a cabin boy on a ship but I don't mind, I like ships." He said.

Lena's heart skipped a beat.
'So did your father ... so did your father.'
She thought, amazed. "I'm happy for you then Rory. Perhaps that is just what you need. Is that who brought you home last night? The man you will work for?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Amazin' ain't it, that someone's interested in me and what I do enough to offer me a job. For some reason he thinks I could amount to something, un-like other people I know."

Lena sighed, sitting back feeling the familiar jab in her ribs.
'God have I a long way to go, such a long way to go.'

"Rory." She called softly to him as they turned into the driveway.

"Yeah?" He answered.

"Don't doubt him, or yourself. He's right… you
can
amount to something. I just wish I could make you believe how sorry I am for not showing how much I love you. It's just that… so many things have happened in my life, things I didn't know how to handle. I came up with a solution to those things that only made things worse. For that, I'm sorry."

Rory felt uncomfortable hearing her talk to him that way and was glad they were in front of the mansion. When the coach stopped, he opened the door and stepped out first. For once, he stopped and stood holding the door open for her to step out. This new act stunned Lena so she hesitated a moment in disbelief. Rollo had jumped down also looking at him in suspicious surprise. Quickly recovering, she took the hand he offered reluctantly and stepped out praising him.

"Thank you Rory, what a gentlemen." Rory shrugged, "That's okay, it was nothin'." They stood a moment looking at each other, and he decided to
ask,
"Would you min' if, well ...havin' this new job an' all, makes my time close, there's somethin' I have to do, that I always do now after school. It's important and to make it to work on time, I would need use of the coach. Would you min', if - if Cyrus drove me somewhere? I could do my work inside as I go."

Again Lena stood stunned. Since when had he ever asked her anything? It had always been Sandra that he went to with any request, never her. Sandra would be the one to send him to Lena to ask, which he would completely bypass to do whatever it was he was asking with no consent from either.

At that moment, Lena would not have turned him down if he said he was going to rob a bank, "Sure Rory, you can take the coach, but Cyrus may not be able to take you right away…Rollo will, won't you Rollo?" She turned to him. He stood glaring at Rory, and then smiled down at Lena.

"Sure Miss Lena, I take him."
'Lil'red bastard!'

"No, that's okay Rollo doesn't have to take me." Rory quickly spoke up.

"Nonsense, he's not busy with anything. He can take you. Umm, what time, does your job start?"

Rory was looking up at Rollo over his mother's head, who was grinning snidely back at him. "Umm, at five, I have to be there at five. I'll be through at nine and my boss will bring me home."

She wanted to question him about this man, his boss,
'Who was he? What ship will he be working on?'
Nonetheless, she knew she had better not push, it was better to take it one-step at a time.

"Okay Rory, be careful, and please, try, really try to stay clear of
trouble, okay?" She asked as gently as possible. Rory’s eyes met hers and he nodded, then turning he stepped back into the coach. Lena moved away and called to him as Rollo climbed back up in his seat. "I'll leave a plate warming for you ... when you get home." Again he nodded and Rollo pulled off.

"Okay Lil'pussy, where we goin'?" Rollo yelled down at the exit of the drive. Rory's teeth clenched but he knew better than to say anything that would get Rollo started. His best bet was to remain humble, at least until he got where he was going.

"South end, could you take me to South end?"

"What the hell you goin' to South end for?"

"Rollo would you please, just take me?"

'Tell me what you goin' there for!"

"You told Lena you would take me!"

Rollo pulled the coach out of the drive and stopped it a distance away from the mansion. "I wanna know what the hell you up to, who you know at South end?" Rory felt his anger rising. "That's none of your business; take me where I asked you!"

"Yo' lil'red ass think ya' talkin' to yo' mama don't ya'?! I'a clim' down from here and kick you all up yo' ass! Now tell me what I ask!"

Rory threw the door open and jumped out. "You know what, kiss my ass Rollo, kiss my lil'red ass!" Rory yelled and took off running as was his hobby of late. Rollo shouted a few foul curses at him, tempted to chase him down, but decided against it, he had the coach now and was free to roam for a while. A fine woman and some drink was what he needed, and now that he had the coach, he could take her somewhere and have a good time.

Rory trotted some distance, coming to the edge of the city, then

ran towards the vegetable market in hopes that Mr. Wade's fruit wagon was parked perhaps unloading fruits and vegetables. If so, he would be heading out towards South end.

Sure enough, he was there and pulling off, Rory ran up behind the wagon, "Mr. Wade, Mr. Wade, slow down Mr. Wade!"

Hearing Rory, he slowed his mule turning in the buckboard.

"Can I...hitch a ride, with you sir?" Rory asked gasping, coming up beside the old Black man. Nodding with a smile and wink, he gestured with a toss of his head to the back where Rory, grinning joyfully, jumped on, his long legs dangling over the end of the old rickety buckboard as he and Mr Wade exited the city. It was his good fortune that it was Tuesday, or he would have had to run halfway, walk halfway to the little school/church house.

Mr. Wade only came through on Tuesdays, which was the only day
of the week he could get a ride, always giving Mr. Wade ten cents for his trouble, which he greatly appreciated.

Ever since that day Anthony and Randy brought him to the little school house, he had been unable to avoid going to check up on Mailon. He was not sure why he did it, but could not control the urge to see her safely home. Often he worried that his friends might find out that he went there after school, but despite the danger of discovery, he continued to go. She was such a fragile little girl; he felt she needed someone to look after her. To make sure no one did her harm as was attempted before. That was his only reason, he constantly assured himself. He blew into his hands due to the chill of the day, the holy season was coming quickly and he could not help wonder what present he might get a little girl such as she. She still wore little bell dresses to her knees, white stockings and ribbons in her hair, always a white or blue ribbon. Suddenly his eyes widened as it occurred to him.
'That's what I'll buy her, ribbons! A rainbow of them.'
He thought,
'Maybe a pink dress too.'
He noticed that she always seemed to be wearing either her blue dress or the brown one, and on rare occasions a white dress.
'Yeah! Now that I have a job, I can probably get her a new dress. All the pretty dresses she should be wearing and the ribbons to match them.'
His youthful heroic ego decided. He smiled and leaned with his back against the side board, propping his foot up in the wagon where he picked up a rolling apple and bit out of it as he thought of her.

She was sweet, gentle, and cute. Considering her age, he thought she might be eight or nine years old because she was still flat chested.
'A baby.'
He decided, already hearing her little melodious voice singing to the birds as she skipped home and talking to animals in French along the way. There were squirrels that would actually come up to her and eat right from her hand
.
'Imagine that.'
He also noticed that she loved the sun; she talked to it as she spun in its rays giggling. He couldn't help noticing that the sun loved her back, as it danced off of her silky, jet black waves. She was different from what he knew of women. It was something to see someone with such a gay zest for life. She was a refreshing contrast beside the world he knew and lived in, beside the downcast glum of his mother. She was innocent of the world around her, and he was compelled to protect her from it, determined that no one would change that about her.

The bell rang and the students began pouring out of the white frame schoolhouse. Each running and playing, heading in their separate directions for home.

Mailon stood on the porch smiling up at the teacher as he
praised her progress in learning English. She smiled and nodded accordingly, though her mind was elsewhere.

Elsewhere was, wondering if the tall boy with red hair would be there again following behind her quietly as he had before? She suddenly giggled, and covered her mouth bashfully, thinking about how he believed himself inconspicuous. Her teacher, Mr. Sandoval, quite intrigued by her sudden burst of the giggles tilted his head with a smile and asked.

"Have I said something funny?"

She shook her head with her hand still covering her mouth. He grinned down at her and gave her an affectionate pat on the cheek saying, "Well that's all for today, see you tomorrow Mailon."

"
Demain matin
, Monsieur Sandoval." Mailon answered in French, forgetting to speak English in her haste to be on her way. His lifted brow and clearing of his throat reminded her.

"Oh, um, sor-ry, um, Mr. Sandoval. Um, to-tomorrow morning, I see you, oui - no - yes." She made a face and Thomas threw his head back in laughter. "Yes, tomorrow Mailon, see you tomorrow."

Unable to help herself she nodded, curtsied, spun and took to the steps, keeping her head down, making sure not to look directly at the bush where he usually hid until she started walking away from the school. She kneeled to tie her shoe, biting the inside of her mouth to keep from grinning. Sure enough, the bush moved just a slight bit, alerting her of his presence.