Princess Ces'alena (8 page)

Manny took a deep breath and rose from the mantel turning to see his father’s eyes intently on him. Silently he walked over to the table and took a seat at his father’s right. For the moment, neither spoke. Morris could feel that something was wrong by his son’s manner…he just couldn’t squelch the overwhelming dread that was compounding the growing silence between them.

Readying himself for what he had to say, Manny leaned forward placing his elbows on the table, entwining his fingers, he brought them to his chin. He turned to his father, and after a deep breath he began. “I need to talk to you. But for what I’m going to say…I can foresee a shouting match ensuing. So, I ask that you hear me out before you interrupt. I’d like to think that we can discuss this civilly. I do grow bored with the arguments that have yet to settle a thing. After today’s little event, I can see a need for us to come to some kind of understanding as far as Mikey and Lena are concerned. Now…will you at least hear me out, please?”

Morris stared at his son with true fear washing over him.
‘Royal, I get a feelin’ our boy is headin’ for hard times if I don’t turn him around. Why’d you have to make him believe black is human like us? Now with that nonsense in his head, I can’t get it out. Couldn’t get you to treat the Negroes like the slaves they was suppose to be, and your son I fear going one worse.’
Morris sighed, he had loved Royal, heart and soul…had tried his hardest to show her, her place in society…but she had always preferred the company of the slaves to anyone else. He shook off the memory of coming in from the fields looking for her, only to see her barefoot, of simple dress with her red hair down. Hanging out in the slave quarters, on the porch laughing and gossiping with Kayleen, Ma’Nicey and Ruby. At the same time that sight made him angry…it turned on his desire for her. Royal Sun had been a natural beauty…on the inside, as well out. But things were different for their son, the son she gave him. The son he would gladly die for…but somehow he had inherited his mothers liking for the Negroes.

Somehow, he’d gotten off track and now he wondered how he might get him back on it.

“Well father, do I have your attention or not?” Manny asked noting his father’s thoughtful hesitation. “I’m listenin’.” Morris shot wanting it out and over. “Without interruption?” Manny pressed.

“Yes, yes, yes, just like you said!”

Manny decided to get straight to the point, there was no sense in beating around the bush. “I’ve thought this through long and hard…my minds made up. I’ve decided to claim Michael as my legal son, and-…”

“The hell you will!! Have you lost your bleeding mind? Good God in heaven!! You go too far! You’re crazy if-…” Morris bellowed and was cut off, “Father - you’re interrupting!” Manny called up to his father who had bolted up from his chair with the shock of his decision, his disapproval clear. “You damn well know I am!! Do you know what the talk will be, it’ll never end!?”

“You promised to listen!”

“Listen to your madness!! Hell Manny, they’re talking behind your back right now! Why? Why in heavens name make it worse!?” Morris yelled dramatically, his arms flying in gestures of disbelief. “Do you think your yelling this at me is going to cause a change in how I think? How I feel?!” Manny tried to reason with him.

“Well I can only hope! I can tell you now - I will not stand for this! I will not have that bastard, nigger mutt, carrying my name!!” Morris quieted, but was no less angry.

“That bastard, nigger mutt - as you call him, is my son! Your grandson!” Manny came to his feet feeling his own anger rise. “You being my father, or not! You will not stand before me degrading him!!” Manny heatedly returned. His knuckles braced against the table as he worked to calm himself once again.

Morris stumbled back, moving the chair a bit. He stood straight without aid of his cane and looked at his son as though seeing an alien. “My God…you have really lost your mind. Where did I go wrong?” Morris muttered in confusion as if talking to himself. Manny shook his head softly as he turned from his father. He swore this was not to be a shouting bout, yet it was going in that very direction. Taking a moment, he needed to calm down and get his thoughts together. Doing so, he walked over to the side window peering out across the distant yard at the cabins that sat yards from the mansion.

“Look son, don’t do this. Do you know what this will do to you? People are already cutting you over this, don’t you care?” Morris tried to reason with him.

“No…I don’t.” He stated still peering out the window.

“Well I do. Manny, that boy came from a Negro sla-…”

“I am very much aware of where he came from. I’m the one who put him there and I was there at his birth, and so were you…if you only cared to remember. You are the one who fails to realize where he came from…he came from us father, my-…”

“Now Manny boy, you just listen here. I’ve had enough of this nonsense-…” Morris shot off regaining his steam once more.

“No! You listen…and this time, you let me finish.” He walked from the window back to the table to continue, “I know what you’re going to say. I am well aware of your reasons for saying and feeling as you do. However, no matter what, I have no intention of changing my mind.”

“Son…Manny, you’re not thinking straight, you’ve got to-…”

“Because I’m not thinking as you wish! I’m doing this because it’s right to me father…me! Just as you did what felt right to you all those years ago leaving England to live here. That was against everything your father asked of you. You saw Royal, you wanted Royal…and Royal you had! -…”

“Hold on now! What are you telling me?”

“I want my son. He’s mine, and I want him. That’s what I’m telling you. You did what you chose in your life. Now I wish the same freedom and courtesy. Don’t deny me something you refused to be denied.”

“Manny you can do anything you want with your life but claim that boy as your son!”

“He is my son, blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, more
me
than her! And I will not deny him! Neither I nor you can refute me as his sire. Your way is to cast him off and forget what has been done and the fact that he exists because of me! But that is not my way! You don’t get it do you!? I
love
my son! He is a part of me…just as I am a part of you. Not you, or this sick world and all its hatred, will make me turn my back on him. It is not within me to do so, and again, I stress — I will not! That is
all
I have to say!”

Morris took his seat at the head of the table, leaning one elbow on the edge as he ran his hand through his hair, letting his forehead rest in his palm. He turned his head to look at the strong willed man that was his son. As much as he hated to admit it…the fact was, once his son made up his mind on something, it was permanently made up. Nothing would deter his decision.

Morris could argue to the end with him, but in the end…he knew he’d eventually give in, even with this. Having to face that right here…right now, it was his turn to make the best of it. To wring out of it what he wanted. If he was going to claim the boy, he would do it under his terms.

Now that Morris knew the extent he was attached to the boy, he would use that knowledge to his advantage. “Okay Manny…you’ve had your say. Now I want mine, have a seat.” Morris patiently waited for his instructions to be followed. After Manny reluctantly did so, Morris began. “I see you’ve made up your mind, I’ve decided not to stand in your way.”

Manny’s eyes widened in shock, but then narrowed suspiciously. “What are you up to Morris Webster?!”

“Come now, I’ve agreed to allow you your way, but-…”

“Ah yes! The but…knew it was coming. You had me worried for a moment there Morris.” Manny quipped in expectation. Morris smiled wryly. “As I was saying son, I’m allowing you your way…but under one condition, and a favor. You follow through, and there will be no problems from me. Will you abide?”

“It all depends ol’man. Let’s hear it.”

“I assure you…it’s quite fair. Since you plan to claim him, all I ask is that you do so secretly; through Charles of course. Ceś alena, yourself, Charles and I are the only ones to know. That way you get to claim the boy, and no added gossip — will you agree?”

Manny hesitated, sad to say…he didn’t trust his own father when it came to Lena and his son. But the condition was harmless, so finally he gave a slow reluctant nod. Morris again cracked a sly smile. He was up to something; Manny knew this…but what? He knew his father could be a top rank shyster if he chose to be. “And now, the favor…let’s have it.”

“W-e-e-ell,” Morris drawled the word, “…son, maybe it’s not exactly a favor, maybe more of a condition. This condition you may be a tad reluctant to agree on. So to help you make your decision in a positive way, my way…I’m forced to this end.” Morris sobered completely; his expression serious…Manny braced himself. Morris leaned toward his son with piercing eyes, “I will remove you from the holding title of this land…I will strip you of all self support…and …I will sell Ceś alena and the boy so far out of your reach, it would take two lifetimes to find them, if - you don’t agree to my last request!”

“To make sure you follow through on what I ask! It is as simple as that.” Morris waited, his expression stern. Manny sat staring and brewing…not saying another word. So many scenario’s going through his mind. Everything he had came from his father and this plantation. His father had every means and right to do as he’d stated. There was no way he could endanger Lena and his son to the unknown…he couldn’t lose them now.

Whatever his father asked of him, at least they would be there where he knew them to be safe. “On one condition, you must promise me…that they will never be sold from here! No harm will ever befall them! Webster Fields will always be their home! You give your word on that…and I will do this favor you ask!”

“Done! You have my word on it!!”

“What is it that you want of me!?!

“I want you married before the year is up! A nice decent white woman of course! And I do mean what I say. Or you could try and take Ceś alena and the boy and run off. But then, where you gonna run with no money and your bed-wench and bastard? If you left her alone for one minute wherever you went to work, you’d have to keep her and the boy well hidden. She’s a fancy Manny; you know what she’s worth! How many now that want her. She’d be in a brothel selling her favors before you could blink an eye. You know there are men out there who would not give a second thought to snatching her from you. I’m sure you remember what happened that last time she tried to runaway - when she first got here. She’s a rare beauty, one that would make some one – one helluva profit on the market. Here at Webster Fields, she safe…and so is the boy. But take them out-…”

“I know! I know it damn it!!” Manny blasted…running his hands through his hair in anguish. This is the last thing he expected his father to throw at him. He didn’t want to marry. He was quite satisfied with his life the way it was.

“Well…what’s it gonna be?”

“Why can’t you just leave things as they are?!”

“Because I don’t like the way things are! There are some things gone have to change ‘round here!” Morris finished smugly, knowing he’d covered all possible avenues of escape for his son. He knew Manny would not endanger his son’s life, nor the wench’s out in a world that would eat them alive. Manny stood from the table walking towards the window with a view to the cabins along side the house. The first to be seen was Lena’s. He stood there a moment in silence. His gut churning…
‘
I don’t want to do this…I don’t want to! God why can’t they just leave us alone!? Why?’
He thought bristling at the notion of being forced into marriage.

“I’m waiting.” Morris reminded him.

“Are you aware that what you ask, takes more time than I have?” Manny inquired fuming as his anger simmered. His father never failed to twist things to his advantage and further control his life. “I’m very much aware of the time you have. A lot can happen in nine months. So, if I was you, I’d get moving…this year Manny! Times awastin’ as we speak; yep, times awastin’.”

Morris preened, considering how things turned out better than he’d expected. Standing, he grabbed his cane, heading for the kitchen, when Manny’s voice stopped him. “Wait…I may be forced to this…but we have one last thing to settle between us.”

Morris turned back to his son.

“Don’t you ever do - what you did today…
again.
In any way ever …or I promise you…you’ll be sorry you did.”

Morris stood stunned and staring…hurt by his son’s threat. Though he had no fear of physical danger from Manny…he could only wonder what that threat entailed. “Have you forgotten that I’m your father? And she’s just a slave I won in a poker game?! Weren’t for me…you’d never have laid eyes on her.”

“No matter…the fact is…you did, I have and she’s here. Keep your hands off of her.”

Morris stared a bit more, then finally nodded, “You keep her in line. Won’t be no problems then.” Turning away, having heard enough…he entered the kitchen. “Kayleen, where the hell is my dinner? Does a man have to be on the verge of collapse from starvation around here before he gets fed? My goddamn stomach thinks my throats cut.” He called out, leaving his son to stand and stew, fighting the inevitable.