He released her hand and placed an arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to his side, pulling her body into the hard muscles of his body as he gazed across the pond. He smiled as some fond memory came to mind. “Yes, Ross and I are very close. We’ve always been close, even before our parents’ deaths. Then after that, we became even closer. We felt we were all that was left of what had once been a very happy family. My parents loved each other very much and they loved us as well.”
Jenna felt his body become tense and she glanced up and saw his jaw go taut. She was just about to ask him what was wrong when he began speaking again.
“After my parents’ death my grandmother, Julia Fuller, orchestrated a custody battle. She thought Ross and I were too good, too filled with rich Fuller blood, to be raised by Gramma Mattie and Grampa Murphy. She thought they were uneducated backwoods Carolinians. They didn’t have a chance against her and her influential friends, and eventually they had to be satisfied with us just spending our summers here with them.”
“What about your paternal grandfather? Couldn’t he do anything?”
Randolph shrugged. “He knew what she was doing was wrong but I guess over the years he learned to just let her have her way to keep peace.” He frowned. “Ross has formed that same attitude.”
She moved closer and came to stand in front of him. She remembered what Ellie had said about his paternal grandmother having already picked out the woman she wanted him to marry. “What about you, Randolph?” she asked him quietly, as she gazed up into his eyes. “Have you learned to give into her wants as well just to keep peace?”
He met her gaze, looking down at her, fully seeing her features from the soft lighting cast off the water. He leaned down until she could see the flecks of light in his dark eyes. “No. That’s one lesson I haven’t learned and don’t plan on learning, either. I make my own decisions about anything I do.”
Jenna felt the warmth of his breath on her face when he leaned forward. She could smell the coffee he had drunk at dinner along with the peppermint candy he had placed in his mouth afterward. She could also smell his natural scent that was all male. When his lips touched hers and he slipped his tongue into her mouth, she realized that he was the one who had taught her more about passion than she had ever known. She was still a virgin, but had given him liberties with her body that she had never given anyone else. He had touched her everywhere. She lifted her arms from around his waist and draped them around his shoulders, interlocking her fingers behind his neck, returning his kiss with all the emotions of a woman in love.
A warm breeze off the pond surrounded them but did nothing to cool the heat of the kiss they were sharing. She felt the hardness of him press against her middle which started blood pounding through all the most intimate parts of her body, making the nipples on her breasts tighten as hot sensations flowed through her veins. She leaned forward and stood on her toes, loving the taste and texture of his mouth. Loving the way his tongue was mating with hers.
Moments later Randolph broke the kiss but continued to hold her in his arms, trying to get this breathing under control. “It’s time for us to go back,” he said huskily, against her ear. “Or they’ll wonder what we’re doing out here.”
Jenna nodded. She then rubbed her palms across her dress as she tried to get any wrinkles out. She glanced back up at Randolph. “How do I look?”
“Like you belong to me,” he said softly.
Jenna’s breath caught. The strong conviction in his voice made her want to kiss him all over again but she knew that although she had the inclination, she didn’t have the time. “That’s because I do belong to you, Randolph,” she said softly.
Randolph expelled a long breath, thinking that the next two days would be pure torture. His grandfather had taken him aside earlier that day and had given him a not too-subtle hint that lately he had the tendency to wake up during all hours of the night and roam about. In other words, he was warning Randolph to stay in his bedroom and leave Jenna alone in hers. “Come on, let’s head back,” he said, taking Jenna’s hand in his and wondering if she was beginning to feel just as frustrated as he was.
“Randolph really loves that girl, Mattie,” Murphy Denison said to his wife as he slid in bed beside her. All the lights were out and every living body under his roof was in bed. “He couldn’t take his eyes off her at dinner.”
Mattie lay flat on her back and stared pensively up at the ceiling. “Yes, I know and she loves him, too. I could feel their emotions and they are strong ones.”
A frown marred Murphy’s forehead. “Stronger than the ones Adrianna and Ross Senior had?”
She glanced over at her husband in the darkness. “Yes.” A short while later when she knew Murphy had gone to sleep, Mattie took in a deep breath. Her ancestry was Gullah, a rich culture that had been developed over the years of slavery. It was still in existence today, with most of them living on Hilton Head. She had been born the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter. Her mother was said to be clairvoyant and psychic. Although Mattie refused to claim she had inherited either of those talents, she did on occasion have the ability to read strong emotions in people. She wasn’t even sure how she did it, she just knew that she did.
The first time had been when she was a child of nine living on Hilton Head and had read the emotions of Mr. Armstrong. Everyone had adored and respected him as a teacher but there had been something about him that had always made her leery. There had been strong emotions radiating from him whenever he looked at her that always made her keep her distance. Less than a year later she understood why when everyone discovered that he had been sexually molesting some of the little girls at school.
She didn’t experience another episode of reading emotions until she had met Murphy. Each year the residents of all the sea islands along the Georgia and South Carolina coast got together for a huge celebration of their African-American heritage. That particular year when she turned eighteen and was fresh out of high school, the celebration had been on Sapelo Island. There had been fun and games for everyone and plenty of food to eat. She had seen Murphy across the distance and when he had looked at her, she had felt the strong emotions radiating from him and had known at that moment that their lives would forever be entwined. He had covered the distance between them and without saying a word, he had taken her hand in his. After introducing themselves they had gone walking to make plans for their future. Less than a month later they had married, and he had brought her to Glendale Shores to live in this house with him and his parents.
She had also known when Ross Senior asked for Adrianna’s hand in marriage that he had loved her with an intensity that was all-consuming. The emotions radiating from him whenever he looked at her daughter had been just that strong, potent and powerful. The emotions that had radiated from her daughter to Ross Senior had been those things as well.
But nothing, she thought as she gazed up at the ceiling, had prepared her for the emotions that were radiating between Randolph and Jenna. The love Randolph had for Jenna was stronger, more potent and even more powerful. And that’s what had her worried because where she had seen total happiness in Ross Senior and Adrianna’s future, she saw a glimpse of pain, heartbreak and betrayal in Randolph’s and Jenna’s. And knowing just how much the two young people loved each other, she couldn’t understand why she was picking up on so many negative forces. For reasons she couldn’t understand there would many years of unhappiness before they would finally find true happiness. And as much as she wanted to, there was nothing she could do or say to warn them of what lay ahead.
There was no way she could change or reset the future that was predestined for Randolph and Jenna.
Eight
January 1966
January emerged with a new year and with it the United States’ involvement in Vietnam increased. There were one hundred and eighty thousand American troops in Vietnam, but General Westmoreland was asking the government for two hundred and fifty thousand more.
Back at home, Robert C. Weaver was named the first Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, making him the first black cabinet secretary under any president. The Black Panther Party was growing in numbers and whenever any of their faces flashed across the television screen, Jenna would strain her eyes to see if Johnny was among them. When she had returned to school after the Christmas holidays, she discovered Johnny was not the only student who had left college to join some political movement or another.
January soon disappeared into February and most of the students on Howard University’s campus were busy studying to make sure they had all their credits before the school year ended in May. Football season was officially over and without practice to take up a lot of his time, Randolph began spending more and more time with Jenna. They ate breakfast together in the school’s café each morning, walked to class together whenever they could and made it a habit to eat dinner together as well. For Christmas he had given her a beautiful blue cardigan sweater and for Valentine’s Day had given her a huge box of candy and a beautiful card. For Christmas she had given him a copy of John F. Kennedy’s book, Profiles in Courage, and for Valentine’s Day she had given him an album by the Temptations.
February eased into March and it was getting harder and harder for Randolph and Jenna not to go all the way. Their kisses were becoming more and more heated, and whenever he touched her, her body would tremble in desire. Every time he looked at her, passion so thick you could cut it with a knife consumed her. She was having a hard time sleeping at night and she could tell he was too. And there were times when the two of them were together where they were so aware of each other it was almost unbearable. But she kept telling herself that holding out and not going all the way was the best thing. And although she knew he was frustrated, he never forced the issue with her. He merely took whatever she gave him and never complained.
Leigh was spending more and more time with Noah. She was concerned that with Noah about to graduate from law school in a few months, he might get drafted to go fight a war she thought was senseless.
Jenna knew from talking to Randolph that he was also concerned with the possibility that Ross would be drafted. Jenna also had concerns. The longer the war lasted the greater the chance of her brother Jarvis reaching the age where he could get drafted. She tried not to think of the possibility of him leaving home for Vietnam.
The Black Panthers Party was claiming that there were more black men being sent to Vietnam than white men, whose families either shipped them off to Canada or made sure that once they entered the armed services, they were given desk jobs in Washington for safekeeping.
Randolph had just gotten in from a meeting with one of his study groups when he noticed his grandmother’s car parked in front of his dorm. “What does she want?” he muttered to himself as he entered his building, wondering what could have possibly brought Julia Fuller all the way from Virginia. The two of them had not been on good terms since that episode over the Thanksgiving holiday. On top of that he had contacted her over the phone after the incident involving Jenna’s student loan and they had exchanged harsh words. He had ended the conversation, telling her that until she accepted Jenna, he would not be coming home during the holidays. He had spent his entire Christmas on Glendale Shores.
Mrs. Tucker, the dorm mother, stopped him before he went up the stairs to his room. “Randolph, your grandmother is here to see you. She’s been waiting for over an hour in my office.”
Releasing a heavy sigh, Randolph crossed the hall to the woman’s office and without bothering to knock, he entered. His grandmother was across the room pacing with a cigarette in her hand. She hadn’t heard him enter so he silently closed the door behind him.
“Grandmother Julia, you wanted to see me?” He saw her turn to the sound of his voice and watched as she checked the elegant-looking watch on her wrist.
“You’re late, Randolph.”
He leaned against the closed door and met her annoyed gaze without flinching. “No, I’m not. This is the time I usually get in on Mondays. Besides, I didn’t know we had an appointment,” he said, deliberately making it seem like her visit was anything but personal.
She patted her hair while taking another puff off her cigarette. “I thought it would be best if we met face-to-face on an important matter that has come up.”
“And what important matter is that?”
With barely concealed curiosity, he watched her flip open the strapless purse she carried and pull out a white envelope. Crossing the room she handed it to him. “This is your invitation to Friday night’s affair at the White House. The First Lady is hosting a dinner party in honor of Robert C. Weaver’s appointment to the president’s cabinet.”
Although his grandmother was behaving as cool as a cucumber, he knew she had to be pretty proud of herself. An invitation to the White House to wine and dine with First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson, was probably a dream come true. For her but not for him. “Why am I invited?” he asked, not bothering to glance at the envelope he held in his hand.
“Because you’ll be Lena Weaver’s date that night.”
Randolph frowned. He could see the purpose of her visit very clearly now. “I will not be Lena Weaver’s date that night or any other night.”
Julia Fuller raised her gaze toward the ceiling. “Of course you will. It’s not every day a person gets invited to dine at the White House.”
“Then I hope you enjoy yourself and have fun for the both of us since I won’t be going, especially not as Lena’s date. The only way that I go is with Jenna.” Without hesitation he placed the invitation back in her hand.
A stunned look appeared on Julia Fuller’s face. “You can’t be serious.”
Randolph smiled. “Oh, but I am. If I show up it will be with Jenna and no one else.”
Julia Fuller’s face went from stunned to furious. “How can you even consider bringing that girl to such a function, Randolph?”
“How can I not consider it when she’s my girlfriend? I’ve told you that but you choose not to accept it. In fact I plan to marry Jenna after I finish law school.”
Julia Fuller’s features went into shock. “Marry? Surely you aren’t serious. How can she help further your career? How can she bring prestige to your life? And just how is she supposed to be the type of wife who can benefit you?”
Randolph crossed his arms over his chest. “In ways you will never know because you are beyond understanding what it is like to love someone, and I mean truly love someone. If you understood then you would know that none of those things you mentioned hold any great significance. Love is the most important factor.”
She shook her head. “In the real world things don’t work that way.” She glanced at her watch again. “Besides, it doesn’t matter what you feel or what you think. We’ll discuss that outlandish idea of you getting married at another time. Right now I need you to agree to take Lena to that—”
“Haven’t you heard anything I’ve said? I am not taking Lena Weaver anywhere.”
“You don’t have a choice. I’ve told her parents that you will be her date for that night. I’m sure they’ve told her by now.”
Randolph shook his head. “That’s too bad. I guess you’ll have to call and tell them that something has come up and I won’t be taking her after all.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then don’t. Just don’t look for me to show up that night with her.”
Julia Fuller became livid. She was sick and tired of Randolph defying her every wish. She took a step forward. “You will show up, Randolph, or your grandfather and I will cut off any further funding for you to go to law school,” she threatened furiously.
Anger flared in Randolph’s eyes with his grandmother’s threat. She had no right to toy with people’s lives to get them to bend to her will. Now more than ever he was determined not to give in to her. “Do whatever you feel you have to do. I’ll take out a student loan and get a job to supplement my income if I must. And
you evidently have forgotten that Grampa and Gramma Denison have money set aside for me and Ross’s college education; money we haven’t touched yet.”
His grandmother stared at him. And from her expression he could tell she had forgotten. Her lips twisted wryly. “That girl means that much to you?”
“She means everything to me.”
Without making a comment to his statement, Julia Fuller turned and walked out of the room.
Jenna was just about to close her book when Ellie flounced in. She had on a short black miniskirt and a pullover green sweater. Although miniskirts were the new rage, Jenna couldn’t see herself wearing anything that short yet. She still felt more comfortable in her skirts that reached below her knees. Ellie, it seemed, had no such qualms. She and a number of girls were parading around campus like it was nothing to wear anything that short.
“You’re still studying?” Ellie asked as she closed the door behind her.
“No, I just finished. I wanted to make sure I was ready for my English test tomorrow.”
“Oh, I had one of those today.”
“How did you do?”
Ellie shrugged. “I failed.”
Jenna shook her head at how easily Ellie had admitted something like that. “Aren’t you worried about getting all your credits this semester to make senior status in the fall?”
“No. Tyrone is looking out for my future. Just as soon as he signs on with that pro football team out in California, he’s going to send for me.” She then came and sat on the bed next to Jenna. “I just heard something that I find rather interesting.”
Jenna lifted a brow. She knew there had to have been a reason Ellie was so chatty. There were some evenings where she literally ignored Jenna’s and Leigh’s presence. “What?”
“There will be a private party at the White House this Friday night in honor of Robert C. Weaver’s appointment to the president’s cabinet. Are you going?”
Ties That Bind Page 10