Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou)

by Arlene Lam

  Amelia truly was stupid. She’d let herself be turned into nothing more than a white man’s whore. Weren’t there enough poor souls resigned to that fate? Why did she have to go and become one of them?

  Taking a breath she tried to quell the new anger building with in her. “Don’t just stand there like an idiot. You’ve already proved how much of one you can be.” Lorraine said sharply and stood to the side as she waited for her niece to make her way inside.

  “Lorraine I never care for Morgan.” She mustered moving to the chair and sat waiting for the storm to begin. “I know I made a mess of things, embarrassed you, hurt you, and Morgan but I don’t love that man. I never have.”

  “You as dumb as they come. It aint never about love. It’s about status and being taken care of! How could you do such a thing, did you even get any money for it?”

  “I didn’t sell myself!” Amelia screamed hurt at Lorraine’s words.

  “Well maybe you should have, at least you’d have something to show for it. I should have known that morning when he’s show his face here! Did he at least pay you then?”

  “How can you say that? ” Amelia moved from her position to look Lorraine in the eyes. “I am not a whore.” She said again trying to convince Lorraine.

  “Why did you do it, why? You can be a smart girl when ya want to be. Lord knows you can. I just…just tell me why? I could have been alright. ”

  Amelia captured Lorraine’s gaze with that of her own. Trying to transfer what she felt, what was in her heart? But when she broke away from her look, she turned her eyes to the floor. “I did it because I love him.”

  “Love who?” Lorraine stood back shocked. “I sho’ hope you don’t mean that white man.” Lorraine could have slapped her. “You love him? Well aint that something. And I suppose you think he feels the same.”

  “No” she answered back truthfully. And with those words she felt a tiny twinge of pain in her heart.

  “Well lord be praised, you aint that stupid.”

  “Lorraine.” She began only to be cut off.

  “Only thing a black girl got from loving a white man was a big belly.”

  “Do you want me to go away?” asked Amelia, tired in her body and soul. “I know Morgan has gone and told everyone. I don’t want to embarrass you, make you feel bad around your friends.”

  “He aint told nobody but me. And we need to get on our hands and knees and praise God above for giving that man such understanding. He still willing to marry you. You still got a chance.”

  “I don’t want to marry him Lorraine.” Amelia stated sternly. “And I don’t plan to. I don’t love him.” Finally having had a enough.

  “You don’t marry that man then you don’t stay in this house.” Lorraine said back just as harsh. “I won’t have you in here being that white man’s tramp.”

  “Lorraine, you may believe what you want, but I never have been or will be a whore, tramp, or hussy.”

  “You marry Morgan or you aint welcome in this house and that’s final! You won’t be allowed to ever come here or near me no more.” And with that she turned and headed for the stairs.

  Amelia took a deep breath before speaking again. “Then I guess there’s just one last thing to say. I wish you happiness and perhaps if you beg that good man enough he’ll marry you.” Walking to the door she turned the knob and headed back out into the dark night. Not once looking back.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Wake up.” Jasper said while pushing his friend out of the bed and onto the hard floor with a resounding thud.

  Quickly rising to his feet Jordan hurriedly composed himself. Spotting Jasper he thought better of the first idea that flew into his head, which was to kill the bastard who’d awakened him. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He decided would have to do for now.

  “We’ve reason to celebrate.” Jasper moved about the room opening the drapes until the room was flooded with light knowing full well it would serve his purpose of waking and irritating Jordan. “Mr. Jackson accepted.”

  Rubbing his head Jordan let his hand drop in front of his eyes shielding them from the offensive sun. He had barely been able to sleep at all. His thoughts straying back to Amelia and that foolish engagement. He’d tried to go to her that night and see if she’d really gone through with it. Her aunt explained that she was not there and was out with the man even as the hour grew unfavorably late. Jordan felt his blood boil.

  Why in the world she chose that man would forever be beyond him. That had been weeks ago however and every time he’d sent Mitchell to pick her up the man returned empty handed. Only recently did he stop sending the chauffeur to retrieve her at all.

  Apparently she was happy with her new state and he had no intentions on intruding. But it was annoying that she chose to tuck tail and hide from him. It wasn’t as if he was the only one in the house who might like to see her. Georgia was all but confused at her absence and Vivian blamed him.

  Yet if she wanted to marry an old, dirty, nasty, gnarled man well that was her affair. God help her he thought, a frown now forming on his face.

  Jasper would have spoken then if not for the silly look on his friend’s mug. That look was a look Jordan hadn’t worn in ages and Jasper could scarcely believe it. “I knew it.” Jasper said smugly.

  It was strange he had seen it coming a mile away but he simply couldn’t believe it. Jordan Bradford ensnared by a woman. That was unthinkable, unfathomable, and undeniably funny.

  The man with the shielded heart, brought down to his knees by the unattainable maid. “Didn’t I tell you?” he continued mindless of Jordan staring at him with warning. “I have to give her a round of applause. No other woman has been able to evoke such emotions in you if any at all.”

  “What are you rambling about?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Jasper stated, sure of himself.

  “Please enlighten me.” Jordan said while tugging on his boots.

  “It’s all over your ridiculous face which is surprising to say the least you’re usually good at masking your emotions.”

  “Have you a point—if you do could you please come to it?” Jordan snapped becoming annoyed.

  “Of all people to want, you pick the one that’s forbidden to have.” Jasper thought out loud. It would have been easier for him to choose Melanie. Least then all he’d have to bare would be cold stares. “You know this is only going to bring about a lot of heartache.”

  “I see.” Jordan said as if just catching on to what Jasper had been alluding too.

  “Do you really?”

  “I do and I don’t want to discuss your flights of fancy.” He finished pulling on a fresh shirt.

  “You’re swimming in a river of denial.”

  “Where’s your wife?” Jordan asked not wishing to delve into where the conversation seemed to be swaying any more. “I doubt we can do much celebrating without her in tow.”

  “One day she is going to hear the half of what you say about her and beat you.”

  “I just asked where she was.” Jordan said a wide smile on his face.

  “True but it’s all in the way you ask.”

  “Is she downstairs?”

  “No,” Jasper said quickly. “At home in bed and that’s where she’ll stay until I get home and we can celebrate the right way”

  Jordan cringed at the thought and the action was soon followed with a genuine flush and shiver, Jasper could have kept that to himself, however he could use the information to his advantage. “Why waste time with me when your beautiful wife is at home waiting for you?”

  Walking toward the door, Jordan waited for a response. “Besides it’s bound to be more entertaining?”

  “True.” Jasper agreed without argument. “But there’s one other point I failed to mention—I’m inviting you along with my, I told Mr. Jackson and his lovely wife Cora I couldn’t celebrate this endeavor without you. Besides there is a treat in it for you. I know you’ve been down as of late
.”

  With a deep sigh Jordan signaled with his hands for Jasper to continue. “I was just trying to save the best part for last.” Jasper grinned.

  “Get on with it.” Jordan pressed growing tired of the speech. “Another lady was invited to this celebration of ours—a Mrs. Nina Banks.”

  “Jasper, you sound like a gossiping hen.”

  “Just let me finish, Mrs. Banks will be bringing another lady friend, listen this is the best part. This woman is said to be having a bit of trouble recently in the colored world’s circle. Disowned by her aunt and her coming engagement broken, no one is sure of the reasons.” Unmentioned as they might have been, the certain circumstances were now fully understood, at least by Jasper. “Seems that the Jackson’s and Banks are good friends of this Ms. Marriott and hope to see her well again and received by the colored upper crust.”

  Walking to the door Jordan pulled it open, barely listening to what was being said. Not truly caring to hear until the last bit was mentioned—a broken engagement, she hadn’t gone through with it after all.

  It was like a hammer had hit him head-on but it was also a relief. It did however leave him with some questions. Why had she been ignoring him and why she was never here at work?

  Choosing to ignore the flood of mixed feelings, Jordan opted to use his usual defense. Which was to act as if he didn’t care. Turning before stepping completely out of the large room he faced his friend once more. “Are you coming? If I’m going to go I’m going now so I can get back all the sooner.”

  Jasper let a sly grin come across his face. “I highly doubt you’ll want to. Not with Amelia there.”

  Jordan cast his piercing purple and blue eyes skyward. “I knew she would be there as soon as your started your long-winded tale.”

  The deep chuckling coming from Jasper roared on for countless moments thereafter. He couldn’t put his fingers on just what made this whole situation so richly hilarious. All the same it was, Jordan was falling, and he was falling hard.

  Still it was apparent he had no intention of going down without a fight. Draining the dark content of brandy from his glass, Jasper trailed behind Jordan hearing him grumble the whole time. This was going to be a good fight, and if he was a betting man he’d lay his funds down on Amelia. “She is pretty in an odd way.”

  Odd, there was nothing odd or strange or wrong about Amelia. Jordan couldn’t understand the stupidity running amuck when it came to that woman. She was nowhere near odd.

  “Now I didn’t say she was odd in a bad way, I meant exotic.” Jasper corrected seeing the disgruntled look on Jordan’s face. “I have to admit she sometimes tugs at my own heart strings. A few days ago I actually saw her— caught glimpse of her—at the bend where the colored district houses line across the hills near the river.”

  “You know how those houses sit right there on the roadside and are high enough just to sit below the hills and have the sunlight shining upon them all day. That day, the sun was at its brightest and in its light your sweet Amelia was especially enticing. She had come out from the yard and what a sight she was to see—sun lighting up all that dark hair like a halo, illuminating every single soft feature.”

  “I tell you Jordan, you should have seen her clothed in nothing more than a pair of thigh-high trousers, and the shirt she dawned was, well thin to say the least and clung to every shapely curve she had to offer.”

  Jordan thought and knew that if he could have shot him and disposed of Jasper’s body without being caught he would have.

  He would have given a year of his life to have been in Jasper’s place and seen her that morning.

  “I tell you, that woman has a way about her. I suppose I’ve always known and just ignored it but that day there was no denying it. She was simply breathtaking.” Jasper stopped to smile, he had laid it on a little thick but if he had elaborated at all it was just a little for she was as he said, breathtaking. “She has a brilliant smile, and the prettiest eyes, kind eyes, hell she had me grinning all the way home. If I didn’t love Margaret so you’d have a competition on your hands.”

  “Shut the hell up Jasper.” Jordan snapped. Hating to know anyone had glimpsed what was his. His? Now where did that notion come from?

  Jasper didn’t take heed to Jordan’s warning however. “She’s a beautiful woman Jordan. I know you say you don’t have any feelings for her and if you could have your way you’d rebuff it until the day you die.” Jasper chose his next words carefully so not to have them misunderstood. “When you finally come to your senses, and when some friends become enemies, I just want you to know I’ll be right there fighting by your side.”

  His words hit their mark, though Jordan did not see the need for them. He did not love Amelia or any other woman. So he could only answer. “You’re an idiot Jasper.”

  *

  Sometimes a body just had to wonder what they had done to deserve such rotten luck. Amelia had rotten luck. God almighty she had some rotten, rotten luck. Four weeks to the night. Nine weeks and eight days to be exact and God was punishing her since the third week she was sure. Such a harsh punishment she didn’t understand, but the lord works in mysterious ways.

  Amelia was about to ask him why he’d chosen to punish her in such a way when the smell of frying bacon and hotcakes filtered into her room and her stomach lurched in protest. Jessie was at her side in a moment’s notice shaking her head and holding her friends hair back as she emptied out her stomach’s contents once more into a bucket.

  “That critter sho’ won’t let you keep nothin’ down.”

  Critter, was that what it was, a critter? She had rotten luck indeed. She wasn’t having a baby in the coming months but a critter. The thought was disheartening but before she could dwell on it another bout of morning sickness had hit her.

  “Heaven knows if you don’t stop hacking so much you’re gonna spill the poor thing out into that bucket too.” Lenora allowed.

  God was that possible? No of course not, but then again, it was her they were dealing with she just as well might vomit her baby out into that damned bucket. Her baby—it still didn’t seem real. How could she be having a baby? How was it that it happened so soon, so quick? Furthermore how was it that she was having a baby from one night’s indiscretion? It was all too much to swallow. She had tried to deny it after all it was only ten weeks and eight days to the night. Two months, one week and two days. Could one really know for sure after one month, one week and two days?

  She knew the answer to that already. She had tried to blame it on nerves, and then she had gone over in her head the days in the months at least one hundred times. Making sure she had them correct. She would have kept on blaming it on miscalculations if not for the constant morning sickness, along with Nina’s knowing stares.

  Her hands came up to her belly and she let her fingers clasp together over it. It was truly amazing when one thought on it. That she had a little life growing within her. Amelia let a sly smile creep across her facade.

  “You can’t keep this baby.” Lenora said killing the sparkle in Amelia’s eyes.

  “It…it just wouldn’t be wise doll baby.” Nina said throwing darts at Lena. “How will you take care of it? You have a hard enough time taking care of yourself now.”

  Amelia turned sad eyes toward her friends. They spoke the truth but how could she give up her baby, her little critter. That’s right, critter or no critter, it was hers. How could they ask her, rather tell her she couldn’t keep her baby?

  That was her choice to make and she had already made it. How could you give up something that you already loved so much? “We’ll do just fine on our own.” Even as she spoke the words she knew they were not true. They wouldn’t do just fine. Still they’d have each other and her baby would have her love.

  “Amelia be reasonable!” Jessie interjected. “It’d be foolish, and selfish.”

  Amelia turned angry eyes on her friend. “It’s foolish and selfish for you to ask me to give my baby up!” she hurled
back. “We’ll be just fine.”

  “How? You barely get along yourself now.”

  “I have a roof over my head and food on my table.”

  “Barely” Nina grumbled beneath her breath

  Amelia heard her nonetheless and sought the opportunity to defend herself. “I’m tired of everyone trying to tell me how to live my life. I won’t have it anymore. I said I won’t do and I won’t! I don’t feel like explaining myself but my new job at the flower shop pays my rent on the room the Willkie’s rent me just fine.” Rising from her crouched position Amelia softened her tone. “I know you all have my best interest in mind, you always have, but you’re wrong to ask me to give up what I love most in this world.” Turning to Nina she cupped her face in her hands. “Imagine if you were asked to give up your baby.”

  Nina’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest at the thought. Never was all she could think. She’d never give up her baby. She had been cruel to suggest Amelia to do so to her own child. With an apologetic smile upon her lips she placed a kiss on to Amelia ’s forehead. Nina held her tight to her. “Your right doll baby, it was a damned fool thing for us to say. You and that baby gonna do just fine and we’re all gonna see that ya do.”

  Jessie nodded knowing that there was no changing of minds going on today or any other day for that matter. Looking to her sister she saw that she had already been won over. “Do you want a girl or a boy?”

  A smile spread across Amelia’s face. “Oh it doesn’t matter to me at all.” Turning to Nina, Amelia placed her hand on her still flat abdomen. “We already know Nina’s set her mind on having a boy, and when Nina sets her mind on something, you know it’s going to be. So I was thinking maybe a girl, but a boy…a boy would be just as wonderful.” Amelia let her eyes stray across each woman in the room. All wearing smiles as bright as the sun. Everything was going to be just fine. Maybe she didn’t have such rotten luck after all.

  “Come on now let’s stop all dis grinning and change our linens.” Jessie said laughing at her own little rhyme. “It a long way to the Jackson’s by foot and you know how I hate ta’ walk.”