September Wind (51 page)

“No. He kissed me.”

              “
Rose. I don’t understand.”

“You promised that you’d drop it if I told you. I’m not telling you any more.”

              “
Oh, all right, I promise I won’t say another word about it. But you have to finish the story.”

Rose pursed her lips and sat up. “Okay, but I’m trusting you to let it drop then.”

Emily nodded politely.

“It’s two-fold,” Rose began. “First, there’s this girl named Darcy… she’s white. And she has a crush on him.”

              “
So, do you like him?”

             
“
It doesn’t matter. Do you know what would happened if I went after him? She’s white. He’s white. See? Now you promised you wouldn’t push me on this.”

             
“
Oh, all right. But…”

“But nothing. There’s that other thing too. I want to go to college. I really, really want to make something of myself. Not just for Mother, but for me too. And besides…”

              “
Besides what?”

             
“
Well… when he kissed me I felt this… I don’t know, undesirable feeling.”

             
“
Undesirable?”

             
“
Unwanted then, whatever. After that, we sort of flirted. Darcy was already jealous, but when she found out about the kiss, her and this friend of hers came after me. I finally told her I didn’t want anything to do with him, and that’s the way I want it to be. End of story.”

             
“
But…”

Rose picked up a pillow and threw it at her. “End of story.”

“Okay, okay.”

             
“
So now it’s your turn, Em. What about Michael? You still care, don’t you? You told me you’d never forget him. That you’d never forget that...
kiss
.”

             
“It doesn’t matter any more. He hasn’t even tried to contact me.”

“So. Just stop by the hospital one day and accidently bump into him.”

Emily threw the pillow back. “Are you kidding? Never! Besides, I’ve already tried that, and it was so... stupid.”

* * * *

              Emily was put in the tenth grade, and at first she stuck close to Rose. She received stares and a few comments about being the bleached Negro. But it wasn’t until she found herself alone in the hallway with three girls that she knew she would have to defend herself.

             
“
How come you’re not dark like your sister?” the loud-mouthed one asked her.

             
“
Oh, I know,” she blared, “your mother had an affair with her master? So how does it feel to be the daughter of a whore?”

             
Emily ignored her, but the group continued to follow her.

             
“
What does a black woman and the master of a cotton farm make?” one of the others asked.

             
“
Auh, let’s see,” came the loud-mouthed one again, “oh yeah, a bitch’s brew.”

             
They all thought that was hysterical and laughed until Emily finally had enough. She swung around, setting her eyes on Big-Mouth.

             
“So how does it feel to be an idiot?” she said, moving closer. She towered over all of them. “I’ll bet after graduation, if you make it that far, you’ll end up alongside one of the bums down by the bay. I saw one that looks very similar to you. White as a ghost. Maybe it was your… your.” She lowered her voice, “your future, I’ll bet.” She started to leave, but turned back. “By the way, my mother was white. Oh, and one other thing. My father’s black, six-four, and at least two-fifty. I’m sure he would love to meet you girls.”

             
It was a struggle not to laugh at their expressions. One priceless moment she wouldn’t soon forget. She gave them each a fierce glare, and then turned away. She wasn’t sorry for sticking up for herself, or for that matter, anything she said to them. It was probably true anyway. Bullies like those three deserved a good tongue-lashing.

* * * *

              Emily would always be grateful for her father and Rose’s unconditional love, and support. She had no reason to complain. Yet she still didn’t know how Adah really felt about her. Her stepmother was decent, and kind. Even though she was a busy woman, she still managed to take them shopping during the time Rose’s car was out of commission, dropping them off here and there. So there was no particular cause for the discomfort.

             
Then one day she knew what it was. It surfaced unintentionally, although Emily imagined it had been festering inside Adah all along. It happened when she went down to the kitchen and overheard her and a friend talking in the living room. She was telling her about Samuel having to sell his truck in order to work for Donald Schillings, and that he had finally received payment from him. Although, it wasn’t as much as he would’ve earned on the boat. Adah’s friend reminded her that now that he was in jail he wasn’t earning a dime.

             
Emily didn’t want to hear any more and tiptoed back upstairs.

             
After a few days of sulking, Rose confronted her. “You’ve been so quiet lately,” she said from her bed. “What is it?”

             
Emily was at her desk doing homework and closed the book she was working in. She leaned her elbows on the desk, resting her chin, wondering if she should bring it up.

Rose got up and settled across from her at her own desk. “So ya gonna tell me what’s wrong, Em?”

Emily sat back and looked over. “I think I’m still just trying to adjust, that’s all.”

             
“
Now don’t pull that on me. I know it’s more than that. What is it?”

             
“
Mm...Well... I guess I’m still feeling guilty about Father sitting in jail.”

             
“
I thought we already settled that. Besides, Father’s doing just fine. They’re having a hearing next week, and I have a feeling he’ll be out soon.”

             
Emily reached over and flipped through the corners of her science book. “I hope so.”

“Listen, Emily, Mother mentioned maybe you should go to a counselor. Maybe you should.”

              “
When did she say that?” Emily was shocked they had been discussing her. She didn’t know if she liked that.

             
“
She noticed your silence too.”

             
“
Since when is it a sin to wanna keep to yourself once in a while?”

             
“Oh, really. So you’re tired of me, is that it?”

             
“
No, I love being here with you, it’s just that…” There was so much, so much she was still trying to come to terms with. Now here she was making herself a nuisance because she felt like one. Why go to counseling and drag everything up again?

             
She thought it was funny, not exactly funny, but odd, that sometimes she missed Steven a little and wished things had been different. She even thought of Timothy and how dopy he was at times. She didn’t hate any of them. Nevertheless, she didn’t expect to see them again, either.

“Rose, I can’t help but feel like an intruder sometimes. Not every second, but... just sometimes.” She almost told her the discussion she heard between Adah and her friend, but then it would just prove her point, that she was a nuisance.

              “
Emily. I really believe you otta at least consider seeing someone. Don’t think I don’t know what must go through your head at times. After what you’ve been through? Phew, I would’ve gone nuts long ago.”

“Okay, Rose, okay, I’ll think about it.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Late one afternoon Emily left the school library and headed outside. Rose’s Chevy was back in commission and she was coming to pick her up. Emily was on her way up the sidewalk when her grandfather stepped in front of her.

“Grandfather! What are you doing here?” He reeked of alcohol, no surprise there.

              “
How’d you find me?”

             
“After your trial, there weren’t too many secrets left. It didn’t take much detective work to get me the information I needed.”

             
“
But, why… why’re you here?”

             
“
I know you took the necklace from my sister. It’s either with you or that Shillins fella?”

“It’s Schillings. And he’s in jail.”

              “
Well, whatever the case, I’ll tell you what. You give me that antique necklace box and I’ll let you have the necklace.” He pointed to a car sitting at the curb. “We’ll use that rental over there to go pick it up.”

Rose pulled up just then and jumped from her car. “Leave her be, you scoundrel!” she hollered, running around to open the door.

              “Come on, Emily, hurry it up.”

             
He followed Emily up the walk. “I’ll drop your father’s rape charges.”

Emily stopped.

              “
Don’t listen to him. Get in the car,” Rose ordered.

             
Emily hopped in, and Rose slammed the door and ran around the car hollering for her to push the lock. She slid into the driver’s side and peeled from the curb.

             
“
What in heaven’s name is he doing here?”

             
“
Know that necklace of mine I suspect is over at Schillings’ place?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, all he wants is the box. Says it’s antique, or something. And he said he’d drop the rape charge if I gave it to him?”

             
“
Here’s a better idea. We’ll get the necklace and hold it until he drops the charges.”

             
“
Should we? Right now?”

             
Rose glanced at Emily, smiled, and then stepped on the gas.

             
The green gate was wide open when they turned into Schillings’ driveway. Emily thought how odd it was being here again, considering everything that happened.               “Sure hope we find it.”

             
“Me too, Em... me too.”

             
They tried to make small talk, about the trees, or how dark it was, or whatever else came to mind. When they pulled up to the estate, Rose gasped. “Emily! Oh, my... gracious sakes alive. When you said mansion, you meant mansion. Whew! You’d think someone who managed all this would have some sense though, wouldn’t you?”

They climbed the front steps and tried the door. When it opened and they were sure no one was around, they scrambled upstairs to Schilling’s quarters.

              Emily tried the door.

“
I was afraid of this.” She thought for a moment. “You know, I’ll bet there’s something we can use from Nathan’s bedroom. He has all sorts of gadgets.” Emily was already charging down the hallway. Rose was right behind her.

             
When they rounded the corner, there was Gabriel looking as surprised as they were.

             
“
Emily. W-what are you doing here?”

             
“
I might ask the same. After the way you were treated, I sure didn’t expect to see you.”

             
“
I haven’t been until today. I came back to pick up some of my things, and Pearl asked me to help out.”

Emily was happy to see she had a little more fight in her than before. “Listen, Gabriel, I’m in a big hurry. Donald stole something from me. And uhm… would you help? Please? It was an inheritance of mine.”

              Gabriel smiled. “Oh, really. He punished me once and kept my bike for a week to make sure I was coming back.” She glanced back at the staircase. “Okay, I’ll help, but you’d better hurry ’cause Pearl’s roaming the place. There’s a key in her room. I’ll try to get it for you.”

             
The two waited back near the entrance to Schillings’ quarters. When footsteps approached, Emily knew something didn’t sound right and, sure enough, Pearl stepped around the corner.

“For crying out loud. What’re you girls doing here? And why are you hangin’ around Mr. Schillings’ door?”

              “
H-he didn’t tell you?” Emily said. “He was holding a necklace of mine. Of course he hadn’t planned on going to jail. So now I’ve come to pick it up.”

             
“
Well this all sounds fishy to me. Why don’t you gals just hi-tail it right out of here.” She swung around and headed for the stairs, calling over a shoulder. “Come along, let’s hurry it up. I’ll walk you to the door so I can make sure it’s locked this time. Dumb girl, forgot to lock it, I suppose.”

             
The girls headed back up the hallway and around the corner, although they were lagging behind and Pearl stopped to shoo them ahead. “Stop dallying.” She glared at Emily. “Some nerve, coming up here like you own the place.”

As they passed Maria’s bedroom, Emily leaned to Rose. “When we near that last door by the stairway, I’ll run over and open it. You shove her inside. Nathan’s got a pair of handcuffs a police officer gave him. We’ll cuff her to the bedpost.”

              “
Stop with the gabbing,” Pearl snapped from behind. They hadn’t quite reached Nathan’s bedroom when Gabriel pranced up the stairs, dangling the key. When she saw them, she stopped in her tracks. While Rose and Pearl concentrated on Gabriel’s open mouth, Emily rushed to Nathan’s door and swung it open. Rose, realizing what was happening, grabbed Pearl, who might’ve gotten away, except that Gabriel got over her shock and joined in.

Once they had Pearl inside, Emily retrieved the handcuffs, and they pushed her kicking and screaming to the bed where they secured her to the bedpost.

Emily looked up the length of the post that reached at least seven feet. “I wouldn’t try scaling that, you could hurt yourself. Anyway you’ll be out soon,” she said, patting her shoulder.

             
Pearl wasn’t interested in her sympathy and tried to shake her hand off.

“Don’t think you’re getting away with this!” she called as the girls slipped out into the hallway.

              “
Here,” Gabriel said, handing Emily the key.

             
“
Thanks. Oh, and you mind keeping watch?” Emily said, already starting up the hallway. “We’ll be back as quick as we can.”

             
Emily was shocked when they entered Donald’s quarters. It had obviously been ransacked. “I heard the police stopped by, but. . . why would they leave such a mess?”

             
“I think that’s what they do,” Rose said, looking around. “But mess and all, it’s still quite impressive.”

“It should be. He spent most of his time up here.”

Emily began to look in and under couches, chairs, cabinets, and shelves, while Rose went to search the other rooms.

             
“
Emily, you should see this, a view of the river. He even has a telescope.”

             
“
I’ll bet it wasn’t to look at stars,” Emily hollered back.

They went from room to room, and then Emily walked into a closet and looked up. “Rose, come quick, there’s an attic.”

              The attic was hot and dusty. Several small windows brought in enough light for the girls to find light switches. Cabinets and closets lined the walls. All the drawers had been pulled out and gone through. A few had given into the weight and lay upside down on the floor. There were half-empty boxes strewn about, clothes, and odds and ends everywhere.

             
Emily noticed a closet full of women’s clothing, a few hanging, and the rest on the closet floor. Amongst the piles of clothes there were heels, flats, a pair of fluffy slippers, and several pairs of mesh slippers in various colors, the ones Maria described to her.

Throughout the room there were pictures on the floor and some hanging lopsided on the wall. Off in the corner were a couple of old statues and a sewing machine.

              Emily moved about, rummaging, reaching over to put some things back in order, not really expecting to find anything now. Then something caught her eye, and she went to the middle of the room and stood with her arms folded, looking up and down the back wall.

“Are you giving up?” Rose asked.

Emily kept looking at the wall, thoughtfully. “Mm?”

Rose shut the dresser drawer she’d been poking through and went to stand beside Emily. “What are you looking at?”

“It’s just a hunch, but take a look over there. What do you see?”

             
Rose looked puzzled.

             
“
Go on, describe what you see.”

             
“
Well, I see a plain white wall with probably two-inch wide strips of wood from ceiling to floor, about every two feet or so. And then there’s strips of wood from ceiling to floor, about every two feet or so. And then there’s those vertical...” She crinkled her nose. “I don’t get it.”

             
“
I’ll show you,” Emily said. She picked up a golf club on the way across the room and started hammering at a strip of wood. When it came down and exposed a slit in the wall, Rose picked up another club and joined in. They whacked until the outline of a makeshift door was uncovered.

             
“
How’d you know this was here?” Rose asked.

             
“
Maria told me there used to be an attic opening above her room. I can tell by just looking at the size of this area that we aren’t above her bedroom yet. It’s on the other side of this wall. Besides, all the other walls were so much different, like a red flag to me.”

             
The girls ran their fingers along the inside of the slits for a latch of some kind.

             
“
I’ve got it,” Rose said. She hooked a finger around a piece of metal and yanked. There was a clicking sound, and then the door slid open.

             
“
Just a bunch of boxes, Emily.”

Emily went over and ripped one open, lifted a lid and pulled out a plastic bag filled with powder.

Rose went to look over her shoulder. “What’s that? Is it…?”

             
“Drugs. Exactly what the police were searching for.”

             
Emily recalled Peter’s message, saying he’d been here during their search. Then it hit her. “I think I know where it is.”

“Where what is?”

             
room. She headed straight for the closet, picked up the mesh slippers and felt inside.

“Emily, what are you doing?”

“Just wait a minute,” she said, deep in thought. Suddenly she dropped the slippers and turned for the exit.

             
Rose was right behind her. “Now what?”

             
“
I have a feeling that the necklace was here, and when the police were searching the place, someone saw it and took it to my old room.”

             
“
Why would someone do that?”

             
“
Not just someone,” Emily said, heading down the ladder. “It was Peter, a friend of mine.”

By the time they reached her old bedroom, she had finished the story about the dance, and the message she received from Peter while she was in the hospital.

She flung the door open, rushed to the closet, and pulled out the pair of slippers. She tossed the lightest one back, then slipped her hand in the other and brought out the velvet necklace box.

             
“This is it, Rose. This is my necklace.”

She dropped the slipper and opened the lid.

“Oh, Emily, it’s beautiful.” Rose lifted the necklace and laid it across her hand.

While Rose admired the necklace, Emily saw a tab in the box she hadn’t noticed before. She pulled, and out came the velvet lining. Beneath, there was something wrapped in a piece of cloth. Both girls stared in disbelief as Emily uncovered four diamonds.

              “
So this is what he’s after.”

             
Rose picked up one of the diamonds. “Emily. These are real.”