Thanks for the reviews! I'm posting on an odd day again. I wanted to post over the weekend, but the chapter wasn't quite ready. Anyway, this is Part I of Chapter Thirty-three. I would like to have Part II up by Sunday, but no promises. Again, thanks for the support!
Chapter Thirty-three (Part I)
Marita gazed at his handsome face, drinking in his soulful eyes, the happiness radiating from within him at that blissful moment from the past, before they realized they were in love and experienced the perils of wanting a life together. Marita placed the picture back on the shelf, feeling sick with love and yearning as she painfully viewed his portrait a moment more, then turned away, her thoughts plagued with the events of the night before. She understood his choice, why he'd let go. He needed to protect her, to make sure what happened in Chicago never happened again. But his choice hurt so much. She grieved, hurt her to her very soul, yet strengthened the tenderness he held in her heart. I can't do this today. Marita sighed to herself, now trying to focus her thoughts on work. She'd spent all last evening reliving her conversation with Sean, had ruined her outing with John Wesley, cutting their time short, because she was agonizing over Sean's words, struggling to find a counter to his reasoning, but she couldn't. She couldn't reason away his fears and guilt over what had happened, over what could happen again. Marita forced the anguished musings from her mind and aimed her thoughts on the files Clay had requested she pull and continue his and Sean's search for the elusive employee who was helping "MaryLynn." Now standing in the large closet on the far side of the office, she spotted the box that held the hiring files for May, then removed it from atop the shelf…
"Let me!" Alice asserted as she rushed up to her, grabbing the other end of the box, taking some of its weight off Marita.
"Thanks." Marita said as they quickly made their way across the room and sat the box on the desk.
"You working on a special project for Clay?" Alice asked observing the numerous papers and files on the desk.
"Yes." Marita answered, deliberately being vague, knowing from her conversation with Clay that he and Sean had only told Alice and Lexy about Asia, but not about the journal she'd found for fear that it's contents would distress them more. "So what brings you by?" She then asked as she removed the top from the box and retrieved the folders from inside, setting them in a specific pile before her.
"You." Alice happily replied, causing Marita to look up from what she was doing.
"Oh please don't give me that bewildered look." Alice exclaimed with a smile. "You had to know that I would come by and disturb your work after what you've done for pa."
"Alice…"Marita sighed.
"And don't give me this modest speech about how you were just doing what was right..."
"I was." Marita seriously interjected.
"I know." Alice countered. "I just don't want you to minimize what you've done." She stated with sincerity as she held her friend's eyes. "Because what you've done could actually save pa, save us all from this nightmare of him being on trial for murder."
"COULD is the operative word here. The only way we'll know if this will do your pa some good is if the information we now have will lead to indisputable proof that can be used in a court of law to prove your pa is innocent." Marita pointed out, now thinking of the disappointing news that "MaryLynn's" journal would not be enough to help Ned, that they'd need evidence to corroborate what was in the journal.
"This is true, but whether that happens or not, I think it's amazing what you've done and I'd like to say thank you." She declared, then gave Marita a strong hug, really happy at her friend's discovery, thankful for the hope she'd brought after so many weeks of bleakness.
"No need for you to thank me. You're pa is important to me, and when I saw an opportunity to help him I had to explore it." Marita uttered as she pulled back from the hug, her response causing Alice to playfully roll her eyes at her friend's modesty.
"Well I'm glad you had the courage to explore that opportunity, and that it led to this witness telling what she saw." She declared, prompting Marita to again acknowledge her appreciation, this time with a small smile before she resumed pulling the files from the box, which should've been Alice's cue to take her leave. However, the young woman remained where she stood, watching her friend, contemplating how to broach the more delicate subject on her mind. Though Marita had been fairly engaged during her declarations of thanks, generally coming off as being okay, Alice still detected a deep sadness within her, which seemed to mirror the melancholy she'd witnessed from Sean last night and earlier that morning.
"Was there something else?" Marita asked, again turning her attention to Alice, when the young woman quietly remained at her side, watching her. "I hate to be short, but I have a lot of important work to do." She stated as she made her way around the desk and had a seat.
"I know, and this probably isn't the right time, but..." Alice replied, then paused, wavering in her choice to bring up Sean.
"Alice what is it?" Marita questioned with concern at seeing the young woman's cheerful mood turn solemn. Alice briefly lowered her gaze and took a quiet, but deep breath, trying to stay the apprehension within, but it refused to fade, so she forced herself to ignore it, then spoke what was on her mind.
"It's about you, and Sean." She cautiously declared, and immediately saw her friend's eyes darken with the sadness that had only flickered before, reflecting the pain that emanated in her heart. "We haven't really, talked, about you remembering, since it happened." She slowly continued even as her apprehension grew urging her to stop.
"There's really nothing to talk about." Marita stated with strength as she pulled a file from atop the stack and attempted to review the contents. "I finally remembered my past, at least most of it. Now I don't have to wonder anymore about who I was, what was. I can move on with my life." She claimed with a casualness that emitted mistruth as she again gave Alice her full attention.
"Is that what you really want? To move on with your life without...without Sean?" Alice nervously queried., but Marita didn't respond, instead her eyes fell away from her friend as the memory of the night before, of Sean telling her they had no future, that they never did, again tortured her heart, her thoughts. "Because if it isn't what you want then..." The young woman quietly stated, then ceased to speak not knowing exactly what she wanted to say, just feeling like she needed to say something that would help her friend.
"Then what?" Marita questioned as her eyes rose to meet Alice's worried stare, her voice strong, matching nothing of the anguish in her gaze.
"I don't know." Alice sighed with a hint of frustration at her own confusion at the situation between her brother and closest friend. Though she fully understood the edict of society that deemed their relationship inappropriate, illegal and feared the danger it could spur, the danger it had already spurred, she hated seeing Marita and Sean this way, heartbroken and hopeless. Alice sadly mused wanting so much to help her friend, to give her some sound advice about her situation, but honestly she was at a loss for words. "I just wish there was something I could do..." She then confessed her tone sympathetic and soft, causing Marita to lower her eyes, for a moment feeling the pain and loss of what could no longer be, cutting her deeper than before.
"Am I interrupting?" Isaac humbly asked as he gave the open door a gentle knock, drawing surprised eyes from Alice and Marita.
"Yes." "No." Both ladies asserted at once. Alice instantly gave Marita a shocked stare at her friend's hostile response.
"Marita, please, I need to talk with you." Isaac implored, remaining in the doorway, respectfully waiting for his daughter to heed his request. For a moment Marita held her father's pleading gaze, her emotions conflicted and strong. In spite of everything she wanted to reach out to him, to hear what he had to say. He was her father, and she did love him despite all his lies. But his lies had got them here, his need to manipulate her life, his need to keep her away from Sean. She thought, now thinking of the forged letter Sean had received from, which drove her to turn her eyes ahead, then close them without a word, her fury rising, pushing her to give her pa a venomous response, when she opened her eyes and was instantly reminded that they weren't alone, that Alice was with them, standing before her, feeling awkward and uncertain, like she was in the middle of something she shouldn't be.
"Can you, give us some time." Marita then quietly directed to the young woman before her.
"Of course." Alice nearly sighed in relief at her dismissal, then quickly left the room through the door that led to the study, closing it behind her as Marita turned resentful eyes to her father.
"Sean!" Ned exclaimed with surprise and joy upon seeing his eldest son in the room, hoping that his prayers had been answered, that he'd come there to talk, to sort through the issues between them, but when Sean turned to face him, those hopes were instantly dashed, saddening him. "What's going on?"He asked, unable to hide his disappointment at Sean's reproachful stance.
"A discovery has been made that could help your case." He answered as his pa took a seat at the table before him, Sean's anger over his pa's betrayal apparent in his tone.
"What discovery might that be?" Ned questioned with bewilderment, yet curiosity.
Sean didn't answer, but took a seat before his pa, glanced towards the glass door to ensure sure the Deputy wasn't looking, then removed "MaryLynn's" journal from the inside pocket of his blazer and slid it across the table to his father. Ned lowered his eyes to the book, a questioning scowl on his face, then slowly opened it up and quietly read several sentences on the first page.
"Where did you get this?" Ned then asked, lifting astonished eyes back to Sean..
"Marita came across someone, who came across it and gave it to her." Sean revealed, briefly dropping his gaze as sorrow and agony gripped his soul.
"Marita?" Ned questioned, studying his son closely, noting his changed demeanor at the mention of her name. "How did she get involved in this?" He pressed.
"It's a long story." Sean quietly replied, thinking of what Marita had done, risking her own safety to explore Asia's story, his heart aching with love at her courage and yearning to be with her, to resume the life they once had. "But not to worry, she's alright." He assured, answering the concern in his father's voice, while wondering himself if she was indeed alright, regretfully recalling their painful exchange the night before.
"How about you? Are you alright?" Ned questioned, alarmed at the infinite pain he saw in his son, knowing it had everything to do with Marita.
"After everything you've done, do you really think I'd talk to you about what I'm feeling, especially what I'm feeling about Marita?" Sean strongly replied, ire rising within him even as a part of him wanted to pour out his thoughts, do what in the past had been so natural for him, to confide in his pa, to tell him of the discussion he'd had with Marita the day before, to tell him how conflicted he was about his choice.
"I just want to know if you're alright." Ned stated, his eyes now turned down, hurt at his son's response. "I'm not asking you to tell me of your pain over Marita." He continued, bringing his gaze back to his son. "I know that's off limits to me." He seriously conveyed.
"I'm alright." Sean firmly answered, his morose stare afflicting Ned with anguish and regret, deepening his wish that he could say something, do something to make things right with his son, when the door of the small room suddenly flew open...
"I apologize for being late." Clay asserted as he nearly burst into the room, jarring the tense silence. He'd had a meeting he couldn't cancel outside of town, thus he and Sean had decided to meet at the jail instead of arriving together. "Did he show you the journal?" He asked after shutting the door behind him, failing to notice the tension in the room.
"Yes." Ned answered, turning his gaze to Clay who was taking a seat next to Sean. "But I'm still not sure how it helps my case." He admitted.
"I was just about to fill you in." Sean said, then proceeded to tell his father what was in the journal, welcoming the much needed distraction that for the moment kept Marita and his father's betrayal at bay, while his pa quietly listened and flipped through the pages of the journal, scanning over the shocking and intriguing text as his heart still hurt over their previous exchange, over what appeared to be the irreparable damage to their relationship.
"Lexy you can't pick peas that way!" Alice scolded while walking up to her sister who immediately stopped what she was doing. "You're going to damage the plant." She said, then demonstrated to Lexy how to pick the peas by smoothly plucking them from the vine, without harming the plant.
"Are Clay and Sean back?" Lexy asked as she emulated what Alice had done successfully removing the peas from the vine, not as efficiently as Alice, but slightly better than before.
"No, they're not back." Alice answered, her mind heavy with thoughts of Marita, instead of her brothers' plan to sort through what the witness had seen, wondering about the discussion her friend was now having with Isaac.
"I don't understand why the witness can't just testify on pa's behalf about what she saw the night MaryLynn died." Lexy expressed, referring to what she and Alice had been told about Mr. Pearson's visit. They'd seen the man leaving when they were returning from the Youth Women's Social Society Meeting last night and had asked Clay and Sean about his visit as soon as they got to the house. Sean and Clay had told them of the witness they'd discovered and revealed that though she couldn't testify in court, something Lexy still didn't understand, the information she provided could help their pa's case.
"Lexy, the witness is a Negro." Alice explained, her tone sharp with annoyance at her sister's inability to understand this, or to fully grasp the proper technique in picking peas. "The courts would never allow her to testify."
"That's so unfair!" Lexy complained with frustration. "When she can help get pa off!"
"I know, but that's the way of the world." Alice sighed, now somberly thinking of Sean and Marita, how the way of the world had destroyed their relationship. "I think you've demolished enough peas." She then said as she put ones that she'd just picked in the basket that sat between them. "I'm going to have Nancy finish this before there's no viable plant left."
"No! I can do this!" Lexy protested, grabbing the handle of the basket that was now in Alice's hand. Lexy really enjoyed doing such an unusual chore that was normally completed by the servants. It could be hard, perfecting the picking technique, but fun, an escape from the unhappiness that was her family's lives right now.
"Lexy you're destroying the plants!" Alice argued. "I'll find something else for you to do that doesn't involve endangering our food source." She promised to a disappointed Lexy who conceded, giving her sister full control of the basket. "Cheer up!" Alice exclaimed as she threw her arm around Lexy's slumped shoulders, guiding her out of the garden. "We'll have a nice lunch, then we'll take a ride out to the pond." She suggested causing a small smile to form on Lexy's face, pleasing and relieving Alice who now steered them towards the main house, unaware that someone was in the brush of the garden, listening to their discussion about the mysterious Negro witness.