Secrets to Be Shared

Chapter Two--The truth about a Family



A father and a man...


Dear Pa,

I woke up early and decided to take a walk. There are biscuits and ham on a plate in the stove. I don't have to work today, but I'm going to see if Mr. Logan needs me for anything. See you for dinner.

Love always,

Marita



Isaac rubbed the sleep from his eyes and put the note down on the table. He knew that Ned told Sean everything about Kathy. He also knew that Ned had mentioned Marita's mother to Marita, and though he wasn't happy that Ned talked to her before talking to him, Isaac thought it was time for Marita to know the truth. He just didn't have the strength to tell the story. The mere idea of Kathy brought tears to Isaac's eyes.

The fact that Ned and Isaac had been through so much together and lost the women they loved is what made their friendship so strong. This was also the reason that helped them love each other's children as if they belonged to both of them. They were happy for Sean and Marita but scared of what they knew about life, society, and what could happen to their children if someone outside the Logan property ever found out.

Isaac's thought were interrupted by a knock on the door. He opened the door and was surprised to find Sean. "Sean, I thought that Marita went for a walk with you. Did you see her this morning."

"No, sir. That's why I came here. I take it that she's not here?"

"No, she got up early and left a note saying that she was going for a walk before she went to your house to help your pa," Isaac said with a lot of concern in his voice. He knew that Ned's question had shaken Marita, but she seemed alright when they had dinner last night.

Sean noticed the concern, "Isaac, it's okay. I think I know where she might be." Sean paused as he remembered all that his father had shared with him last night. For the first time, Sean really looked at Isaac. He saw the pain that Isaac kept so well hidden and remembered that night when he made an innocent yet eternal vow. "Isaac, I just want to..."

"Sean, you don't need to say anything. Just take care of her since she won't let me do that anymore."

"I will, sir, and Isaac, I am honored to have grown up with you as a second father and a friend."

Isaac tried not to get emotional even though Sean's words touched him deeply. "Thanks, Son. Now go find her."

"Yes, sir." Sean turned and ran from the house.

Isaac closed the door and collapsed in a chair. "God, can you watch my little girl. She going through a lot today." Little did Isaac know just how much Marita was going to go through that day.



The First Kiss...



Marita sat near the willow tree by the lake. The bench she was sitting in was a gift from Libby. Libby had it made for Marita and Sean when Marita started getting to old to always sit on the ground. As Marita fingered the carving in the arm of the bench she wondered if Libby knew that she and Sean would end up together. "With Love from a Mother" : though it didn't say Sean and Marita and it was given to Marita for her 13th birthday, Sean and Marita knew it was a gift for both of them when they saw where it was placed. Maybe it was that gentle nudge from Libby which sparked Marita's romantic interest in Sean. Marita giggled at that thought. She missed Libby. Libby was the only mother Marita really knew, and when Libby died, Marita promised that she would look after Alice and Lexy not only as a sister but now as a mother. She knew how hard it would be for them.

The thought of being motherless was too much for her. Marita tried to concentrate on Sean. She thought back to when her feelings started to change for him. It was so gradual that she didn't realize it until she found herself thinking of him all the time. Then it happened. Sean was helping her off a horse, like he had many times before, but she never noticed how strong he was until then. She felt like she was floating, and as he brought her to the ground she held on to his arms. They were no longer bony, his muscles were beginning to tone. He placed her on the ground in front of him, but he didn't let go. She looked in his eyes and for the first time knew she was in love but she also knew it was wrong. She was colored and he was white. They could be friends, but nothing more. He would have to marry one of those other girls.

Later that day as they were talking, Sean changed the topic they were on and asked, "Marita, have you ever kissed someone?"

"No," Marita blushed. "I'm not suppose to unless I'm courting someone."

"But how will you know if you're kissing properly unless you practice."

"I practice," Marita sheepishly protested.

"How?" Sean crossed his arms and looked curiously at Marita. "Don't tell me you practice on the back of your hand like Vivian and the other girls."

Not wanting to admit to anything, Marita turned a question on him, "How do you know what they do?"

"I saw them."

"Oh, really, you sure you didn't use them for 'practice'?" Marita said sounding a little hurt that he would chose one of those girls.

"No, I didn't kiss them. I figured we could practice since we're friends and it won't matter. Then when we start courting other people we'll know what to do. You know, so we won't knock noses or something."

"I don't know, Sean. We could get in trouble."

"Come on, Marita," Sean begged adding the saddest face with his pleading crystal eyes. Then trying to sound as serious as possible, "This is to help us from dying old and alone."

Marita covered her mouth as she laughed, "Sean, you are so silly."

"So you're going to try it with me."

"Okay, but how will we know if we are doing it right?"

"Ma says you just know. You ready?"

"Yeah," Marita closed her eyes and puckered her lips. Sean exploded into laughter. "What?!" Marita demanded.

"You should see yourself!" Sean could barely get out because he was laughing so hard. "Boy, do you need practice!"

Marita turned and started to storm away.

"Marita! Marita, wait!" Sean calmed himself and ran to catch up. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feeling." Sean could see that she was about to cry, he knew he couldn't handle that.

"Well, then you go first," Marita said choking back tears and trying to sound less sad and more challenging.

"Alright," Sean said. "I think I'm suppose to hold you."

"You said nothing about holding me," Marita said as she remember her experience when he took her off the horse.

"That's part of kissing." Sean looked at Marita and took a step toward her. She took a step away from him. "What is it, Marita? I've held you before."

"I know, but can't we do this without you holding me first," Marita said.

Sean watched her face and could not argue with the eyes that he caused to redden with tears just a few seconds earlier. He raised his hands, "Okay, I won't hold you first, but I need you to come closer so we can do this."

Marita cautiously took a few steps toward Sean. Sean leaned toward Marita's face and gently placed his lips on hers. Marita didn't know what to do, so she decided to follow Sean. He began to open his mouth, so she did likewise. Then he put his tongue in her mouth. At first, she thought it was nasty, but then she began to like the way if felt. She let her tongue join his. They didn't realize that they were holding each other now. Marita never felt like that before. She didn't know what was happening, but she figured that they must have been doing something right. Then Marita realized why people don't do this until they are courting. She slowly backed away from Sean, ending the kiss. They stood there and didn't know what to say to each other. They never had a problem looking each other in the eye until that moment.

"Marita, I...I'm sorry. Maybe we shouldn't have tried this. Your still my friend, right?"

"Right," Marita answered without looking at him.

Sean needed to see her eyes, though. She was only best friend besides his mother, but his mother was pregnant with Lexy and was very ill. He needed to know that they were still friends. He walked over to Marita and lifted her head, so he could look her in the eyes. "Really?"

Marita smiled. He was her best friend, and she didn't want that to end no matter how she felt at this moment. "I promise on our willow tree. We'll stay best friends, you and me."

Sean laughed. They hadn't said that oath since they were under 10. It was funny to hear it when he was just a year away from going to college. They walked back to the stable and brushed down the horse. They never talked about it again, though it frequented Marita's mind, until that day in the barn when Sean told her how he felt. "And I want you to know I can never marry anyone, unless I feel about them the same way I feel about you." All the feelings that Marita tried to keep hidden from that moment as teens until that moment in the barn flooded through her. She saw his eyes as pleadingly and piercingly crystal as the day they practiced kissing, and she only knew the one response. She had to answer those eyes.

Marita looked at the carving again. This bench was a witness to when she finally clarified to Sean, after Henry Langston left, that Sean was the only one for her.

"Libby, I often wonder what you were up to when you gave us this bench." Marita was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't hear a man come up behind her.




A Long Lost Love...



The woman opened her eyes. A little girl cam into the room. "Auntie! Auntie! How are you? Blink once for fine and twice for badly."

The woman blinked once. The child was the granddaughter of the woman's oldest brother. It had been years since the woman was able to move on her own. She had little memory of her first thirty years of life. Now, over twenty years later had passed and she still had trouble remembering her name. She spoke rarely, and when she did it was hard to understand. The doctors said that she should have died years ago and they didn't understand why she was alive. All she could remember was that she had a child somewhere and the name Isaac. The two things would swim in her head, not making sense but giving her a hope to hold on. The first time she woke from her coma and the doctors realized she was paralyzed from the neck down and had a lapse of memory, she heard the doctors say that familiar people and places would help her remember who she was. For twenty years, no one in her family helped her with regaining her memory. They hardly even took her out the house. It was as if they were trying to start all over with her. They wouldn't let anyone visit her, and they avoided reading to her. Her grandniece was a joy, though. She would come and sing little songs. But there was a faded memory that echoed as a dream in Kathy's mind. There she was holding her own child. She felt honored to give birth for a man she loved. Was that Isaac? Kathy closed her eyes. She had been trying to remember for too long. She wished she knew who she was and who and where are this Isaac and this child.




Back with Marita...



"What are you thinking about?"

The voice startled Marita out of her thoughts. She turned to see her love smiling at her. She returned the grin and patted the spot next to her so he would sit. "I was thinking of this bench, your mother, our first kiss, and our second one ten years later." She looked him in the eyes and said, "I was thinking of when I first realized I loved you."

Sean hadn't been prepared for that answer. He thought that she would have been thinking about her mother. That would have made and easier introduction to the topic he had in mind, but he didn't mind what she was saying either. Sean decided to keep quiet and let her continue.

"Do you think your mother knew?" Marita said as her finger continued to trace the carving.

"About us?" Sean guessed.

"Yes, do you think she was kind of hinting to us to go for it," Marita stared at the willow.

Sean followed her gaze and stared at the tree as well. "She might have. I remember right before she died, she asked me to come into the room. She wanted to talk to me alone. She told me to always follow my heart, especially when it comes to love. She said that when I find true love I will be able to deal with the hardships that would come with it if I am listening to my heart. So maybe she had an idea when we were still kids what would happen if we remained close friends." Sean notice Marita fingering the carving so he reached over Marita's lap to hold the hand that was tracing the letters. "Who knows she might have seen our first 'practice' kiss and knew that we were doing something right."

Marita laughed and looked up at Sean. This was the first time they ever spoke about that kiss. "And do you think I still need practice," Marita teased.

Sean leaned in and whispered, "No, but I still don't know how to kiss you without holding you." He raised his hands and gently placed his lips on Marita's. With the renewed thought of their first kiss on their minds, they let go the passion they had wanted to back then. They were no longer the innocent teenagers experimenting. They were adults who knew what they wanted and that was each other. Sean brought his hands down and found Marita's back. Slowly one hand continued down to caress her thigh as his mouth searched hers. He wanted to explore every part of her, and she felt the same about him. They breathed together and moved together like they were one. Marita's fingers ran through Sean's hair and down his back. Sean began to kiss Marita's neck. They were both glad that she wore a dress with a low neckline as Sean lowered his kisses to the top of her bosom which had been pushed up by her bodice. Sean wanted to make love to Marita, but he knew that wasn't why he came to find her.

Marita's body was shaking from desire. She had wanted Sean for so long and now he wanted her just as much. But she remembered: Now is not the time or the place. "Sean, our limits," Marita breathlessly whispered.

That was the message he needed. Sean pulled back from Marita. "I'm going to take a dip in the lake," he said aloud while he was thinking, "I need it after that." He stood to remove his vest and shirt. "You know you've always been pretty good with this kissing thing. You should let other women know what you practiced on before me."

Marita laughed knowing that their practice kiss was really the first time she practiced. He was the only guy she ever kissed like that.

Sean took of his shoes and sock and reached out his hand to Marita. "Do you care to join me for a morning swim?"

"You and me, practically naked, swimming around together. Is it me or does that sound like trouble?" Marita mockingly scolded.

"Who's around to see?"

"That's the point. Since no one's around we can end up doing exactly what we shouldn't be doing. You go ahead in, I'll watch."

"Great! You always watch. No fair!" Sean whined.

"Sean, you can be such a baby!"

"But admit it, you think I'm cute," Sean said and quickly kissed her nose before running into the water.

"Always have," Marita quietly replied to herself. She moved herself and Sean's clothes closer to the lake so she could watch Sean swim. After a while, Marita noticed something in the pocket of Sean's vest. It was a picture. Marita pulled it out and recognized the woman she thought she would never remember. Why did Sean have a picture of her mother? Marita realized that she kept trying to picture her mother as a colored woman which was why she couldn't remember wheat her mother looked like.

Sean began to make his way out of the lake. Marita put the picture back and got up to go.

"Hey, where are you off to this wonderful Saturday morning?" Sean said as he tried to shake some of the excess water from his pants.

"I told Pa that I was going to see if your father needed help today," Marita gave as her excuse as she watched Sean take a seat a lean against the willow tree.

"You don't have to go in. Pa told me to let you know. As a matter of fact, I talked to both our pa's. You don't have to go anywhere," Sean said with a smile that expressed joy but something was hidden there, and Marita wanted to get at that.

She walked back and sat on the ground near Sean. "How did it go?"

"Pa did most of the talking last night..."

"And..." Marita urged.

"And they are alright with us. Actually, they're kind of happy but scared at the same time." Sean reached in his vest pocket for the picture.

Before he had it out, Marita interrupted, "Why do you have a picture of my mother?" She was determined to get answers. Tears began to form in Marita's dark eyes.

Sean wanted this to go smoothly but it looked like it was going to be harder than he thought. "My Pa gave it to me last night. He has been holding it for your pa so that your pa wouldn't get hurt."

Marita was fully crying and could barely get out, "What happened to her?"

Sean reached over and held Marita against his strong, bare, damp chest. "Shh..." As Marita fell into his chest, Sean realized how tired her body was. "Marita, how much sleep did you get last night?" Sean gently wiped the tears from Marita's cheek.

Marita kept her face close to Sean's chest. She felt safe hearing his heart beat. "I couldn't sleep last night. I kept having nightmares..." Marita began to cry again.

"What is it? What were they about, Marita?"

Sean sounded full of strength and security. Marita loved that about him. They always gave each other strength when they needed it. Marita straightened up, "I can't remember, but I woke up knowing that I needed to see you. It was still dark, so I decided to come here and try to clear my head."

As Sean realized that Marita had hardly slept in the last two days, he laid down with Marita still in his arms. "I want you to close your eyes. I'm going to tell you a story, and you're going to rest."

Marita laid her head on Sean's chest and let her fingers run through the curly hair on his chest. She listened to his voice and almost felt like they were still kids and he was trying to calm her fears.

Sean picked up the picture of Kathy and began his tale, "I promise on our willow tree. We'll stay best friends, you and me. And this story must be true, cause I'll never lie to you." Sean could feel Marita's smile on his chest. He figured she was ready to hear about her mother. Sean wove the story he heard from Pa into a beautiful tale. Marita knew what he was doing but didn't protest. She liked the way he told the story.

When Sean finished the story, Marita sleepily whispered, "Thank you, Sean."

Sean let go of the picture so Marita could hold on to it instead. "You're welcome, beautiful," Sean whispered back and kissed the top of her head. They feel asleep with the innocence and security of friendship as their only blanket.





The Truth about John Turner...




John Turner stepped off the train. There was a carriage waiting for him. He rarely returned home because of the painful memories.

"Welcome home, Mr. Tucker," the driver said as John got in the carriage. John almost didn't respond. He had been using the name Turner for more than fifteen years.

"Thank you, it's nice to be home," John lied. He had bittersweet feelings about being here, but he had business to take care of for the Winters and himself.

As the carriage pulled into the road leading to John's home, he saw the while pillars in front of the house and began to remember why he left. They had lost so much because of the war. There was so much hatred in Georgia. It was for that hatred that he nearly killed his older sister. He never saw the black man's face but as the youngest of brothers he joined with them in beating the man. He hated colored people anyway. Why did she get in the way? John replayed that moment every day of his life. It's what made him bitter. If she wouldn't have gotten in my way she would have remained a beautiful, healthy woman. Now she can hardly do anything. Maybe we should have gotten her the help she needed like the doctors said, but we made a pact that it would be better for her if she didn't remember what happened.

John knew that it was his connection with his sister, not only his greed for money, that made him apply for a job at the Winters'. As he worked with Vivian, she reminded him of Kathy. They were both intelligent woman who knew they had the brains and power to stir up trouble. Plus, her father was in the same state that Kathy had been in for two years.

John got out of the carriage and took in the view of his home. They had one of the largest plantations in Georgia until the war. John was young but he knew that after the war he had to try other business options. So he went to college shortly after the incident with Kathy. The he spent fifteen years building up a new reputation. He changed his name partially because he was heading up north for school and his family name was hated and partially because he hoped that his traveling would one day lead him to people who knew his sister and that colored man.

John had been the one that his brothers sent to get rid of the body when they finally remembered they hadn't taken care of it after taking Kathy back to the house. It had been a couple of days and since John was certain the man must have died, he tried to prepare himself for what he would find. He was surprised to not find the body where it was left. He began to wonder.

John was also there when the telegram from Libby came. That was when the family decided to come up with a story to keep away the people from her past. When John got to Kentucky and heard about the Logan's he began to get interested in them beyond a profitable gain. He found out that there was a Libby Logan but she didn't go to an all girls' school up north. John almost wrote it off until his research pulled up the little information of Isaac and Marita. All he could find out was that Isaac was in the war and no one remembered knowing Marita's mother but there was word that she was from Georgia. Normally, he wouldn't have been concerned with the colored, but he figured that their closeness to the Logans could end up being a great tool in helping the Winters and himself take over more business. Then John saw Marita. He couldn't believe that a colored woman could be so beautiful and remind him of his sister. How could she have hair so straight and tinged with red if her mother was colored. Could she be Kathy's daughter? John refused to accept a colored girl as a niece, especially since a will was found leaving all of Kathy's property and money to her daughter. And that was a lot since Kathy was her father's favorite and even on his deathbed he hoped that she would return. Little did he know that she would return two days after his death with a story about loving a Negro. John's older brother never let John see Katherine's will, but his brother told him about it. Apparently, it fell out of Katherine's pocket as they took her limp body into the house.

John was determined to get a few answers on this trip. This could be used to either dishonor the Logan family or his own. He didn't know what to do since he didn't know for sure. He figured he'd get the information then decide what to do with it.

As he walked into the house, a little girl came running down the stairs, "Uncle Johnny!"

John lifted the girl into the air. All the hardness melted as held her. "Hello, pumpkin. How's my favorite niece?"

"I thought my mommy was your favorite niece," she said as she pouted out her bottom lip.

"She is, and you're my favorite grandniece." As John said it he began to feel old. Even though his niece married young and he was the baby of the family, the idea of having a grand-anything made him feel old. He placed the girl back on the floor, "Where is your mother anyway?"

"Right here, Uncle John." A beautiful young woman with long, light reddish-brown hair came out of the kitchen. She hugged John and kissed his cheek. "How are you?"

"I'm well and how's your aunt?" John said looking up towards the stairs.

"She's the same she's always been. Some days are good, especially when Sarah sings to her." The little girl looked up and beamed with pride as she heard her mother talk about her. "Run along, dear, I need to talk with Uncle John privately."

Sarah skipped away while John wondered what his niece might say.

"Uncle John, I found this yesterday. I was filing for Pa and came across it. I figured I would rather wait and talk to you because I know Pa won't give me answers," she said as she handed him an old piece of paper. "I know that something happened a long time ago and that you, pa, Uncle Saul, and Uncle Jim decided not to talk about it. I also know that it had something to do with the reason Aunt Kathy has been like she has ever since I was a child and no one has helped her get better." Then pointing at the paper, "Can you explain this to me?"

John read the frail paper and realized it was Kathy's will.

"Uncle John, who's this Isaac? Why has he never visited Aunt Kathy? And whose Marita? Do I have a cousin I've never known?"

John hadn't expected to receive this information and have to come up with answers so soon.

I, Katherine Marie Tucker Peters, being of sound body and mind, do hereby bequeath all of my money and possessions to Marita Ann Peters, the only child of my union with my beloved Isaac Peters.

Katherine Marie Tucker Peters

It was certified by a lawyer who the Logans used many years ago.





A Little Conviction...


Clay kept the horse at a steady pace. He normally rode as fast as possible. He loved feeling the rushing wind in his face and hair. This time he rode slower because Lexy was holding on to him. Lexy could have ridden her own horse, but Clay was in a brotherly mood. He knew that Lexy would soon be too old to ride with him.

They had set out looking for Sean because of a message that came to the house. Clay hadn't looked at it, and he was going to wait, but Lexy wanted to go for a ride. How could he say no when she looked up at him with those big brown eyes? So they got on Clay's horse and headed out. No need to rush plus the beauty of the day gave Lexy the opportunity to talk to Clay about something that had been bothering her.

"Clay?"

"Yes, Lexy," Clay answered with a slight backward glance to acknowledge her.

"Why do you always care what others think?"

Clay knew Lexy could ask tough questions, but this was one that he wasn't prepared for. "I don't..."

"Yes, you do," Lexy interrupted.

Clay stopped the horse as if he really needed to concentrate to give a good answer. He turned his body the best he could to face her. "Well, Lexy, our family means a lot to us, right?"

"Right," Lexy answered wondering where he was gong with that comment.

"That's how I look at it, too. I think that our family is important and that others should think that as well. Do you understand?" Clay hoped that would end the discussion.

"No, I don't. That doesn't explain why you get so upset when the family does something that you don't think others would like."

"Hey, I stuck by Sean when he went to fight William and how about when I said that Jeremy should bring his mother here and what about the time..."

"My point exactly," Lexy crossed her arms in front of her as if she was a parent.

"What?!" Clay responded. She had totally confused him.

"If you can remember how many times you really put the love of your family over other people's opinions, then you're not doing it enough times."

Clay could not respond. His kid sister had put him in his place.

"Clay, I love you, but..." Lexy's sad eyes looked up at her brother, "I wished that you loved us as much as we love you."

Her words pierced through so much of the hardness that had formed in Clay. He hadn't realized how much his actions and attitude was hurting Lexy and the family. He put an arm around Lexy. "I do love you, but...I'll just try to show it a little more."

Clay turned back around and felt Lexy hug his middle. As they started to ride, Clay asked, "Lex, is that why you wanted to ride today?"

He felt her head nod yes on his back. Clay tried to control the urge he had to cry. He never wanted to hurt Lexy. He made a silent vow to try and support his family even if the rest of "Lexington's finest" didn't. He didn't know what he would come upon, but to an Irishman a vow is a vow, isn't it?





Found Out...




As Clay came near the lake he saw a body lying near the willow tree. Not knowing who it was, he got down from the horse and told Lexy to stay a good distance away until he knew. Clay carefully walked closer to the tree. Just as he reached it, he stepped on a branch.

"Clay," came a sleepy but startled voice. Sean was up in an instant, but it was too late, Clay had seen Sean and Marita asleep. Sean took the startled Clay away from the tree so that they wouldn't wake Marita. "She needs to sleep," Sean whispered.

"Sean, what's going on?" Clay was confused. He knew that Sean and Marita were friends, and he probably would have thought nothing of it if Sean had his shirt on. But Sean's bare chest was something that threw Clay for a loop. You just don't sleep next to a girl without having your shirt on unless...

Trying to quit Clay, Sean brought him a little further away and whispered, "She hasn't slept in two days. She keeps having nightmares," Sean figured now was not the time to tell Clay about his relationship with Marita.

Clay could sense his brother's concern for Marita and forgot about Sean's shirtlessness. He knew how close they were, and he had been a little jealous of it. He wanted Sean to confide in him as much as his brother chose to confide in a woman. Plus, there was the fact that Marita was Clay's first crush. He never told anyone because she was older than he was and he was just a kid, but it was partially because of her being older and developing before the girls his age that made a boy at the beginning of adolescence fall for his brother's best friend. It didn't last long because Clay was walking one day when he saw Sean and Marita's "practice" kiss. He didn't talk to Sean for a whole week, but Sean never knew why. Then Clay's attention shifted to other girls. He really didn't think about that crush or the kiss he saw. Clay had come to accept the fact that Sean and Marita would always be close but they could not be more because she was colored.

"Sean, do you think she'll be okay?" Clay's voice was filled with compassion, and Sean felt it.

"I think so," Sean smiled.

As Sean and Clay talked they didn't notice Lexy had snuck up to the tree. She had seen Sean and Clay walk away as if there was still a person over there. Lexy peaked around the willow to find Marita asleep. "She is so pretty," Lexy thought. Marita's hair was down and spread across part of her face and the grass around her. Lexy didn't want to disturb her, but then she saw that Marita was holding on to a picture. Lexy's curiosity wouldn't let her leave, she had to see the picture. She tiptoes closer to Marita and sat next to her. She slid the picture from Marita's hand and saw that it was the picture of Pa's friend. Lexy wondered why Marita had it.

Clay handed Sean the message. Sean opened it routinely thinking it was from Clancy. The note read: "We know your secret. Something will be done about you and your friend." Sean crumbled the paper and took a quick glance back towards the willow. He couldn't see anyone, so he figured Marita was still asleep.

"Sean, what's wrong? What did it say?" Clay asked.

Sean looked at Clay. Should I really tell him. Will he understand?

"Sean, I want to help? What is it?" Clay asked again adding more compassion, love, and concern than before.

Sean handed the message to Clay. Clay uncrumbled it and began to read. Clay's voice was soft with brotherly love, "Sean, what secret?"

Sean's mind couldn't believe what his heard and mouth let reply to Clay. He didn't think he would be talking to Clay about this. "Clay, I love Marita, not just as a friend but as a wife."

"Sean, you said that you would never..."Clay began to say. His voiced raised in volume and anger.

"I haven't compromised her. I wouldn't do that. I love her too much." Sean's eyes began to well up.

Clay didn't know whether to be angry or not. Then Lexy's words came to him again, "I wish that you loved us as much as we love you." Clay put a hand on Sean's shoulder. He had to know. "Does she love you, too? Is that why you broke up with Vivian and got drunk when Henry Langston was here? Was it because he was courting Marita and you couldn't?"

Sean's silence was all Clay needed. Neither of them knew what to say. Clay knew Marita was a wonderful person but she was colored.

"I know she's colored," Sean finally said as if reading Clay's mind. "I know everyone thinks it's wrong, but can true love be wrong?" Sean looked into Clay's eyes. "Would you care any less for someone you loved just because their skin is a few shades darker than yours?"

Clay thought about Vivian. Though he cared about her a lot, she was too prissy and phony for him to picture as anything else, especially as a person with the attitude and flair that he had known Marita to have. So Clay thought about his mother; would he have loved her any less if she were colored? It was hard for him to imagine at first. His life would have been totally different, but he would love his mom. He loved Marita as a sister even though she was colored. Why shouldn't Sean and Marita try if it was going to be a secret? "No, I wouldn't," Clay finally responded, "but what are we going to do about this?" Clay handed the message back to Sean.

"Maybe it's time Marita and I sit down with the family and try to find a solution before anyone gets hurt."

Clay knew what kind of hurt Sean was talking about and the thought of Sean or Marita dealing with that kind of hatred scared Clay. Not them, they can't help it if they fell for the "wrong" person; look at him, he fell for his brother's ex-almost-fiancée.

Marita woke up as Lexy tried to put the picture back. "Hello, there," Marita pleasantly greeted Lexy.

"I didn't mean to wake you. Sorry." Lexy got up to leave.

"It's okay, Lexy." Marita sat up and reached for the picture.

Lexy watched Marita, she could tell that the picture meant a lot to Marita. She tried not to be nosy, but she couldn't help it. "Marita, who is she? Pa said she was a friend of the family, but why do you have the picture now."

Marita looked at the innocence in Lexy's eyes. She wasn't sure how to answer. "She was a very special lady."

Lexy began to put it together: the lady's hair, the way Pa didn't want to talk about the lady, the way Marita clung to the picture and held it so gently to her chest occasionally pulling it back to look at it again. "Is she your Ma?"

Marita didn't respond for awhile. Lexy wondered what to do. Maybe she shouldn't have asked.

"Yes, Lexy. She is," Marita said as she looked from the picture to Lexy. "She died when I was young." Marita lovingly pushed a piece of Lexy's hair out of Lexy's face and placed it behind Lexy's ear in one movement that ended with Marita's hand holding Lexy's face up so Marita could really look at her.

Lexy slightly leaned her face into Marita's hand and looked up at Marita. "Just like my Ma died when I was young...Did you get to know her?" Lexy crawled closer to Marita, and Marita instinctively and motherly put her arm around Lexy and held the picture so they could both see it.

"I only remember a little, but the one thing I remember most is that she taught me how to love no matter what. That's the kind of love that she and my Pa had and the kind of love that your Ma and Pa had."

"...and the kind of love that you and Sean have," Lexy finished.

Marita pulled away from Lexy just enough to look at her. What did Lexy know about her and Sean?

Lexy had an idea what Marita was thinking in the brief moment of Marita's expression. "I can tell by the way the two of you look at each other. You really like him, don't you?"

Marita realized she hadn't said anything yet which was giving her away. She looked at the sky and back at Lexy. "Yes, I do, but it's complicated."

"Why?" Lexy's innocence was evident. "You have always been friends, plus he likes you, too. So does the family. You've always been there for all of us. You're already like a sister, and..." Lexy didn't know how this last part would sound, but she had to tell Marita. "...and you've been a mother to me." Lexy starred at the picture of Katherine which Marita had let her hold. "You're the only mother I've known."

Marita put her arms around Lexy and held her.

"Marita," Lexy's voice broke through after a few moments.

"Yes, Lexy," Marita said and kissed the top of her head.

"I like you with Sean more than Vivian anyway. He has more fun and he's happier when you're around."

They both started laughing as they wiped the tears from their eyes.

"Come on, let's find those two guys," Marita stood and took Lexy's hand.




The Beginning of Evil...


"Thank you, you may go now," William snobbishly said to the messenger. The man quickly ran off the front steps as William closed the door.

William walked to the study with a slight pep in his step. "The message has been delivered," he announced as he entered the room.

Georgina tried to contain herself, "Good. Was there any reaction?"

"The man delivered it to Clay and saw Clay ride off to find Sean," William reported.

"Did Clay open it?" a deep voice asked.

"No, at least not if front of the messenger. Besides, he had that little twirp with him. I don't think he could get a chance to open it with that brat around."

"Good. Then on to phase two," said the man as he stood and walked over to Georgina.

"Has everyone been invited to your little gathering?" Georgina faked seduction.

"Yes, all the right people at the right time and place," the man said as he leaned close to Georgina.

"Nice. Make sure there are no mistakes and you will be rewarded nicely. Sean Logan and his family will regret the day they ever crossed the Winters."


Vivian was about to step into the room when she heard her mother's last statement. She slowly backed away from the door. Her mind started rushing with thoughts as she quietly climbed the stairs to her father's room. Vivian still had feelings for Sean, she just wasn't sure what they were. Did she hate him enough for what he did to her that she would let her mother do whatever she had plan? Did she still care about him to the point that she would warn him?

Vivian looked at her father as if he wan face could give her an answer. He was just as proud, stubborn, and greedy as the rest of the family, but he did have a soft spot and Vivian knew it. She knew the only reason he hadn't died yet was because he didn't want to leave her to deal with her mother and William by herself.

As she watched her father she thought about the day he was shot. After all that her family had put the Logans through and the Logans had put her family through, they still had a care for each other. Her father like competing with Ned. "It's good for my mind," he used to tell her. But now her mother was going to far. Vivian couldn't deny she was hurt, but she couldn't deny that the Logans still wanted to help her. That Clay still wanted to help her. She might not have felt as strongly for Clay as she did for Sean, but she knew that the Logan family would always try to be there for her. Vivian got up from her father's bedside and kissed his forehead. "Thank you, daddy."

She walked down the stairs. "Mother! Mother!"

"Yes, Vivian," Georgina answered sounding disturbed and feed up. "Do not shout, dear. Don't you realize we have a guest?"

"Oh, my apologies. It is nice to see you again, Mr. Elwood," Vivian said with a small nod of her head.

"No apologies necessary, Miss Vivian, and do call me Dennis," Dennis Elwood smiled broadly.

"Yes, Dennis. Any interesting new cases?" Vivian asked as she remembered the last time her mother and Dennis Elwood were together was to frame Jeremy Bradford.

"Why, yes, a few..." Elwood looked at Georgina.

Georgina shifted her gaze to Vivian. She didn't like where this conversation was headed or the fact that she was being left out. "You wanted something, Vivian?" Georgina sent out a cold look that struck Vivian.

"I just wanted to let you know I was heading into town," Vivian tried to control the fearful shake in her voice.

"Then go, dear," Georgian said with another cold burst.

Vivian left the room. She knew she had to reach the Logans.

"That girl can be such a bother sometimes," Georgina said as she watched Vivian from the window. "Why couldn't she be more like you, William? You were always a good boy." Georgina knew that the only reason she favored William was because he never talked back. Vivian, though, had a strong will and mind much like Georgina, which was why Georgina didn't trust her.




Back By the Lake...


"So what are you two talking about?" Marita teased as she and Lexy approached Sean and Clay. "You weren't over here plotting against us?"

Lexy laughed and covered her mouth with the hand that wasn't holding Marita's. As they got closer, they watched both men try to change their expression. Both Marita and Lexy saw it. "What's wrong?" they said in unison.

"Nothing," Sean lied. "Clay, how 'bout you take Lexy on ahead. We'll be home in a little while."

Clay reached for Lexy's free hand. "Come on, Lexy."

"No, I want to know what's going on. I'm not leaving Marita." Lexy swatted Clay's hand.

"Lexy, come..." Clay started to protest.

"It's okay, Clay," Marita said. Her serene presence seemed to stop Clay before he could pull Lexy away. "Sean, I take it that it is something important."

Sean didn't know what Marita was doing, but he nodded yes.

Marita kneeled down so she was on Lexy's level. "Don't worry, Lex. Everything will be okay. Sean and I just need to talk for a little bit, okay?"

Lexy nodded yes and let go of Marita's hand.

"Hey, Lexy, can you do me a favor and hold on to this for me." Marita handed Lexy the picture face down so Clay couldn't see it. "I need you to keep it safe for me until I get home."

Lexy hugged Marita's neck, and Marita kissed her cheek. "Now run along, we'll be home in a little bit."

Lexy gave Sean a hug and took Clay's hand. They mounted the horse and left.

"Now what is it, Sean?" Marita asked with a peace still glowing on her.

Sean was in awe. "How did you...What did..." Sean was looking from Clay and Lexy in the distance to Marita before him. "You will be and are an excellent mother," Sean smiled.

"Thanks," Marita blushed, "but don't change the subject." Marita's voice was tender, "What's wrong, Sean?"

"I received this note," Sean handed the note to Marita. As she read, he continued, "I think it's time we talked to the family."