Part 4: LOOK WHO'S COMING TO 'VISIT'
1998
Crealite Conference Room
Sean sat at the conference table, remembering their meeting that evening at the Café. He had expounded on his deep feelings for her and expressed that he would like for them to keep in touch while he was away in school, until she could join him when she came to Harvard as they had discussed. He remembered how reluctant she had been in acknowledging her feelings for him, but she finally did and he was overjoyed, now knowing that their feelings were mutual. They agreed to keep in touch and see where it would lead them.
During the summer, Elana was always busy with applying to colleges including Spellman, Morgan, Harvard and Yale and taking tests to skip many of her 11th grade requirements. He remembered always meeting her at the library, bringing her candy or a single flower to help keep her spirits up amidst the drudgery of her work. Afterwards they would go to a movie or to a diner to get something to eat. As those few summer months went by, he became more and more dependent on seeing her everyday and eventually she expected his company while she worked. Most people shrugged them off as school kids studying together, but some of their classmates who saw them there all the time as well as at the movies and the diner, made degrading remarks that they both ignored.
August came and went and before they knew it, the time had come for Sean to go off to Harvard. He reminisced about what happened the morning before he boarded the plane for Cambridge. They had agreed to rendezvous at the park near the lake...
1984
The Park in Greenwich, CT
Sean waited pacing along the grassy shoreline of the lake. She was late and he only had a few hours before his flight left for Cambridge, Massachusetts. 'Maybe she couldn't come.' He thought and his heart began to sink. How was he going to go so far away from her without seeing her before he left? He hankered over what he could do and decided to go to her house. He knew that Elana had not told her parents about him, just as he had kept their relationship from his own parents, but he could not leave without seeing her.
15 minutes later, Sean pulled up in front of Elana's two-story Scandinavian style home. He got out of the car and stood frozen, not knowing what he would say...
"What's wrong with you son? Look like you seen a ghost. You looking for somebody?"
Sean, startled out of his anxiety, looked over and saw an older black man, holding a weed whacker in his hand and wearing a pair of old gray overalls and dirty work boots.
"Um, Yeah. --- I ---I came to see Elana Powers. Is she home?"
"Yeah, I guess she is, her car still here. I know Mr. Powers in there. Why don'tcha go knock and see."
With that Sean slowly walked to the door and rang the bell. After a few seconds a woman answered the door. "Yes, may I help you?" She was a small woman, with graying hair and wearing a pair of light blue polyester slacks and multi-colored flowered blouse that had a big collar. She wore plastic gloves on her hands and was holding a bucket. Sean had never seen Elana's mother, but he knew this woman was not her.
"Yes, ma'am. I would like to see Elana."
"Oooh, you must be Sean Logan, I gather."
"Yes, I am --- How..." The woman interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.
"You definitely one of the better lookin' ones to come around," She said eyeing him up and down, "...but I will tell you that this is not a good time. Mr. Powers musta just found out about you and he ain't too happy with his daughter right now, so you might want to make haste and get yo'self outta here." She said sternly.
"Um, thank you for the advice, ma'am, but I'd like to talk to them anyway."
"Suit yourself, but it ain't gonna be pretty. Come on in. I'll go get Mr. Powers."
Sean walked into the house and stood in the foyer watching the woman walking down the hallway and then disappearing into a doorway. He looked all around him, taking in the massive foyer and ceiling, which ascended at least 15 feet high with a beautiful glass chandelier center positioned. The walls were painted a cream color with cherry wood paneling and the floor was a jaded marble. What caught his eye were the many pieces of intricately designed African sculptures and paintings. The paintings only revealed the outline of figures with no faces, involved in everyday aspects of village life in Africa. Some of the paintings seemed to have a rough surface, so he walked closer to one of them, which depicted three black women, unclothed, and taking care of their daily tasks, where one was carrying water, another washing clothes and the other carrying a baby tied to her back. He took his finger and traced the figures, realizing that it was made of actual sand...
"I see you have an appreciation for African women, Mr. Logan." Came a baritone voice from behind Sean.
He was so startled that he jerked his hand away from the painting and a flush of red came over his face realizing what the man had said. Sean ran his hand over his brown curly hair that was in need of cutting in the back. As he looked at George Powers, he recognized his face from the real estate and entrepreneurial magazines he'd read. Mr. Powers sported a pristine white shirt with French cuffs and diamond-studded cufflinks, expertly tailored twill slacks and imported loafers. On his hand he wore a diamond-studded wedding band and a gold watch on his wrist.
"Yes I do, and this painting is very beautiful. What did the artist use to make it, the surface feels rough? Sean asked, trying to establish the mood for their pending discussion."
George Powers walked slowly toward Sean with his hands behind his back. Sean gathered that he must be at least 6'5" feet tall and 200 lbs. He had a muscular build and a full head of gray hair.
"It's made of sand from the villages of South Africa. Most of the people have artistic talents, but no money to buy paint, so they gather the different colors of sand from the ground and make paintings to sell in the markets to American tourists to met out a living and feed their families. I order them by the box and give them out as gifts to my business and personal associates. If you like this one, let Phyllis, the housekeeper, know and you can have it."
"That's really nice of you, Mr. Powers, but I can't take the painting..."
"Now I thought you said that it was very beautiful. Surely anything a man thinks is beautiful he either wants it for his own or he wants to take advantage of that beauty for his own purposes. Which one is it with you Sean Logan?" Mr. Powers folded his hands in front of his chest and stared at Sean.
Sean knew that the man was trying to intimidate him and had made a subtle reference regarding his intentions toward his daughter.
"I would like to have the painting Mr. Powers, but I won't have a proper place to display it as you do here. I'm planning to go to college today and I wouldn't want to neglect it by placing it in a storage space, but when I return I would be very happy to take it. Then I could take my time and select the best setting for it so that everyone could admire it." Sean felt a sense of relief when Mr. Powers lowered his arms and placed one hand in his pocket.
"You said that well son. Now, as to the reason for your visit, I presume you came to see what happened to my daughter." Mr. Powers looks directly at Sean and waited for his reaction, but Sean said nothing only returning the stare. "She is here because I forbade her from meeting with you. We can go into my office to discuss it." Mr. Powers, motioned with his free hand for Sean's to walk toward his office.
The two men walked into the elaborately decorated office.
"Take a seat Mr. Logan" Sean sat down in the plush leather chair while Elana's father sat on the edge of his desk.
Without flinching, Mr. Powers asked, "What is it that you want with my 16 year old daughter?"
Sean swallowed heavily and knew that he had to maintain his composure, not showing any signs of weakness. He also knew that he had to be completely honest because he could feel that this man's clear, light brown eyes would see straight through any lies he might try to concoct.
"I'm in love with your daughter, Mr. Powers and the only thing I wanted was to see her at the park and share my last moments with her before I board my flight to go to Cambridge.
"You love her eh?" He chuckled. "I hope that love has been at a respectable distance, son. I know that my daughter is a very attractive girl, like her mother, and a lot of young fellows have been trying to get close to her since she turned 15, claiming that they're hopelessly in love with her, but I have never seen you around here. She's talked about you for years, but you were always the only one who never came by. Why is that?
"Mainly because, my father and grandfather wouldn't like it if they knew that I wanted to date someone black or any race other than my own, so we have limited our time together to school, and places where we meet to study or get a quick dessert or something. Today, I just couldn't leave until I had some time with her. I meant no disrespect toward you, sir."
"I can see that you didn't son, but I have to tell you that I don't want my daughter to deal with anyone who is not going to benefit her. She's a smart girl with a big future ahead of her, and I don't want to see her head messed up by some boy, who thinks he's in love with her, and whose family thinks she's beneath them. Can you see that as a formula for sadness and disappointment?"
"Yes, but I don't intend to disappoint her, Mr. Powers, because then I would disappoint myself as well. When I'm older, my family will have to accept us, but now since I am still under my father's care I am trying to respect his way of thinking and not cause any friction, but once Elana and I graduate from Harvard, I have every intention of marrying her regardless of what anybody thinks." Sean sat still amazed at what he had just admitted to himself and wondering how Mr. Powers would react to his statement.
"I see. You're an outspoken boy Sean, but I don't think you'll be giving up running Crealite, Inc. for my daughter any time soon. I was not aware that you are going to Harvard. I hope you do well there, but I am going to tell you right now that in the best interest of Elana, I am going to do everything I can to keep you away from her. I want her to accomplish all that I have and then some and like I said she doesn't need some bigheaded rich boy, who thinks he can have what ever he wants, messing that up for her, especially someone white. I will allow you to see her before you leave, but consider it your last time. She should be out by on the patio, because whenever she's upset she either eats lollypops or takes a few laps around the pool. Just go out this door turn left and follow the corridor to the patio doors and you should see her there. When you leave Sean, I don't want to see you at my door again. Do we understand each other, son."
"Yes, sir I understand you perfectly." Sean flashed a hint of sarcasm with his answer, knowing that Mr. George Powers did not even want to understand what he felt for his daughter.
Sean slowly got up from the chair thanked Mr. Powers for his time and made his way to the pool, where he saw Elana pacing the outer perimeter of the pool heading for the platform. Once she reached it she stopped and looked out into the gardens that lay beyond the fencing. She hugged her arms around her body and just stood in silence. Sean slowly opened the doors to the patio and putting his hands in his front jeans pockets he walked over to her without making a sound. As he approached her he admired seeing her wet, where her hair was slicked back off of her forehead and hung in soft brown waves at a point at the nape of her neck. He furthered his notice of her perfectly formed body in the electric blue bathing suit that she wore. He never realized how beautiful her legs were and traced them with his eyes up to her full rounded derrière and tiny waist. Suddenly, he saw her put her face in her hands and begin to sob.
Moving in closer to her, he spoke softly, "You'd better stop that or you're gonna have me crying too."
She looked up and a smile formed on her face, but then it disappeared. By this time Sean was no more than half a foot away from her and he could feel her warm breath on his face and was sure that his heart would jump out of his chest as he watched the tears falling down her cheeks. He took her in his arms and held her head to his shoulder as she began to cry again.
"Oh, Sean daddy said that I can't see you anymore and that he doesn't want to hear me mention your name again in this house. He said that I should forget about you because you just want to use me and I have no business trying to be with ..." Her words trailed off as her crying became more feverish.
"Shhh, I know, ---I know, lollypop. " He took her cheeks in his hands and guided her face up to look at him. "Don't you believe him. Don't ever believe anybody who says anything negative about how I feel for you. We both know the truth and that has to sustain us for now."
Elana shook her head in agreement and rested on his shoulder. They stood, embraced for several minutes, then Sean nestled his index finger under her chin and lifted her head to face him. He slowly lowered his head and kissed her lips for what seemed like forever. Then he broke away, holding her hand in his own. "I love you Elana and we will be together, next year when you come to Harvard." They looked at each other for a few moments, then he turned and departed the same way he had come leaving her standing where he had found her and all Elana could do was to watch him leave. Sean vowed that once he had some control over his own circumstances, no one would separate them from each other again.
1998
Crealite Conference Room
Sean sat at the conference table, remembering their meeting that evening at the Café. He had expounded on his deep feelings for her and expressed that he would like for them to keep in touch while he was away in school, until she could join him when she came to Harvard as they had discussed. He remembered how reluctant she had been in acknowledging her feelings for him, but she finally did and he was overjoyed, now knowing that their feelings were mutual. They agreed to keep in touch and see where it would lead them.
During the summer, Elana was always busy with applying to colleges including Spellman, Morgan, Harvard and Yale and taking tests to skip many of her 11th grade requirements. He remembered always meeting her at the library, bringing her candy or a single flower to help keep her spirits up amidst the drudgery of her work. Afterwards they would go to a movie or to a diner to get something to eat. As those few summer months went by, he became more and more dependent on seeing her everyday and eventually she expected his company while she worked. Most people shrugged them off as school kids studying together, but some of their classmates who saw them there all the time as well as at the movies and the diner, made degrading remarks that they both ignored.
August came and went and before they knew it, the time had come for Sean to go off to Harvard. He reminisced about what happened the morning before he boarded the plane for Cambridge. They had agreed to rendezvous at the park near the lake...
1984
The Park in Greenwich, CT
Sean waited pacing along the grassy shoreline of the lake. She was late and he only had a few hours before his flight left for Cambridge, Massachusetts. 'Maybe she couldn't come.' He thought and his heart began to sink. How was he going to go so far away from her without seeing her before he left? He hankered over what he could do and decided to go to her house. He knew that Elana had not told her parents about him, just as he had kept their relationship from his own parents, but he could not leave without seeing her.
15 minutes later, Sean pulled up in front of Elana's two-story Scandinavian style home. He got out of the car and stood frozen, not knowing what he would say...
"What's wrong with you son? Look like you seen a ghost. You looking for somebody?"
Sean, startled out of his anxiety, looked over and saw an older black man, holding a weed whacker in his hand and wearing a pair of old gray overalls and dirty work boots.
"Um, Yeah. --- I ---I came to see Elana Powers. Is she home?"
"Yeah, I guess she is, her car still here. I know Mr. Powers in there. Why don'tcha go knock and see."
With that Sean slowly walked to the door and rang the bell. After a few seconds a woman answered the door. "Yes, may I help you?" She was a small woman, with graying hair and wearing a pair of light blue polyester slacks and multi-colored flowered blouse that had a big collar. She wore plastic gloves on her hands and was holding a bucket. Sean had never seen Elana's mother, but he knew this woman was not her.
"Yes, ma'am. I would like to see Elana."
"Oooh, you must be Sean Logan, I gather."
"Yes, I am --- How..." The woman interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.
"You definitely one of the better lookin' ones to come around," She said eyeing him up and down, "...but I will tell you that this is not a good time. Mr. Powers musta just found out about you and he ain't too happy with his daughter right now, so you might want to make haste and get yo'self outta here." She said sternly.
"Um, thank you for the advice, ma'am, but I'd like to talk to them anyway."
"Suit yourself, but it ain't gonna be pretty. Come on in. I'll go get Mr. Powers."
Sean walked into the house and stood in the foyer watching the woman walking down the hallway and then disappearing into a doorway. He looked all around him, taking in the massive foyer and ceiling, which ascended at least 15 feet high with a beautiful glass chandelier center positioned. The walls were painted a cream color with cherry wood paneling and the floor was a jaded marble. What caught his eye were the many pieces of intricately designed African sculptures and paintings. The paintings only revealed the outline of figures with no faces, involved in everyday aspects of village life in Africa. Some of the paintings seemed to have a rough surface, so he walked closer to one of them, which depicted three black women, unclothed, and taking care of their daily tasks, where one was carrying water, another washing clothes and the other carrying a baby tied to her back. He took his finger and traced the figures, realizing that it was made of actual sand...
"I see you have an appreciation for African women, Mr. Logan." Came a baritone voice from behind Sean.
He was so startled that he jerked his hand away from the painting and a flush of red came over his face realizing what the man had said. Sean ran his hand over his brown curly hair that was in need of cutting in the back. As he looked at George Powers, he recognized his face from the real estate and entrepreneurial magazines he'd read. Mr. Powers sported a pristine white shirt with French cuffs and diamond-studded cufflinks, expertly tailored twill slacks and imported loafers. On his hand he wore a diamond-studded wedding band and a gold watch on his wrist.
"Yes I do, and this painting is very beautiful. What did the artist use to make it, the surface feels rough? Sean asked, trying to establish the mood for their pending discussion."
George Powers walked slowly toward Sean with his hands behind his back. Sean gathered that he must be at least 6'5" feet tall and 200 lbs. He had a muscular build and a full head of gray hair.
"It's made of sand from the villages of South Africa. Most of the people have artistic talents, but no money to buy paint, so they gather the different colors of sand from the ground and make paintings to sell in the markets to American tourists to met out a living and feed their families. I order them by the box and give them out as gifts to my business and personal associates. If you like this one, let Phyllis, the housekeeper, know and you can have it."
"That's really nice of you, Mr. Powers, but I can't take the painting..."
"Now I thought you said that it was very beautiful. Surely anything a man thinks is beautiful he either wants it for his own or he wants to take advantage of that beauty for his own purposes. Which one is it with you Sean Logan?" Mr. Powers folded his hands in front of his chest and stared at Sean.
Sean knew that the man was trying to intimidate him and had made a subtle reference regarding his intentions toward his daughter.
"I would like to have the painting Mr. Powers, but I won't have a proper place to display it as you do here. I'm planning to go to college today and I wouldn't want to neglect it by placing it in a storage space, but when I return I would be very happy to take it. Then I could take my time and select the best setting for it so that everyone could admire it." Sean felt a sense of relief when Mr. Powers lowered his arms and placed one hand in his pocket.
"You said that well son. Now, as to the reason for your visit, I presume you came to see what happened to my daughter." Mr. Powers looks directly at Sean and waited for his reaction, but Sean said nothing only returning the stare. "She is here because I forbade her from meeting with you. We can go into my office to discuss it." Mr. Powers, motioned with his free hand for Sean's to walk toward his office.
The two men walked into the elaborately decorated office.
"Take a seat Mr. Logan" Sean sat down in the plush leather chair while Elana's father sat on the edge of his desk.
Without flinching, Mr. Powers asked, "What is it that you want with my 16 year old daughter?"
Sean swallowed heavily and knew that he had to maintain his composure, not showing any signs of weakness. He also knew that he had to be completely honest because he could feel that this man's clear, light brown eyes would see straight through any lies he might try to concoct.
"I'm in love with your daughter, Mr. Powers and the only thing I wanted was to see her at the park and share my last moments with her before I board my flight to go to Cambridge.
"You love her eh?" He chuckled. "I hope that love has been at a respectable distance, son. I know that my daughter is a very attractive girl, like her mother, and a lot of young fellows have been trying to get close to her since she turned 15, claiming that they're hopelessly in love with her, but I have never seen you around here. She's talked about you for years, but you were always the only one who never came by. Why is that?
"Mainly because, my father and grandfather wouldn't like it if they knew that I wanted to date someone black or any race other than my own, so we have limited our time together to school, and places where we meet to study or get a quick dessert or something. Today, I just couldn't leave until I had some time with her. I meant no disrespect toward you, sir."
"I can see that you didn't son, but I have to tell you that I don't want my daughter to deal with anyone who is not going to benefit her. She's a smart girl with a big future ahead of her, and I don't want to see her head messed up by some boy, who thinks he's in love with her, and whose family thinks she's beneath them. Can you see that as a formula for sadness and disappointment?"
"Yes, but I don't intend to disappoint her, Mr. Powers, because then I would disappoint myself as well. When I'm older, my family will have to accept us, but now since I am still under my father's care I am trying to respect his way of thinking and not cause any friction, but once Elana and I graduate from Harvard, I have every intention of marrying her regardless of what anybody thinks." Sean sat still amazed at what he had just admitted to himself and wondering how Mr. Powers would react to his statement.
"I see. You're an outspoken boy Sean, but I don't think you'll be giving up running Crealite, Inc. for my daughter any time soon. I was not aware that you are going to Harvard. I hope you do well there, but I am going to tell you right now that in the best interest of Elana, I am going to do everything I can to keep you away from her. I want her to accomplish all that I have and then some and like I said she doesn't need some bigheaded rich boy, who thinks he can have what ever he wants, messing that up for her, especially someone white. I will allow you to see her before you leave, but consider it your last time. She should be out by on the patio, because whenever she's upset she either eats lollypops or takes a few laps around the pool. Just go out this door turn left and follow the corridor to the patio doors and you should see her there. When you leave Sean, I don't want to see you at my door again. Do we understand each other, son."
"Yes, sir I understand you perfectly." Sean flashed a hint of sarcasm with his answer, knowing that Mr. George Powers did not even want to understand what he felt for his daughter.
Sean slowly got up from the chair thanked Mr. Powers for his time and made his way to the pool, where he saw Elana pacing the outer perimeter of the pool heading for the platform. Once she reached it she stopped and looked out into the gardens that lay beyond the fencing. She hugged her arms around her body and just stood in silence. Sean slowly opened the doors to the patio and putting his hands in his front jeans pockets he walked over to her without making a sound. As he approached her he admired seeing her wet, where her hair was slicked back off of her forehead and hung in soft brown waves at a point at the nape of her neck. He furthered his notice of her perfectly formed body in the electric blue bathing suit that she wore. He never realized how beautiful her legs were and traced them with his eyes up to her full rounded derrière and tiny waist. Suddenly, he saw her put her face in her hands and begin to sob.
Moving in closer to her, he spoke softly, "You'd better stop that or you're gonna have me crying too."
She looked up and a smile formed on her face, but then it disappeared. By this time Sean was no more than half a foot away from her and he could feel her warm breath on his face and was sure that his heart would jump out of his chest as he watched the tears falling down her cheeks. He took her in his arms and held her head to his shoulder as she began to cry again.
"Oh, Sean daddy said that I can't see you anymore and that he doesn't want to hear me mention your name again in this house. He said that I should forget about you because you just want to use me and I have no business trying to be with ..." Her words trailed off as her crying became more feverish.
"Shhh, I know, ---I know, lollypop. " He took her cheeks in his hands and guided her face up to look at him. "Don't you believe him. Don't ever believe anybody who says anything negative about how I feel for you. We both know the truth and that has to sustain us for now."
Elana shook her head in agreement and rested on his shoulder. They stood, embraced for several minutes, then Sean nestled his index finger under her chin and lifted her head to face him. He slowly lowered his head and kissed her lips for what seemed like forever. Then he broke away, holding her hand in his own. "I love you Elana and we will be together, next year when you come to Harvard." They looked at each other for a few moments, then he turned and departed the same way he had come leaving her standing where he had found her and all Elana could do was to watch him leave. Sean vowed that once he had some control over his own circumstances, no one would separate them from each other again.