Thanks for reading and responding! On with the story…

DISCLAIMER: There are words in this chapter that have been used (particularly in the past) to express extreme racist views and therefore may be offensive to some readers. Please be advised that these words are only being used to depict the viciousness of the characters using them in this story.

Chapter Thirty-two

Vivian's anxiousness grew as her carriage moved towards downtown Lexington. She was supposed to be on her way to New York, where she was due to board a ship to Europe, but she'd changed her mind. Well really she'd finally gotten the nerve to go against her father's wishes and do what she wanted. She never agreed with his decision to send her away, and after seeing Sean, her displeasure with that decision plagued her more, caused her to re-evaluate her feelings for her former fiancé. Thus Sean was the main reason why she was back in Lexington, why she'd departed the train in Grayson and returned. Wilhelmina had been stunned when Vivian had walked into the parlor and announced that she was home. And had went on to scold her the entire time she was dressing for the Assemblyman's Dinner, telling her how crazy it was for her to be doing what she was doing, because there was nothing she could do to renew her relationship with Sean. The woman had then reminded her of all that had happened over the past few months, the fiasco at the engagement party, Vivian believing that Sean never loved her, him not attempting to stop her trip to Europe, and the situation with Pete. Wilhelmina had vehemently asked her what she was thinking, and how was she going to explain her change of plans to her father. Vivian had countered with an answer the woman was not pleased to hear, which was that she cared about Pete, but loved Sean, and that she owed it to herself that she owed it to herself to learn if there was any chance for them to reunite. She couldn't go to Europe with that question in her mind, she'd told the woman, and added that as far as her father went, she would think of something before she arrive at the Dinner. Wilhelmina had been baffled to say the least, not understanding her decision to return, and disagreed with her assessment of the situation. But Vivian didn't have time to continue quarrelling with the woman; she had to get to the Dinner. So she'd finished getting ready and immediately headed for town. Now here she was embarking upon one the most venturesome acts of her life. She didn't know what was going to happen when she finally opened her heart to Sean, something she'd never really done, but she felt that before the evening was over, she and Sean would be moving towards reconciliation.

Pete finally made it to the podium after what seemed like a lengthy journey across the stage. As he positioned himself behind the wooden platform and firmly gripped it's sides, his eyes again swept across the room, taking in the ovation, while his mind callously reviewed what he planned to say. Then gradually the applause ceased, the room becoming quiet, waiting for him to start his speech…

"Thank you…" Pete heard himself say, his voice sounding strange, due to the liquor he'd previously drank. "Thank you for the warm welcome." He repeated. "If I didn't know any better I would've thought that I was one of the ones being recognized this evening." He continued, inciting laughter throughout the room. "But unfortunately that's not why I'm here." He said lightly, causing more laughter due to his words and his obviously tipsy state. "Assemblyman Clancy was originally scheduled to present Sean Logan with this award, but he was kind enough to allow me to present my leader and friend with this honor…" He stated sincerely. "Ever since day one, I knew that Sean Logan was the right man for the job as Deputy Director of Regional Affairs…and I was proud to be apart of the legacy he would eventually built, a legacy that began with his work on the Lexington Hospital Project; never in my life have I seen anyone be so committed to a cause, passionate about helping the citizens of Lexington. Mr. Logan fought industrialist who worked to out bid his offer for property needed for the hospital site. And he initiated a fundraising campaign that generated additional monies needed to complete the funding for the erection of the building, but most importantly…" Pete paused, his eyes going to Sean who was waiting patiently for him to continue; then turning to Asa who still bared a menacing stare. "But most importantly…" Pete repeated. "…Sean Logan fought for the less fortunate of this town, proclaiming his objective was to ensure that everyone, including Negroes, received the best healthcare Lexington had to offer, when in reality Sean Logan's true objective was bedding his father's Negro secretary, using her for the immoral deeds that he couldn't achieve with a virtuous woman of his own breeding." He declared abruptly, harshly, causing the audience to gasp and rumble with shock. "Sean Logan's work on the Lexington Hospital project, his work in helping minorities…" he continued fiercely, but cowardly refused to look at Sean's table or Assemblyman Clancy. "Was nothing more than an attempt to garner equality for Negroes so that we, white society, would accept the fact that he dumped his beautiful white fiancée for a coon draped in society's best. Sean Logan is a trader to Lexington a trader to his people and therefore does not des…" Pete's speech, his plans to further dishonor Sean was suddenly disrupted by someone pushing him aside and another person quickly taking his place behind the podium, immediately attempting to do damage control with the astounded audience who were now thunderous with chatter and troubled expressions. Across the room Asa savored Pete's success, openly displaying an avenging smile as he listen to the appalled reactions around him and watched the Logans mortification at the humiliation now being bestowed upon them.

"What…" Lexy uttered faintly; then stopped when she could find no other words to say. She then looked towards Sean, then her father, and saw that they were just as aghast as she, and the rest of the family. For all of their eyes were glued to the spectacle on the stage, their faces etched with astonishment and ire as they watched the event organizers try to settle the crowd. This is a mess, Jeremy thought as he witnessed the horrible scene before him with shock, the worst way for Sean's relationship with Marita to be exposed. But despite Pete's appalling behavior, it may just be the distraction he needed to slip out of the room the boy thought guiltily, as he briefly eyed the others at the table, who though stunned beyond words by all that was happening, were wondering why Pete had done this, and if there was some truth to the man's assertions. Clay had immediately dismissed such thoughts, angrily concluding that Pete had done this to secure himself Sean's job, while a mortified Alice disquietly considered the possibility that there was truth to Pete's accusations, simply because of the closeness she'd witnessed between her brother and Marita. But there was no wonder within Ned; for he knew that there was a smidgen of truth to Pete's startling tirade; however that did nothing to ease Ned's disbelief, and anger over the man's racist comments, and the calamitous lies he'd attached to Sean and his relationship with Marita. Ned worriedly turned his gaze to his oldest son, whose eyes bared a frightening throng of emotions. Sean continued to stare towards the stage, unmoved by the critical looks and negative speculation around him. He couldn't believe that Pete would do this, that he would make such accusations. Why? He questioned with fury and confusion, why would Pete do this? And how could he make such deplorable comments about Marita? How did he even know that they were involved? Sean struggled to deduce as a surge of hurt and rage rushed through him…

"Sean…" Ned began cautiously, wanting to say something to calm his son's wrath, to give him some kind of comfort; but he was interrupted by the gaveling coming from the stage, which drew his attention back to the front of the room, and compelled the Hall to suddenly become silent. The man now at the podium then began to speak, apologizing for the "disruption" caused by an "inebriated" Pete, but before the man could finish his address, telling the audience that the program would continue, Sean abruptly rose from his seat, managing to only distract the people closest around them, and moved to leave the table.

"Sean where are…" Ned asserted, but ceased when he saw Pete being escorted out of the room. He then immediately understood what Sean was about to do and knew that he had to stop him. Not wanting to draw more attention than what was already on him and the family, Ned chose not to call out to Sean, but instead followed his son's lead in leaving the table.

"Pa…" Clay began as he also moved to ascend the table.

"Wait here." Ned directed firmly, stopping Clay's emergence. "I'll be right back." He added quietly; then quickly made his exit, causing the people around them to stare and whisper in alarm.

"I'm going after them." Clay said defiantly as his father walked away.

"Clay you can't!" Alice stressed tautly. "Pa told you to wait here."

"That's right!" Lexy interjected nervously, now worried about Sean and her Pa following Pete.

"I'm not going to sit here and do nothing." Clay countered hotly "I'm going to find out what's going on." The boy said; then departed the table to go after his father and Sean.

Ned steadily walked down the east corridor, which was one of three hallways flanking the main event/dining hall. Where had Sean gone to so quickly he mused with distress. He'd been right behind him before he'd exited the dining hall; a decision Ned now questioned as he continued down the hallway, wondering if he should've followed Sean. The fierce looks he'd encountered when leaving the Dinner had not gone unnoticed by him, and he was certain that he'd heard a few derogatory comments as he passed some of the tables; maybe he shouldn't have left the kids in there alone he thought with concern. Even though he felt that he needed to protect Sean, to somehow try and stay his fury, the others would need him more if things turned ugly again, and people started to act on the accusations that had been made…

"Pa!" Ned suddenly heard from behind him, impeding his thoughts. The man then turned around and was livid to see that it was Clay.

"What are you doing out here!" Ned peevishly asked, as he now walked towards his son. "I told you to stay put."

"Pa I want to know what's going on!" Clay argued heatedly. "I want to know why Pete is spreading these lies about Sean!"

"It's not your job to learn why Pete is doing what he's doing!" Ned countered strictly. "Your job was to remain with Jeremy and your sisters until I returned. I, will handle the situation with Sean!"

"But Pa…"

"I don't have time to argue with you." Ned retorted "Now get back to the dining hall and wait, no better yet go back to the dining hall get Jeremy and your sisters and leave, take them home." He said, suddenly changing his mind, knowing that any chance that the evening could be salvaged was now gone.

"What!" Clay exclaimed.

"Just do as I say!" Ned nearly yelled, causing others in the corridor to look at them suspiciously.

"All right." Clay instantly conceded, knowing that it would be unwise for him to challenge his father any further.

"Sean and I will be home shortly." Ned added, now a little more calm. He knew that it might seem extreme for him to send the others home, but he just didn't know what could happen. The night had been so unpredictably bad. It was just better to be safe than sorry. "Now go." He ordered. Clay hesitated before turning away, wanting to ask his father why he was sending them home, but ultimately remained quiet, silently heading back to the dining hall to obey his father's command.

Jeremy was restless in his chair, knowing that he had to make a move before the Logan men came back. It was utterly inconceivable how the night had gone. With the whole mess with Pete leading to him being left alone with Alice and Lexy. It had in turn created a golden opportunity for him to go. He could slip out of there, get Danielle, and never look back, but Jeremy hesitated, hating to leave like this. Hating to leave Alice and Lexy, with Sean, Ned and Clay off doing God only knew what to Pete, but he had to go, being with his daughter was the most important thing now. Jeremy waited a moment longer, debating what he had to do; then suddenly he pushed his chair back from the table and moved to go.

"Where are you going?" Lexy asked shakily, not wanting Jeremy to join the fray with Pete.

"I'm going to …I'm going to the lavatory." He lied. "I'll be back in a minute."

"You can't leave us alone with Pa, Sean and Clay gone." Alice whispered tightly, not wanting the people around them to hear. "The committee will be re-presenting Sean's award any minute now. And someone has to go up there and accept it if he's not back. Lexy and I can't do it because it would be improper."

"Well it would be improper for me to accept it too." Jeremy countered "Considering I'm not family."

"Jeremy you're family." Lexy stated "You're our adopted brother."

"That's right." Alice sincerely concurred

"Oh so now I'm apart of the family if I can spare you any more embarrassment." Jeremy snapped, his eyes on Alice.

Alice refused to answer his claim, but sighed irritably and turned her head away.

"I can't sit here forever." Jeremy then declared "I have to go…"

"We know." Lexy interjected "Just come back soon - please." She requested pitifully.

Jeremy couldn't bring another lie to leave his lips. Hence he awkwardly smiled at the girl, feeling guilty and sad that he'd never see her again. Then he calmly left the table and made his way towards one of the exits of the room, being sure not to use the same door Clay had used when he'd left the hall just minutes before.

Sean strided into the main lobby of Versailles Hall, knowing that this was where he'd seen him go when the man turned off of the east corridor. Then just ahead, he spotted who he was looking for. Pete, headed for the door, with an attendant by his side; there no doubt to ensure that the man left the building quietly and without a scene. Sean's blood boiled with rage, almost consuming him, causing him to nearly loose control. He then quickened his pace, charging towards Pete and the attendant, determined to stop the man before he exited the building. Within seconds Sean was upon them, scaring the attendant as well as Pete, when he all but knocked the attendant out of the way and grabbed Pete's arm, snatching the man around to face him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sean asserted wrathfully.

"What are you doing?" The attendant queried shakily, attempting to stop Sean's assault, but quickly retreated when Sean ordered him to back off.

"What do you want from me?" Pete muddled as he tried in vain to pull his arm from Sean's grip.

"What do I want from you!" Sean yelled fiercely. "Are you so drunk that you've forgotten the lies you just spewed in that Hall?" he asked lividly as he pulled Pete closer tightening his hold on his arm, wanting to beat the hell out him but somehow keeping his violent impulses in check. "How could you humiliate my family" he continued. "And call Marita out of her name, ruin her reputation. Why? Why would you…"

"You mean you don't know!" a voice nastily interjected, causing Sean to turn his eyes from Pete and towards the man whose voice he knew well. "You're finally getting what's been due you for months. Finally paying for all you've done." Asa continued vengefully triumphantly. The man had planned to lay low, to watch the destruction of Sean without him ever knowing of his involvement, but he couldn't do it.

"You're behind this!" Sean uttered heatedly, astonished as he briefly turned back to Pete, the man's arm still firmly within his grasp. "You're doing this for him!" he asked. "I thought you were my friend…someone I could trust…" Sean stated brutally, his tone dashed with sadness as Pete failed to respond with words, but cowardly lowered his gaze in embarrassment and fear.

"And everyone in this town thought that they could trust you." Asa exclaimed ferociously. "They all thought that you were an upstanding citizen. That you had the potential to be a future Assemblyman. My daughter had even planned to marry you, until you broke her heart for that Negro you claim to love..." he continued abhorrently.

"So this is about Vivian?" Sean asserted furiously, as he finally let go of Pete, turning his attention fully on Asa, not knowing why he'd even asked that question. He knew that as soon as he learned that Asa had put Pete up to this that it all went back to the man's daughter. "You got Pete to spout such filthy lies about me because I didn't marry your daughter!" Sean shouted in disgust.

"You're damn right I did!" Asa roared "And they aren't 'filthy lies.' " He argued maliciously. "It's all right here in your own words." The man boasted cruelly, proudly as he pulled out the letter Pete had given him weeks ago.

"Where did you get that?" Sean asked incensedly, his voice etched with shock at seeing the letter that he'd written Marita months ago, now being in Asa's hands.

"It doesn't matter where I got it. I have it, and now finally I can show the world what you really are, a Negro loving liar who humiliated my Vivian, shamed the Winters name for your Negro whore whos …."

Before Asa could finish his angry tirade Sean's restraint crumbled and he instantly connected with the man's lip and lower jaw, punching Asa so hard that the man stumbled back , nearly falling, causing the letter to drop to the floor.

"Sean!" Ned called out in shock as he rushed upon the scene, which now had a small group of spectators, gasping and mumbling with outrage.

"Don't you ever speak that away about her again!" Sean uttered viciously after he'd quickly retrieved the letter from the floor, while Asa recovered, and stuck it in his pocket.

"You're going to regret you ever laid a hand on me." Asa retorted lividly as he pulled a handkerchief from his inner pocket, and pressed it to his lips. "I should have you arrested for assault, but what I have planned for you will be worse than any time you may spend in jail." The man spitefully resumed. His mind now wild with anger and therefore distracted from the letter he'd lost.

"What the hell does that mean?" Ned intervened. "Are you threatening my son!"

"You bring it on!" Sean seethed. "What ever you feel you need to do. I'll be ready."

"You think you'll be ready!" Asa countered severely, ignoring Ned's earlier comments. "But by the time I'm done with you, you'll be ruined in this town; no one will stand behind you. And you and that Negro you shamed my daughter for will..."

"What Negro!" Someone disrupted, causing everyone to turn their attention away from Asa and for the man to suspend his rant.

"Vivian!" Asa gasped with panic, completely floored to see his daughter now on the scene. "You're supposed to be on your way to New York." He stated nervously.

"I changed my mind." She answered with indignation. "Now I asked a question. What is this about me being shamed by Sean… and a …Negro?" she persisted unsteadily.

"Vivian honey…"

"Answer me!" the woman cried as the increased crowd looked on.

But Asa remained quiet, astounded and angered by how quickly things had turned into something that he hadn't planned. He couldn't tell Vivian the truth he mused with horror; he couldn't be responsible for her again being humiliated in front of the town… Sean too stood silent, like everyone else, not wanting to confess a truth that would surely hurt Vivian more than he'd hurt her before. What a disaster Ned thought as he quietly contemplated how to resolve this situation , while Pete watched Vivian with dread, his conscience now returning, as he realize that she would be destroyed more by his deeds, and her father's betrayal, than Sean dumping her for an inferior woman – a Negro.