20
I decided to take a shower and try and wash today away. But I couldn't get what Luda Mae was telling me out of her head. Would Leanne and her family really come back for dinner and make peace? I couldn't be sure there wouldn't be any more hostility. I stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around my body then stared at myself in the mirror for a little while. I couldn't have any more drama in this family. I knew what I had to do.
Once I was dressed, I walked downstairs and out onto the front porch and saw Charlie still sitting where I last saw him.
"I need to borrow your truck." I said. Of course, Charlie looked me over with suspicion.
"And what for?" he asked. I just stared at him for a moment my face showing that I didn't want to be questioned and he raised his hand. "Alright alright." He dug into his pocket and pulled out some keys and I smiled and took them.
"I'll be gone for one hour." I said walking down the steps toward the truck.
"Well at least tell me where you're going." he said.
"The hospital. I want to apologize to Leanne." Was my only response. It didn't take me long to learn Charlie's truck and how to drive it. I was driving down the road with the wind in my hair. As I was entering the town, I could see the hospital. I parked out front and thought to myself for a moment. Charlie just gave me the keys to his truck. I was by myself and nothing was stopping me from driving off down the road and never coming back. But that was a lie. Thomas was stopping me. I knew I couldn't go back on my promise. I lifted my head to see Leanne's husband on the side of the hospital smoking. I got out and without saying anything, entered the hospital. It was a small building. There was an actual waiting room with one chair and on the other side was a check in counter with no one there. I walked down the hall and just quietly looked around at the rooms until I saw one room with a closed door. The rest of the doors were open, so I was now curious.
Quietly I went over and opened the door and saw Leanne lying in bed with a neck brace around her neck. She was in a hospital gown with needles in her arms and I could hear a heart monitor. So this hospital was pretty functional. I walked inside and closed the door behind me. The room was dark with a small light beside the bed. I walked over toward her wondering what I was going to do, what I would say. Once I was beside her bed looking over her, I just stared at her for a moment wondering if she was truly awake or if she was asleep to avoid talking to her weak husband. I looked down at her hand and gently took it, closing m hand entirely around her own. Now she began to slowly stir and I looked from her hand and up at her face. She groaned a bit and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a bit looking around before looking at me.
I could see the confusion in her eyes for a moment until it all turned to shock. She groaned a bit more and I got the feeling she couldn't talk. But she was trying to. Her heart monitor began to beep faster, but I shushed very gently.
"Calm down. It's okay. I just wanted to see how you were doing." I said removing my hand from hers and letting it slide up her arm and she looked down a bit watching and muttering more. "Does this disgust you? My black skin on your pure Aryan white skin?" I was speaking ever so gently with bitterness in my tone. I looked her in her eyes now. She was doing her best to struggle but I shook my head.
"Don't worry, my color will never wash off on your dry skin. I actually just came here to talk to you. As I showered today, I thought about your little visit to see us. I thought about how you called me a wild animal." I said noticing she struggled more so I took hold of her forearm firmly. "And I understand, you were defending your child's honor. You are the matriarch of your household, what you say goes. And I get that." I nodded removing my hand now and letting it slide slowly up her shoulder. Leanne's eyes watched as she groaned a bit more, her brace obviously causing her discomfort.
"But you want to know something?" I whispered leaning over her and placing my lips close to her ear which made her wince. "I'm the matriarch of my family too, and unlike yours, my darling will protect me should you try and be aggressive again. Soon, in my belly, there will be a child inside me and our line will grow. So Leanne, I know you have basically sucked racism off your momma's tit and you let your daughter suck racism out of your rancid tits… and I will tell you like I told her." I didn't even notice my teeth were nearly clenched and my tone was so icy.
"Family or not. I will kill you if you threaten me or my love again. So, when that day comes when we need to eat dinner together and discuss peace between us, I expect…no I take that back. You WILL be civil." I said harshly, before leaning back and looking down at her. "Or I'll have Thomas cut you up and serve you to me." Leanne's eyes widened as she just looked at me and I just smiled and turned and walked out of the hospital room. I left the hospital and got in my truck and drove off without really caring if I was seen or not. I returned to the farm and got out and Charlie was still enjoying the cool air. I walked up to him and he just raised his hand to me and I dropped the keys into his palm and he just nodded. I merely smiled at him and went to the barn. Thomas was just leaving wiping his bloody hands on his apron. He looked up at me and saw me and stared at me curiously. I immediately removed my shirt and gripped his apron.
"I want you to ride me like a horse." I said and he just let me walk him right back into the barn, his large hand closing the door as I pushed him inside.