Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer, in her Twilight Saga series of books
WARNING: This story will contains scenes of domestic violence, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including death.
Chapter 9
Vengeance is Mine
Savannah was amazed at the extras that Mr. O'Keefe provided for Alison's wake. The parlor was beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. Savannah knew they were not all sent by mourners. There had not been enough time for so strong a response. She was grateful for the grace and consideration that the funeral parlor representatives afforded her and her family, considering the minimal amount of funds they were able to gather for their services.
"Is everything to your satisfaction?" Mr. O'Keefe, came from behind Savannah, to stand at her shoulder.
"It far exceeds my expectations," Savannah breathed to the gentleman owner of the house. Tears began to fill her eyes, as she fought to keep them in check.
"I can only hope that this brings a small piece of calm to your life." He held Savannah's hand, as he tried to show honest sympathy for her loss and obvious plight at home.
Savannah stood straight and looked the tall man in the eye. "You have gone beyond all my hopes, in assisting my family during this time. I am so grateful for everything you have done. I feel that there is no way in which I will ever be able to repay your kindness and charity."
"There is nothing to repay." He told her softly. "I can only hope that you will care well for her surviving children, and should the need arise, remember us to your friends." He began to lead Savannah around the parlor. "I would like to show you around, so you will be familiar with the house. My wife, Karen, asks that you and your family join us for a luncheon, later, before the mourners begin to arrive."
Mr. O'Keefe began to show Savannah around, and, at Savannah's prompting, showed her how Alison's body had been prepared, and dressed, for the wake. She was given as much time as she needed, when she was brought to Alison's body. Savannah fought to contain the tears that threatened to fall again, but was not quite as successful as she had been earlier. She grabbed the edge of the casket, as she peered down at Alison's body.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry that you were caught in the web set by Orin and his son. I think even he thought that Vernon felt something for you. We were all fooled." Savannah wiped away her tears, leaned into the casket, and kissed the cheek of Alison's corps. "I love you, my darling daughter, and I will do everything in my power to raise your children to be every bit as strong as you were." Savannah raised herself back from the casket, and turned to leave the viewing room.
Mr. O'Keefe was waiting just outside the door, and escorted Savannah back to the main hall, to rejoin Callie, Molly, and the girls.
"We would be very happy if you would join us for a small luncheon." He announced, then led the ladies to the large yard behind the building.
Mr. O'Keefe made introductions to his family, then Molly was invited to dine with the O'Keefe family servants. Savannah and Callie spend an hour enjoying the food, and company, of the O'Keefe family, before the girls woke up and began demanding attention. Molly soon appeared with warmed bottles for both of the girls. She and Savannah fed the hungry infants, as Callie prepared to return home to see to Rita's child.
"Thank you, Mrs. O'Keefe, for a lovely lunch." Callie rose to make her exit.
"Please call me Karen." She had asked them to, when they were introduced, but reiterated it for Callie's sake. "Mrs. O'Keefe is my mother-in-law," She said, with a smile.
Callie took the woman's hand and thanked her again, before she was shown to the carriage by Mr. O'Keefe.
"I'm sorry," Karen began, when Callie, and her husband, had left the yard. "I was under the impression that Mrs. Preston was hired as a wet-nurse for these precious little darlings?" She was surprised by Callie's departure just as the girls needed feeding.
"Originally, she was hired by my late husband, to nurse Mary Alice." Savannah smiled down at the growing baby she held. "But, upon his death, his son decided she would be more effective as a wet-nurse for his illegitimate son." Savannah smiled up at the shocked Karen O'Keefe.
"I see." Karen smiled at Savannah. "So, will the absent Mr. Brandon be attending today?" Karen was beginning to understand what Savannah may be trying to do, but she wasn't sure. Not quite yet anyway.
"It is highly doubtful. He and his mistress have been quite busy, planning their wedding." The smile on Savannah's face had turned into an evil grin.
"I see." Karen nodded again, and smiled in a conspiratorial fashion, as Savannah turned to give the woman a knowing glance. "He's a lawyer, is he not?"
"Yes." Savannah confirmed, as she raised Mary Alice to the cloth on her shoulder, and began to pat her back soundly. "It's such a shame about his business. Orin had built a growing, and lucrative law firm, with a fashionable and interesting clientèle. His son seems to have such difficulty keeping clients these days." Savannah raised an eyebrow at Karen, who smiled back at her.
"I'm sure that he will find a client list, somewhere, that will accommodate his—character, shall we say?" Karen turned to pour Savannah a fresh cup of tea.
"I'm sure you're right." Savannah told her, as she took a sip of the warm tea. "I'm sure the, women of Biloxi, will decide whether he has the type of character they would want, in the attorney their husbands choose to represent their families."
"I think we understand each other perfectly." Karen told Savannah, as her husband returned to the luncheon table.
"Mrs. Brandon," he bowed to her, and placed his hand for her to take. "I believe it's time for your guests to begin arriving."
Savannah handed Mary Alice to Molly, who placed the girls, side by side, in the baby carriage. Then, she took the offered hand, and rose to proceed to the parlor that contained Alison's casket. Molly followed close behind, pushing the carriage that contained both of Alison's girls. They were led to the front row of chairs, that had been placed in a small semi-circle around the casket. Molly maneuvered the carriage in front of her chair and gently bounced it on it's springs.
Cynthia was sleeping with her fist in her mouth, while Mary Alice was wide awake. She watched as people began to arrive and peek their heads over the carriage and smile down at her. She giggled at the few people she recognized, like Dr. Wilton, but, for the most part, she just listened to the words of condolence and support from the faces over her.
Callie returned from her duties at home, and picked up Mary Alice, making her very happy. She looked around in wonder, at all the brightly colored flowers, and spots of light from the candles. She watched as people came by, and held, or shook her hand. For most, she gave them a smile or a giggle. For a very small few others, she cried. Off and on, she heard her father's name mentioned. When she did, she frowned. She watched as her grandmother greeted the people, and how they hugged her and wished her well. She wanted to hug her grandmother, as well, but Callie held her, and that was just as good. When Mary Alice grew tired, Callie placed her back into the carriage, and Molly bounced her to sleep. Mary Alice was content with these three women, but she would miss her mother.
Savannah responded many questions, regarding Vernon's obvious absence from the wake. She gave the women similar answers to the ones she gave Karen. Karen also helped spread the word, to the women she talked to. By the end of the night, Savannah was sure that the word was spread sufficiently, to ruin Vernon. Only one person questioned Savannah's ability to support the children, should Vernon's business fail. Savannah was happy to inform them that she had money of her own, but could not access it until Vernon was out of the picture. She had to make sure that he did not take what she had. The conspiracy of the women was complete. As the wake began to end, Savannah talked quietly with Mr. Connelly.
"I have made an accounting of your personal funds." He told Savannah. "You are quite a wealthy person in your own right, Mrs. Brandon. I have taken steps to prevent Mr. Brandon from ever accessing any of your accounts. I understand that he can cause you great suffering, should he choose to, so no funds may be released, unless I approve it, as well as you. This can be overturned, but not without great expense on his part. Once Mr. Brandon has—moved on, I will be happy to release the co-hold I have, and assist you in any way I can." Matthew Connelly smiled down at Savannah.
"I can't thank you enough," Savannah took the offered arm of her family attorney, and escorted him out of the parlor. When she returned to Callie and Molly, she collapsed into a chair with a deep sigh.
"Mr. Connelly was the last," Savannah informed the others. "Time to pack up the children and get them home."
Savannah took Mary Alice, and approached the casket.
"Time to say good-bye, sweetheart." Savannah whispered to Mary Alice, as she looked down at her body.
Mary Alice looked up at the ceiling and cooed, as she opened and closed her hand repeatedly.
Callie approached the casket, with Cynthia. She held the infant in her arms, as she said a silent good-bye, for the both of them.
Molly waited until the other two had left, before approaching the casket.
"I know what you would want," she whispered very quietly, so the others would not hear her. "I know she has the gift. I will try to teach her, and protect her." Molly was leaning farther into the casket, as she spoke. When she finished, she turned and ran to follow the other two woman, who were just stepping into the waiting carriage.
They arrived home in time for dinner. Vernon was just escorting Rita to her seat, as they walked through the front door. Callie and Molly took the girls up to their room, while Savannah joined Vernon and Rita at the table.
"Would you care to freshen up, mother?" Vernon asked.
"I don't want you to feel you would need to hold dinner, on my account." Savannah had plastered on her smile.
"No need for you to worry about that today." Vernon smiled as her called for the first course of his dinner. "What ever you miss, will simply be your loss."
"I think I'll be just fine." Savannah looked down at her soup, and began to eat.
Dinner continued quietly. As the main course arrived at the table, Savannah heard Callie's footsteps cross over to the other wing of the house, on her way to see to Rita's child. After dinner, Savannah returned to her rooms, and checked on the girls. Cynthia was sleeping in her cradle, while Mary Alice was trying to climb the rails of her crib. Savannah laid a clean blanket on the floor of the parlor, then picked up the smiling child and placed her on the blanket. Mary Alice began to crawl after her grandmother. When Savannah collapsed into the rocking chair, Mary Alice grabbed onto her legs and began to climb up them. Before long, she was standing, and swaying gently, at her grandmother's knees. Savannah saw the silly grin on the face that popped up between the two tiny hands on her knees, and couldn't help but smile back.
"It won't be long before you take your first steps." She said to the happy baby at her knees. She grabbed Mary Alice under her arms and brought her to stand on her lap. Mary Alice bounced from foot to foot, as she giggled, and shook her hands in the air. The sound of her laughter caused Savannah to laugh quietly.
"The sound of an angel laughing." She commented quietly.
Savannah held Mary Alice, until the active child wore herself out. She, then, placed her back in her crib, and covered her with a light blanket. As Savannah relaxed back into the rocking chair, Callie returned to the rooms. Molly was not far behind her, carrying a tray with Callie's dinner. Molly placed Callie's tray on a table, then retired to her rooms in the servant sleeping quarters. Callie sat at the table and silently ate her dinner, not wanting to disturb Savannah. When she had finished, she placed the tray outside the hall door, to be picked up by the night maid.
After Callie changed and fed both girls, one more time, she suggested Savannah go to bed.
"I will take Cynthia's cradle into my room, so you can sleep undisturbed." Callie offered.
"No," Savannah breathed, as she rocked forward in the chair. "I'm fine, and I'm sure one of us will hear her when she wakes, if we just leave her here." Savannah rose from her seat and started toward her bedroom door. "Sleep well this night, Mrs. Preston. Tomorrow will be a day fraught with uncertainty, and, quite possibly, danger." Then she retired to her room, and gently closed the door.
Callie thought over Savannah's words, and considered the truth in them. She was tired. Doing triple duty, with Cynthia, Mary Alice, and Virgil, was wearing her out. As tired as she was, she refused to give up her duties with the girls. She had sworn an oath to herself, to help Savannah in any way she could. She would go with less sleep, and enlist Molly's aid as often as necessary, to help her keep that oath. When she finally did fall into her bed, she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Savannah's words continued to haunt her dreams, though. She woke up several times during the night, startled by those dreams, and decided to go ahead and see to Cynthia, to keep her from waking Savannah.
By the time morning came, Callie felt just as exhausted, as when she had gone to bed. She showered and dressed quickly, then ran to see to Virgil. He was the earliest riser of the three children. On her way back to the girls, she stopped down in the kitchen to grab the two bottles that Molly was warming. As she entered the parlor, Mary Alice was just waking. She tickled the slim baby as she changed her diaper, then gave her a bottle of the thinned pablum. As Callie was finishing with her, Cynthia woke with a wail in the making. Callie was faster than she was, and had her out of the cradle, and in her arms, before the sound could wake Savannah.
The ladies were not due at the cemetery until later in the day-after lunch. Callie realized that Savannah may well miss breakfast, but she wanted to give her the chance to sleep in. Callie had begun to worry about the older woman. She thought that Savannah had looked like she was losing weight, and the circles under her eyes were becoming much too pronounced. She did everything she could, to keep the girls quiet and happy, to give Savannah as much sleep as possible, before the day's entombment. It worked well for Savannah. She woke late in the morning, feeling very much refreshed.
"I'm having second thoughts, about the girls coming today." She announced to Callie after she returned from her shower, and had dressed. "They have been through enough, and this part is private. Only family will be there. I am all that is required to be there." She looked at Callie, sympathetically. "Molly could watch the girls, and you could get some rest?"
Callie looked surprised and a bit disappointed. "I loved her too," she began, with a quiet voice, "I really wanted to go today."
"Alright," Savannah smiled at her. "I was really hoping you would say something like that. I didn't want to do this alone, but I was beginning to feel like I may have been forcing you..."
"You weren't!" Callie cut her off. "She was my friend, and I love her children like they are my own." She gave Savannah a knowing smile, before she continued. "Besides, if the children don't go, then Vernon will never let Molly go. And you know how much that will hurt her. She loved Alison so very much."
Savannah gave out a loud sign. "Yes, you're right. I could never hurt Molly like that. For most of this past year, she has lived for Alison. And the way she loves Mary Alice-I've never seen her like that, and she's been with us since she was born."
Savannah sat with Callie, until it was time for her to go to Rita's child. Molly showed up shortly thereafter, with two warmed bottles. Molly changed both girls' diapers, then handed Cynthia to Savannah, along with a warm bottle. Mary Alice rolled around on a blanket on the floor, looking at her grandmother, and holding her bottle with her feet and hands. When she saw that both Molly and Savannah were both watching her, she began to giggle. Mary Alice thrived on the attention of these women. She loved having them watch her, and hold her, and play with her. She loved her sister, but she wanted them to remember that she had come first.
Once Cynthia was back in her cradle sound asleep, Molly took the empty bottles and left the parlor, to retrieve lunch for both Savannah and Callie. When Callie returned, she and Savannah ate their lunch quietly, then dressed themselves, then the girls, to lay Alison to rest. Molly joined the group, with the packed baby carriage, and followed them to the waiting carriage.
The entombment went as planned; quietly and without Vernon. Everyone said their final 'goodbyes' and mausoleum was resealed. Standing in the cemetery, Savannah found herself reluctant to return home. Molly stood by quietly, waiting, but Callie looked at Savannah questioningly.
"Oh, it's nothing." Savannah waved her hand and her head, with an odd smile on her face.
"Please." Callie asked.
"I was just wondering what will be awaiting us, on our return." she pulled her gloves off, one finger at a time, than put them back on. She repeated the process, over and over.
Callie placed her hand over Savannah's nervously working hands. "We will survive. No matter what the cost, we will survive him. And the girls will thrive. With your love and mine, they will grow and be happy." Callie worked to relieve Savannah of her fears, and at the same time, calmed her own.
"Time to return to the house." Savannah informed the group. They walked quietly out of the cemetery, and back into the carriage that would take them home.
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