“I’d like that.” I answered with a smile.
“Really?” Allison seemed surprised.
“Yes really.” I swatted her playfully. “I like sports and I like your Dad.”
Allison gave me another tender peck on the lips. “Uh hum!” Nicole cleared her throat loudly. “No smooching in the kitchen you two! It’s bad enough when I walk in on Mom and Dad.” Allison simple muttered something in french and brushed past her sister.
“You know we need to teach you French since you’ll be spending more time around here.” Nicole pointed out.
“Don’t you teach her anything.” Allison growled from behind us.
Dinner was a wonderful affair with the food and conversation. The warmth that surrounded the table made me a little teary eyed. How truly wonderful it must have been to grow up with such love and sense of family. No wonder Allison and her siblings expected to find the same in their own relationships.
After dinner Allison and Nicole assumed the clean up duties. Their parents volunteered to help out at a shelter in Boston. I was pleased to learn that this was an activity that they participated in year round and not just for the holidays. Gaia was tired so Allison took her to her room. I was shooed from the kitchen by the Kendell sisters. I suspected that they wanted to talk in private. I went to the family room and began to sift through the papers that Gaia had given me the day before. There was a letter that interested me greatly. It was from a woman named Annabel Freewoman.
Annabel Freewoman
17 Charles Street
Boston, Massachusetts
July 17th, 1880
My Dearest Eleanor,
I understand that you now travel by the name Sarah Moorehouse for reasons that I think that I can understand. My heart was full to see you alive and well. I had heard that you had passed on when the union army burned Greenwood to the ground. Imagine my delight at learning that the rumors were false. Not to worry my dear friend I will not reveal your secret. I owe you so very much. Including my life. I remember those days working in the fields you were my only ray of sunshine. You kept your brother from taking my virtue and opened the door of knowledge. If you had not taught me to read and write the good Lord knows that even this simple correspondence would not be possible.
At the time I never fully understood the risk you were taking by teaching us the skill of reading. Now I know that your generosity could have cost you your life. Possessing this skill made life easier for me once I found my way North.
You also taught me to love. We were so very young when we discovered our passion. Do not worry my sweet I know that your heart was never truly mine. I knew that each time you left for Baltimore there were others who warmed your bed. It was true for me as well.
I wanted to thank you for my freedom. I can never forget how you saved my sister and me. Stealing us away under the cover of darkness. I will cherish your final words to me as we parted for the last time. “Live well.” And I have. Each day I greet the morning a little more slowly as the years pass, but I greet the morning and thank the good Lord for sending you into my life. And having found you again I can finally express my emotions. I thank you for your courage and kind heart.
No to worry my sweet I know your heart belongs to another. As does mine. Her name is Claudine and we have shared our lives for over ten years now. I can see that you and your woman share the same love as I carry for my sweet Claudine.
I cannot help but think that it was God’s hand who orchestrated our chance encounter last evening. I thank him or whatever forces brought you back into my life. I would enjoy keeping our friendship. I know that you are not well and traveling is difficult. Your words can always reach me. Claudine and I own a small bakery on Charles Street.
How is this possible you ask? I can hear your curious mind at work already. Claudine is fair skinned and can easily pass for white. She lied when she came North and claimed to be a war widow. We both worked hard at the bakery, this is how we met. When the owner passed on I used our savings and the money you gave me when you sent me North to buy the shop from the owner’s widow. Of course everyone assumes that I work for Claudine. If they only knew how demanding I can be on the poor woman.
As I said your words can reach me here since we live above our little shop. Your letters would be most welcome by both of us.
My best to you and your lady.
Lovingly,
Annabel
“Hey Blondie.” Nicole called to me breaking me out of my musings. “What are you doing?”
“Just going through some stuff Gaia gave me.” I answered as I looked up at her. “This one is a letter from a woman named Annabel Freewoman.”
“She was quite a lady herself from what I understand.” Nicole responded. “Her name before she ran away from the Ballister plantation was Annie Ballister. After she escaped, she made her way up to Boston and ran her own business with her lover. From the letters I have read she gave all of the credit to Eleanor. Of course, all Eleanor really did was help her start on her journey. In the end it was Annabel who was the one to survive leaving the South during a very troubling time.”
“These women faced what must have seemed like insurmountable forces and yet somehow survived.” I said absently. “When you think about it we freak out if the cable goes down. We are afraid of this whole Y2K business messing with our computers thinking that it could bring civilization to a stop. These women couldn’t even vote and still they stood up and fought for their freedoms. The problems that I face in my life seem so insignificant in comparison.”
“Couldn’t imagine what they had to endure.” Nicole agreed. “There are references to Stephan and the other white on the plantation taking what they wanted from the female slaves.”
“Annabel and Eleanor were lovers at one time?” I asked.
“From what I gather.” Nicole answered.
“That must have been what she meant when she caught her brother with Haley.” I said my mind reeling with information. “Haley wrote that Eleanor said something about him still sniffing after her women. I get the impression that her brother must have been fully aware of her orientation.”
“Hard to say.” Nicole replied. “I get the impression that Eleanor had many lovers before settling down with Haley. Most of her own writings and what not including the family bible were lost when the plantation burnt down.”
“That would explain the lack of information on her headstone.” I said. “Back then the only records of births would have been in the family bible.”
I pondered over this thought as I sifted through more papers. “Sorry.” I apologized. “I just get caught up in these things.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Nicole waved off my apology. “I’m use to it what with the folks and Allison. Growing up in household full of lawyers things can get pretty intense.”
“Wait both your parents are lawyers?” I asked as Nicole nodded in response. “So your parents, Allison and David are all lawyers?”
“That’s why I became a doctor.” Nicole laughed. “I just had to be different.”
“You’re different all right.” I teased her. “I’m confused by something. You are a resident? But the time line doesn’t fit. Chris said that you were thrown out of med school.”
“That snake.” Nicole growled. “No I finished med school surprisingly enough. But I screwed up and no decent hospital wanted me. When I sobered up I was forced to start over in many ways. I was already a doctor I had passed the boards and everything. This is my second chance and I’m no fool I know if my last name wasn’t Kendell I’d be selling hemorrhoid cream at CVS.”
“I watched you in the emergency room.” I confessed. “You are good at what you do.”