Novel Treatments / In the Hearts of Men - Ch 13

Chapter 13
Leaving for a New Home and New Hope
The carriage rode along into the night. Regina slumped against Johnson, who sat next to her with an arm draped around her, while Elijah laid spread out on the facing seat sleeping against their luggage bags. Johnson had brought a large selection of clothing for himself, surprising Regina. She had been under the impression that he had planned to drop her and Elijah at their destination and then leave.
Johnson kissed her now and then on top of her head or her cheek, but otherwise kept their contact platonic. He seemed to struggle with himself to keep his affections under control. He smelled her hair, ran a finger over her scar, down her chin then softly traced her lips. She did nothing to stop his affectionate touches, but she felt uneasy about the whole situation, knowing that her heart belonged truly to Jacob, but he would never be part of her life.
They stopped the next day at a tiny community called Wren’s Nest of almost all Negroes. Most of them stared at Regina with a certain reverence, since she seemed to assume control over the men in her party. They made arrangements to stay at a small inn that was run by an old Negro couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, who kept their eyes averted. Johnson sent their carriage driver, Blake, back to Gatlin, and told him to await further instructions. Blake was taking word back from Johnson to Heston House that Johnson had left for a sojourn after the loss of their father, but that he would return soon. Regina knew Johnson was struggling with his emotions due to his father’s death, and hoped his brothers and sisters would understand, too. The governess had been replaced with a matronly woman from Gatlin who enjoyed doting on the younger children, and so Johnson really felt comfortable leaving them with her. And both Percy and Amanda had done quite well at taking over what affairs their solicitor couldn’t handle, especially running the ranch.
Upon arriving the first morning, Regina washed and then clothed herself into a new light pink dress that Johnson had brought for her from Heston House. In fact, he had brought her several new dresses from her armoire at his old home, and even brought Elijah several new clean shirts and breeches that had been his father’s. The breeches were all too long, as Moses Heston was nearly a head taller than Elijah, but Johnson found a seamstress in the community who hemmed them nicely to better fit Elijah.
Regina was glad for the herbs that Dr. Estrand had given her, but she was still having trouble keeping her food down during the day. She would finally find a bit of reprieve from the nausea in the evenings, and even felt back to her normal self.
The traveling party decided to stay at Wren’s Nest for a few weeks while Johnson asked around about what the towns’ folk knew of Gatlin. They were awaiting word from a man who traveled frequently to Gatlin, and was due back to Wren’s Nest by the end of the following week. Johnson had decided that they were safe where they were for the time being, and besides, the residents of Wren’s Nest were happy to have them since they came laden with money for services rendered.
Elijah found something to occupy his time, as well. There was a lovely young woman who blushed every time Elijah walked into the inn’s tavern where she was a server. Elijah hadn’t paid much attention to her at first, but one evening, at Regina’s suggestion, he helped her straighten the tables and chairs after supper was finished and the inn’s inhabitants had all wandered off to their rooms. Regina had pointed out that the young woman seemed tired and perhaps needed some assistance.
“You don’t have plans this evening, right?” she had asked Elijah sweetly. Elijah had been moping about since they had left Gatlin, and Regina was sure he missed Delilah’s beautiful face around, even if he never could have had her. Elijah had begrudgingly agreed to stay behind and help Felicia with closing up for the night, but changed his mind after just the first few minutes.
Regina, meanwhile, had been taking housekeeping lessons from some of the ladies in Wren’s Nest. She gratefully took their advice on how to properly wash clothing, how to cook, how to mend clothing and darn socks. Regina had been poorly educated in these most fundamental and mundane aspects of living, and she enjoyed the challenge. In return, Regina was instructing the women on how to read and write. She was happy and fulfilled in her new life. On the night she had arranged for Elijah to pay attention to Felicia, she was learning to prepare an omelet with a large black woman whom everyone called, simply, Mama. Mama was burdened with several children, so many that Regina had a hard time figuring out how many and which ones actually belonged to Mama. As far as Regina could tell, Mama wasn’t married, but her youngest child was no older than a year old and was always propped against Mama’s hip while she cooked or cleaned or scolded the other children. Regina was impressed at this woman’s abilities, and hoped to learn a lot from her.
“You marryin’ that Johnson fella?” Mama asked her as Regina whipped the eggs into a light lather. Regina looked up at her briefly and saw a little twinkle in Mama’s eyes. Regina just smiled at Mama, and said nothing.
“He so handsome,” Mama went on, apparently trying to get Regina to divulge a little something.
“Yes, he really is, isn’t he?” Regina said, a little more dreamily than she had intended. Since they had left Gatlin, Regina had kept her distance from Johnson, and he from her as well, but they caught each other’s gaze constantly, and the unspoken attraction between them grew. But Johnson seemed to understand that Regina was trying to get over Jacob’s rejection of her, so he didn’t pursue her. Regina respected him more for it.
Now she looked sharply over at Mama as she realized that she had perhaps given away her position, but Mama was just smiling to herself as she watched Regina’s progress. In the past week, Mama had helped Regina to make porridge, toast and eggs, a luscious salad with fresh lettuce and vegetables that Mama grew, and pork ribs. Regina had never butchered an animal of any kind, so Mama had taken care of that, but promised Regina that they would do it together the following week. Regina’s stomach had lurched at the prospect.
“Are you married?” Regina found herself asking Mama.
“I’m married to the most wonderful man in the world,” Mama said without hesitating. Regina wondered just how wonderful he could really be, leaving her alone all the time with this large brood, but then Mama’s eyes misted over a little and Regina felt guilty for the bad thoughts. “He died a’most 20 years back. We had only one child, but wanted more. So, after he died, I took on all the kids nobody wanted anymore. That’s why there’s always so many ‘round here.”
Regina was shocked by the revelation – these kids that Mama treated as her own weren’t hers? Regina’s eyes began to tear from the great love in this woman’s heart for so many others. She reached over and hugged Mama.
“You’re a saint! I have been so blessed to know you,” she said, smiling up into the woman’s face.
Mama smiled back at her, and then directed her attention back to the omelet lesson. Regina was to meet a couple other ladies the following morning, who would instruct her on clothes washing. Johnson had somehow acquired a washboard and bin for her, so now she even had her own equipment.
Regina’s lessons were going quite well, and she was proud of herself for following through with the hard work. It wasn’t as difficult as picking tobacco from her former life, but it was far more difficult than the work she had become accustomed to since she’d gone to Gatlin. She spent a few hours a week at night writing to Charlie and Rachel, excited by her new life ahead. And the day before, she had received a letter back from Charlie, sent in care of the Wren’s Nest Inn, with news that after the baby was born, they were looking forward to moving up near her. She still didn’t know where that was, but Johnson had promised her that if he could get his hands on a proper map, he would show her. Regina had never even seen a map before, so the prospect was very exciting.
While she whipped up the eggs for the omelet, Regina shared her family news with Mama, who listened politely, nodding and exclaiming with interest at this or that.
“Charlie and Rachel say they’ll be moving up this way when their baby is born,” Regina said excitedly. She told Mama about how Rachel had been the impetus in moving Regina to North Carolina from Georgia, and how she had hated her so much for it, but then after seeing how bad things could have been, how she understood and forgave Rachel.
“Well, it’ll be good for you to be with all of your family again, and for your babies to grow up together,” Mama said absently, trimming some scallions for omelet.
Regina’s eyes shot up warily at Mama’s face, terror in her eyes.
“How did you know I was with child?” She asked accusingly. Mama looked up sharply, stung by Regina’s reaction.
“Well, child, you glow, and I know you have bouts with nausea,” Mama said slowly and kindly, trying to ease Regina’s mind. “I meant nothin’ by it, Regina. And most folks prob’ly don’ notice.”
Regina looked down at her tiny waist, uncertain if Mama was telling the truth. She didn’t even show a little bit yet, but she did still have spells of being lightheaded and vomiting, even though she took the herbs as Dr. Estrand had prescribed. Mama sensed Regina’s distress and put a hand on her shoulder. Regina looked up at her with tears in her eyes.
“Why are you tryin’ to hide it?” Mama asked gently. “Does Johnson know about the baby?”
Regina cried in earnest now at Mama’s misconception of the situation. So finally, Regina broke her silence and told Mama the whole story. Mama sat silently and listened intently, the omelet completely forgotten.
Mama’s face impassively took in all of Regina’s anguish and sorrow at her situation. Finally, she looked into Regina’s eyes and said, “Well, at least you’ here now, stead a bein’ shot by that evil Jeremiah, and that baby of yours is gonna be mighty strong from all the adversity in your life.” Mama patted Regina on the shoulder while Regina dried her tears.
“Regina, you jus’ lost your way, honey, tha’s all. Talk to God about it and make it right.”
Regina smiled at Mama’s words, knowing that she had definitely lost her faith. She hadn’t been to church in months, instead choosing to stay with Delilah or Jacob for the afternoon. She had allowed herself to be seduced by pleasures of the skin instead of having true joy and love in her heart. That had nothing to do with her faith, but she knew that because she had let herself forget about love and being happy, she had also forgotten her faith, which had always been so important to her.
“Now, Regina, you jus’ try to forget that Jacob,” Mama went on, going back to chopping vegetables for the omelet. “He knew what might happen, Regina, but he couldn’t let himself have enough love to accept it. He allowed jealousy and hatred to fill his heart and make him hard. If’n it meant to be with him, he come back.” Mama paused for a moment then added, “But it might be too late for him.”
Regina watched her, taking in her words. She had lost her desire to finish the omelet, but absently picked the whisk up and began mixing the eggs again that had lost their foam. She took a handful of cheese that they had grated ahead of time and threw that in, mixed again then tested the cast iron that was on the stove. She put a little bacon fat on the flat pan and watched it sizzle away, spreading it around with her spatula. Then Regina poured the egg mixture in a circle on the pan and began sprinkling the tomatoes, scallions, peppers and spinach into the egg circle. Mama supervised and nodded, murmured her approval. When Regina flipped the omelet in half, sprinkled a little cheese on top and served it on a plate, Mama’s smile lit up the kitchen at how quickly her pupil had learned. She took a fork and cut two bite-sized pieces, piercing one with a fork and handing it to Regina for a test, then took the other in her fingers and popped it into her mouth. Regina tentatively placed the fork to her lips and took a small bite, then took the rest of it into her mouth and let her senses explore the flavors. She was overwhelmed by the fruitiness of the tomato, the smoothness of the spinach, the hint of spice from the red pepper. The smooth flavor of the eggs and cheese was bursting in her mouth and created a savory experience that suddenly lifted her mood.
“I made this,” she said to herself, allowing a full appreciation for what she had accomplished. She smiled to Mama. “Thank you so much,” she leaned over and hugged her again, then threw herself into the remainder of the omelet.
Later that night, when Elijah finally stumbled into their small rooms at the inn, a clumsy smile plastered across his face, Regina excitedly told him about her omelet-making skills, and tried to explain the overwhelming pride she felt at learning how to run a household.
“I can finally cook!” she exclaimed, taking his hands in hers and beaming up at him. “When Charlie and Rachel move up this way, they’re going to be amazed. And tomorrow, I’m going to learn how to wash clothes.”
Elijah smiled down at his baby sister with a little laugh at her enthusiasm over what he thought were mundane activities. But, he was so happy to finally see her with a smile on her face rather than the moping sadness that seemed to envelope her lately. And of course, after the evening he had just had with Felicia, he didn’t feel like anything could turn his mood. He was walking on air.
“Tha’s great Regina,” he told her smiling.
“How’d things go with Felicia?” Regina said with a gleam in her eyes. Elijah just smiled back and turned away shyly. “She has liked you for a long time,” Regina went on, following Elijah as he walked over to the small desk. He sat down and propped his feet up on the desk, leaning back on the back legs of the chair and attempting to look indifferent at his sister who had followed him around the room.
But Elijah was saved by a knock on the door. Regina went to answer it and was surprised to see a nearly unrecognizable Jacob leaning against the door frame in front of her.
“Oh, Jacob… “ Regina stuttered out, hardly able to get the words out. She was awestruck by his face, battered and bruised, and he looked like he could hardly keep himself standing upright. Regina came to her senses suddenly and reached for him, putting an arm around him and letting him lean against her.
“Elijah, help,” she said looking over at Elijah who realized what was going on and jumped to his feet to run over and grab Jacob on the other side. The two of them managed to haul him over to one of the small beds where he flopped onto it, and then groaned in pain. As they tried to get him comfortable, he began to vomit blood, violent bursts of red spewing from him in bursts.
“Go fetch Johnson,” Regina told Elijah, who ran out immediately, and then turned her attention to Jacob. His face and body had gashes all over it, and what wasn’t covered by gashes was covered by bruises.
“What happened to you?” Regina looked over his body and face, gingerly touching the gashes.
But Jacob just looked up at her miserably through his swollen eyes.
“You are so beautiful, and I love you so much,” he whispered. “I was a fool. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you left. ”
He leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes, but held her hand lightly. They stayed like that for a few moments before Regina realized that he had fallen asleep. She didn’t move, though. She just sat there, looking at this man whom she had loved so much, and now felt the stirrings of that love, but also felt pity and sorrow for him.
Johnson and Elijah burst through the doorway then, and Regina looked up, fear clouding her eyes. Johnson took in the tender way she held Jacob’s hand, and the concern so visibly showing on her face, and although a sting of jealousy pierced through him, he knew that his own feelings needed to be put to the side right now. Jacob needed to be the first priority.
He rushed to the bed and kneeled near Regina to lean over Jacob’s face. He gingerly lifted Jacob’s eyelids and peered into their bloodshot, unseeing depths. There were broken blood vessels inside Jacob’s eyes, and his lids were bruised and purple, so Johnson let them go back to closed comfort. He then ran expert fingers over Jacob’s body.
“Regina,” he whispered urgently, “go get a paper and take some notes for me, please.”
Regina jumped up and did as he asked. She hurried back and waited with a quill posed over the paper.
“Just write down whatever I say out loud,” Johnson said absently as he continued his search. “Body feverish… large contusion to back of skull … deep flesh wounds all over body … fractured third and fourth ribs on left side … fractured second through fourth ribs on right side … pelvic bone feels fractured … strong probability of internal bleeding.”
Regina wrote quickly, trying not to think about what she wrote, through the soft groans that Jacob made when Johnson touched something that hurt. When both men were silent for a moment, she looked up at Johnson expectantly, but his face was filled with grief.
There was another knock on the door, and Elijah, who had been standing nearby, went to it. The carriage driver, Blake, stood there, hat in hand. Elijah motioned for him to come in, which he did, but didn’t make himself comfortable.
“Sir, I brought him here,” Blake said looking downcast. “Sheriff Dawson told me to bring him to you, said you’d know how to help him. There’s nobody else for him now. The Mercantile was burnt to the ground last night, and as far as anybody can tell, he was the only one who survived. Sheriff found him like he is now, sifting through the rubble, crying, cursing Jeremiah Burns.”
The finality of the report was sobering to all in the room: Miss Granger, Mrs. Cromwell, Delilah, Sariah – all gone. Regina’s face showed the shock she felt.
“We’ve got to get him into surgery, at least for the pelvic bone, and I need to see if there’s internal bleeding,” Johnson said to Regina, trying to break through to her. She looked at him through the tears that began to fall and nodded. She clutched Jacob’s hand, with a fleeting thought that she hoped she wasn’t squeezing his hand too hard, but daring not let go.
Johnson sent Blake and Elijah out to fetch knives and iodine, and in search of the local doctor. Regina already knew that there wasn’t a doctor in town, but couldn’t seem to say it aloud, found herself falling into the silent oblivion that had surrounded her for nearly a year after almost being stoned to death. And now, she felt so overwhelmed by sadness and the pain of constant adversity, she wanted to succumb to the silence. The thought even occurred to her how perfectly beautiful it would be to lie down beside Jacob here on the bed, close her eyes and never wake up, with him.
But Johnson was talking to her, shaking her by the arms. She could hardly see him through her grief-induced trance and the tears that seemed never to want to stop.
“Regina, I need you to gather towels and some water, Regina! Regina, I need you to do this, ok? Jacob will need you to be strong, Regina. Now, go. I need several clean towels. And go ask Mama to heat up some water, and we’ll have Elijah and Blake carry it over.”
Regina forced herself to listen, tried searching through the haze that seemed to envelope her. She stood and walked mechanically out to the hallway to the linen closet, grabbed the stack and the bed sheets, took them back to the bedside where Johnson still stood making his inspections of Jacob’s injuries, then turned around and left again to get water.
When she knocked at Mama’s door, Mama rushed into action after Regina forced herself to tell Mama what was happening. Regina felt like another person was speaking for her. She was floating above a foreign body, moving the limbs and mouth like a marionette. She could hear the words, feel the numbness set over her as she climbed into her cocoon, but knew she had to at least communicate to help save Jacob’s life.
Regina helped Mama carry jugs of hot water the few blocks back to the inn, then she took up her spot near Jacob’s head, so that if he opened his eyes, it was her eyes looking back at him. Mama went about instructing Elijah and Blake on getting more water, then she talked briefly with Johnson about the procedure.
“I have whiskey, but no numbing herbs,” she told him quietly at the table behind where Regina sat vigilantly. The two of them murmured their plan back and forth to each other, Mama becoming nurse to Johnson. Just as Regina already knew, Blake had already reported back that there was no doctor in Wren’s Nest, but that Mama was the local nurse, of sorts. She had no formal training, other than the passel of children she had taken responsibility for.
When Blake and Elijah returned moments later with the water, Mama gave them their instructions for the surgery.
“The two of yuns is gonna hold ‘im down while Doc Johnson makes the incision, then sets the bone. We’s gonna give ‘im some whiskey, but tha’s only gonna dull the pain,” she gave the instructions looking gravely back and forth between the two young men. “He’s gonna fight, so yuns gonna hafta hold him hard, hear?”
They both nodded, fear touching their eyes. Regina hardly knew Blake, only knew that Johnson and his father had trusted him implicitly. And poor Elijah looked like he wanted to bolt or vomit.
Mama turned next to Regina.
“Yous gonna stay right there, lookin’ in his eyes, tell him evathin’s ok,” the order was given, and Regina knew she had no choice but to accept the directive.
Meanwhile, Johnson was sharpening and sterilizing the knives, finding alcohol and iodine and cutting the bed sheets into strips for the bandage that would be used afterward. Mama seemed observant of his progress, and made a glass of the amber liquid ready for Jacob. She had Regina hold his head up while she pried his bruised lips open and poured sips in. Jacob sputtered and spit at first, his eyes closed and his head thrashing wildly, but then once, he opened his eyes and saw Regina, then allowed the liquid to warm his insides. He stared into Regina’s eyes, scared, trusting her. Regina whispered, “It’s alright,” to him, and the tension in his body eased. Regina’s eyes watered as she looked into his bloodshot eyes, the purple bruising.
After the glass had been consumed, Mama poured another and began the process again. Regina could see Jacob’s focus clouding right in front of her, knew the alcohol was taking affect. He still stared up at her.
“If this don’t work, I love you, and I’m sorry I was such a fool,” he slurred out to her. Regina could keep the tears back no more, letting them run freely down her cheeks with abandon.
“I love you,” she whispered back to him, saw the recognition and relief in his eyes, and then slowly, he passed out from the affects of the alcohol.
“Perfect timing,” Johnson muttered as he moved in with his operating tools. He had arranged them all on a tray that Elijah had fetched from the inn’s kitchen: three knives in different lengths, a couple wads of cloth that he had cut to use for blotting and compressing against the open wound, a bottle of iodine, a needle threaded with a thick thread. The sharpest knife, a small paring knife, was the first to be selected. He propped Jacob onto his left side a bit, using pillows and blankets to shove under him, then, after a curt nod to Blake and Elijah, made his first cut along Jacob’s hipbone and toward his belly. Jacob’s body convulsed in pain, but the men at each end held him down as instructed. Mama stood over Johnson’s shoulder, ready to blot the fresh cut so that Johnson could see through the blood inside Jacob’s body.
Regina couldn’t watch. She just stared hard down into Jacob’s clenched and troubled face. She was sorry for his pain, and hoped the procedure would be over soon.
The time ticked on. The light from the candles burned low, but Mrs. Jackson, their hostess at the Inn, came in silently from time to time to replace them, and to see if there was anything else needed. Mama conversed with her quietly, looking over her shoulder to confirm or give thanks to Mrs. Jackson’s most recent trip to the room. Regina was conscious of Mama’s ability to do so many things at once, found herself gazing up at her momentarily in amazement as Mama directed everything about the room. But then Regina caught sight of the blood splattered apron that Mama wore and tore her eyes away quickly to focus again on Jacob.
When finally Johnson began stitching Jacob’s wound, Regina stretched her tense back and neck that had become stiff from sitting in one spot for so long. Her eyes burned, tired and aching. Her heart was heavy from the stress of worry. Jacob had still struggled from time to time, but his struggling came weakly, and Regina knew it wasn’t a good sign. She steeled herself for what she knew Johnson would be telling them.
Johnson and Mama went downstairs to the kitchen to wash their hands and faces with lye. Elijah and Blake gathered up the bloody sheets and towels to take to the wash bin behind the Inn. Regina stayed with Jacob despite her aching body, bent over him, touching his face gently.
“You have the most beautiful eyes,” she found herself saying out loud to him. “I always thought your eyes looked just like the thick chocolate drink that Delilah made. I loved looking in those eyes of yours, Jacob. You seemed to see me and love me for who I am. Everyone tells me how pretty I am, but I wanted to be more than pretty, Jacob. I wanted to be loved for being smart and being a good person. You were the one who I thought did that.”
The silence enveloped her and Jacob. Regina could hear the sound of snow crunching under someone’s feet as they walked along the dirt road outside. She ignored it, instead recalling the countless nights that she and Jacob played chess or cuddled, or read together. They had talked of getting married and moving together to a small farm where Jacob could tend a garden for them and Regina could use her acquired skill at shop keeping to open a small general store. There had never been talk of children, although Regina knew they both wanted them. What had torn them apart was the fact that she had been possessed by another man, and was now going to have that man’s baby. Their dream was shattered, her life now shaped by events that had seemed so out of her control, and her inability to understand the difference between obsession and love.
Jacob’s face glistened with the sweat from his ordeal, his skin a pasty color. He managed to sleep, though. Regina took a cloth from a wash bin and wiped it across his brow, trying to ease his discomfort at least a little.
It was some time before Johnson and Mama returned, both looking somber and tired. Elijah and Blake did not return, however.
“Where’s Elijah?” Regina asked as they sat near her.
“He and Blake are down in the tavern, having a whiskey with Mr. Jackson,” Johnson said, not quite meeting her eyes. “This has been a long night for everyone.” The last statement was said so ominously that Regina looked up at him and began to cry. Johnson saw her acceptance. Mama stood up and put her hands on Regina’s shoulders, comforting, supporting.
“His internal organs have been crushed and severed,” Johnson said, looking into Regina’s eyes. His own soft blue eyes were filled with regret and sorrow, which made the blow a little softer, but Regina couldn’t stop her tears. “It looks as though he had been run over – several times – by a carriage, and then beaten severely after that. His intestines have been punctured, and it will be a very short time before he’ll be poisoned to death from the inside. His blood pressure is extremely low, which explains the vomiting earlier, and his body will begin shutting down soon. This all probably happened either earlier today or yesterday, as the wounds are fresh. Most likely, he will not reawaken.”
Regina took in the information stoically, already knowing the outcome, but the finality searing into her heart. Jacob’s refusal of her was forgiven. She knew he had always loved her, just had let jealousy and doubt get in the way, but in the end, he knew he had been wrong. ‘I was such a fool,’ he had told her; ‘If this doesn’t work, I love you.’ They were finally at peace with each other, and Jacob could let go of his mortality with a clean conscience. Regina could let him go, knowing they had come to understand each other. And they had loved each other deeply.
The three of them sat together, watching Jacob as his breathing became labored and eventually stopped. Regina laid her head against Jacob’s chest and cried as his last breath was expelled. Mama pulled Regina to her feet, where she swooned slightly from sitting in the same position for so long and then standing abruptly, then ushered her from the little room and down the stairs to the tavern. At a small corner table sat Elijah, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, Blake and Felicia. Mr. Jackson jumped up to fetch two more chairs to accommodate Mama and Regina, then poured them each a glass of the whiskey.
“No, I shouldn’t,” Regina protested, but Mama held up a hand and pushed the glass in front of Regina.
“You’re going to need a sleeping aid, and this is the best one I know of,” Mama insisted.
Felicia and Mama talked in hushed tones back and forth as the rest of them sat quietly looking into their glasses, down at the table or out the front picture window that faced the deserted street. Blake, the only white man at the table, seemed completely at ease among the blacks, talking to them as an equal, sharing the pain and grief they all felt.
Regina sipped at the amber liquid that burned her throat. She let herself be numbed by the alcohol. She noted drunkenly the closeness between Mama and Felicia, suddenly realizing that Felicia was Mama’s natural child. She heard Felicia tell Mama that she would be home in the morning, glancing over at Elijah, who stared down into his glass with tears running unabashedly down his face. Regina knew that Elijah and Jacob had become good friends, and knew she wasn’t the only one suffering from his death.
Regina’s glass had been refilled somehow, and she drank that, too. It went down a little smoother this time. She didn’t recall much more, only that at one point she had awakened in a large bed, screaming Jacob’s name and sobbing, only to have Johnson there beside her, his soothing voice telling her it was alright before her thoughts shuffled back into the recesses of her mind and she slept fitfully again.