Chapter 22 #2
“Well, well, the gang’s all here!” Fillis said as she walked up to them.
She looked slightly worried at first, but visibly relaxed when she saw all their happy faces.
She looked lovingly at all her adopted children, reserving her fondest look for Jesse, who had been her baby for longer than any of them. Much, much longer.
Fillis sat down next to Jesse and said, “Now. What’s this all about?”
“We have some good news to share,” Lucy said, holding up her left hand and showing off her ring.
Fillis’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, my land!” She stared down at the ring, then looked from Lucy to Jesse. “Will you look at that? My baby’s getting married!”
“Yes, Second Mama,” Jesse said, his face glowing with happiness. “I sure am.”
“Jesse, my God. Could you ever have imagined?” Fillis looked at him in wonder. “Oh, I remember settin’ with him when he was still dead. He was so heartbroken over you, Lucy. Thinkin’ he could never be with you. He never even imagined you could love him back!”
“’Til I got drunk and told him how I felt,” Lucy said with a laugh.
Fillis laughed, too. “Yes. He came and told me and says, ‘She loves me, Second Mama. She loves me!’ I ain’t never seen him happier. Well, ’til just now.”
Jesse put his arm around Lucy, and they both smiled at Fillis. It felt good to see her so happy.
“But you know, Second Mama,” Jesse said gently, pulling away from Lucy a bit and focusing on Fillis. “Lucy’s family lives in Maryland and, well, when we get married, we’re planning on moving down there.”
“I understand,” Fillis said, with sadness in her eyes.
Fillis wasn’t the only one who looked sorrowful.
Lucy saw Remy’s pained look when she heard the news about her and Jesse moving away.
Lucy felt awful. It hadn’t even occurred to her how this would affect Remy.
Besides Theresa and Sean, Lucy and Jesse were her only family.
Lucy made a mental note to talk with her, to reassure her that Maryland was just a short car ride away, and that they would still see her as much as possible.
“We’re hopin’ she can get a teachin’ job around there, and I’ll be so glad to get her away from Gettysburg.
It’s gettin’ more dangerous for her ’round these battlegrounds every day and I just can’t stand the thought of her gettin’ hurt again,” Jesse said, looking devastated just thinking of what had happened to Lucy.
“Amen to that!” Fillis said, looking equally worried. “I understand, child. I want you to get on with your life. Your life, Jesse! I still cain’t believe it!”
“I don’t know how you do it, Second Mama,” Theresa said. “You’ve loved and lost so many of the soldiers around here. All those guys you loved as your own, only to have them always leave you to cross over.”
“That’s the way it should be,” Fillis said, though the heartbreak was written all over her face.
First she’d had to lose the children from the plantation she’d lived on.
Helene’s two sons and her daughter, whom Fillis loved as her own.
Then after she’d died, she’d loved and nurtured so many others, only to have them cross over and leave her behind.
It was too much grief for any mother to bear.
“We still want to help you cross over and be at peace,” Lucy said gently. “Fillis, I think it’s time.”
Fillis opened her mouth, ready to dismiss the idea, but Lucy held firm.
“Just hear me out!” Lucy insisted. “I was able to find some information on the Bellflower plantation online. And I found some information on Helene.”
Fillis stared at Lucy, as everything around them went still and quiet. She nodded slowly. Lucy could see the fear in the old woman’s eyes. Fear that Lucy would tell her that something horrible became of the woman she loved after Fillis ran away from her home.
“The Master didn’t kill her, Fillis. In fact, he only lived for a few more years after you died.”
“Oh, thank the sweet lord! Dear God, I just hope he didn’t beat her…or hurt her none.” Fillis said, her voice shaking with anxiety and grief. Her love for the master’s wife was as strong now as it had been one hundred and fifty years ago.
“I don’t think he did, Fillis. I’ve read up on the history of the plantation, and there’s no record of any harm coming to her,” Lucy said, thankful that she didn’t have to break the woman’s heart. “Did you know that the plantation is still open?”
“It is? How’s that possible? After all this time!” Fillis said in wonder.
“It’s an historical landmark now. A place where tourists can visit. You know those gardens that Helene used to take care of? They’re still there! The place is known for their amazing flowers, and people come from all over to see them!” Lucy said excitedly.
“You mean they’s people walkin’ all over through her gardens?” Fillis asked.
Lucy nodded slowly, fearing she might have upset the poor woman. She exchanged a concerned look with Jesse.
“My God, she would’ve loved that,” Fillis said softly.
“Really?” Lucy asked hopefully.
“Oh, my, yes! Them flowers were her pride and joy. To think…they’s people walking around admirin’ her lovely gardens. Oh, she’d be tickled pink!”
Lucy smiled, then picked up her tablet device and unlocked the screen. “I have some pictures online of the gardens as they are now. Would you like to see them?”
“Oh, Lucy, I would love that,” Fillis said, her face filled with emotion. Lucy couldn’t imagine all the memories she had locked away in her heart. Precious memories of the woman she had loved for almost two centuries.
Lucy pulled up the website of the Bellflower plantation and showed Fillis the photo gallery of the lush gardens.
The photographs were like something from a fairytale.
All those vibrant colors of flowers, the green of the trees, and there was a tranquil lake and a lovely, romantic bridge that covered the water.
It was so breathtaking that it made it frighteningly easy to forget the horrors of slavery that lurked behind all that beauty.
“My God, it’s just as I remember,” Fillis said softly.
“Fillis,” Lucy said gently, trying not to break the spell that Fillis was under. “Someone painted a portrait of Helene. Would you like to see a picture of it?”
Fillis looked up at Lucy, eyes filled with hope. “Very much,” she whispered.
Lucy nodded, then scrolled through the website’s photo gallery. She found the portrait, then put the tablet in front of Fillis so she could see.
Fillis let out a choked sob when she saw the portrait of Helene.
The woman had a lovely, kind face. Her hair was brown and her eyes a soft gray, a lot like Avery’s eyes.
Lucy thought she was beautiful. She found herself drawn to the woman in the photo, as anyone loved so dearly by Fillis was precious to her as well.
Lucy knew in her heart that it was time the two were reunited in a place where they would never, ever be torn apart again.
“Fillis,” Lucy said softly. “We want you to cross over to be with her. You’ve done your maternal duty long enough, and it’s time for you to go home.”
Fillis looked up at Lucy uncertainly, but for the first time, she didn’t protest immediately at the thought.
Remy got up and moved closer to Fillis. “Second Mama, we’ve been talking to Mary over at Farnsworth.
I know you’re good friends with her, and you know how she cares for all the guests who stay at the inn, watching over them.
She said she’s more than happy to take care of the soldiers after you’re gone. ”
Fillis sat still, taking in Remy’s words. She looked at Helene’s picture again and said quietly, “I miss her so much.”
Jesse spoke up softly, saying, “Promise me you’ll at least think about going home to her.”
After a moment of silent reflection, Fillis nodded.