7. Chapter Seven #3
Grandmama patted Margaret’s knee. “I will take care of this,” she whispered.
Margaret looked at her feet as Mama sat next to her.
She didn’t know whether to cry or remain strong.
There were two ways to deal with the situation—take responsibility or cowardly turn it away.
Such a destiny was given to her, and she had a serious path to choose.
After all, Margaret’s future was uncertain.
Her life had been on pause for five years.
Could this be her purpose? Being an heiress was the last thing she expected.
The very thought of being useless bore into her like sharp fangs.
Could this be her hope of making something of herself?
“Margaret, I understand you are in quite a shock, but believe me, I have been there.”
Margaret nodded.
Her mother scooted closer. “Talk to me.”
Instead of speaking, all Margaret could do was hug Mama. The woman’s touch was soothing. As Margaret clung to her, her tears began to fall. “Oh, Mama, what do I do?”
“I’d rather you push this aside and come home, but only you can decide what to do. But from my experience, I advise you to follow the path God wants to lead you down.”
Margaret wiped her tears and pulled away. “This is a huge decision, Mama. It’s one I never expected I’d have to make, but somehow, I can’t help but wonder if this is my destiny.”
Mama’s eyebrows rose. “Destiny?”
“Evie has a passion for nursing, and Marjorie has a passion for music, dancing, and fashion. What do I have, Mama? The last time I tried to explore my identity, it led to disaster. What if this is how I can save our family’s fortune and take responsibility for my life?”
“But will it make you happy?”
Margaret buried her face in her hands as she leaned forward. “I don’t know.”
Her mother’s hand gently rubbed circles along Margaret’s back. “I’m not going to lie, Margaret. I am proud of you for examining responsibility rather than selfish desires. I only wish I had that mindset at your age.”
Margaret peeked through her fingers and looked at her mother, whose face was etched with regret—a face she would never forget. “What do you mean by that?”
“I was a selfish girl at your age,” Mama explained.
“You don’t know the whole story about your father and me, but it began when my own father was in debt.
If I didn’t marry your father, my family would have been on the streets.
We were at the Nicholson’s mercy. However, instead of thinking about reality .
. . I let my selfish desires take over me.
It almost cost the life of the man I loved—” Mama paused and dabbed her glistening eyes. “I loved a man before your father.”
Margaret’s eyes widened. She had known nothing about her parent’s pasts other than the arrangement.
She couldn’t imagine how much pain it caused Mama over the years, to keep such dark secrets hidden.
It seemed each day in Richmond, more secrets were uncovered.
The truth was buried deep and covered by these closed memories that were never to be spoken of.
“What happened to him, Mama?”
“We tried to run away,” Mama explained. “I hated your father and wanted to be with the man I loved. He was a stable hand and farmer, too far below my station, but I wanted him. I stole from my family, and the man I loved was blamed for it. I willingly married your father because it was the only way to save the man’s life.
I never put my family and the responsibilities first like you are doing. ”
“But—” Margaret stammered. “You do love Daddy, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Mama said with a smile. “More than anything, but it wasn’t perfect at first.” Mama pointed to Jane Eyre’s cover in Margaret’s lap.
“Our love story wasn’t like the ones you read about in those romance novels.
It was harder to learn to love than to let it come naturally.
It took months of letting my bitterness and anger go before I could let myself love him.
” Mama looked Margaret in the eyes. “Life comes with hardships at every end, and that is why you must choose your path carefully when God presents you with a crossroad. Marrying the wrong man and for the wrong reasons could sacrifice your happiness.”
“But I’m not focused on my happiness,” Margaret said. “I want my family to be back together and happy. I want to take responsibility and keep our fortune in our family.”
Mama rested her hand on Margaret’s shoulder.
“We don’t need money, Margaret. We’ll be happy knowing you are happy.
Please, before you make any rash decisions, pray for guidance and ask God to lead you.
If you choose to be the heiress, I pray God blesses you with a good man in time.
” Mama kissed Margaret’s right cheek. “I love you, darling, and I am very, very proud of you.”
Margaret laid her hand over her mother’s. “Thank you, Mama.”
When Mama left, Margaret was left alone with her thoughts. She picked up her copy of Jane Eyre and opened to the page she left off on, but she couldn’t focus any longer. What lingered on her mind were both outcomes of the paths God presented her with. Which one would be the right one?