Lunar Gaze

Chapter 13

There was a somber ere that covered the small village within Westmoreland. For days people searched high and low for Josephine, but after a while most lost hope. It was assumed she was kidnapped, sold into illegal slavery. Most came to the conclusion that her return would never come.

In Josephine's home there was especially silence. All within the home sat in the living room in front of the fire, warming the room in the cold Caribbean night. Josephine's sister, Elisabeth, cried out all of her tears. Now she was left with emptiness. Rudy stood behind Elisabeth's chair, rubbing her shoulders periodically to give her comfort.

Perode had yet to leave the island, insistent on staying in Jamaica until Josephine was found. It was in his Haitian blood to fight ruthlessly against the oppressive system that they lived in.

Marie stayed a long while at the Scarlett household, way into the night. Lazily she lounged in her chair, projecting sadness every time someone looked at her. At a certain point it seemed like her job of mourning Josephine was through, because she stood up and took her small pouch with her.

"Well, I plan on returning home." Marie announced.

"I thought you'd stay here, I reckon it's too dangerous for you to travel at night." Elisabeth expressed.

"Perode can see me home." Said Marie. "If not to escort us, what are men for?"

There was silence.

"That comment was in bad taste after what happened to Miss Josephine." Rudy expressed.

"Shouldn't you be cleaning something?" Asked Marie. Then she looked to Perode, who sat in a chair staring into space. He rubbed his chin slowly and hard, one could imagine a thousand thoughts running through his mind.

"Perode..." Marie called out to him. "Perode."

He blinked and looked up at her.

"I wish to go home now. Will you escort me?" Marie asked. Although it truly made sense for Marie to stay at the Scarlett household, Perode complied. He didn't want Marie taking a chance on traveling on her own, from what he could tell she was a girl who refused to take no for an answer.

In the night they both walked, and Marie tried starting conversation. She spoke about the happenings within their village, especially the gossip. Perode didn't seem to engage, so she moved on. "The weather is just lovely tonight. And the moon, the moon is gorgeous. You know, if Josephine was here she'd be just ecstatic?"

"Must you mention her name?" Perode asked. "At a time like this?"

Marie stopped in her tracks. She looked into Perode's dark brown eyes, looking up at his tall stature which she perceived to be delicious. "Well look at you. All choked up over her."

"How could I not?" Perode asked Marie. He looked around, and saw that no one was too near in the night. Then he leaned toward Marie and whispered. "I intended on proposing to her."

"Propose?" Marie asked. "But the night she went missing you were with another girl."

"And I know now the error of my ways." Perode said in a shaky voice. "But it was always my intention to take Josephine as my wife."

"Well you ruined that I suppose." Marie crossed her arms. "You see, I don't view you as a husband. Purely a playboy. A bachelor for the ages. Do they even have Christian marriages in Haiti?"

"You mock me." Perode told Josephine.

"No, that's not what I'm doing at all." She extended her hands. Then she let out a laugh. "If I'm being entirely honest, I find you the most attractive man there is!"

"If I didn't know better, I would believe you were charming me, Miss Marie." Perode said in disbelief.

"You did most of the charming just by being so captivating." Answered Marie. She stepped in the opposite direction and motioned from him to follow. "Come on now, we are almost there."

After arriving on Marie's porch, Perode wished her a good night. But Marie simply didn't want to hear that. She thought of ways to delay Perode's leave. "Perode, suppose you came inside and I made you some tea?"

"Tea?" Perode asked. He thought about her offer, then realized her intentions. His face fell, and politely he came up with an excuse. "At this hour I do not believe that is necessary. I have to return to the Scarlett household."

"Must you return to that wretched house?" Marie protested. Perode slightly turned as if to begin walking away, but Marie flung herself forward and grabbed his arms. "She's not coming back. She's gone forever. It is senseless to continue to await her return."

"You miserable woman. How could those words leave your mouth?" Asked Perode.

"Do you believe I do not mourn too? That I do not feel an emptiness in my heart as well?" Marie went on, but then she stepped even closer to Perode. She cupped his face in her hands. "If Josephine were able to communicate with us, she'd say she wants us to comfort each other. To be together."

They both looked into each other's eyes for a long while, and then finally Perode reluctantly asked, "What is it you suggest?".

Marie exhaled, shutting her eyes before him. "I have yet to be touched in so long. After Josephine decided to disappear, superstitions have rotted the brains of our local men. And all seem to believe that bad obeah rid Josephine of this village. And they believe that all who associated with her may cause harm." Marie explained. "And so I likely will not find peace here. No man will wish to be with me. No man would surely marry me. You are the only man who has been so kind."

"I know what you are about to suggest, and I cannot." Perode told her. "It is not right."

"How could a feeling such as this be wrong?" Marie took Perode's hand in hers then placed it against her bosom. "My heart beats for you, and I know you find me charming as well. All I ask is that you show me the affection you too showed Quinn the night of the party. I know you are not entirely a gentleman, I know you aren't above physical affection. Allow me to feel once again what I have been greatly denied."

Marie's offer to Perode was the same as offering a drunkard booze. While Perode truly cared for Josephine, and truly he wished for her return, his lothario ways had yet to cease. He knew it would do no good to give into Marie's advances, but his will was not strong.

Marie led him to a shed that sat on her family's property, a shed where she had entertained many men. In almost no time, the two began ravishing each other. Just outside the shed, one could hear many moans and grunts of ecstasy coming from between the two. The remote locate of Marie's home and the shed they hid away in allowed for privacy.

All while across the sea, Josephine sat by a window on a ship. And with sorrow, she looked to the moon. Something in her caused discomfort, she felt as though something were wrong. But at that point, everything seemed wrong. She had learned of her fate, that the ship would not be going to Westmoreland but to Hispaniola instead. Such news caused so much distress, she cried out and fell to the found. As she sat in the chair she was placed in, she was taken off guard as something wrapped around her shoulders. She felt a wool texture rest on her shoulders, and it was simply Kidd placing an old blanket on her.

As she looked to the moon, she imagined once again being home. With Perode and Marie, plus her sister and father. She shut her eyes. Soon, she'd return home.