The Boy She Illegally Brought To The Lavender Field (bwwm)

Page 36

Annie and Johnny walked together after the burial. They found a large tree and stood underneath it. Annie leaned her back against it and Johnny leaned on his shoulder with hands in his pockets as he faced her.

"So what now?" she wondered.
"I've gotta find a better job. One that can provide for my mama and my sisters. Just until she gets a good job she wants. Then I can move out."
Annie nodded.
"I guess that means we gotta wait on our next date, huh?" he asked.
She looked at him. "Yea, I guess so."
"We'll go on another one real soon, I swear it."
"It's okay. Don't rush. Maybe we can take small steps at a time like going on walks and whatnot." Annie offered.
"Yea, that sounds good."

She liked them slowing back down since she didn't know how to feel.
The world felt too dangerous to get in a relationship, even though people were waiting for her to get married. Things were getting scary and she wanted to stay as out of it as she could.

"ANNIE!" Diana called.
Both heads looked in the direction of the voice.

"I guess it's time to go." Annie stated.
"Yea."
"I'll see you later, okay?"
"Alright."
Annie placed a gentle hand on Johnny's cheek and kissed the other before she walked towards her family's car.

Johnny stood at the tree, still feeling her touch against his face, and he sighed. Overwhelmed was an understatement and there was a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on. But too much had happened in a span of a few months that made him feel like wallowing in bed for a few more.

He turned around and headed back to find his mama as well.

•~~~•

The Moore family reached home and Annie went to her room to write in her journal about her dilemma.

She wrote the words I'd shared with you. Her fears of which option her heart could handle.
Marry the possible sufferer or be with the possible assailant.

She paused her pen and thought to herself.
If she asked Daniel whether or not he was at fault for the murder of the young boy last night, there was a possibility he'd lie so that he wouldn't upset her.

Her pen tapped against her journal while she pondered.

She had an idea.
The only issue would be that she knew it might be dangerous.

But she'd go out there, and she'd see for herself.
She'd find the people who were involved in the murders and she'd see if Daniel was with them. She wouldn't bring it up with him because it gave him opportunity to lie and to not attend whatever he was attending that helped him commit the crimes. She'd keep it a secret with only herself.
She didn't even write it in her journal, afraid it would be used as evidence.

She put her utensils down and got out of bed. All she had to do was find the proper materials to leave later that night.
A flashlight was a necessity.
Maybe even a whistle in case she ran into danger. Her daddy always told her to keep one on her and to blow into it as loudly as she could if she was ever unsafe. Somebody would hear and go running.

Annie looked through the cabinets and drawers around the house in search of a flashlight since she'd already had a whistle in her nightstand drawer.

"Whatcha lookin' for, Annie Denise?" Sirius asked and startled his daughter.
"Nothin', daddy. I was just curious of what we keep in here."
"Well alright." he scoffed and walked off.

Annie caught her breath and walked to the kitchen.

Diana was sitting there, humming beautifully, as she peeled a handful of carrots.

"What're your makin' with carrots, mama?" Annie asked and took a seat.
"Figured I'd make some carrot soufflé tonight. What do you think?"
"Oh that sounds real good."
"I thought so. It was your favorite back when you were little."

The two sat in silence as Diana peeled.

"Mama..." Annie called.
"Yes, Annie?"
"Do you want me to marry Johnny?"
Diana took a deep breath. "Well...I don't see any harm in it. I can't think of anybody else you'd marry unless you moved. But you know your daddy ain't lettin' you move outta here without a man to protect you from harm. So I guess it would have to be Johnny."
"Yea..."
"What's the matter? I thought you liked Johnny."
"I do, mama, it's just..." she took a deep breath. "After what Ms. Katherine went through with Mr. Robert and the feeling I had when Johnny got injured in front of my eyes, I'm scared to marry a black man."
Diana stopped what she was doing and stared at her daughter.
"Not for the reason you may be thinkin', but because why do I gotta go everyday of watchin' him leave the house and me sittin' there, preparin' dinner, and not knowin' if he's gonna come back alive or not?"
Diana sighed and put her hand on Annie's. "Well, babygirl, unfortunately we don't have the privilege of livin' otherwise. But I can tell you I feel your pain. I fear everyday when your daddy leaves for work and don't even get me started on the days he comes home so much as a minute or two late. I used to scold him for that kind of thing because I felt what you were feelin'. How do I know he's still alive?"

Annie looked at her mama.
"I don't. I never do. I just pray to my God and wish for the best. And I whoop his behind every time he comes back a minute late and gives me a heart attack. That man is a pain in my backside, do you understand me?" The women giggled together.

"Oh, but I understand what you mean, sweetheart. Truly I do. And it's a cold world out there. I worry about him and your brother. Especially when your brother went out to that protest. My God I could hardly keep still. I pray for my boys every day. Every time they not right in front of me. I pray they make it back soon."

~•~

"Hey, Dan." Scotty greeted as he and Daniel stood on the phone.
"Hey." Daniel replied.
"You goin' to the party tonight?"
"What party?"
"Mary's party. It's her birthday. Everybody's gonna be there. Figured you'd go and finally make a move on her like you always wanted."
"Uhh...Sounds great, but I can't tonight."
"What? Why?"
"Gotta help my dad with somethin'."

Daniel's excuses sounded more and more like coverups everyday to Scotty.

"Damn. Okay, well I guess I'll see you at work. I'll tell Mary you said hey."
"Yea."

The two hung up.

"Who was that? Girlfriend?" Nancy wondered.
"No, it was Scotty."
Daniel walked away from his mother and headed upstairs before she could be able to ask him any more questions.