Love Me Tender

Chapter 21

Emma walked out of her cabin towards the barn, tomorrow she was getting married. She needed to find James, he was her father figure. Her own father didn't have anything to do with her, he won't even look at her. Her own parents, her flesh and blood hated everything about her. Her mammy told her how her mother wouldn't hold her right after she was born.

Emma looked back and remembered the few times that they were actually there. Even though she had a real nice bedroom, it was more for show. The dresses she got that was so fancy that Grace use to envy? Well those were made by her mammy, she use to be one of the slaves that would do all the sewing.

Emma envied Grace, she had a family that loved her. She had everything that Emma only wished she could have. Emma's mother, she put on the appearance that she cared for her daughter. The truth was, as soon as everyone was out of sight she would shove Emma away from her.

Rebecca and James had never known just what she had to endure what treatment her parents gave her. She was always told, " If you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, you will be thrown into the cellar with the rats. You won't have no food or water, and your mammy won't be able to help you." 

Emma would always cry when her mother told her that. Emma remembered the one time her mother actually did throw her in the cellar for three whole days. The only reason she did was to prove her threat true. Those were horrible times, and then when she was fourteen she was forced to marry. 

Caleb was a hateful old coot, he proved his threat when he shoot her mammy between the eyes. Emma shook her head, she was releasing those ghosts. She was messed up in the mind, all her life she just wanted to be loved.

Now came the time that she had been waiting for her whole life, she had the family she wanted. They loved her and she loved them. She was going to have a happy life and her daughter would never feel the way her parents made her feel. Carrie would know love and be loved, there wouldn't be a day that goes by without love. 

Rachel spotted Emma and seen the tears that were glistening on her cheeks. She drew her brow together with worry. " Emma, what's wrong? Your not changing your mind about tomorrow are you?"

Emma hadn't even felt the tears that were spilling out of her eyes. She smiled" I was remembering my childhood"

Rachel laughed" Oh, you had me worried there for a minute. I remember how Grace use to bug mother about having dresses like yours."

Emma smiled,"Rachel, can we talk? I feel so much closer to you than Grace right now. I just need to get somethings off of my chest. Things that no one knows, and hopefully once they are out in the open they will disappear."

Rachel grew worried and nodded" I am here for you, let's sit under the great oak tree. We won't be bothered here."

As the two women walked over to sit under the tree, Emma started to feel scared at the same time. Rachel sat and waited for her to begin, she knew that Emma had been through a traumatic experience with her husband. If that was what you wanted to call him, she called him a few choice names. 

Before they started to talk, Rebecca came across the field towards them. Emma waited to start after she got to them. Rebecca smiled" I came to find you and to tell you that everything is finally finished for tomorrow."

Emma stood up and hugged her tight, " I was going to talk to Rachel about somethings that have been bothering me here of late. Would you join us? I think you would want to know too.  When I told you about what happened with Caleb, it was like I was released from bondage. I just need to release what I have left to get out of the way for my happiness to take over." 

Rebecca sat down next to them, Emma waited for Rebecca to get comfortable before beginning. She then cleared her throat," What I have to say will change your opinion of my parents completely of what you think of them now."