Fade To White - Sequel to Fade To Black

Departing

The boarding house was finally finished and I walked around the perimeters, inspecting every inch of it. It had to be perfect. Clementine now refused to talk to me, still tending to George's every beck and call. To me, he felt like an intruder, but clearly Clementine thought differently. After she had slammed the door and left I had discovered she was now sleeping with the kids, snuggling into Anna's bed.

I went inside to tell Clementine the news about the finished house and I  checked the rooms, Clemy not occupying them. "Clemy? Clementine? I've got something to show you!" I said. I walked into the kitchen and headed towards George's room. I knocked on the door and heard whispering from inside. It was Clementine's soft voice with George's. Instead of waiting I barged in, watching George try to put his shirt over his head in a rush. What was going on?

Clemy cleared her throat helping George slip the shirt on and then looking at me, a little wearily. "Yes Jack?" She asked. I looked between the two and felt something surge in me- it made me feel as if my chest was on fire, my body tense.

"What is going on-" I tried to ask. Clemy wasn't even going to give me the time of day.

"Jackson, just tell me what you wanted to tell me." She said nonchalant.

"The boarding house is finished..."  I stated, waiting for her reaction. I saw a glimmer of surprise pass through her eyes but then she looked at me coldly.

"Is that all?" She asked.

"What? What do you mean is that all? I built this for you! Now i'm done. Aren't you... happy?" I was feeling rather let down, her reaction not even close to what I had expected.

"Of course, of course," She said monotonously. "But this means we've got to spread the news. I've been working up a plan with George. We've decided to visit you're sisters in Georgia and then make our way through the rest of the South. You'll be here to greet them all." She said matter-of-fact. I felt left-out, not having known of this plan. George looked at me coolly and I tried to keep my composure.

"What about the kids?" I asked.

"They know already." In the corner of the room I saw two trunks, one filled to the brim with dresses and petticoats, the other with the rest of the contents from the pantry.

"W-when are you leaving? For how long? This is all so sudden" My voice raised in fear- I know we were having our problems but did she have to leave?

"We plan on leaving in the afternoon, making our route so we can steer clear from any Confederates."

"Clemy! You could both be killed if he's found out! He's a Union Soldier, remember? For all we know his face could be plastered everywhere by now!" I was trying my best to keep her with me. I needed her here, we could work things out, i'd do anything.

"All those Confederates see is a blue coat and they fire." She said.

"They never saw my face." George added and I shot him a look.

"Jackson, we're going and it's final. You know I want this boarding house to work and this is the only way it can." That was true, yes, but did George have to come along? How could I trust that  he would protect her?

"It's almost noon now. We've packed everything. Help us load it onto the cart, would you?" She asked. George got up then and followed Clemy out of the room and out the front door. I grabbed the two large, heavy trunks and hoisted them threw the doorway. George had pulled up the riding cart and I went to fetch Wolf in the stable.

Clemy trailed behind me silently and I looked back and grabbed her small hand, pulling her up next to me. "You're walking behind me. I feel more comfortable when you're by my side. I can see that you're alright then." I said.

"You know, it's not like i'm in any danger every single minute of the day. In fact, that's hardly ever the case Jackson. You have to learn to relax." Her voice was calm  and she actually looked at me sincerely.

"Now that you'll be leaving how do you expect me to learn  to relax at all? I'll be a nervous wreck. And the kids..." I began.

"Like I said, they already know. I wouldn't be going if I thought they wouldn't have been alright without me. Besides, they have you. They miss you Jack. You were always so busy in the fields in the past, you should get to know you're children better." She squeezed my hand tightly and I looked down at her, wishing I could just say whatever she needed to hear, but knowing I wouldn't make a difference- she was set on leaving.

We reached the stable and I pet Wolf in his favorite spot on the patch of soft fur between his eyes. "Hey boy." I whispered to him. "You've finally got a job to do." I took him by his reigns and watched him trot around the stable happily.  Clemy was on the other side of the stable getting supplies for Wolf. "Hey, while you're at it boy, give George a swift kick to the-"

"C'mon Jackson." Clemy said, leading the way out of the barn. I guess I left the imagination to Wolf. I got everything boarded onto the wagon and Wolf's harness was all set. I looked at the odd pair that was Clemy and George and wondered how they would ever survive this trip. But I had to think positively because if I didn't I would go mad.

Before my wife could just disappear into the depths of the South I thought It would be appropriate for the children to see her leave. I know Clementine didn't want to- it would break her heart to watch them wave her goodbye for the first time. I went back into the house and upstairs where they sat on their beds, Annabelle playing with her doll and Wes polishing up his small collection of bayou souvenirs, looking somber.

"Anna. Wes. Mama's leaving." I said carefully.  Anna looked up at me with wide eyes and Wes stopped rearranging his collection. Suddenly they both sprung into my arms, leaping across the room, both of their tears soaking my shirt. I hugged them both, trying to console them. "Lets say goodbye."  They agreed, wiping their eyes which proved useless, unable to stop crying.

They met Clementine downstairs who smiled at the sight of them and began to tear up herself as they then leaped into her arms like before, crying all over again. Clementine said how much she loved them, kissing them on the head.

"Be safe Mama! There's some scary stuff out there!" Wesley exclaimed, clutching on to his mother's dress.

"I know baby." She replied.

"Mama, look after yourself! You must come back!" Annabelle made her promise.

"Of course baby." She replied.

"Mama, we're going to worry so much!" Anna said.

"Don't worry about me! I'm more worried about you! You're twelve years old now, and you two can help your father round the plantation. Do as you're father says and don't misbehave...I love you." Clementine felt as though she couldn't say enough 'love you's'.

"We love you too." I said, hugging the children and Clementine. We were all together as a family, the all three of us crying a little. I thought that as I grew older I hardened up a little, that I wasn't so emotional anymore, but when moments like this happened, I tended to surprise myself.

"Clementine... you don't have to go. I could go instead." I offered, on a whim.

"I wanna do this Jackson." She said it indefinitely, and I realized there was no way to convince her out of this.

Eventually, we had to let her go and I saw George staring for a moment until I had caught him and he looked the other way blankly. I told myself I wasn't worried about anything between her and George. I told myself I was being foolish. The cart pulled away then, old Wolf still full of youth as he began to trot down the gravel pathway.

I pulled the twins close to me, the hot breeze whipping our clothes in the wind. The leaves of a tree flew by and landed in a whirlpool of red dust. The cart disappeared and I could no longer hear the clack of Wolf's hooves on the road. The air was quiet and still. Now that Clementine had left, I suddenly felt empty.

"It's just us three for now." I said, still standing in the same spot and feeling as If I could never move until she came back...