"Ruin and Redemption"

The Shadow Stalks the Sun

“Oh, Scarlett is just charming Derrick!” Esme gushed. “I thought you said she had a temper. She seemed a bit uncomfortable, but nothing more.”

“Oh, well, I’m not sure you know her like I do, Esme. Still, I’m happy she was polite to you, my love.”

They walked on arm and arm down to the slave quarters.

“Are you sure you want to see this Esme? We could wait until another day. I could take you horseback riding instead, or we could go for a walk in the woods,” Derrick offered, hopefully.

“Perhaps later, once I’m settled in a bit. I just want to see what my new home is like, Derrick. And the quarters are part of it, aren’t they?” Esme cajoled.

“Yes, I suppose they are,” Derrick answered, but he was still reluctant for her to see them.

“Well, let’s see them then, Derrick. We can’t ignore their existence, can we?”

“Non, Esme, but you don’t have to worry about them. They’re my business.”

“But this is my home now, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Esme.”

“Then I want to know what’s going on around me, Derrick. I always have made it my business to know what I can about my environment and now is no exception.”

“Well, I suppose we’ll take a look then.” Derrick was having trouble breathing. He was not eager at all for Esme to see the shoddy slave cabins and the mud along the trail. Maybe Lizzie had been right when she had suggested early on that they contribute some of the profits towards refurbishing the cabins and building up the trails. Derrick felt more and more ashamed the closer he brought Esme to the cabins. A Charleston courtesan should not be seeing such things.

A few children, probably his, along with their mothers ran out to greet him. Derrick felt embarrassed as usual. Embarassed and slightly disgusted looking at these children that belonged to him. My God, there were a lot of them; Lizzie was right! And they knew he was their father, which made him feel even more awkward. He didn’t even know most of their names.

“Mon Dieu, Derrick! I did not know you had so many children! And so many women, Derrick.”

“They are nothing compared to you, Esme,” Derrick answered, surprised that the well used line actually meant something to him this time.

“Why thank you, Derrick. But your children are not nothing!" Esme was indignant. She turned to the children gathered eagerly around her. "Oh, hello everyone! I’m Esme. From Charleston. I live here now. Hello, children!” Esme was eager to hold their hands, and did not shy back from them. Now she was allowing herself to be led into the small hut that one of Derrick’s women shared with her three children, all Derrick’s apparently.

Derrick crutched his way awkwardly behind her, looking around. He felt out of place right now in the middle of the day on Sunday. Usually, he snuck down to the quarters at night, and scarcely paid attention to the conditions around him. Everything looked so different in the broad daylight! He took a break and leaned on his crutch, shielding his eyes from the sun.

He felt out of place in the quarters amongst the slaves, most of whom were staring at him, wondering what he was doing there. He might as well join Esme in the cabin, although he wondered if that would be even more awkward. He strained his mind to try to remember the names the woman had given her children. He knew he had learned them at some point. And of course the mother was Sadie. Yes, Sadie. It had been awhile since he had been with her, but she had not been a bad woman to him. He did what he could for her.

Esme was surrounded by the children on all sides. She bent over one of them, laughing at what the little boy was telling her.

“Well, hello, Sadie.” Derrick smiled, ducking down to get into the cabin.