"Ruin and Redemption"

A Way Out for Lizzie

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“Lizzie, honey. Eat your breakfast.”

“I’m not sure I want to Patsy. What’s the point?”

“To stay healthy, of course. Your father’s already gone. You think I want to lose you too, Lizzie?”

“Why would it matter, Patsy? I’m just the plantation owner. Wouldn’t it be good for you if I were gone? Nobody to cook or clean for? Nothing to do for anyone but yourself?”

“Lizzie, don’t talk like that! I want to be free, of course. But I don’t want you dying over it. Just write me a piece of paper, honey. That’s all you got to do.”

“I know, Patsy. I know….But I can’t now. I’m all alone. I don’t have anybody but you, and Derrick I guess.”

“Well, I sure wouldn’t want to leave you like this, or my kids, but I sure would like to have my certificate…you think about that Lizzie. Maybe you’ll get better. Maybe you’ll marry Derrick.”

“I don’t want to Patsy, he’s not the husband for me. Josiah might even be better. My father wanted me to forgive him, but what he did to Michael was too horrible…now that I know…I can’t betray Michael like that. But I’m so lonely Patsy, I think I might as well marry him. You know, Derrick I mean. Better to at least have someone around, and at least he wants to marry me.”

“Hmmm…” Should she tell what she knew? Could Lizzie handle it in her state? Surely marrying Derrick would be the best option for Lizzie, wouldn’t it? It was best she didn’t know. Besides, Derrick seemed to like her well enough. She imagined he would at least appreciate her cooking. “He looks like a good choice, Lizzie. At least, you can consider him a friend. And that’s not a bad person to marry. You wouldn’t be so lonely with him around the house.” And with him around the house, Lizzie wouldn’t be begging her to stay over so much, and she would have more time at home with her own children. Maybe Derrick could even help out with Michael’s kids…but would he consider them some kind of threat too? “Lizzie, you just think about it awhile. Derrick could be good, but your father might be right about forgiving Josiah, too. Or maybe you should just stay single for awhile. Maybe somebody you really like will move into town.”

“I don’t know. I just want it to be all over with Patsy! If Derrick wants to marry me, that’s fine with me. I could care less. As long as you don’t mind Derrick, and you think the kids will be fine with him, I see no reason not to marry him.”

“Just think on it a little more, Lizzie. You’ve got a load of grief, and you aren’t seeing straight maybe. Just because he knows how to get to your house every week doesn’t mean he’s the only man who might be interested.”

“Well, do I look like I’m interested in even finding out Patsy? Michael was really the only one for me; You know that. If I can’t have him though, at least I can have a friend who has helped me through this tough time. Don’t I at least deserve a friend?”