"Ruin and Redemption"

CiCi Endures an Ordeal Bravely

“Well, he was once one of my best friends and I had always looked forward to seeing more of him when his father died. But as you say, I am a married woman now, and circumstances do not permit me to just drop in for a visit whenever I might like.”

Derrick sighed. “I guess you do miss him then. I’m not quite enough am I? I suppose if you were the wife of a lowly sharecropper, or, I should say, a small farmer---- you’ll be pleased to know Josiah owns his land now--- you would be working the fields with the slaves and going riding whenever you wanted. What I meant to say is,  you would not have such high standards to live up to. I should not have married you so soon, Lizzie. I should have given you more time to make up your mind.” 

Lizzie had no idea what to say to this. Some of it rang all too true. She hesitated to say how much it pleased her that Josiah now owned his own land. Perhaps Izzie and the other girls would have more of a chance now.

“You didn’t rush me that much. I couldn’t think of marrying Josiah, then; I couldn’t even look at him without thinking of what he had done. You know that, Derrick.” Lizzie answered truthfully.

“I suppose… I think its time I got some rest.”

“I’ll be up shortly, dear.”

With regret, Lizzie realized she hadn’t even checked on CiCi the whole evening. CiCi had done everything she needed to do to please the guests. The food had been delicious and the kitchen was now immaculate. She must be in her room already. Lizzie sat in the kitchen, allowing herself to daydream for a few minutes about what life would have been like ploughing the fields with Josiah and educating his brothers and sisters. It wouldn’t have been easy, but she would have gotten so much more out of it!

Lizzie didn’t realize that her eyes were getting heavy and she fell asleep at the kitchen table. Derrick came to wake her and lead her up the stairs. Her belly ribcage hurt from the corset. She was amazed she had fallen asleep in that position! On the way upstairs, Derrick allowed her to lean against him He told her she was beautiful when the corset came off, and helped her with her nightclothes. The bed was already turned down, waiting to enfold her. As soon as she was dressed for bed, Lizzie crawled under the covers, and Derrick enfolded her, pulling the covers around both of them,

Lizzie fell asleep immediately.

Lizzie was teaching in a school up North. Her pupils were excited to be learning. David stood by, looking on proudly, ready to give her any support she needed.

When Lizzie woke the next morning, she was so disappointed to still be here on her plantation. She hoped it didn’t register on her face to her husband.

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“Patsy, would you help me with this knitting?” Lizzie asked five months later.

“Not now, Lizzie. You know Mr. Derrick could be home any day now, and there’s plenty of chores left for me and CiCi to do before he gets back." Patsy answered.

“But Patsy, I only need a few minutes!” Lizzie pleaded.