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Date Posted: 14:02:18 08/22/03 Fri
Author: Wanda
Author Host/IP: 216.51.254.249
Subject: Second Generation - Parts #58-60

PART #58

Ruth had decided she would tell all to Delbert. It seemed important to him that he know everything about her relationship with Hollingsworth. She told him about working in the Deverall home as a housekeeper. She said, “It did not take long for me to see how unhappy Lenore was in her marriage to Sammie. I never called him Sammie though for I did not want to reveal there was any type of relationship between us. I worked for them for several months, and Sammie would come to see me at the cottage whenever he felt it was safe. He never stayed for long, never longer than an hour. He was different with me, always relaxed and fun loving.

Delbert looked at his mother and asked, “Mother, didn’t you feel a terrible sense of guilt for what you were doing?” Ruth answered with tears in her eyes, “Yes, I felt a terrible sense of guilt. I would try to appease that guilt by telling myself Sammie was so alone and needed me. I would argue with myself and part of me would say, “Lenore wouldn’t care if she knew, she doesn’t love him anyway.”

Delbert, something happened that changed everything. I found out that Lenore was pregnant. When I found out, I was crushed. Sammie had told me there were no romantic feelings between them, and now she was pregnant. I was angry with him; I was withdrawn. I told him never to come to my cottage again. I would continue to work for his wife, but he was to leave me alone. For a month Sammie honored my wishes. He didn’t come to the cottage at all. One night I heard a banging on the door; and I got up to see who was there. Sammie was covered in blood and I screamed when I saw him. He asked if he could come in and wash up before he went home. I asked, “Are you hurt?” He said, “Tito, my body guard, was shot tonight. He took the bullet for me. He jumped in front of me, and he is dead.” I washed out his clothes, and hung them in front of the fireplace to dry. While he waited on his clothes to dry he told me about the murder. He was shaky, and I felt sorry for him. I was frightened for him. The next thing I knew he took me in his arms and was telling me how much he loved me.

A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant. After I discovered I was pregnant, I told Sammie; and he said, “It will be necessary for you to leave the cottage, and move into another place.” He promised he would take care of me and the baby, and said I was not to worry about anything. The most difficult thing for me was to tell Lenore I was quitting. She begged me to stay, but I broke down and told her I really had to leave. Sammie was true to his word. He purchased a small home for me, and has since that time sent money for us to live. Even now, there is a trust that is supplying money for living expenses.”

Delbert asked, “Mother, why didn’t you break away from this man?” Ruth said, “I let him talk me into staying here in Pennsylvania at home to raise you, our son.” He told me he felt that was the best gift he could give you; he would not hear of me looking for work. He said a child needed his mother at home.” Delbert shook his head in disbelief. He thought he knew his mother, but this did not sound at all like the woman he had known all these years.

Delbert said, “Mother, you did not answer my question; why didn’t you break away from this man?” Ruth said, “Delbert, I loved Sammie dearly. I knew the life he lived; I knew he would never divorce his wife. But you have to believe me when I say that he treated me wonderful. He called almost every night asking about you.” Delbert asked, “Why wasn’t I aware he called?” Ruth responded, “Sammie always called at 1:00 A.M. He waited until he knew you would be asleep. He went to great lengths to keep himself from you, because he feared for your life. I sent him pictures on a regular basis, and he was so proud of you. When you graduated from college, he wore a disguise so he could come to the graduation service. He took a picture of us together which he sent me. That was the only time he came to Pennsylvania after he left with his family.”

Delbert said, “I find all this so disturbing. I have been an adult for some years now, and not to find out about my biological father until he is dead is very upsetting. I will never be able to understand why you kept all this from me.” Ruth said, “I did what Sammie wanted me to do. He told me, “Ruthie it is too dangerous for you and Delbert if anyone figures out we have a relationship that resulted in a son. That reason still exists, Delbert. If the news gets out that Sammie did not die until recently; and his family members are here in Lake Charles, there could still be serious problems. Sammie did not want you to grow up and be a part of the mob. He wanted you free of all that, and that was another reason for him not wanting anyone to know who you are.”

Delbert said, “Mother, there is something you need to know. Lenore and her daughter, Lucia, found a letter addressed to me among my father’s things. There was also a copy of his will. This was the first they knew about me. Can you imagine the shock to them when they discovered this information?” Ruth said, “I am so sorry about all this.” Delbert said, “Lucia happens to be engaged to a man by the name of Boudreau La Faye, and he came to see me this morning telling me that it was my father who hired a hit man to have him killed. Guess why my father wanted Boudreau killed; he had the audacity to fall in love with his daughter. To keep them apart, my father decided he would have Boudreau eliminated. Delbert asked, “Mother, how well did you really know my father? Have you been aware he was this sort of man? I can’t believe you would be involved with a man who hired hit men to eliminate someone who was offensive to him.”

PART #59

Boudreau went to the Deverall home for dinner that evening following the conversation he had with Delbert. He wondered, “Do I tell Lucia and Lenore about my visit with Delbert?” He thought back on the conversation and felt pity for Delbert as well as Lucia. It was obvious that Delbert had been kept in the dark just like Lucia had been kept in the dark. The only difference he could see was that Delbert had been kept from a knowledge of his father; whereas, Lucia had been kept from a knowledge of her half brother.

Boudreau wondered if there would ever be a time when the matter would be resolved. He wasn’t quite sure how to read Delbert. He seemed like a sincere enough person. He knew that Juliana was quite taken with him. But, Juliana was young and impressionable. Delbert was a good looking young man and would probably appeal to half the young women in Lake Charles. He thought it would take time for him to see if Delbert was the person he tried to portray to him that morning.

Boudreau arrived at the Deverall home at seven o’clock. Lucia came to the door, and opened it for him. He was surprised to see her dressed so casual. She usually dressed for dinner. She saw him look her over, and she laughed, “Boudreau, you look surprised.” He said, “I am somewhat surprised, for you are always so formal in your appearance. I like the casual look though; it is becoming.” She said, “It was always Daddy’s idea we be formally dressed for dinner. Mother and I have always liked casual.” Boudreau asked, “Does that mean I can remove this jacket and tie?” She said, “Let me take your jacket, and I will hang it in the coat closet.”

Boudreau had brought along a box and he placed it in Lucia’s hands. She smiled, and asked, “What is this?” Boudreau said, “It is something I designed today for you.” She opened the box and found a necklace with a silver cross hanging from the chain. She said, “Oh, I love this. You made this? You are a very talented silversmith.” Boudreau helped her to put the necklace around her neck. Just as he hooked the clasp, Lenore walked into the room and greeted him. She announced that dinner was ready, so they walked into the dining room.

While they were eating, Boudreau said, “I did something today that I hope will not be offensive to you ladies. I have been wondering for several hours if I should say something to you. I finally decided it would be best to tell you. I went to visit Delbert today at the bank. I wanted to see what his intentions were with the two of you. I talked to him about you receiving the news about his existence through a letter found in Hollingsworth’s study. I think you may be interested to know that Delbert knew absolutely nothing about his father prior to Hollingsworth’s death. He had never been told anything about his father. Also, Delbert did not realize you knew anything about him. He claimed he knew nothing about Hollingsworth having been in organized crime. He told me he had no intentions of hurting you ladies. I guess to be perfectly honest I don’t know whether to believe him or not. I told him I would not permit you being hurt anymore than you have already been hurt.”

Lucia said, “Boudreau, you are so sweet to try to help us in this way. Somehow I don’t think hurting us is Delbert’s intention. I can see why he would want to know about his father. He has every right to know about his father. Actually, I have a curiosity about Delbert. Lenore gasped when Lucia mentioned her curiosity about Delbert. Lucia said, “Mother, I’m sorry; and I didn’t mean to shock you, but I would like to visit with him now that some of the initial shock has passed.” Lenore asked, “Lucia, do you really think that is wise?” Lucia answered, “Mother, what could it hurt?” Lenore said, “If you insist on meeting with him, please don’t do it alone. Please take Boudreau with you.”

Boudreau looked at Lucia and could see the determination in her eyes. He knew she would not rest until she had met Delbert. He said, “Sweetheart, if you feel you must do this thing, I will be happy to go with you to see him.” Lenore said, “Thank you Boudreau, that makes me feel so much better knowing you will be there too.” Boudreau said, “Lucia, you know it is possible that Delbert will not want to meet with you.” Lucia responded by saying, “I believe he will want to meet with me for he knows I can give him the information he is seeking.” Boudreau asked, “Sweetheart, do you want me to set up a meeting with him?” Lucia answered, “Boudreau, I will give him a call, and I will let you know the time and place. I think it would be best if I call and talk with him. He might feel more comfortable if he knows this is coming directly from me.” Boudreau said, “Whatever you want my love is fine with me.”

PART #60

Delbert had gone to bed that night feeling frustrated and angry with his mother and his deceased father. He tossed and turned for hours wrestling with all the information he had received thus far. He thought, “It’s a shame children can’t select their own parents. I would never have selected a member of the mob for my father and his moll for my mother.” After the thought crossed his mind, he felt guilty for thinking such a thought. He knew his mother had shown him love all though his childhood years. He also knew she was convinced she had done right by him by not telling him the truth about his father. He had to wonder if she would have told him about his father if Hollingsworth had not died. Was she really that fearful of what would happen to him?

Because he wasn’t having any success in sleeping, Delbert got up and paced around the hotel room. He thought about his office at the bank. It had been fully decorated for him BEFORE his father had died. Was his father going to send for him, and tell him about his heritage? He wondered what his father would have said to him. Were all those things that Boudreau told him the truth? Had his father put out a hit on Boudreau so he could separate him from Lucia? How would he ever know for sure? He didn’t dare tell Boudreau he had found out his father was in organized crime. Part of the stipulation of the will was that Delbert was to tell no one he was the son of Hollingsworth Deverall. He wondered if the threat of the mob was as great as it had been painted out to be. He didn’t want to have his mother and himself or Lucia and her mother harmed by the mob. Somehow he had to meet with Lucia and get her perspective on all this. He wondered if she would be willing to meet with him.

Delbert continued to pace the floor; and he thought of Juliana. She was a sweet person. Perhaps he would invite her to go out to dinner with him and his mother tomorrow evening. This would be a way his mother could meet Juliana. It might also help with the tension between his mother and himself. He knew she wanted him to find a young lady to marry. He smiled when he thought of Juliana’s bouncy curls and dimples. He had to admit he did like the young lady. He thought his mother would be glad to know he was interested in pursuing a relationship with a young lady.

Ruth also was pacing the floor in her hotel room. What had she been thinking? She should have realized this news would be difficult for Delbert to absorb. She should have told him sooner. Why had she been so fearful when he was an adult? Did she fear his reproach more than she feared the mob? She had hoped one day he would understand, but he seemed to be so angry with her.

Ruth knew she had made a terrible mistake getting involved with Sammie. By the time she discovered she was pregnant it was too late to back away. She had wished many times over she had not met and fallen in love with Sammie. She had loved him, but she also feared him and what he stood for. She knew how much this child meant to him. If she had tried to get away from him, he would have found her and taken Delbert away from her. She couldn’t bear that. This son meant the world to Sammie. She decided early on she had made her bed by getting involved with Sammie and getting pregnant. She had to forget her own wants, and do what Sammie said so she could keep her child. Ruth devoted her whole life to raising and protecting Delbert. She could only hope and pray that he would understand that. When she agreed to do what Sammie wanted her to do, he treated her like royalty. He was kind, he was generous, and he was loving. But Ruth had seen the other side of Sammie. He could be violent, and she knew it was no use trying to get away. She remembered going through the pregnancy and the delivery by herself. When Delbert was born, and placed in her arms, she had looked down into his eyes, and thought, “I will sacrifice everything to keep this child.” That is exactly what Ruth did in the years ahead.

She wondered if Delbert would ever understand that what she did in the past years was done to keep and protect him. She had to believe Sammie when he told her there was a standing hit out on him. He told her the mob never forgot a score they wanted to settle. Sammie had seen to it that one of the other family’s hit men had been given a pair of cement boots; and thrown into the river, never to be seen again. Sammie laughed as he had told her, “Benito sleeps with the fish.” Benito was the one who had shot and killed Tito. Sammie did not rest until Benito was eliminated. Shortly thereafter, the two men posing as salesmen visited Sammie’s home accusing him of killing Benito. That was the night he staged his own death and disappeared.

Sammie had shared all this with Ruth when he told her he had to leave Pennsylvania. He told her no one knew she was the mother of his son, and they had to keep it that way to protect her and Delbert. She believed him and lived the rest of her life in such a way so as not to draw attention to herself or Delbert.

Ruth wondered why life had to be so cruel. After all she had sacrificed, would she now have to lose the son that was so dear to her? If Delbert was still so angry in the morning, she felt she must book a train and go back to Pennsylvania. She didn’t want to cause heartache and suffering in his life. He was just getting started with his life independent of her. If she must she would walk away for she did want him to be happy. She had given up almost everything for him; could she now give him up too? Tears flooded her eyes, and fear filled her heart. She went back to bed at four o’clock and finally fell asleep around five o’clock. By that time her tears were spent.

To be continued...

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