I
awoke the next morning with a splitting headache. My head was throbbing
fiercely. I went to the kitchen and thinly sliced a lime, which I took back
to my room. I searched my dresser drawers and found one of my father’s
handkerchiefs, which I folded in two. I placed the slices of lime on my temples
and tied the handkerchief around my head just like my Grandmother used to do. I
knew that I would be feeling much better in a couple hours. I glanced at the
clock and gasped, it was almost two o’ clock in the afternoon. I went to have a
shower, all this time wondering why the place was so quiet. This was
short-lived
as the wail of a newborn baby filled the air. I got dressed and
went outside. Reverend Julian was on the verandah reading. The children stopped
playing when they saw me. I said hello to the Reverend and went around the back
to Maud’s quarters. I couldn’t help but notice that this was the first time I
was seeing the Reverend looking so neat. Maud had done a very good job with his
clothes. I knocked on Maud’s door and she came to open it with the baby in her
arms, he was fast asleep. I went inside and checked on the mother in my capacity as Midwife. All
was well with her and the newborn. The baby girl was a cutie but I suppressed the urge to coo at her. I reminded Maud that we still had business
to attend to in the den with the Reverend so she went for the children and told
them to stay inside with their mother. Maud had somewhat managed to turn an old
trunk into a crib into which she placed the sleeping baby. The mother said he would be
a year old the following day. I was not surprised that he wasn’t walking yet, there
was a Jamaican saying to the effect that if you get pregnant whilst
breastfeeding, the child will take a longer time to walk. Anyway, that was not
my business. I told Maud to join the Reverend and myself in the den as soon as
possible. I really needed to hear the rest of the story of what had happened to
Charles and Charmaine. I must admit that I was fascinated by what I had heard so far. I went back to the
house and asked the Reverend if he was ready to continue the story. He said he
was more than ready so we went into the den. While we were waiting on Maud we
chitchatted about the various events that would be taking place at the church
during the Christmas season. Maud joined us shortly after with a pitcher of
lemonade. My headache was now gone but I chose to keep my head tied as I was
not sure what the Reverend was going to come up with next. He continued the
saga. When the man with the rifle threatened to shoot Charles, Charmaine got so
hysterical and it took a little while to calm her down. The man with the rifle
was getting impatient and told Charles to hurry up and say what he had to say.
In the letter that Charlotte wrote, she had referred to her father’s trusty old
Caretaker. ‘Are you Ben?’ asked Charles. ‘How do you know my name!’ asked Ben
incredulously. Charles then told Ben everything, also showing him the letters
that Charlotte wrote. 'Are you telling me that this is Miss Cissy’s daughter? Oh
my!' Ben shone the light of the lantern on Charmaine, ]Oh my Lord! She is the
splitting image of Miss Cissy! Stay right here!' Ben ordered. 'Don’t move or the
dog will tear you to pieces. I’ll be back.' Ben left the dog in charge and ran
from the clearing. After what seemed like an eternity he returned. A woman was
with him. When she saw Charmaine she burst into tears, ‘Oh my Lord, it’s Miss
Cissy!’ She took Charmaine in her arms and hugged her tightly. The woman was
Ben’s wife Florence. She was Charlotte’s nanny and had taken care of Charlotte
from the day she came to Jamaica as a baby. Up to the time when Charlotte left
for Kingston she was her trusted confidante. Florence wanted to know everything
so Charles had to repeat all that he told Ben. When he finished his story they
asked him what he was going to do. They too had heard Stanley Wharbucks’
threats and knew with a certainty that he would kill Charles. They would have to come
up with a plan, said Charles, and quickly, interjected Ben as it would be
daylight soon and he had to be at the Main House to take his orders for the day
from his boss. Florence jumped up and said that she had the perfect plan and Charles was not to
worry, he should just leave everything to her. ‘What do you mean?’ asked
Charles.
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