Page 46 of Ghost

When he returned, the casket had been placed in front of the fireplace. The two large standing floral arrangements at the head and foot, two smaller versions under each of them, and then a row of ferns along the front it. The mahogany gleamed with the light coming from the two windows in the room.

Mason stopped and starred. “It’s all so... beautiful.”

“Yes, it is,” Ellen spoke softly. She had a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “So beautiful.”

Gerald was standing to her right and Francis to her left. Francis looked over his shoulder at Mason. “Thank you,” he said softly. “No one could have done a better job than you and Ellen.”

Mason looked down and realized he was holding Ellen’s lemonade in one hand and a five-gallon bucket full of soft drinks with ice that was left over from the party the previous night.

“Ellen, here’s your lemonade.”

She took it from Mason and made her way to the sofa, sitting with perfect posture, and her legs crossed at the ankles. I need to ask how she does that , Mason thought.

The two Royale men each took a Dr. Pepper and the delivery guy guzzled down a Coke. They all said thank you and moved out into the hallway. A moment later Mason heard the florist’s man leave.

“Mz Ellen, is there anything else you’d like us to do?” asked Martin.

“Yes.” Ellen sat up straighter if that was even possible. “Would you please stop calling me Miss Ellen. If we’re kin, there’s no reason for any formalities.”

The two large men looked down and chuckled. “Yes ma’am,” Martin answered for the both of them. “Um... There is a favor you could do for us, though.”

“Yes, what is it?” Ellen answered curiously.

“Our mothers, grandmother and great -grandmother would like to pay their respects,” Martin explained.

“Our great-grandmother actually knew your cousin Francis and my grandmother said she could remember Mrs. Watson as a young lady,” Fred added.

Francis’ mouth had fallen open. He pointed towards Fred. “Why didn’t I see it? That’s Lizzie’s boy or grandson.”

“Why yes,” Ellen answered, while trying to ignore Francis as best she could. “When would they like to come?”

“Actually, they’re around the corner in the limo. Fred’s eldest boy is driving them,” Martin explained.

“Please, bring them in,” Mason said. “I’ll bring this chair around and get some more drinks. Would they like lemonade or something else?”

“They would all like lemonade, Mason, if it’s no trouble.”

“Naw, no trouble at all. I’ll also bring that other chair in, then everyone can have a seat and be comfortable.”

“I’ll get the other chair, Mason,” Fred volunteered.

The three older women were just coming into the house when Mason came up stairs with a tray with lemonade on it.

“Oh my,” the eldest woman said. “It’s like goin’ back in time.”

Mason wasn’t even going to guess how old the woman was.

“Lizzie,” Francis whispered. He then looked at Mason then back to Lizzie. “She was my nanny when I was but a small child.” He looked at Mason again. “She was only a child herself then. She has to be well and truly over one hundred years old!”

The woman looked right at Francis and then Ellen, whom she studied a moment. Finally, she looked at Mason. Immediately, Mason was drawn to her. Her eyes showed a brightness even though they were watery with age.

She brushed aside Fred and the other two women away and slowly, with the aid of a cane, walked right to Francis. “Mah little Frankie,” she spoke, looking right at him. “You shor’ did grow up fine. So fine.”

Fred and Martin looked at each other, then at their great-grandmother.

Lizzie took a step back and then turned to Ellen. “Mz. Ellen.” She held out her hand to Ellen, her hand shaking slightly. “I’d have known you anywhere. It’s been a long, long time since my eyes rested upon you.”

Ellen took the hand in both of hers. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.”

Lizzie gave a little laugh. “No, I don’t guess you wouldn’t. You was a young girl the last time I saw you and then only when the two families got together. I was just a nanny, so you’d have no need to see me. I was Frankie’s nanny. You may remember my sister though. Fanny?”

“Fanny! Yes, she practically raised me,” Ellen seemed excited to hear of her. “Is she still with us?”

“No, no. She died some years ago, but she went peacefully and was surrounded by her family and a lot of love.”

“Oh, that is so nice to hear.” Ellen let one of her hands drop and motioned for Lizzie to join her on the sofa.

“Would you like some lemonade, ma’am?” Mason offered.

“Yes, that would hit the spot in this heat.” When Mason was close and about to give her the glass, she took his other wrist. She pulled him close and looked at his face, and then placed her other hand against his cheek. “You’s the one. I see it clear as day.”

Martin had helped his grandmother sit down and gave her the other glass of lemonade. Fred helped their mother to a seat close by. Meanwhile, Fred’s son came in, standing to the side, his chauffeur’s hat in his hand.

“I...I don’t know what you mean?” Mason said and asked all at the same time.

“Many, many years ago, Fanny told me that there would be a young man to come, who has hair like a halo. He will make things right and bring this entire family together. He will also put Hobonny back to its glory days.” She rubbed his cheek. “You’s the one. I can feel it. I feel it in my bones.”

Ellen’s mouth dropped slightly open. She looked at Mason and glanced at Gerald and then Francis.

Lizzie didn’t miss it. “You got the gift just like your daddy.” She looked at Gerald and then at Francis.

After a minute, she turned back to Ellen.

“Your daddy was a fine gentleman, about as fine as they come. He always treated us like part of his family, and now that he’s gone and so many years have passed, I can say that he was part of the family.

Our family.” She sat back a bit and took a long sip of her drink.

“What do you mean ‘part of the family,’?” Ellen asked, just barely audible.

Lizzie patted Ellen’s hand. “Back in them days, it wasn’t uncommon for a master to take a slave on as a mistress.

Men’s have always need somethin’ a little extra if you knows what I mean.

” She winked at Ellen. “Your daddy wasn’t no different, but he was a gentle and kind man.

He loved both of his families.” She took another long sip of her lemonade.

“Of course, we weren’t slaves anymore, but Hobonny had always been our home. ”

Ellen sat all the way back. That was the first time that Mason had ever seen her do that, other when they were both drunk as skunks.

“Are you telling me that my father has or had other children, other than the brothers and sister I had growing up?”

Lizzie smiled at her. “Yes. We are actually half-sisters. I was born several years before you or your sister. Your momma, bless her soul, was heavy with child and had a hard pregnancy. It only made sense that he found relief in my momma’s bed.

She loved that man with every fiber of her being.

Lawd, she would watch him cross to the stable and you could tell, she’d have died for that man. ”

“I... I don’t know what to say.” Ellen was truly shocked, which Mason was sure didn’t happen much.

“Nuttin’ to say,” Lizzle said.

Ellen leaned forward, took Lizzie into her arms. “I wished I had known. I would have loved to have had another sister since my only sister I knew died so young. I... I just would have liked to have known.” She leaned back and looked at Lizzie.

“Yes, I can see now. You have my father’s cheekbones and around the eyes.

All these years have passed and we could have been true sisters. ”

“Now you knows just as well as I do that wasn’t possible. In them days we would never have been allowed to be seen as family.”

“You are probably right,” Ellen said as she looked down. There was no mistaking the sadness in her.

Lizzie turned from Ellen and looked at Francis. “Frankie, did she do it?”

No one needed her or anyone else to clarify what she was asking.

“Yes, Lizzie. My mother did indeed kill me.” His voice sounded paper thin. He walked up next to her and Ellen and knelt down. “I so loved you when I was very young.”

“And I you. I used to pretend that you was my baby,” she chuckled. “We sure did have a time together.”

Francis beamed. “We surely did. Remember when...?”

“Shush, now, don’t go tellin’ our secrets.” She laughed heartily.

Once she had sobered and had a sip of her lemonade. She looked intently at Francis. “You know she killed your daddy, don’t ya?”

“I didn’t know for sure, but I and everyone suspected as much.”

“Oh, she did it. Fanny saw it with her own eyes.” She looked at Ellen and then back to Francis. “You remember when your Aunt Agnes died? I took you to get you a new coat before all the folks came to her funeral?”

“I do remember,” Francis answered. “There were people from all over coming and staying with us. Many stayed with us, and Father....”

“Your daddy went missing the very next day after the funeral.” Lizzie finished for him.

“Yep,” she nodded. “Imogene Watson took advantage of the situation. What else you remember about that time?”

“There was a big fight between my father and my uncle over where she was to be buried.”

Mason could see the light bulb go off in Francis’ head.

“I know where my father was buried!”

Lizzie sat there and nodded, all the while holding Ellen’s hand.