convinced she would have difficulty once again.
“I thought Violet appeared happy and relaxed at Alice Ann’s party. Only two months ago, she wouldn’t have considered such an outing. You could at least ask her, McKinley. She likely relies upon her mother more than you for consolation at this juncture, don’t you think?”
“How would you feel if Nolan left you in such a circumstance, Jasmine? Would you think it his duty to hurry off to harvest a cotton crop, or would you believe he should remain at home with you? I’d venture to say you would not bid him farewell without an argument. Violet’s condition aside, I must see to my position with the Corporation. I cannot merely walk in and say I’ll be back once I’ve harvested the cotton and sold my father’s plantation. No, Jasmine. If one of us is to go to the South, it will be you, for I’ll not be bullied or shamed into going.”
“Is that what you think? That I’m trying to bully or shame you? Go home to your wife and your position at the Corporation, McKinley. Your primary concern appears to rest with the Corporation rather than the plantation,” she said in a soft yet resigned voice. “I’ll manage things in Mississippi without your assistance. However, I’ll not seek your permission for the decisions I make. If you plan to wash your hands of this matter, then I expect you to sign over your right of authority so I may transact business without your signature. Otherwise, I’ll be hampered at every turn as I wait upon the paper work being shuffled back and forth between Mississippi and Massachusetts.”
McKinley leaned against Nolan’s desk in a half sitting, half standing position. “You want me to sign over my portion of the inheritance? Is that what you’re asking? Because I won’t do that—I won’t.”
Her eyes filled with sadness as she met his piercing eyes. “I don’t want your inheritance, McKinley—I want your help. But please understand that although you’ve refused your assistance, I would never consider taking your inheritance. Father intended it for you, and you shall have half of whatever remains when all is said and done. All I’ve asked is that you sign over your authority so that I can conduct business without the necessity of your signature.”
“I’ll ask Mr. Forbes to draw up a paper in the morning.” His voice was cold.
“Until today, I hadn’t realized how much you’ve changed, McKinley. I fear your position with the Corporation has begun to harden you. Please don’t lose your kind heart and generous spirit. We’ve lost the rest of our family— we mustn’t lose each other.”
“You’re right, of course.” His voice cracked with emotion as she embraced him. “I’m sorry, but I just cannot accompany you. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she whispered.
Later that night Jasmine sat alone brushing out her long brown hair. She looked at herself in the mirror with each stroke. She couldn’t comprehend that her father had died. She couldn’t make it real in her mind.
“I suppose I won’t fully believe it until I see The Willows and his grave,” she murmured.
“Did you say something?” Nolan asked as he came into the room.
She sighed and put down the brush. “I can’t believe they are gone.”
He came to her and put his hands upon her shoulders. Bending low, he kissed her cheek. “I cannot imagine a more difficult day for you, and yet you bore it with such grace. It is hard to even imagine one’s entire family wiped out in a matter of weeks.”
“I’ve seen epidemics like that before. There was one when I was a little girl,” Jasmine remembered. “I think I was nearly six. I remember many of the older people dying, yet no one on our plantation seemed to get sick. At least I don’t remember there being sickness.” She turned and stood. “There is always something to worry about. I think of how close we came to losing Alice Ann. I worry every time one of the
“I thought Violet appeared happy and relaxed at Alice Ann’s party. Only two months ago, she wouldn’t have considered such an outing. You could at least ask her, McKinley. She likely relies upon her mother more than you for consolation at this juncture, don’t you think?”
“How would you feel if Nolan left you in such a circumstance, Jasmine? Would you think it his duty to hurry off to harvest a cotton crop, or would you believe he should remain at home with you? I’d venture to say you would not bid him farewell without an argument. Violet’s condition aside, I must see to my position with the Corporation. I cannot merely walk in and say I’ll be back once I’ve harvested the cotton and sold my father’s plantation. No, Jasmine. If one of us is to go to the South, it will be you, for I’ll not be bullied or shamed into going.”
“Is that what you think? That I’m trying to bully or shame you? Go home to your wife and your position at the Corporation, McKinley. Your primary concern appears to rest with the Corporation rather than the plantation,” she said in a soft yet resigned voice. “I’ll manage things in Mississippi without your assistance. However, I’ll not seek your permission for the decisions I make. If you plan to wash your hands of this matter, then I expect you to sign over your right of authority so I may transact business without your signature. Otherwise, I’ll be hampered at every turn as I wait upon the paper work being shuffled back and forth between Mississippi and Massachusetts.”
McKinley leaned against Nolan’s desk in a half sitting, half standing position. “You want me to sign over my portion of the inheritance? Is that what you’re asking? Because I won’t do that—I won’t.”
Her eyes filled with sadness as she met his piercing eyes. “I don’t want your inheritance, McKinley—I want your help. But please understand that although you’ve refused your assistance, I would never consider taking your inheritance. Father intended it for you, and you shall have half of whatever remains when all is said and done. All I’ve asked is that you sign over your authority so that I can conduct business without the necessity of your signature.”
“I’ll ask Mr. Forbes to draw up a paper in the morning.” His voice was cold.
“Until today, I hadn’t realized how much you’ve changed, McKinley. I fear your position with the Corporation has begun to harden you. Please don’t lose your kind heart and generous spirit. We’ve lost the rest of our family— we mustn’t lose each other.”
“You’re right, of course.” His voice cracked with emotion as she embraced him. “I’m sorry, but I just cannot accompany you. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she whispered.
Later that night Jasmine sat alone brushing out her long brown hair. She looked at herself in the mirror with each stroke. She couldn’t comprehend that her father had died. She couldn’t make it real in her mind.
“I suppose I won’t fully believe it until I see The Willows and his grave,” she murmured.
“Did you say something?” Nolan asked as he came into the room.
She sighed and put down the brush. “I can’t believe they are gone.”
He came to her and put his hands upon her shoulders. Bending low, he kissed her cheek. “I cannot imagine a more difficult day for you, and yet you bore it with such grace. It is hard to even imagine one’s entire family wiped out in a matter of weeks.”
“I’ve seen epidemics like that before. There was one when I was a little girl,” Jasmine remembered. “I think I was nearly six. I remember many of the older people dying, yet no one on our plantation seemed to get sick. At least I don’t remember there being sickness.” She turned and stood. “There is always something to worry about. I think of how close we came to losing Alice Ann. I worry every time one of the
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