Ties That Bind Page 18

  Take care and I’ll do the same.

  Your brother,

  Ross.

  Randolph reread the letter a third time. And later when Jenna came over he let her read it as well. Like he had, she read it a second and a third time.

  “He definitely sounds like a man in love, doesn’t he?” she asked smiling.

  Randolph shrugged. “Yeah, I suppose.”

  Jenna stared at him over the rim of the eyeglasses she used for reading on occasion. “Aren’t you happy for him, Randolph? He’s in love.”

  Randolph sighed. “Yes, I’m happy for him but I was just thinking about Angela and how she’s going to handle a broken engagement.”

  “I doubt she’ll handle it well but would you rather Ross marry someone he didn’t love?”

  Randolph’s lips tightened. “No, I’ve never wanted that for him.”

  “Well, okay then. You’ve said yourself many times that he didn’t love Angela. And you’ve always had doubt as to whether Angela loved him.”

  “Yeah, but I may have been wrong about her feelings for Ross. I think she really cares for him.”

  Jenna lifted a brow and wondered when Randolph had reached that conclusion. Personally, she didn’t think Angela cared for anyone but herself. “Don’t worry about it, Randolph. Things will work out. I’m sure when the time comes, Ross will handle the situation with Angela with as much diplomacy as he can under the circumstances.”

  Randolph nodded, knowing she was right. Angela was Ross’s concern and not his. He just hated seeing anyone getting hurt. And he definitely didn’t want to think about how his grandmother would react if Ross married a woman from another country, especially someone part Vietnamese.

  “Have you gotten a letter from Ross recently?”

  Ross looked over at Angela. They had just gotten out of the Judicial Law class they shared and were walking across the courtyard. He knew that she had another class that day but he was through and was heading for home. A part of him had hoped she would not ask him about Ross. “No, not lately,” he said.

  She looked over at him. “Neither have I. Aren’t you worried?”

  Yes, but not for the reason you think. “I try not to worry, Angela.”

  “I suppose that would be best.” She glanced down at her watch. “I have a few extra minutes before I have to rush off to my next class. Do you want to grab something to eat?”

  Randolph shook his head. “Sorry, but I can’t. Jenna is waiting at my place with lunch already prepared.”

  Angela schooled her features to hide her anger. “Oh. Maybe another time then?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you later.” Randolph quickly walked away. He knew the only reason Angela wanted to have lunch with him was so she could talk some more about Ross, and Randolph didn’t want to be put in the position of having to continue to outright lie to her. He was fiercely loyal to his brother but hoped Ross broke the news to Angela soon.

  The next day, following his conversation with Angela, Randolph received another letter from Ross.

  April 20, 1967

  Rand,

  Sorry it’s taken so long to write since the last letter but I’m sure you’ve heard by now that things are really starting to heat up over here. I hate it when I have to go out on patrol. One wrong step could be your last because mines are buried all over the place. Last week I saw a guy I had just eaten breakfast with get his head blown off. Oh my God, Rand, it was like one minute he was there and another minute he was missing his head. And if that wasn’t sad enough, Danny was only eighteen, just a kid. That morning at breakfast he’d told me that his mom was still his favorite girl. He had just mailed off his Mother’s Day card to her last week.

  No matter what you’ve heard about how bad it is over here, I want you to know it’s a thousand times worse. I hate it here, Rand, but Gia has made it so much better for me. In her own way she has helped turn hell into paradise. I love her so much. That night after seeing Danny blown up that way, I went to Gia and she comforted me while I nearly threw my guts up. It’s hard to remember at times that we’re still human even if those damn ’Congs aren’t. I said a prayer for Danny. The kid didn’t deserve to die that way.

  Ross

  A week later was graduation day and Jenna and Leigh proudly walked across the platform to receive their degrees. Four years of hard work had finally paid off. Both Jenna’s and Leigh’s parents, as well as Leigh’s in-laws were there for the joyous occasion. Jenna had been touched that Randolph’s grandparents in South Carolina had sent her a graduation present and wasn’t surprised that his Grandmother Julia still refused to acknowledge her existence.

  Leigh was getting excited about her trip to Paris. Jenna had packed already for Memphis. She was supposed to begin work in a week. The night before she was to leave, Randolph took her out to dinner and gave her his graduation present to her. A beautiful diamond engagement ring. In the restaurant in front of everyone, he got down on his knees and asked her to marry him. Through all the tears that ran down her face and with all the love she had in her heart, she accepted. There was no doubt in Jenna’s mind that it was the happiest night of her life.

  Three days later, Jenna’s happiness was overshadowed with gloom when the news media reported that the Oakland police along with federal agents had raided the Oakland Black Panther Party office, arresting fifteen members and killing eight. In the exchange of gunfire between police and party members, a federal agent was killed.

  Johnny was the person the police had arrested for the shooting death of the FBI agent.

  Seventeen

  July 1967

  That summer Randolph went to work at his grandfather’s law office as a law clerk. Although he and Jenna exchanged letters frequently and talked on the phone at least once a week, he still missed her like crazy. When he didn’t think he could take it any longer, he drove to Memphis to see her and to take her to Glendale Shores for the Fourth of July celebration. Besides, he needed a break from Angela. Her concern for Ross was beginning to drive him bonkers. She was turning into a regular basket case in light of the infrequent letters she was receiving from him. She had started seeking Randolph out after classes, calling him at home and had even shown up unexpectedly at his place, asking him if there was anything going on with Ross that he wasn’t telling her.

  Randolph hated lying to her but knew it was not his place to tell her anything. He knew Ross intended to do that himself and hoped he would hurry up with it.

  During the drive to South Carolina, he told Jenna about Angela’s behavior, and she agreed that Angela deserved to know about Ross and Gia, but felt the news should come from Ross. In a couple of months Ross would be calling Angela from Rome, and Randolph decided he didn’t want to be anywhere nearby when it happened. He made plans to visit Jenna in Memphis during that time.

  Randolph then told Jenna about his most recent letter from Ross telling him that Gia was pregnant. Ross had asked him to send the family Bible, and he had done so a few days ago, sending it via air mail.

  “How do you feel about him marrying Gia?” Jenna asked when he’d suddenly gotten quiet.

  Randolph glanced over at her and smiled wryly. “He’s so damn happy, Jen, I can’t help but be happy for him, too. You can feel the love and passion he has for her pouring out of every word that he writes. I’ve never known him to be so happy and so at peace with himself and his feelings. He even mentioned extending his tour of duty if Gia is unable to travel when his year is up since she will still be pregnant.” He sighed. “I wrote and suggested that he consider sending Gia home to us.”

  Shock came to Jenna’s face. “Your grandparents in Virginia?”

  Randolph shook his head. “No, trust me, that wouldn’t do. I was thinking more of Gramma and Grandpa Denison. They would accept Gia and her unborn child with open arms and would take care of them until Ross came home. I hope he considers that idea. That way his child will be born here in America with someone looking after Gia and the baby properly.”

/>   Jenna nodded. “So, he’s told Gramma and Grandpa Denison about Gia?”

  “Not yet. So far, other than you and me, Noah is the only other person who knows about her, and since Noah knows I feel certain Leigh knows as well. Noah got the chance to meet her when his platoon arrived in the same area where Ross’s regiment was stationed.” There was no doubt in Randolph’s mind that it had been a joyous reunion for the two best friends, and that Ross would take the opportunity to marry Gia while Noah was there to stand in as best man.

  Jenna told Randolph that she had spoken with Johnny’s parents and about the trouble they were having in securing a good defense attorney for their son. It seemed that no one wanted to take on the case to defend him against the State of California and the FBI. Both had charges against him. She had also talked to Ellie who was concerned about what was going on with Johnny as well. Although Jenna had never mentioned it to anyone and neither Johnny nor Ellie had admitted anything, Jenna had a feeling that something had developed between them during the time they had spent together in California.

  When Jenna and Randolph arrived in Glendale Shores, she was glad to see the Denisons again and as usual they made her feel welcome. Later that day they traveled by ferry to Hilton Head Island where other family members had planned this huge Independence Day celebration. All during the day Jenna and Randolph were congratulated on their engagement. Randolph told everyone the wedding would take place sometime next summer after he finished law school and Ross returned from overseas.

  The weekend had not been long enough and when Randolph returned Jenna to Memphis, he spent the night. The next morning before the break of dawn he left to return to Virginia.

  The following weeks Jenna stayed glued to the television since Johnny’s alleged killing of the federal agent still dominated the news. The few times she saw a glimpse of him when the television camera would flash his way, she could tell he had lost a lot of weight and he had the appearance of a person defeated and about to give up. Seeing him that way tore at her heart. She remembered him always being fun loving and always full of cheer. Jenna wrote to him in care of the detention center where he was being held while awaiting trial. She was elated a week later when he wrote her back.

  July 20, 1967

  Jenna,

  It was so good getting your letter. It came at a time I desperately needed to hear from a friend, and you have always been that. I’ve received letters from Ellie and Leigh as well. And my parents have been corresponding with me a lot. They are so supportive, Jen. When I think of what they are going through because of me and all the money they are putting out in my defense, it brings tears to my eyes.

  I’m sure you know by now what the police claim I’ve done. But I didn’t do it. My prints aren’t even on the murder weapon. The person who killed that officer was one of their own men. It was a setup and another example of the war the FBI has waged against the Panthers. But of course no one wants to believe our government can be that devious. They have concocted evidence to support whatever they want and right now they want to make an example out of me for the others.

  It’s too late to worry about my fate. They are determined that I pay the price for something I didn’t do. I just pray that one day the truth will come out.

  Forever your friend,

  Johnny

  Randolph approached his grandfather on Johnny’s behalf to see if perhaps there was anything that could be done in his defense. Robert Fuller, who had been keeping up with the media’s frenzy of the shooting, told his grandson it would be just about suicidal for any attorney to act in Johnny’s defense. Especially when the FBI had so much evidence against him, including eyewitnesses who claimed they saw him pull the trigger.

  When Randolph talked on the telephone to Jenna that night, he gave her the details of the conversation he’d had with his grandfather. He regretted he couldn’t give her any positive feedback.

  After talking with Johnny’s parents, Jenna knew they had finally found an attorney but weren’t all that pleased with him, but they had no choice but to believe the man would do everything in his power to prove their son’s innocence.

  The State of California along with the federal government didn’t waste time in bringing Johnny to trial. The proceedings lasted only a week and the all-white jury of eight men and four women found Johnny guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death.

  Leigh and Noah met in Paris in late July. He was overjoyed when she told him she was pregnant. After spending an entire day making love, they ordered room service and ate a delicious dinner while discussing possible names for their baby. Leigh wanted to name the baby Zachary, after her brother if it was a boy, and Noelle if it was a girl. Noah agreed with her choice of names.

  They talked about Johnny and both felt that he’d gotten a bad rap and was glad his attorney was appealing his sentence. They also talked about Ross and his marriage to Gia. “She’s a beautiful person, Leigh, and Ross loves her very much. She’s having problems with her pregnancy and he’s worried about it and that concerns me.”

  Leigh lifted an eyebrow, not understanding. “She’s his wife. Why does it concern you that he’s worried about her?”

  “Because when you’re in the combat zone, you need to concentrate on one thing and one thing only—staying alive and staying one step ahead of the enemy. If he’s worried about Gia then he can’t do that.”

  Leigh nodded, now understanding fully. “He still plans to break the news to Angela next month?”

  “Yes, that’s his plan. He’s scheduled for R and R in Rome then. But with Gia not doing well, he may not take it.” Noah sighed deeply. “I’m concerned about him, Leigh. For years I’ve teased Ross about not being in love and not understanding just how strong the power of love is. Now he knows. He loves Gia very much and if anything were to happen to her or their baby, I don’t know what he’d do.”

  August 1967

  Randolph returned to DC since school would be starting in a few weeks. He had seen Jenna again the first week in August when they attended Grampa Murphy’s birthday celebration on Glendale Shores.

  Now that they were officially engaged, his grandparents weren’t as protective of her as they had been during her initial visits. Since his grandfather had not given him a verbal order to stay in his own bedroom at night, Randolph went to Jenna’s room each night after his grandparents went to bed and would leave early the next morning before they got up. He knew he would miss her during the school year, but they’d made plans to spend Thanksgiving with his grandparents at Glendale Shores and Christmas with her parents in Knoxville.

  They also agreed to give Ross and Gia the support they would need when they came to the States. There would be those who would want to scorn Gia because of her nationality, especially with the war still going on. Although she was only half-Vietnamese, people would see her as an enemy nonetheless.

  During the second month of school Randolph was awakened during the middle of the night by the sound of someone pounding on his front door. His housemate was spending the weekend away with his girlfriend in Baltimore. Rubbing a hand over his face as he tried to come completely awake, he made it to the door, opened it and found both his grandparents standing there. The look on their faces was grief-stricken.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked as he stared at them. For a long moment neither answered and his Grandmother Julia’s eyes began filling with tears. His gaze left his grandmother and settled firmly on his grandfather. A deep knot began forming in his stomach and air slowly began seeping out of his lungs. He could tell from the look of anguish on his grandfather’s face that bad news was coming. He inhaled deeply and embraced himself.

  “Randolph, your grandmother and I got word a few hours ago from the State Department that one of the enemy’s artillery shells scored a direct hit on a marine post, killing twenty-two men and injuring over forty.” His voice suddenly broke when he added, “Ross is among those listed as dead.”

  Randolph closed his
eyes, wanting to believe he was still asleep and this was just a bad dream. Ross … oh, God, it couldn’t be. It couldn’t happen this way. With only five months remaining before he would come home, there was no way life could be this cruel. And then there was Angela, the woman engaged to marry his brother who didn’t yet know he had already married someone else.

  He felt his grandfather’s firm hand on his arm. “I know this is shocking news to you, Randolph, as well as to all of us. But we have to pull ourselves together now and think of Angela. Her parents are over at her place now, telling her the news. We can only imagine how devastating this will be to her.”

  Randolph opened his eyes. He didn’t want to deal with anything or anyone. He didn’t want the pain he was beginning to feel, pain that was ripping through every part of his body, pain that was piercing his heart.

  Ross.

  Without saying anything to his grandparents he stumbled out of the living room, somehow made it to his bedroom and slammed the door behind him, wanting to be alone to deal with an amount of grief he didn’t think he’d ever be able to recover from.

  Jenna woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. She had just gotten into bed after attending a weekend business seminar in Atlanta.