Gullah Secrets by Susan Gabriel

Author:Susan Gabriel [Gabriel, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Susan Gabriel

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Violet

Violet makes sandwiches enough for everyone in case the power goes out. She puts them in a cooler and then packs chips and fruit to go with them. Whatever happens, they will have food.

With a few more minutes of light left, Violet decides to go on a short walk down the beach. She breathes in the salt air, letting it take her tiredness away. After all those years of dreaming about having a different life, it seems she is finally living her dream. Not only of owning her tea shop but having a purpose to her days. A life in which she is learning about her Gullah ancestors from Old Sally and creating a written record.

Though she is half-white, like Queenie, she can relate more to the Gullah side of her family. A side more mysterious than she ever realized. Increasingly, Violet can hear Old Sally’s thoughts when the intention is set. A gift she is counting on to continue after Old Sally returns to the ancestors, as her grandmother calls it. And a gift she hopes will make what feels unbearable more bearable.

Darkness falls quickly now. Violet stops before getting to the lighthouse, uncertain of why she even headed in this direction. She usually walks down the beach instead of up. Violet makes an X in the sand before turning around and going back. A ritual that is written in her notebook of Gullah secrets. She isn’t sure why the X is essential, except that many of their rituals are related to avoiding lousy luck or attracting good fortune.

Violet glances at the lighthouse before turning around. For years, it faded into the background of her life, as though hidden behind an invisibility cloak, like in the Harry Potter books her daughters have read. Then one day she started seeing it again. Violet has done this with people, too. For many years she took her Aunt Queenie for granted until she found out that Queenie was her birth mother. Then memories of her always being there for Violet rushed forward.

The water birds on the beach move frantically along the shore, using the last seconds of daylight to eat their fill. All the while, several pelican formations head north, zigzagging up the coast like an airplane pulling a banner behind to advertise tours of the island. Other than these clues, it would be impossible to imagine a storm on the way. What was it like for her Gullah ancestors who didn’t have Doppler radar and advanced warning systems?

Violet remembers the mermaid story Old Sally told her yesterday and hopes that if someone has captured a mermaid they soon return her to the sea.

Home again, Violet is grateful the foundation of the house was raised eight feet during the renovations. A suggestion made by their contractor. With this hurricane, this could be a crucial eight feet. Even a thunderstorm can be dangerous when you live on a barrier island and are exposed to the elements.

Leaving her sandy sneakers on the top

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