Free Dark Chaos (# 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) by Ginny Dye Page B

telling them about her twin brother.  The reality of her brother had been much more of a shock than the realization of Carrie as her aunt.  The two girls had felt like family for so long it hadn’t really mattered.  What mattered was that she had a brother she had never met.  
                  She pulled her thoughts back and looked up at Diedre.  “You’re light-skinned, Diedre.  Do you ever wish you could pass for being white?”  She held her breath and hoped Diedre wouldn’t be offended by her question.
                  Diedre was silent for a long time.  “I’d be lying if I said I ain’t wished that.  Yet I’s also proud to be black.  I had some family who escaped, headed north, then passed theyselves off as white.  At first it bothered me real bad.  It’s like they shoved away who they was.”  She paused thoughtfully.  “Then I realized one day that they be just as much white as they be black.  I reckoned it been up to them which part they wanted to live more.  One thing for sure - I know theys had it a lot easier being white.  This country just ain’t a easy place to be a colored person.  Ain’t too many people that wouldn’t take the easy road if someone put them on it.”
                  Rose couldn’t withhold the question nagging her.  “What if my baby comes out white?  There’s a lot of white blood in me even though I look more colored.”
                  Diedre watched her for a long minute.  “Would it bother you if your baby be white?”
                  “I wouldn’t love it any less,” Rose replied instantly.  “I guess I’m just afraid it would make life more complicated for my baby.”
                  Diedre laughed shortly.  “Life gonna be pretty complicated for that baby if it be born all black,” she replied.  “Like I said, this ain’t a easy country to be black in.”  She leaned forward.  “What’s really bothering you, girl?”
                  Rose almost smiled at how easily Diedre could read her, but her fear was too real.  “I just...” her voice trailed off.  “I just wonder how Moses will feel about our baby if it’s white.”
                  “Moses know about your brother?”
                  “Of course.  I would never have kept that from him.”
                  “Then he’s already thought about it,” Diedre said firmly.  “That man loves you with a mighty fierce love.  He ain’t gonna let a thing like that bother him.  He’s gonna love that baby whether it comes out coal black or lily white.”  She took Rose’s hand.  “And you gonna love that baby no matter what it looks like.  The future will take care of itself.  All you can do is take one day at a time.  I reckon God knows what color that baby gonna be.  He don’t make mistakes, you know.” 
                  Rose nodded.  Somehow, just talking about it had made her feel better.  “I’m tired,” she said, sinking down and burrowing into her pillow. 
                  Diedre pulled the thin blanket up closer to Rose’s chin.  “I’m gonna head home now.  June be in the next room.  If you needin’ anythin’, you lets her know.”
                  Through almost closed eyelids, Rose watched Diedre head for the door.  Just as she felt sleep reach down to claim her, a sharp pain shot through her stomach.  “Oh!” she cried.
                  Diedre was by her side in an instant.  “What’s wrong, girl?”
                  Rose opened her mouth to answer and struggled to rise into a sitting position.  “It’s...”  Another pain stole the words from her mouth.  Grabbing her stomach, she doubled over to escape the hurt. 
                  She heard Diedre move away and fling open the door to the other room.  “I think it be time.  Get the water