Sable said, “I’m sorry, Valinda.”
Val asked, “But why would the Creoles make such a demand?”
Julianna responded, “First, it isn’t all the Creole families, but there are enough opposed to be taken seriously. Why? Because they value class and their social position above all else. They don’t want to be lumped in with the freedmen just because we all share African blood. They cling to the belief that their education and wealth makes them superior. During the war they went to Washington and met with Mr. Lincoln with the hopes of being designated a special class of individuals, but that status was never granted.”
“So, they want to punish the Sisters?”
“If that’s what it takes to maintain their positions, yes.”
Val found that maddening.
“Looking down their noses at former slaves like myself is nothing new,” Sable pointed out. “Some still refuse to acknowledge me when our paths cross.”
“I didn’t know you were once enslaved,” Val said.
“Yes. Raimond and I met in one of the contraband camps. He was stationed with the Union troops and I was a runaway.”
This was Val’s first time hearing any details of Sable’s life.
Sable added, “When Rai and I married, Creole mothers all over the city wept.”
Julianna chuckled.
“Some even told me to my face that I had no business being in the House of LeVeq.”
Julianna added, “Not that any of us cared what they thought. My son loved her, and she loved him. That was all that mattered. But some of the Creoles are coming around. TheTribunehas been encouraging them to drop their stance because both groups—the free and the freed—need each other. The country isn’t making distinctions between the two, and we’d be stronger if we united, especially on the issue of suffrage.”
Val agreed.
As the waiter arrived with menus, the conversation was set momentarily aside. While the man waited for their orders, Val chose the fish. Julianna and Sable did as well.
After he departed, Sable said, “The Sisters closing their doors presents a problem for me as well. My children and my orphans are enrolled in their school, and now I’ll have to find a new place for them.”
“You run an orphanage?”
Sable nodded. “I do. Twelve children. Seven girls and five boys.”
Julianna asked, “Would you consider being their teacher, Valinda?”
Excitement rose. “I would. Do you have a place where they can be taught, Sable?”
“Unfortunately, no. Unless it’s out of doors. There’s barely room to turn around in the house where they live on our property.”
Before Valinda could ask, Julianna said, “And I don’t own a property to offer, either.”
“Then how can we proceed?”
Julianna replied, “We may be able to find a temporary location, but the facility might not be ideal. Carpetbaggers have descended on the city like the plagues of Egypt and are buying up foreclosed and abandoned land as if it were made of gold, because in truth it is. New Orleans was the richest city in the South before the war, and everyone is hoping it can be again.”
“I was teaching in a barn, Julianna. If we can find a place that has walls and a roof, I can conduct classes.” Hope rose. “When can we begin the search?”
“Immediately would be my preference,” Sable replied. “I don’t want the children to go too long without schooling. I’ll ask Rai if he knows of a suitable place. How long will you be in New Orleans?”
“At the most, another month or two. My intended, Cole, plans to return around then.”
Sable said, “Two months of schooling for the children is better than none, and in the meantime I can search for someone permanent.”
Valinda was disappointed that she’d not be that person.