Happy Land

Nikki invites Maddie over for dinner. The following morning, Mother Rita will be released from the hospital. They sit and talk about the eviction and Mother Rita’s illness. When Nikki insists that she doesn’t think there is anything she can do to help, Maddie leaves the room. She returns with a wooden box.

Nikki opens the box and finds her mother’s report cards from school. As she flips through, she finds her own report cards, as well as pictures from high school, her soccer schedule, her acceptance letter to college, and more. Maddie explains that Mama was once Mother Rita’s entire life, then Nikki was. She begs Nikki to stay and not go home on Sunday, insisting that she needs to fight for the land, which is her “legacy and birthright” (168).

In 1878, the kingdom has over 100 inhabitants. The railroad nearby is completed, which causes several problems for them. First, the men who were working on the railroad from the kingdom lose their jobs. Then, there are far fewer workers in the area to buy their goods and barter with. Due to the railroad, there are also fewer travelers, as they no longer need to go through the land by coach. Ultimately, Luella notes how much more important the work of the women becomes.

Most of the men in the kingdom work in the mines. They bring word from William, who knows of Luella’s new marriage and child. He gives her his blessing, but Luella can’t help but be bothered by the fact that he doesn’t visit.

Robert comes to Luella with news that they have enough money to buy land from Widow Davis. If the council approves, he wants Luella to come with him. His hope is that they can put half the land in his name and half in hers. Since they don’t have an official marriage, it would be useful to have the land separated in case something should happen.

On the day that Robert and Luella go to see Davis, they are first greeted by her son. Luella has never liked him, as he always seemed to treat them with less respect than his mother. He leads most of the conversation, pointing out that they have never made the kingdom pay rent. However, Luella knows that the inn is struggling for business now that the railroad has been built. When Robert finally makes his request to buy land, Davis shows interest, despite her son’s protests. He asks for 200 acres. Davis assures him they will consider it.

Two weeks later, they receive an offer from Davis. She sells them 130 acres in North Carolina, plus 75 in South Carolina, for $200. The kingdom agrees, and the land in North Carolina is put in Luella’s name. The kingdom celebrates, with Luella taking pride in the fact that she is a Black woman landowner.

Nikki goes with Bryan to meet with a lawyer, R.J. Parker, to talk about the land. R.J. tells Nikki that her ancestors, the Caseys, also lived in the kingdom. Like Nikki, she is skeptical about the idea of it being a “kingdom” with a king and queen, but she does believe that the stories about their community moving to the hills and establishing themselves are true.

R.J. explains what heirs’ property is. When a relative dies without a will, their land is automatically split equally among the immediate descendants. For generations, this rarely causes an issue, as the family members respect the wishes of the deceased. However, recently, wealthy contractors who want land trace the ownership. They then find a distant relative, convince them to make a claim on the land by offering them money, then fight for the rights to the entire property in court. They usually do all this privately, leaving people like Mother Rita to learn out of nowhere that they are being evicted.

When Nikki expresses her shock at this, R.J. explains that it became very common in the 20th century, especially with coveted coastal land in the Carolinas. People estimate that Black landowners have lost nearly 90% of their land due to heirs’ property and various other loopholes, totaling hundreds of billions of dollars in lost generational wealth. R.J. then tells Nikki that Mother Rita claims to own 50 acres, which could be sold today for millions of dollars.

Nikki is surprised and devastated by R.J.’s revelation. She thinks of how much her family could do with the money, but also their family legacy that is tied up in it. When she asks R.J. what can be done, R.J. is adamant that Mother Rita has no chance of getting her land back.

The next day, Nikki brings Mother Rita home from the hospital. She tells her what R.J. said, but Mother Rita is adamant that she needs to keep the land. As Nikki tries to explain that she has to leave the next day and that Mother Rita will need money to pay R.J., Mother Rita ignores her, instead talking about the kingdom.

She tells Nikki that Luella married Robert and that they bought land together from the owner of an inn. There was also a school in the kingdom, the remnants of which are still on the property. When Nikki asks to see the land, Mother Rita assures her that Stephen can take her next week—ignoring the fact that Nikki plans on leaving. Nikki is adamant that she needs to see it now, so she decides to talk with Al Thomas.

When Nikki gets to Al’s house, he is outside washing his car. His wife, Jessica, invites Nikki inside for tea. The two talk about their families, with Nikki noting how “warm” Jessica is. When Nikki asks about the land, Jessica tells her that she hates what is happening. She warns Nikki that Al’s brother owns half the land, and he is only interested in the money it will generate. She suggests that Nikki talk with Al about everything outside on the land, as his thoughts are always “clearer” out there.

Al takes Nikki out to where the kingdom once stood. He shows her what people call the “palace,” where Luella and Robert used to live. For the first time, Nikki imagines what it must have been like for Luella to live there. She becomes convinced that everything Mother Rita has been saying is true, as she refers to Luella as “Queen Luella” in her mind for the first time. They then visit the place where the schoolhouse once stood and the land that the community used to farm. She finally understands why the land is so important to Mother Rita, as she realizes how deeply rooted her history is there.

Nikki angrily turns on Al. She tells him not to sell the land or to at least let Mother Rita live there until she dies. Al apologizes, insisting that his brother wants to sell and won’t change his mind. He explains that their father bought the land just before he died, 20 years ago; however, they did not know about the land until eight years ago. He isn’t sure why his brother is insistent on selling now, but he knows he won’t change his mind. Nikki angrily walks away and back to the house.

On her way back, Nikki calls R.J. to tell her that Al wouldn’t change his mind. R.J. explains that she found a copy of the original land deed, which shows that Luella and Robert bought the land. She does not think it will help their case, but is going to send it to Mother Rita for sentimental value.

At the house, Nikki is excited to show Mother Rita a pitcher that she found in the palace. She finds Mother Rita sitting at the table looking at a document. It is a notice to Rita that she is officially trespassing and could face arrest if she doesn’t vacate the land.

Over the next few years, the kingdom has a sense of “rebirth” now that they own the land. They feel as though they have new purpose, making each of their accomplishments even more joyous. In 1880, Luella gives birth to a boy, Wade.

Papa comes to see Luella with news. He cares for his grandchildren regularly, while Luella notes how he has started to age. He tells her that William is returning to the kingdom. He is sick, and Papa implores Luella to care for him as her husband. Luella grows angry, insisting that she has no responsibility to William. However, she agrees to talk it through with Robert.

When Luella brings up William to Robert, he acts as if it is not his problem. He insists that William will figure things out for himself. When she tries to get him to talk about how he feels, Robert angrily tells her that he is with his wife and caring for his children. Luella realizes how difficult it must be for Robert, who truly loves William but doesn’t know how to help him. Luella promises that they will “make space” (212) for William in their lives.

A few weeks later, William arrives. Robert isn’t home, so Luella invites him inside. He explains that he lost most of his sight but can still make out some things in the daytime. She confronts him about why he never came back. William admits that he was ashamed. He had gone to work in the mines to make more money to build a schoolhouse, which softens Luella. She offers to let William stay with them.

Over the next few weeks, William assimilates back into the kingdom. He helps wherever he can, even around Luella’s house, where he cleans regularly. He earns a seat on the council. Throughout it all, Robert is short and distant with William. Luella realizes that she is pregnant again. She decides not to tell Robert yet, as there is too much going on in their lives.

One evening, Luella overhears the men talking on the porch. Robert tells William that he found a place for him to stay. William tries to get Robert to let him stay, insisting that he now sees Luella as a “sister” and part of his family. When Robert won’t relent, Luella goes out onto the porch and scolds Robert. She makes it clear that William is going to stay with them. Luella realizes that she has strange feelings for William. He seems kinder and gentler now. She considers the word “sister” that he used to describe it, but realizes that it is more than that.

One day, Luella finds Robert resting by the nearby creek. She plans to tell him the news of her pregnancy, but he immediately confronts her about William. He insists that he can see the feelings that still exist between them. In response, Luella asks why Robert never told her that William was working in the mines to pay for the schoolhouse. Robert avoids the question, instead demanding that Luella choose between him and William. Heartbroken, Luella can’t find the words to answer. However, she realizes that she has to make William leave.

That evening, William congratulates Robert on his new child. He tells Luella that he figured it out based on how she has been acting. Robert gets angry, even as Luella tries to explain that she wanted to tell him about it by the creek. Luella can see distrust in Robert’s eyes and she wonders if he thinks the baby might be William’s.

For two days, Robert doesn’t speak to Luella. When she wakes in the middle of the night, she can tell something is wrong with the baby. Robert urgently goes to find Jola, just as Luella begins to feel severe pain.

Luella loses her baby. Over the next few months, she grieves, while still noting the discord in her house between William and Robert.

One morning, William tells Luella that he is going to move out. She insists that he doesn’t have to, as he built the house they are in, and she is still devoted to him as her husband. He apologizes for hitting her years ago, telling her that he realized over the years that he didn’t treat her like he should have.

As they talk, Luella notices that his foot is swollen. She crouches down to look at it, telling him that he needs to go to a doctor. They are interrupted by Robert, who comes through the door. She realizes how bad she must look, touching William’s foot. Robert tells her that something happened to Papa.

A few days later, Luella stands at her father’s burial between Robert and William. She realizes that she has not been faithful to Robert, who was the only one who showed her the respect she deserved. She vows to tell William to move out and fix things with Robert.

That evening, Luella gets into bed with Robert. She leans into his back and apologizes to him. She tells him that she is going to finally “honor him” (233) like he deserves and tell William to move out. She is devastated when Robert replies that she is too late.