Mylene Tucker and her cousin Selma Porter grew up together in Perry, Georgia and were very close.
Selma would often spend the night with Mylene, and was happy to be away from the household of her abusive alcoholic father, Alec Porter.
Selma never invited Mylene to her house, especially when her father was “Out of control”.
Mylene enjoyed the creative outlet afforded by her job as church newsletter editor, writing essays, stories, and poems.
When Mylene married Zachariah Messner, she recommended Selma to take her place as a cashier at Walker Grocery.
Zachariah encouraged Mylene to visit James Frederick after she was unable to conceive a child with him. Mylene ended her life because she couldn’t live with the guilt she felt over people believing she had an affair with Frederick.
Selma would take her cousin’s place as Mrs. Zachariah Messner.
Selma had fewer reservations about an affair. Like Zachariah, she blamed Frederick for Mylene’s death and wanted to produce a son they could use to punish Frederick.
Instead, they had Christine who they would use for the same purpose.
Selma remained an unwelcome presence in Christine’s life, even after she left home and changed her name to Claire Belmonte.
Rebecca Asher notices Selma at T. J. Bailey’s and introduces herself. Selma realizes they have a connection that she doesn’t share with Rebecca.
Against her better judgment, Claire agrees to meet with Selma to answer questions she has about her origins.
Read more of their story in Reconstruction: Ashes.
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