by D. Camille
Henry lifted his face to hers. “You’re welcome Millie. I know how hard it is for colored nurses to get positions in the major hospitals. I want you to have the best opportunity.”
Millie felt her eyes water. “You’re so sweet to me Henry.”
“You’re my girl. I’ll always be sweet to you,” he promised.
She smiled wickedly. “We don’t have much time left to fool around before Irma gets here.”
Henry laid her back on the sofa then climbed over her before kissing her senseless and breathless. When she was able to breathe again, she looked up at him.
“Have I mentioned that I like being your girl, Henry?” she asked breathlessly with his body pressed into hers.
“Yes ma’am.” Henry promptly used the rest of his time making sure Millie couldn’t talk anymore.
******
Bill glanced over at Henry when he returned to his station for a day. Henry was focused on his parts as Bill studied him. He’d expected to have had some sort of confrontation over Honey, but Henry hadn’t said anything in the week since he’d had his interaction with her. Maybe she hadn’t told Henry. If she hadn’t, did that mean she was considering his offer? Henry glanced up and caught Bill’s perusal.
“Hey Bill, do you need a ride home today? I have some business to take care of in that direction,” Henry offered.
“Uh, yeah that’s fine. Thanks Henry,” Bill said slowly.
Henry nodded and went back to his work as the new foreman came down the line. He stopped at Henry’s station and looked at his work. Patting Henry on the back he commented, “Great job as usual Henry.”
“Thank you,” Henry replied.
“Everything going okay?” the foreman inquired.
Henry nodded. “Everything’s fine.”
The foreman patted him once more before moving on and Henry shook his head. Ever since the incident with Schmidt, every foreman on the line made it a point to check and make sure Henry was happy.
Bill watched from his position and smirked at the way the foremen all fawned over Henry like he was the best thing since sliced bread. Even before the incident with the previous foreman, Henry received what Bill deemed special attention from the management. He frowned and went back to his work.
Henry watched Bill frown at his interaction with the foreman and shook his head. Bill wasn’t a bad worker, but he could certainly be better if he applied himself. When Henry looked up again, Bill was on a bathroom break…for the third time today. Another worker who was passing by stopped at Henry’s station.
“See you tonight Henry?” Jimmy asked.
Henry nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“We’ll see you then.”
As Bill returned, he saw Jimmy passing by. He lifted an eyebrow at Bill then continued on his way and Bill looked confused as he went back to his station to finish his shift. At the end of the day, Bill followed Henry out to his car.
“Thanks for the ride Henry,” Bill said settling inside.
Henry looked over at him. “I have something to take care of anyway.”
They drove in the direction of Bill’s home with Bill watching the passing scenery.
“So how are those college classes coming?” Henry asked and Bill froze for a moment remembering what had happened.
“I checked it out,” he answered slowly. “Still trying to decide.”
Henry nodded slowly as he continued to drive. Bill looked out the window again and saw unfamiliar scenery.
“Where are we going Henry?” Bill asked becoming panicked.
Henry glanced over at him. “Need to make a stop first.”
Bill sat watching Henry as he continued to drive to a vacant field near the Detroit River. He turned to Henry, “Why are we here?”
Parking the car and removing the key, Henry turned to Bill.
“I’m going to give you the opportunity to win Honey’s hand,” Henry told him and Bill looked confused.
“Does she want me?” Bill asked.
Henry lifted a dark brow over hard eyes. “Did she tell you that when you saw her at the college?”
Bill swallowed. “What are we doing here Henry?” He turned as three other cars arrived and some of their fellow workers climbed out of the vehicles.
He turned to Henry. “What are they doing here?”
“Witnesses,” Henry told him climbing out of the car. The other workers all greeted Henry as he closed the door.
Henry looked down inside the window at Bill. “Get out of the car.”
Bill shook his head. “No!”
“If you want a shot at Honey, you’d better get out.”
After a few minutes, Bill exited the vehicle. “What do I have to do?”
“You have to win her like a man,” Henry told him. “You whip me and I’ll walk away, but if I whip you…you never come near her again or I’ll just whip you for the hell of it.”
Bill looked around at the additional men. “Are they going to help you?” he questioned.
Henry gave him a look. “They’re here to make sure I don’t kill you. I don’t trust myself.” He began unbuttoning his work shirt.
“Let’s go, nobody has all night,” Henry ordered then threw his shirt inside the car. He moved over to an empty space on the field and waited for Bill.
Bill looked at all the faces watching him before removing his own shirt. Slowly he walked to where Henry was standing and faced him.
Henry balled his fists and got into a boxing stance worthy of Muhammad Ali. “So you grabbed Millie?”
At the first punch, Bill fell to the ground and Henry looked down at him. “Come on Bill, we’re just getting started.”
Bill scrambled to his feet then charged at Henry who pushed him aside and stepped out of his path.
“Fight like a man!” Henry yelled putting his dukes up again while covering his face.
Bill adopted Henry’s stance and the two men moved in a circle. “Honey’s real sweet.” Henry taunted.
Bill threw a punch and Henry ducked but still took a hit. “You know I wanted her!” Bill yelled letting his guard down.
“She don’t want you.” Henry connected with another punch to Bill’s face causing him to stumble backwards. Henry followed him landing more blows before Bill could regroup.
Bill pushed Henry off of him and moved back away from the assault. Touching his lip and nose he looked at his hand and saw blood.
He glared at Henry. “I’m whipping your ass now!”
Henry prepared himself. “That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for...”
Then the fight was on…
Then the fight was over…
“Is he dead?” someone asked.
“I don’t know,” another responded.
“Whoever this Honey is, she can’t be worth a beating like that,” Jimmy added.
Henry stood looking over Bill, who was laid out on the ground then turned to the crowd of workers.
“We should start calling you ‘Champ’,” one guy said to Henry as he began to wipe his hands on his shirt.
Henry looked up. “There’s only one champ.”
“Til they stripped him of his title,” someone commented. “Just because he wouldn’t fight in the white man’s war.”
The group all shook their heads in sympathy. “A man stands for his principles,” Henry told them as he glanced back at Bill who was now coming to. “Muhammad Ali will always be champ even if he never fights again. No one can take that from him.”
Bill tried to stand but needed assistance from two of the workers. “Bill, you lost fair and square. Honor your word and don’t make Henry Kill you,” the workers told him.
Bill looked angrily at Henry. His eye, cheek and lip were swollen with smeared blood.
Someone volunteered to help him. “I’ll take Bill home, since he probably doesn’t want to ride with Henry.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Henry agreed, finishing cleaning his hands on his once white T-Shirt.
&
nbsp; He looked up as the pair led Bill to one of the waiting cars. “Bill?”
They all stopped as Bill looked back. “Don’t ever come near her again.”
Bill turned back and was helped into one of the cars to take him home.
Jimmy looked at Henry. “So you know boxing?”
Henry looked over at him. “I know a lot of things.”
They both watched the car take off containing Bill and Jimmy turned to Henry.
“Do you think this is over?” he asked.
“For Bill’s sake…I hope so.” Henry began to walk to his car.
“Because next time he won’t get up…”
Chapter 12
Millie sat in the room on the edge of her bed with butterflies in her stomach. Today Henry was picking her up for their first official date. She had visited him twice during his twenty-one-day work schedule and although she’d wanted to see him more, she’d exercised restraint. Instead, she’d studied the nursing journals that he’d ordered for her and kept a lookout for Bill.
Henry had told her that Bill wouldn’t be bothering her again and thus far, he’d been correct. She wondered if Henry had confronted Bill and warned him away, however Millie didn’t ask for details and Henry didn’t provide any.
Standing to her feet, she placed a hand on her midriff taking a deep breath. Turning to the mirror, she studied herself slowly. Her new outfit fit her toned body to perfection. The red skirt came just below her knees and hugged her firm backside. She topped it with a black blouse that showed just a hint of honey cleavage.
Millie’s mother had used the stove curlers on her hair and now it was a soft curly cap on her head. She smiled as she remembered how Henry liked to touch her hairline. She loved the way he gently stroked and touched her…all over.
Spraying herself with the perfume bottle, she turned her neck from side to side. Picking up her shoes, she slipped on the tiny heels that showed her newly polished toenails through a small peep-toe. Facing the mirror again, she turned and looked at her backside. Flexing on her toes, she gave it a tight squeeze watching her reflection.
Laughing softy, she remembered Henry sliding his hand along that area. Millie also recalled other things Henry had done to and around that said area. She felt the heat begin to spread causing warmth in her core. Blushing and turning away from the mirror, she continued her preparations.
******
Henry stood on the porch of Millie’s home holding a bouquet of flowers and waited for the door to be answered. He could hear Millie’s niece inside and her mother as she walked to greet him.
Smiling she pushed the screen door open. “Well you must be Henry Patterson.”
Henry smiled as he stepped inside the home. “Yes, ma’am and you must be Mrs. Gaines.” He handed her the flowers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Gina Gaines studied the handsome and sturdy young man with the sultry dark brown eyes. She could definitely see how this young fella with his warm smile and southern accent had charmed her youngest daughter.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you to Henry. I’ve heard so much about you.” She looked him over again in his white dress shirt tucked into dark trousers. “You’ve certainly made an impression on Honey.”
Henry held her gaze. “Your daughter has certainly made an impression on me ma’am. Millie is a very special girl.”
Gina smiled. “I’m glad you recognize that.” She moved over to the sofa and patted the seat next to her. “Come sit with me Henry.” Gina placed the flowers on the table in front of her as Henry took the offered seat.
“I’ve never seen a young man woo a girl with nursing journals,” Gina commented.
Henry clasped his hands between his legs and looked at Gina. “Millie’s school is very important to her, so it’s very important to me.”
Gina raised a brow at the sincerity in the young man’s words. “Where your people from son?”
“Mississippi,” he answered. “Near Meridian.”
“You came here all by yourself?” Gina questioned.
Henry nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I came to make a new life.”
“Honey says that you work and have your own apartment,” Gina told him. “That’s pretty impressive for such a young man.”
As he was about to respond, his breath was taken away as Millie entered the room. Henry looked at the vision before him. Slowly, he stood to his feet taking in the soft curls atop her head then down to those light brown eyes and then those plush lips now lightly covered with red lip paint.
Traveling lower, his gaze took in her honey cleavage then down to her red toes peeking out of her dress shoes. He’d never seen Millie dressed this way and he still couldn’t find his voice to greet her. To him, Millie was the prettiest girl in a baseball uniform or pedal pushers, but this beauty standing before him now was beyond anything he’d ever imagined.
The vision smiled at him. “Hi Henry,” the raspy voice greeted him.
Henry managed to clear his throat. “Hello Millie, you look amazing.” His eyes still clung to her.
She grinned. “Thank you Henry.”
Gina looked between the couple as Maggie entered the room with Amber. “Well, well…look at little Honey,” Maggie studied at her sister. “You actually clean up pretty good, glad something has made you want to be a woman.”
“Maggie, watch your mouth!” Gina admonished.
Maggie frowned. “Sorry, I was giving her a compliment.”
Gina matched her frown. “Go in the kitchen and feed that baby,” she ordered.
All three watched as Maggie reluctantly followed her mother’s orders.
Henry walked over to Millie and stood looking down at her. “May I take you out pretty woman?” he asked softly.
Millie glanced over at her mother who gave her a nod of acceptance, then back at him. “Yes sir, Henry Patterson.”
Millie watched as Henry held out his hand to her then she gently placed hers inside feeling the warmth that she always did whenever he touched her.
The pair turned to Gina and she nodded at them. “You two have a good time.”
“I won’t keep her out late,” Henry promised.
Gina looked at her watch. “Since it’s only noon, I would hope not.”
The couple smiled as Henry escorted her out of the house and to his car. He opened the door and she spotted a single red rose on her seat. Picking it up, she settled inside and waited until Henry joined her inside.
Sticking the key into the ignition, he turned to her. “You ready?”
Millie brought the rose to her nose and nodded happily as Henry smiled and started the car. Millie turned and looked out the window at the bright sun as Henry navigated the streets of Detroit. She didn’t know where they were going and honestly, she didn’t care.
“I’m waiting to kiss you,” a slow drawl told her and she felt that familiar warmth below.
She smiled and turned to him. “For how long?”
Henry slid her a glance. “With the way you look right now, a long time and we won’t have a date.”
“You like the way I look?” she asked sexily.
He gave a small grin. “Well you got your hair all curly, your lips look sweet and juicy, you smell like flowers and that outfit shows off your little body real nice. So what do you think?”
“I think that you look real handsome in your good clothes,” she told him.
Henry laughed softly showing white teeth. “I didn’t think you’d want to see me in my uniform.”
Millie smelled her rose again. “You look real handsome in that too.” She watched as Henry pulled into a restaurant parking lot.
Cutting the engine, he turned to her. “Stay right here, I’m just picking up our lunch.”
She agreed and he walked inside while she waited. When he returned, Henry placed the food on the back seat before he looked Millie over again then winked at her. They continued their drive and Millie got excited as they neared the bridge to beautiful Belle Isle Park.
Henry drove as Millie lifted her head to look out at the shimmering Detroit River as they crossed over to their destination. He located a parking spot then hopped out quickly to help Millie from the car. Henry grabbed the food, then opened the trunk and pulled out a basket along with a large fluffy blanket.
Millie watched closely. “We’re having a picnic on the river?” she asked looking at the items.
Henry held everything in one hand and took hers with his free hand. “This is where we’ll start.”
The pair walked together to a quiet, secluded, grassy spot that looked across the river to Canada. Henry spread the blanket on the ground then placed the basket and food to the side before taking a seat and holding out a hand to Millie.
“Come sit with me?” he invited and Millie kicked off her shoes then took his hand letting him guide her to sit on his lap.
Breathing in the scent on her neck, Henry kissed the soft spot. “My girl is so pretty,” he whispered against her skin.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Millie looked into his face. Unable to contain himself any longer, Henry leaned in and kissed her. Millie pressed closer as Henry began to explore her mouth. He reached up and cradled the soft curls of her hair in his hand as he held her firmly in place to receive his ardent kisses.
“I missed you Millie,” he said against her moist lips.
Catching her breath, she responded, “I missed you too Henry.”
Henry resumed pleasuring her mouth, making up for the time they’d been apart. When the kisses ended, he turned Millie toward the view sitting her comfortably between his long legs. Millie looked out at the water as Henry wrapped her in his embrace, kissing the back of her neck.
“Have you been to Windsor?” Millie asked him as she stared at the city in the distance.
Henry lifted his head and looked at what held Millie’s attention. “No, would you like to go there?”
Millie turned her head to him. “Another date?” she suggested.
“As many dates as you want Millie,” he promised.
She smiled and turned back to the view. After a short time, Henry suggested that they eat the food he’d brought and Millie agreed. Taking out plates and glasses, Henry set up the items for an old-fashioned picnic.
