He’s in his sweats, his feet bare. Before I know it, the corner of my mouth is turning up and a smile plays softly upon my lips.
“You look terrible, Vincent. You need to get to bed.”
He nods, “Are you going somewhere?”
I glance at the clock; I have 15 minutes.
“Yes. I’m meeting Kazumi and Jordan for lunch. Would you like me to bring something back for you?”
He shakes his head, inhales and exhales dramatically, he has something to add, but is apprehensive.
“Yes. Dwayne or Lurch can come with me. So long as they don’t sit at our table,” I add sourly.
He smirks, “Okay. Good. Thank you. Lurch is here, he can drive you if you’d like.”
I roll my eyes, but nod my consent. He shuffles to the bed and collapses on it, face first. He groans into the pillow. He must be exhausted. What’s he been doing in the library all this time anyway?
I kneel next to the bed. He turns his head to face me. His eyes are soft, no longer icy, now they’re the color of the Mediterranean Sea.
“Vincent. I’m sorry about last night...about everything. I just wish you’d let me be here for you.” I kiss his temple.
I hear his sharp intake of breath, but before he can respond, I grab my purse and head out the door, closing it softly behind me.
I step out of the enormous SUV as Lurch scans the sidewalks. It makes me nervous and edgy. His face is always completely void of any expression. He opens the door for me and I step into the cafe. Jordan and Kazumi are already seated. I walk over to them, and Lurch disappears somewhere behind me.
I sit across from them. I feel so ashamed and guilty.
“Hi, guys. Did you order?”
Jordan nods, “Yes, just now. Three coffees, and a round of sweet cream pancakes,” he smiles timidly.
I nod. Good, I need coffee.
“Lenore, before you go blaming yourself, just stop. Things like this have happened at the club before. The security was too lax, I’ll admit, but also, the capacity of that room is thirty-five. There were far more people in that room last night, which I think had a lot to do with things getting so out of hand.
“It’s not the end of the world. All of The Mercuries have day jobs. I will find more work for them soon. So please, don’t blame yourself. It’s written all over your face. Mr. Thoreaux and me have bumped heads quite a bit in the past. He likes to shift the blame to everyone but himself. His new security that he added...they’re bullshit. They’re not even trained or licensed. I have a case against him. He’s going to get his ass handed to him. Ginger was accosted, and I have urged her to press charges against the gentleman from the club, and also against Mr. Thoreaux.
“So, you can just stop. I think you were quite brave, and handled the circumstances very well. Things have never gotten so far out of hand, but none of the blame should lie at your feet. Trust me. I just wish you weren’t mixed up in that mess in the first place.”
She pauses after her rant and smiles timidly.
“I’m glad Vincent and his men got there when they did. Otherwise...” She shakes her head, and a frown creases her smooth, ivory forehead.
Some of the events from last night fall into place. Yes, a man grabbed at Ginger, she turned to slap him and I think he grabbed her from the stage. I clutch my right hand, I think... Yes, I definitely wailed on him. There’s something else though, something else that happened before Vincent hauled me off my feet. But I can’t remember.
“Dwayne, the uh, big black guy, he knocked one of the security out,” Jordan says interrupting my thoughts.
“What?”
He nods, a smile on his face. “If you ask me, he deserved it. The security weren’t happy with the way they barged in, but considering they were doing nothing to help the situation in the first place... Well, one of them got in Dwayne’s face, and Dwayne knocked him out cold.” He shakes his head, “Fucking assholes, I can’t believe that shit happened. I wonder if they’ll be pressing charges, too?” He adds, looking at Kazumi.
“They probably could, considering they were put into a room with a capacity of thirty-five. But since they no doubt tipped Mr. Thoreaux to get that room in the first place… No, I doubt it. They were harassing everyone last night, the bartender and our waitresses. We have video footage of what happened, the whole thing is backed up. They were snorting coke the whole night. Mr. Thoreaux was well aware, but I’m guessing he was paid well because he said nothing and did nothing to stop them.”
I nod, and then blanch. Oh, my God. Do all of the rooms have cameras? I think back to the Red Room and my first date with Vincent.
“Kazumi,” I whisper, “do all of the rooms have cameras?”
“No, just the rooms that are used for our larger parties. The Madonna Room and the Jezebel Suite. The Blue, Red and Green Rooms are small, for more intimate parties, so no,” she smirks at me.
Thank goodness…
“So what’s next then? For you, for the Mercuries?” Jordan asks, after I deflate with relief.
“Court I guess. The Mercuries, I think we can easily find another club to work in, but I think we’re going to put that on hold for a while. We’ll still practice every week. You’re more than welcome to join us, Lenore, but I want to get a few things straightened out before I book us into another club.”
I nod, “Actually, Kazumi, I might take you up on burlesque practice sometime.” But what I really need is ballet; I need it to relax. I feel so tense most of the time. And with everything going bat shit crazy in my life…I could use a bit of calm. I need to get back into my old routine. But first, I need to tackle the beast of a library upstairs. We have so many books. Kazumi and Jordan helped, but there’s still quite a bit left to do.
“Jordan, are you busy tomorrow?”
Our coffee and pancakes arrive. My stomach rumbles, I’m not sure if the coffee is the wisest decision, given my delicate stomach, but I am famished!
“No, me and Benny were just going to go to the Art Warehouse. Why? What’s up?”
Hmm, I guess Jordan has cut back on his hours at his mom’s print shop?
“Well, I could use some help shelving the books in the library. No pressure. I’m sure I could get it done on my own, but...”
“No. That’s fine. We’re happy to help. We’ll be there at about 8:30?”
I nod. So now they’re a “we”?
I glance at Kazumi and we both grin. She must have caught that, too.
We finish our breakfast and to my surprise, I completely forget about Lurch. I’m not even sure if he had anything to eat. I ask the waitress to bag him up two hot buttered biscuits before we split the check and head our separate ways. I feel so much better now that Kazumi and I have spoken. Unfortunately she still has a long journey ahead of her in terms of her issues with The Speak Easy, but I’m glad she’s not upset with me about last night. I still feel bad about ditching Dwayne.
“One second, um...”
Lurch stands, holding the door open for me as I dodge back inside. Should I call him Lurch? Does he like that?
I ask the waitress for another three hot buttered biscuits, I grab the bag from her. These biscuits are my peace offerings.
Lurch opens the car door for me as we step out into the warm sun. I really wish I could experience a real crisp fall for once. The sun is too bright, and has burned away the gray haze from earlier.
“What do you prefer to be called?” I ask before stepping into the car. He is ridiculously tall. He looks down at me, no expression; eyes blank. Does he always look like that?
“Lurch, Ms. O’Howell. It’s the only name I go by.” His voice is so deep, it almost sounds fake.
“Oh,” I reply softly. I step into the car and he closes the door after me. He gets in and starts the engine a moment later.
I lean over the center console.
“Here, this is for you. It’s a peace offering. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused last night.” He takes the bag with the two biscuits, h
is thumb and forefinger plucking it out of my hands gently. He opens it up and looks at the contents. The car immediately fills with their sweet aroma.
“Thank you, Ms. O’Howell, but you caused no trouble and there is nothing for you to be sorry about. Please, put on your seat belt.”
And with that, he presses on the accelerator and we ease out onto the road. We’ll see if Dwayne feels the same way.
I have to say, I feel more at ease in the presence of Lurch. I think it’s because his face is void of any expression. There is no judgment, no…I don’t know, he gives nothing away. Dwayne, like Vincent, always seems amused at my expense, or disapproving. Or maybe it’s just me. Either way, I owe him an apology.
When we arrive back home, I ask Lurch where I can find Dwayne. He points me in the direction of the garage where I find him giving the Merc an oil change. Weird, is this in his job description? He’s a mechanic and personal guard?
I enter timidly. He stops working and wipes his hands on a towel.
I cock my head to one side.
“I have something for you in this bag,” I say playfully. “It’s a peace offering, I’m sorry about last night, and I promise never to ditch you again,” I smile sweetly at him.
I swing the bag to and fro. He smirks and walks over to me. He surprises me by pulling out a stool, gesturing for me to sit.
I don’t move and he points to the chair yet again, and so I walk over and reluctantly sit down. He takes the bag from me, and opens it up.
“Mmm-mm-mm. Now that’s some good stuff right there, girl.” He smiles at me and I soften a bit. I move to get up, “No. Now sit back down, girl, I wanna have some words with ya.”
I plop back onto the stool. Am I in trouble? I look at him closely. I thought he was younger, but now that I really pay attention, he appears to be in his early forties. He’s thick, and big. His lips are big, his eyes are big, and he’s a rich chocolate brown all over. He’s dressed a bit more casually than usual, his navy button up is un-tucked, and his blue slacks have oil smears.
“Now, I ain’t mad atcha for what you did last night. I don’t think it was smart, but I ain’t mad atcha. That being said, I have a job to do, ya see? And that job is to make sure I keep ya safe for Mr. Vincent. That’s priority numba one,” he says in his thick southern drawl.
“Now, I wouldn’t have let you go in that room like ya did, at least not without calling Mr. Vincent first, and I think you were just as surprised as we was with how them men were behaving in there...” he pauses, waiting for my reaction. I seem to have reverted back to age six. I nod solemnly, and he continues.
“If I had known where ya were, I wouldn’t have let any of them men lay a hand on ya ladies. But, what done is done. I just need you to make a promise ta me, ya hear?”
I nod, “Yes. What do you want me to promise?”
“That you gonna let me do my job, lil Miss O’Howell. And what’s my job?”
I clear my throat. “To keep me safe,” my voice is small and I try my best not to roll my eyes.
“That’s right, ta keep ya safe. Mr. Vincent is my employa; and he’s a good one, he a good man. When I called him and told him what was happenin’well...I could see right there and then that he love you, very much. He got there faster than I thought a person could fly. He was ‘bout ta start a brawl right there, with every single man. But he got ya out safe; and I could see how important ya are ta him. Do you understand that?”
I exhale heavily, “Yes. I do.” Gosh, I’m an asshole.
“Well alright then, so do ya promise?”
I smile and stifle a giggle, “Yes, yes I do, Dwayne. I promise,” I say holding up my hand, “scouts honor.”
“Good. Now go on an get outta here, and leave me to my biscuits.”
I laugh and practically skip out of the garage. That wasn’t what I was expecting, but Dwayne has just grown on me. He’s sweet, underneath that big scary demeanor of his. When I get to the steps I see Lurch sitting on one of the rocking chairs, eating his biscuits right out of the bag. He doesn’t acknowledge me, but I’m glad to see he’s enjoying his gift.
I tiptoe up the stairs and peek in at Vincent. It’s after two o’clock now, and he’s still out cold. Poor man. I head up to the attic and get to work on a few projects. I need to get some projects finished, and take some photos and upload them onto the computer. It’s a learning curve, but I hope it won’t be too hard.
At five o’clock I put everything away, and clear my workspace. I just finished adding a black lace border to a cream-colored shift dress. Soon, I will add black buttons down the back of it in place of the tattered zipper. It’s shaping up quite well.
I plan on dedicating tomorrow to the library. I owe it to Vincent to wrap that up before I get too swept away in the attic. He needs a serene workspace, like the one he’s so generously given me.
I tiptoe down the stairs, wondering if Vincent is avoiding me. Perhaps he is still asleep. I pass the library, and see that he was drinking bourbon last night.
An idea pops into my head. I can find him a bar for the library! Nothing big. Just something to house a few glasses, and bottles, and ice. Yes! I’ll get on that soon. Maybe that can be his Christmas gift.
I peer into our room and see that he is curled up in the center of the bed, clutching one of my pillows against his chest. I stifle a laugh and walk downstairs to start on dinner.
Chapter 28
I sit at the kitchen table reading Ernest Hemingway as I wait for the chicken to continue baking. I am enthralled, and wish deeply to be able visit Trieste, Italy.
I’m disrupted as a pajama clad Vincent enters the kitchen. He’s as sexy as ever. His t-shirt is creased from sleep, and his hair is a jumbled mess. I smile up at him and dog-ear the page I’m on.
“I was just waiting on the chicken. Should be done. You must be hungry.”
I get up and peek at the chicken in the oven. I pull it out, and insert a fork into the golden flesh. Clear liquid oozes from the puncture sight. Perfect.
Vincent sits at the table, his head in his hands. I pour him a glass of water and go back to the stove to check on the potatoes au gratin. I quickly slice up a loaf of French bread. I pull out two plates and proceed to serve us both. I start a pot of coffee, too. He clearly needs it, as do I. I walk over and place the plate in front of him.
“Thank you. Sit down,” he says gesturing to my chair across from him.
We eat in companionable silence. It’s delicious, I’m so glad I was finally able to execute an entire meal. I mentally pat myself on the back.
Vincent clears his plate and looks up at me, “Thank you. That was delicious.”
His voice is wary and soft…and like always, it stirs my sexual appetite.
“I can’t believe how long I slept,” he mutters.
I hear the coffee percolating and pour us both a cup. I set a cup down before Vincent a moment later. He takes it without looking up at me. He looks despondent. It can’t be that he’s still tired.
“Vincent, I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong. I know something is going on, it’s eating you up. I can see it.”
He takes a small sip, the coffee is still too hot to drink and it burns his lip. He flinches and sets the cup down sharply. I stifle my desire to giggle at him.
“It’s nothing. Have you ever heard the expression, when it rains, it pours?”
I nod, duh, of course. Who hasn’t heard that expression?
“Well...” he puts his hands flat on the table.
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
He rolls his eyes, and smirks at me. “My family, this new job, the shooter out there hiding, wrapping things up with my grandfather’s business...it’s it’s all happening at once. I’m.”
You’re overwhelmed, Vincent. He doesn’t want to say it out loud, so I won’t either. I wonder how things are going with Elizabeth and Benny. Christmas is coming up, it’s right around the corner. I hope there is peace for them. Eliza
beth doesn’t deserve peace in my eyes. But for Vincent and Benny’s sake, I hope their family finds harmony.
“You don’t have to solve everything all at once, Vincent.”
He looks up at me sharply and shakes his head despondently. I guess I don’t understand.
“I’m always the one solving my family’s problems, Lenore. If I don’t, the problems only accumulate, and then that just means more work for me further down the road. It’s best to get it all done and over with quickly.” He looks as though the weight of the world is resting on his shoulders, and crushing him. I hate seeing him like this.
“Tell me what I can do,” I whisper reaching out to place my hand over his.
Without looking up at me, he places his other hand over mine.
“Let me keep you safe, okay? Make at least that easy for me. And don’t ever wear tiny little nipple tassels and ass jewelry in front of other men ever again. Please.”
I giggle and he looks up. Finally there is a smile on my handsome man’s face. It brightens me up inside, like fireworks on the Fourth of July. How has he managed to gain such power over me?
“I promise,” I say with a smile.
“Andcome with me to my families house on Christmas Eve?”
Oh, no you don’t. I shake my head profusely.
“No way, Vincent. My presence there will only stir things up. You’re on your own on this one. Your mother will be happy to have you all to herself, and she’ll be more willing to listen to anything you have to say without me being there to agitate her.”
“You already missed Thanksgiving with us,” he adds irritably.
“Yes, and your mother and Benny finally acknowledged each other’s presence. If I were there...well, I doubt that would have happened. She would have been too busy hating me.”
He looks irritated by my candid refusal, but then softens. A second later, he surprises me by smiling. “She doesn’t hate you.”
Black Burlesque Page 49
