Cephus gently grasped Silk’s hand and caressed her fingers. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Giving Cephus an alluring smile, she withdrew her hand. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Silk sashayed out of the kitchen and rejoined Clara on the back porch.
“Who were you talking to?” Clara asked.
“One of Buddy’s friends—a guy named Cephus. Says he wants to take me to the picture show.”
“They don’t call it a ‘picture show’ here in Chester. They say they’re going to the movies,” Clara informed.
“I don’t think I’ll ever catch on to this city-slick way of talking. It’s a good thing I’m going back to Louisiana.”
“How do you think that doctor of yours will feel about you courting and sparking behind his back?”
“As long as I’m faithful, he doesn’t mind if I go out and have a nice time.”
“My husband would never be that open-minded. He doesn’t want me out of his sight. If a long-distance telephone call from Biloxi, Mississippi to Chester wasn’t so expensive, he’d be calling and checking on me every day.”
“My boyfriend trusts me and I trust him.” Silk stared off dreamily, imagining the good time she was going to have with Cephus. She gazed at Clara. “I hate to ask, but do you think I could borrow another dress from you? Something nice that I could wear to the picture show.” Silk covered her mouth and giggled. “Excuse me, I meant to say, the movies.”
“I didn’t pack much. The only thing I have left in my suitcase is a few house dresses and the black dress I plan to wear to Ernestine’s funeral.”
“Oh,” Silk murmured in disappointment. Struck with a bright idea, she regarded Clara. “Do you think Buddy would mind if I borrowed one of Ernestine’s dresses? I couldn’t help but notice that her closet is crammed with beautiful clothes.”
“I don’t know, Silk. Buddy might not like that idea.”
“Well, what’s he planning to do with all her nice things?”
“With so much on his mind, I doubt if he’s crossed that bridge, yet.”
Silk and Clara sat in uncomfortable silence for a while, and then Clara called the children, informing them it was bedtime.
The boys and Dallas complained about having to go to bed. Clara had to threaten to take a strap to their behinds to get them moving. The children galloped across the yard and up the three wooden steps that led to the porch. Instead of trailing behind Clara and her brothers, Dallas stopped and clasped Silk’s hand, expecting her new roommate to accompany her to bed.
“You run along with Aunt Clara. I’ll be upstairs a little later.”
“Are you going to come up and say prayers with me?”
“I’m going back home next week, and so it’s about time you got in the habit of saying your prayers without me,” Silk said, stroking the child’s face
Dallas’ eyes became watery. “I don’t want you to go away and leave me.”
“Well, you be sure to let your daddy know how you feel. Don’t say anything right now. Wait until you have some alone time with him and then you tell him how much you love Miss Silk.”
“Okay.”
“You do love me, don’t you Dallas?”
“Uh-huh. You’re nice. And you’re pretty like the princess in my storybook.”
“Thank you. You’re pretty, too.”
“I want to look like you when I grow up,” Dallas admitted, blushing.
Silk was tickled that Dallas admired her so openly. Having Buddy’s favorite child as an ally would eventually come in handy, Silk surmised.
“Go on upstairs and get ready for bed. When you get up in the morning, I’ll let you brush and comb my hair. When I was a little girl, my school friends always wanted to braid my hair, but I couldn’t let them because my mama didn’t allow it. You’re the only little girl who’s ever played in my hair. You wanna know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you’re my special friend.”
“I am?” Dallas beamed with pride.
Silk nodded. “Now, don’t forget to tell your daddy how much you love me.”
“I won’t forget,” Dallas said with a bright smile.
CHAPTER 14
Sitting alone on the glider, Silk heard the front door opening and closing as Buddy’s friends left one by one. Cephus came outside to bid her goodnight.
“Goodnight, Cephus.”
Instead of going back inside, Cephus took a seat next to her on the glider. “It’s a nice night,” he remarked, draping an arm around her as if they were sweethearts.
Frowning, Silk leaned to the side. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Sorry. I jumped the gun. I didn’t mean any harm. I’ll keep my hands to myself,” Cephus said, chuckling as he folded his hands and placed them in his lap.
The screen door cracked open and Buddy stood in the doorway watching Silk and Cephus, the muscles in his face were taut with hostility. “Say, man, you promised to give Leon a ride home. He’s sitting in your Rambler, waiting.”
“My mistake. I was blinded by all this beauty and forgot about Leon.”
“I’ll walk you to the front door.” Buddy opened the door wider, waiting as Cephus bade Silk a final goodnight.
When Buddy returned outside, he held a glass of whiskey. He sat next to Silk, took a swig and grimaced as he swallowed the bitter libation. The two sat in silence as Buddy clenched the whiskey glass while looking up at the starlit sky.
“Let me have a little taste,” Silk said, removing the glass from Buddy’s hand.
“This stuff is pretty strong,” Buddy warned.
“That’s exactly the way I like it.” She took two sips without batting an eye.
“I didn’t expect a woman as pretty and dainty as you to be able to handle hard liquor, straight out of the bottle.”
Silk nudged her head toward the glass in Buddy’s hand. “Store-bought liquor ain’t nothing compared to the homemade moonshine I was raised on.”
Buddy looked up at the sky again, and then with a grim smile, he gazed at Silk. “Can I be straight with you?”
Silk nodded somberly.
“What we did last night wasn’t right. I don’t know how we allowed things to get out of hand like that, but it can’t happen again.”
“I hope you don’t think I’m a loose woman. I was only trying to ease your pain, that’s all.”
“I don’t know what to think. After laying up with me, do you think it’s okay to turn right around and allow Cephus to get fresh with you?”
“He didn’t get fresh. All he did was invite me to the picture show. I never been before, and wanted to try something new before I return to the sticks.”
“You’ve never been to the movies?”
Silk shook her head.
“But my sister told me you’re in high society down South—a schoolteacher from a good family, and that you’re planning to marry a doctor.”
Silk covered her face and made sniffling sounds. “I lied to Clara. When I met her on the bus, I didn’t think we’d become close friends the way we have. I never thought I’d see her again, and so I made up a story about a grand lifestyle. In all actuality, where I live probably isn’t even on the map. I live in a shack in the woods, so far from civilization, we don’t have running water or electricity. I came up North to find myself a better life, but I ain’t found nothing but adversity. Those city-slick crooks stole my worldly goods and took all my money. Since I have to return home with my tail between my legs, I at least want to be able to say that I accomplished something. Telling folks that I’ve been to a picture show up North is the only thing I’ll be able to brag about.”
Silk pretended to cry, and Buddy rubbed her back.
“Don’t cry,” Buddy murmured. “I’ll take you to the movies.”
“You will?”
Buddy nodded and Silk wiped nonexistent tears from her eyes and threw her arms around his neck with such exuberance, whiskey splattered fr
om the glass he held in his hand. He set the glass down on the porch. Seeking out Silk’s lips with his, he drew her into a tight embrace.
It was a lingering, sweet kiss, and when they finally broke apart, Silk said, “Buddy, I have a confession. I’m falling for you, and I know I shouldn’t.”
He took her hands in his and stared in her eyes. “I feel the same way. But I’m so confused. Although I realize I have to face the fact that Ernestine is gone, it still feels like I’m cheating on her with you.”
“You’re such a good man, Buddy. It would be so easy for me to love you and treat you right, and I can help you take care of those sweet little children of yours. By the way, how are the twins holding up?”
Buddy shook his head. “The doctors call them miracle babies, and I pray their luck holds out. But things aren’t looking too good right now. Pamela has breathing problems and she’s losing more weight. Paulette picked up some weight, but she has some kind of heart condition.”
“It’s a shame that those poor little babies never got a chance to meet their mother. I’d like to go with you the next time you visit them at the hospital.”
“Clara usually goes with me to see the twins. I don’t think it would be proper for you and me to carry on in public…at least not right now. Let’s give it some time. After the funeral Saturday…” Buddy’s voice trailed off. “It’s hard to get used to the fact that I have to bury Ernestine. But as I was saying, after her funeral, we’ll let my sister know that you’re not going back to Louisiana. We’ll make up a story about you waiting on your teaching papers, and tell her that you’re gonna help me look after the kids until I find permanent help. Nobody needs to know about our personal business. We’ll keep that to ourselves.”
Silk gave Buddy a pat on the arm. “You don’t have to worry about me saying a word. People wouldn’t understand how we fell head over heels so fast. Tongues would be wagging, and those church folks would be spreading rumors if we broadcasted our love affair.” Silk paused and scrutinized Buddy’s face. “You do love me, don’t you, Buddy?”
“I have strong emotions for you, but it’s too soon to call it love.”
Silk didn’t like his answer, but she nodded as if in agreement. “Since we’re keeping things under wraps, I think we should hold off from going to that picture show until it’s nice and proper.”
“Thanks for being understanding,” Buddy muttered and then shot Silk a suspicious look. “You don’t plan to go traipsing off to the movies with Cephus, do you?”
“Why shouldn’t I? There’s nothing between me and Cephus. I consider him a friend.”
Buddy gave a wry laugh. “You don’t know Cephus. That joker is always up to no good. He can sweet-talk the drawers off a woman in a matter of minutes.”
“He won’t get inside these drawers. This here juicy poontang is exclusively for you.”
Aroused by her lewd declaration, Buddy made a groaning sound as he tugged Silk’s arm, guiding her onto his lap. “You drive me crazy, Silk. I’ve never met a woman like you before. Since last night, I can’t keep you off my mind.” He groped beneath her dress and pulled her panties to the side. “Mmm. It’s soaking wet between your legs,” he whispered. Lifting up a little, he unzipped his pants and withdrew his hardening manhood. “God forgive me for being weak in the flesh, but I need some of your juiciness right now.”
“Don’t you worry, Buddy Dixon. I’m going to take good care of you and give you all the poontang your heart desires.” Silk pressed down, taking in his full length. Sitting on his lap, she rode him, clenching her inner muscles as she whispered dirty words in his ear.
• • •
Buddy kissed Silk twice before he finally pulled himself away from her and crept upstairs to slip into bed with his sleeping sons. Silk lingered downstairs, emptying ashtrays and straightening up the mess Buddy and his friends had left in the living room. Her living room! The furnishings looked spanking, brand-new, but they wouldn’t stay that way if she allowed the boys to continue to climb on the furniture and to roughhouse all over the place. In due time, she’d train Bruce and Myron to sit still when watching TV and to confine their rowdy behavior to the backyard. Dallas was a sweetheart who didn’t require reprimanding. Silk and Dallas would get along fine as long as Dallas accepted that Silk was the new queen of the castle.
CHAPTER 15
Clara was outside hanging up sheets and towels on the clothesline while Dallas played on the swing set and the boys chased each other around the yard. Trying to get on Clara’s good side, Silk kept big-headed Vernon, Jr. inside the house with her, rocking him as she watched an episode of the soap opera, As The World Turns.
The members of the Dixon household were in an odd state of mourning. One moment the kids would be crying for their mama, and the next moment they were racing around, playing tag. And Buddy and his moody self was as bad as the children, walking around with a long, sad face during the day, but slipping in the bedroom after Dallas went to sleep, hounding Silk for some poontang at night.
Saturday couldn’t come soon enough. Silk wanted the funeral to be done and over with so she could get the household in order. It seemed to Silk that the bratty kids were running the show, but all that was going to change after she became the lady of the house.
The telephone rang and Silk hurriedly picked it up. Having a phone on the premises was another perk in her new lifestyle. “Dixon residence,” she said with a smile in her voice.
“Hey, Silk. This is Cephus.”
“Hi, Cephus,” she said unenthusiastically. When he’d called yesterday, she’d made it clear that she wouldn’t be accompanying him to the picture show. He sure was persistent.
“You bailed out of our movie date, but I have another proposition.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Every Thursday night there’s a beef and beer at the Melody Lounge bar over on Third and Edgmont, and I was wondering if you’d like to go. The place is always packed with folks from Chester and other towns like Twin Oaks, Linwood, Trainer, and Marcus Hook.”
The towns he named didn’t mean a thing to Silk, but the idea of letting her hair down and having the opportunity to have some fun was very appealing. “Sure, I’d like to go. What time do you wanna pick me up?”
“How does eight o’clock sound?”
“Sounds good. See you later.”
Silk forgot all about the soap opera she’d been riveted to. She raced up the stairs to raid Ernestine’s closet. She no longer felt the need to ask for Buddy’s permission—not with all the poontang she was providing him. Besides, everything that Ernestine had owned would officially belong to Silk immediately after the funeral. And that included her husband, her kids, and the insurance money that Buddy was expecting to receive very soon.
She held Vernon, Jr. in one arm and used the other to push hangers around until she found the perfect dress, a tight-fitting burgundy number that would knock Cephus dead when she stepped out of the house. Most of Ernestine’s shoes were stored inside boxes, and it took Silk a while to find a color that coordinated with the dress. Next, she rummaged through the dead woman’s bureau drawers, selecting underwear and jewelry. On her way out of Buddy’s bedroom, her arms filled with the pilfered goodies, Silk snatched a bottle of Avon perfume from atop Ernestine’s vanity table.
• • •
Silk had persuaded Buddy into going along with her plan to start dating Cephus. No one would suspect that she and Buddy had a secret affair if she used Cephus as a front, she had explained, and then assured Buddy that he didn’t have to worry about any hanky-panky between Cephus and her.
When Cephus pulled up in front of the house and honked his horn, Silk raced down the stairs. She was relieved that Buddy had two unexpected guests. Two white men—one from the insurance company and the other was some kind of politician—were sitting in the dining room with papers spread out, having a serious conversation with Buddy about the insurance money.
Silk intended to find out what they were talking a
bout later. She was also very interested in when Buddy was going to receive the check. As she strode to the front door, Clara and the children gawked at her.
“That’s my mother’s dress,” Myron said sullenly.
“It sure is,” Bruce said with anger settling over his face like a dark cloud.
“Did you ask Buddy?” Clara inquired worriedly.
“No, I didn’t want to bother him while he’s busy talking with his visitors. But I’m sure it’s all right with him,” Silk said gaily. She could feel Buddy’s eyes on her, and without seeing the expression on his face, she sensed that he wasn’t happy with the way she’d helped herself to his dead wife’s fashionable wardrobe. Oh, well, he’d have to get over it.
Cephus was standing outside his car. When he set eyes on Silk, he looked her up and down and let out a whistle. “I don’t know how you got into that dress…looks like you were poured into it. You sure look good, baby. I should have remembered to bring along a baseball bat.”
“For what?” Silk asked, playing dumb.
“To fight off the cock-hounds that are gonna be sniffing around you tonight.” Grinning, Cephus eagerly opened the car door for Silk.
After he climbed into the driver’s seat, he gave her another lingering look. “I wish you could slide over, so I could put my arm around you. But these bucket seats…” He trailed off and shook his head. “I knew I shouldn’t have bought a car with bucket seats.”
Cephus and Silk stepped inside The Melody Lounge, and male patrons murmured, “Who’s that fox?” as they gazed at Silk with longing. One look at Silk, and the women inside the joint seemed to arch their backs like cats, whispering behind their hands as they glared at her.
“What are you drinking, baby?” Cephus asked after he and Silk took seats at the bar.
The Secrets of Silk Page 9
