I had never felt more glorious. This man.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
Flynn arranged everything. He stopped at a pay phone, called Mrs. Hendersen, and told her about me and my situation. She told him to bring me right over and not to stop for breakfast. Her girls, as she called them, were with her and they had not yet sat down for breakfast. We could join them. Flynn and I accepted the offer.
Mrs. Hendersen lived in a modest-looking house, well-kept, a few blocks off Central Avenue. As soon as the door opened, we could smell coffee brewing. The three women who stayed with Mrs. Hendersen were older women in their forties or fifties and all seemed pleasant. Mrs. Hendersen herself was in her mid-eighties with a quick wit and a solid mind. Although confined to a wheelchair, it was obvious she was still in charge of her faculties and of her house. Mrs. Hendersen said she was from Louisiana and had come to California during the First World War while her first husband was serving overseas. She made me welcome as she explained that I could stay in her home rent-free in exchange for some of the housework, some of the cooking, and helping her with her personal care when needed. It was fine with her if I got a job, just as long as I kept up with my duties at the house. Once I got a job, however, I would be expected to pay a minimal amount to help with food and the house bills. Mrs. Hendersen made it clear that she was not out to make a profit from the boarding money. “Before my husband passed on,” she said, “he made sure this house was paid for, so my only worry is ongoing bills. Mainly, though, I open my house to ladies to give them Christian living and share what I can with them. Keeps me from being lonely and feeling old.”
Mrs. Hendersen said I would have my own room. “Young lady needs some space to herself.” She went on, though, to say, “Just because you have your privacy, that doesn’t mean you can just do anything here. We have moral, Christian rules in this house and no gentlemen callers are allowed in the bedrooms, even when they’re as handsome and fine as this young man here.” She looked at Flynn and laughed, and Flynn smiled. “They’re welcome to come visit at most anytime during respectable hours. But come ten o’clock at night, we lock the doors and all gentlemen callers better be out of here. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to be in this house by ten. I’m not your mother, so I’m not setting that rule. All the ladies who live here, I believe, have good moral character and, I hope, good judgment about what they do with themselves. You’ll have your own key, so you can come and go as you please, but if you break one of my rules concerning my house, you’re immediately out of here. Is that understood?”
“I understand,” I said.
“Good. Then welcome to my home.”
After breakfast one of the ladies gave me a general tour of the house, then showed me to my room, located in the basement, as were the other women’s bedrooms. My room was small, but neat and clean with a bed, dresser, chifforobe, nightstand, lamp, and a comfortable-looking chair. A picture of Jesus hung on the wall. It was a pleasant room and I figured I would like it here. The bathroom that all the boarders shared was at the end of the hall. Mrs. Hendersen, whose bedroom was on the first floor, had her own private bathroom and I would be responsible for its cleaning.
Mrs. Hendersen gave me a key and told me to move in whenever I wanted. “Well, I’d like to stay right now, if that’s all right,” I said. “I’ll get my things later, but right now, I’m really sleepy. Like we told you, we were up all night.”
“Then you sleep, child,” said Mrs. Hendersen. “Today, tomorrow, you don’t worry about doing anything around here. You rest, go out with this young man, enjoy your weekend. You bring your things and on Monday, I’ll show you what you need to do to be part of our home here. I’ll also be thinking on maybe where you can find a job. I know a lot of people around here, so I believe we’ll be able to find you something.”
And so that was it. There were no papers to sign. No application to fill out. No money to be paid. I was accepted on Flynn’s word, and I accepted this new home on his word as well. Better than all that, I really liked Mrs. Hendersen.
I walked to the porch with Flynn. I did not want him to go, but I knew we had to part at some point and now seemed to be the right time. “Are you going over to Justine’s?” I asked. “Let her know I won’t be coming?”
“I’ll stop by there.”
“Will you thank her for me? For making a place for me . . . and for sending you? Tell her I’ll call her.”
“I’ll tell her. Now, you get some sleep.”
“You too.” He turned to go, making no effort to kiss me again. “And, Flynn,” I said, stopping him. He looked back. “Thank you. For all this. It seems like I’m always thanking you for something.”
He flashed that smile, then was gone.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
Flynn had said nothing further about the move from the Tomlinson house, and since he hadn’t, I figured I had to handle that on my own. That was just as well. I didn’t want to become dependent on this man; he made it so easy to do. It wasn’t until the afternoon and several hours of sleep that I called Mrs. Tomlinson to give her some advance warning of my plan. I didn’t want to just show up at her front door and begin to pack. Now that I had a place to stay I could tell her the truth, or at least part of it. I could tell her about the space that Mrs. Hendersen had offered me and that I would be helping her, that I wanted to go back to school—which I did—and staying with Mrs. Hendersen and helping her would allow me to do that. I knew she would ask about my job at her husband’s office. I didn’t know if he had told her that I had quit and, if he had, what reason he gave. I knew one thing for sure. Whatever he told her, it would not be the truth. I was pondering on just what I would say to her questioning when Justine called. “You need help moving?” she asked in her brusque way. “Flynn told me to call.”
“Yes, thanks. I don’t have much to pack, but I’ll need a ride.”
“So when you want to go over, today or tomorrow? I’ll get J.D.’s car.”
“Today, I guess. I just don’t want to see Mr. Tomlinson.”
“That fool! He knows you coming, he probably won’t even be there. Just let me know when.” She hung up without another word. I wasn’t offended. That was just Justine.
I decided not to put the matter off and called Mrs. Tomlinson, hoping her husband did not answer. I was in luck. One of the children answered. When Mrs. Tomlinson came to the phone, I tried to sound cheerful as I told her about the great opportunity to stay with Mrs. Hendersen and possibly take classes at the university. I apologized for giving her no advance notice, but told her that Mrs. Hendersen expected me to start my duties at her house Monday morning. So far, all true.
“But, Cassie, I’m so disappointed,” Mrs. Tomlinson said. “What about your job with Mr. Tomlinson?”
“Oh . . . didn’t he tell you? I told him yesterday I was leaving, wouldn’t be back.”
“You did? He didn’t mention it.”
“Well, he had a lot of paperwork he was trying to take care of. Maybe he just got busy and forgot.” I didn’t like making excuses for the man, but so far, Mrs. Tomlinson seemed to be accepting what I said. I added quickly, “I was wondering if it’s all right if I come pack up my things in a little while. It won’t take long. Also, I can do the Saturday cleaning before I go.”
“Oh, Cassie, don’t worry about the cleaning. It’s already taken care of, and there’s no rush on your packing. I tell you what. Why don’t you come spend the night, go to church with us tomorrow, have dinner with the family—”
“I’m sorry. I thank you, but I can’t do that. I’m already at Mrs. Hendersen’s and there’s a lot I need to do to get settled here.”
“All right, Cassie, but I sure do hate to lose you. The children are going to take this hard. You come whenever you want. We’ll be here.”
I arranged a time for later that day, then called Justine. When Justine a
nd I arrived at the Tomlinson house, Mr. Tomlinson was not there. “What I tell you?” Justine whispered to me. Mrs. Tomlinson said he had business at the office and wouldn’t be back until late. Mr. Tomlinson’s absence made it easier on all of us and gave me additional time to pack and visit with Mrs. Tomlinson and the children. Mrs. Tomlinson insisted that we have something to eat with them, and without the stress of Mr. Tomlinson around, we accepted her invitation. I enjoyed Mrs. Tomlinson and the children and was glad we had this time together.
“Now, you come and see us again soon,” Mrs. Tomlinson said as we prepared to leave.
“I’ll try,” I said, knowing it was not likely I would set foot in this house again. It would be too awkward.
She took my hand. “And, Cassie, don’t worry about any of this, I mean about your leaving so suddenly. I understand.” Her eyes met mine, and in that moment, I wondered if she knew why I was really leaving.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
That evening I called Uncle Hammer. I was not looking forward to explaining things to him. I just told him things hadn’t worked out at the office with Mr. Tomlinson and that I thought it best to find another place to live. I told him about Mrs. Hendersen and my new living situation. I also told him about maybe going back to school. Uncle Hammer listened in silence as I did all the talking. When I finished, with nothing further to say, he finally spoke. “This man Tomlinson, he do anything to you?”
“Sir?”
“Are you all right, Cassie?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You need me to come down?”
“No, sir. I’m fine.”
He was silent a moment. “Well, you’re a grown woman now and I know you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, so I expect you made the right decision for yourself. You need me, there’s something you can’t handle, you let me know. I’ll come down.”
“I know.”
When I hung up, I sighed, relieved that Uncle Hammer hadn’t questioned me further. I knew he had sensed something was wrong. I also knew I couldn’t lie to him. I didn’t want him to come, yet it gave me comfort to know he would. Even though we were separated by all those miles, just knowing Uncle Hammer was in the same state allowed me a sense of having family near. Still, as I went to sleep my first night at Mrs. Hendersen’s, I felt a loneliness I hadn’t felt before. I was alone in the city of Los Angeles. I was alone now, except for Flynn, but I didn’t know if I should count him in my life yet.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
It wasn’t until early Sunday morning that I remembered that I was supposed to go to Sunday dinner and a movie with John Means. I did not have his number and I wasn’t planning on going to church since it was the same church the Tomlinsons attended. I also did not want to call the Tomlinson house to leave a message for John Means, but the arrangement was that he was to call for me there. Once again I had to seek out Justine as my go-between. Justine usually did not go to church, but spent her Saturday nights enjoying herself with J.D. at a club. My call woke her. When she answered the phone, her voice was groggy and she was in a bad mood. I got right to the point. I told her that I wanted her to call Mrs. Tomlinson to tell John Means when she saw him at church that I had moved and to give him my new number.
“What about my brother Flynn?” Justine asked harshly.
“What about him?”
“You going out with this Means man after you spent all night with my brother?”
“Yes,” I said, figuring this was none of her business, but adding, “Did Flynn tell you what we did all night?”
“He don’t talk much to me ’bout those kind of things.”
“Well, I don’t either,” I countered. “Will you call Mrs. Tomlinson or not?”
“All right. Give me her number.”
Soon after church services, John Means called and a few hours later arrived at Mrs. Hendersen’s house for our date. Because I didn’t know John Means that well, and because it was the custom from my upbringing, I had insisted another couple join us. Of course, I had totally dismissed this custom when it had come to Flynn, but then Flynn was in a category by himself. There was no comparison.
I introduced John Means to Mrs. Hendersen, who was in the living room when he arrived, and she sat there chatting with him for a few minutes before she said it was time for her to retire to her room and asked me to help her there. Once we were alone, Mrs. Hendersen said, “You know I don’t hardly know you, Cassie, so excuse an old lady for butting in, but I can’t understand why your first gentleman caller is this Mr. Means and not that fine young man Flynn. I’ve seen a lot in my long life, and one thing I was feeling was something strong between you and that boy.”
I liked her thinking. “You really think it was strong? On his part too?”
“Maybe because you kept looking away, you didn’t see how he was looking at you. So, why are you going out with this John Means person? He seems like a nice enough young man, but he can’t come close to Flynn, and I believe you know that.”
I did know that, but I said to Mrs. Hendersen, “John Means asked me out. Flynn didn’t.”
I rejoined John Means, but throughout the evening I kept thinking on what Mrs. Hendersen had said, and about the night I had spent with Flynn. Dinner was pleasant enough; we went to a Negro café in the neighborhood and the food was good. The other couple kept the conversation going. I had little to say. John Means was very attentive and asked me several times if I was having a good time. I smiled brightly and told him I was, but my mind was on Flynn. At the movie theater John Means again asked me if I was enjoying myself and placed his arm around my shoulders as we watched the movie. I did not pull away, but I did not move toward him either, and I was glad he did not try to hold my hand.
After the movie, as the crowd spilled onto the sidewalk, John Means put his arm around me again, almost possessively this time, as we stood with a group of people he knew. Moviegoers for the later show were arriving and I was mostly silent watching them, ready to get back to Mrs. Hendersen’s but waiting politely as John Means and his friends talked. Just as they finished their conversation and started to part, I saw Flynn. He was not alone. He was with a woman of very light complexion, almost white, in fact. She was tall, well-dressed, sophisticated-looking. She was a striking woman. I was totally caught off guard. I stared at them, then tried to move away before Flynn saw me. I was not successful. Flynn suddenly looked my way and our eyes met. He did not flash that smile of his, but his eyes did not turn away.
It was I who turned. “Are we going?” I said to John Means, who apparently had noticed nothing. His arm still around me, John Means smiled down and walked me away from the crowd. I do not know if Flynn’s gaze followed me.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
I couldn’t sleep. I did not know why seeing Flynn with that woman of his had upset me so. This was only the third time I had seen him. I hardly knew the man. John Means and his friends and I had gone to the early evening show. We were back at Mrs. Hendersen’s before nine and I had gone to bed right after. Before ten o’clock, Florence, one of the women at the house, knocked on my door. “Cassie, there was a call for you,” she said. “Mrs. Hendersen took it. She said that it was from Flynn and he wants to see you. Said he would be coming later.”
“What?” I asked. “Why? What time?”
“Didn’t say. Mrs. Hendersen told him he could just knock on the door. If you wanted to see him, you’d answer it.”
All of this was surprising to me, and for a moment I didn’t say anything. “Well,” said Florence, “are you going to see him?”
“Don’t know. Is Mrs. Hendersen still awake?”
“Was a few minutes ago. Usually stays up late ’til maybe midnight.”
I thought a moment. “Do you think she’d mind if I wanted to talk to her now?”
“You know what she says. Her door i
s always open.”
I put on my housecoat and went to see Mrs. Hendersen. She welcomed me in. She was already in bed, but sitting up reading a book. “So! The young man wants to see you!” she declared as I came in. “He sounded pretty eager to talk to you, but why so late?”
“I don’t know. Is it all right if I do?”
“You don’t break any of my rules. You wait in the parlor for him. He knocks on the door, you open the door and sit on the porch and talk to him. That’s not breaking any rule.” She looked at me curiously. “You want to talk to him?”
“I do,” I confessed, “but I don’t know if it’s the best thing. I mean, to talk to him tonight. Maybe I should wait.” I hesitated then asked, “What do you think?”
“Well, I don’t know if you should wait or not. I don’t know what’s going on between you.” When I didn’t say anything, Mrs. Hendersen patted the bed and motioned me to sit beside her. I sat down and she said, “I’ve known this boy Flynn for some time now and he’s got a beautiful way about him. He’s always in good humor, but tonight he obviously was upset. I’ve never heard him upset before. It wasn’t the words he said, mind you, but mainly the tone of them. Now, I don’t know what’s between you except that powerful feeling, and it’s none of my business, but if you want to tell me what this is all about, I’m here to listen.”
“I saw him with another woman tonight and Flynn saw me with John Means.”
Mrs. Hendersen smiled and slowly nodded. “Ahhh . . . that explains it then.”
“You’re smiling, but it’s not funny to me. I want to see Flynn, but then again I don’t.”
Mrs. Hendersen studied me. “Cassie, how strong are you?”
All the Days Past, All the Days to Come Page 17
