The House of Eve (38)

“Oh,” she said, the conversation over. She turned to William. “Before I forget, there is a fundraiser next Friday for the Urban League. I need you to make an appearance.”

“Fine,” he said, and then cleared his throat. He looked at Eleanor and nodded. “Mom and Dad, I wanted to tell you that we have good news.”

A stricken look crossed Rose Pride’s face.

Without further preamble William announced, “We are getting married.”

Rose Pride’s red lips gaped open, and her eyes burned into Eleanor. “You must be pregnant,” she spat.

“What she means is congratulations,” William Senior offered.

“Are you?” Rose asked. “Pregnant?”

Eleanor couldn’t seem to find her voice. This was not what she had anticipated. William took her hand above the table. “She is carrying my child, but even if she wasn’t, we’d still get married.”

“Bullshit.” Rose threw her arms up.

“Darling!” William Senior exclaimed. “Eleanor and William, will you excuse us?” He yanked on Rose’s hand and pulled her inside behind the sliding glass doors.

William linked his arm through Eleanor’s. “She’ll come around.”

“She won’t. Your mother acts as if I have bewitched you and ruined your life.”

“Well, she’s right about one thing—you have bewitched me,” he said, then leaned in and kissed her cheek just as his parents returned.

“That’s what got you in this mess in the first place.” Rose looked at Eleanor pointedly. “When is the baby due?”

Eleanor reached into her purse and pulled out the note from the doctor.

“Well, then we’ll have to move quickly. People in our circle talk, but I’ll take care of everything.” Rose Pride’s face looked even more sour than on the first day they had met. Eleanor didn’t know if she was making a peace offering or starting a war.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN AFTERSHOCK



Ruby




It was rare for me to see Shimmy on Sunday evenings because Aunt Marie was usually home. But as soon as we returned from our trip downtown yesterday, Fatty came by to tell Aunt Marie that she had fallen behind on Nene’s rent, again. She needed five dollars to settle the bill. I knew Aunt Marie had spent what little she had extra on the stockings I had begged for. But despite it all, Aunt Marie told Fatty that she’d take care of it.

Even though I could see the bags under Aunt Marie’s eyes all afternoon as she iced the swelling in her bothersome left knee, at five o’clock sharp she dressed in a boxy burgundy suit and left for work on her night off to make Nene’s rent.

Left alone in the apartment, I couldn’t concentrate on my geography assignment. My mind was still reeling from my brush with the white woman from downtown, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had to say to Shimmy. After chewing off the eraser from my pencil, I worked up the courage and called his house. It rattled my nerves to dial him up, even though we had devised a system where I would let the phone ring once and then hang up. I did so now, and within five minutes Shimmy phoned me back.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hey there,” he whispered, “what are you up to?”

“Geography.”

“You need me to help? I’m not only good at trig you know.” He chuckled lightly. “I can make an excuse to get away.”

“Yeah, come for me. What time?”

“Eight? Usual spot.” His voice brightened.

At eight, I didn’t make eye contact with anyone as I swiftly disappeared around the building and into the alley where Shimmy was parked with the headlights off. I kicked a can at my feet with my saddle shoe and stepped over a puddle that was either spilled beer or someone’s pee.

“Hey.” I climbed into the back seat, pushing aside a pink knit blanket and a Raggedy Ann doll. “Was your sister playing house in the car again?”

“She’s always up to something,” Shimmy said breathlessly, while reaching back to squeeze my hand. His touch was soft, and it made me second-guess what I had called him to do.

“We can drive to Smith Playground and find a place to park. I have the car till ten.”

The purr of the engine vibrated beneath me as I sank into the buttery leather seat. I swallowed down the saliva that had suddenly filled my mouth. “I can’t… do this anymore.”

“Do what?” He crinkled his brows.

“This. Us.” I snatched my hand back. “Keep putting myself in harm’s way.”

“Wait.” He put his hands up in defense. “What’s going on?”

I looked at my hands in my lap, and then told him about my encounter with the white woman downtown, and the uncomfortable stares in the department store. “Have you read the paper lately? Another Negro teenage boy was beaten to a bloody pulp in the Italian section of South Philly. Accused him of looking at a white woman. What would they do to us?”

“Ruby, I don’t care about all that. All I care about is you.” He leaned over the seat, bringing his face as close to mine as he could. Then when he couldn’t get close enough, he turned off the engine, climbed over into the back seat and reached for me, but I held him off with my palms.