Dead Eyes in Late Summer

“Lost in thought on a day like this?” A voice warm as the sun caught her dreaming. She shaded her eyes as she looked up at the tall man with his back to the sun and she swore he wore its rays. “So pleased to see you again, and so soon, Mrs. Crawford.” The long and slow drawl suggested to Adelyn his long and slow lovemaking.

“Why hello, Mr. Hughes. You following me?” She blushed at her thoughts and at the words that spilled out of her mouth. Delia’s right. I’ll be damned for all time. I must be insane, flirting with this man.

“Looks like we’ll be thrown together once again, if you can stand it.” He smiled and began to reach out for her chin to push a strand of hair away, when he stopped. “Well, just look at me, taking liberties.”

“I should say. Besides, I have to take Trey home. It’s his lunch time.”

Hughes looked around. “That your nurse and baby over there?” He gestured his rolled newspaper toward the nurse sitting forward on the bench while arranging the blanket in the carriage.

“You can send them on home, can’t you? I saw Garnett this morning and he’s invited us all to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Friday night. Josephine Baker will be dancing. I’m licking my lips in anticipation of that.”

“No doubt.” Adelyn pulled her little leather gloves tighter, pushing between each finger.

“Careful. You’ll stop all your circulation.” He hesitated. “Now, if Garnett is coming Friday, so are you.”

“Why would you be that sure?” She felt like she rode a carousel, getting dizzier by the minute.

“Oh, I figure you two for an everlasting love, always together,” his voice serious now, “something I am mighty jealous of. Can’t seem to find that.”

They had walked to the bench where the small early spring leaves did little to shade the unforgiving sun. She spoke up so the nurse could hear her, in perfect French, “Madeleine, veuillez amener le bébé à la maison pour son dîner. J’y serai bientôt.” 

Yes, take the baby home.

Howard stood back as Adelyn walked over to the nurse with some additional instructions for Trey’s bath and his lunch of puréed foods. She turned back and smiled to find this slim and extremely handsome young man standing next to her, his timing perfect in joining her after the nurse had disappeared around the corner.

They sat where the nurse had vacated, the bench roomy enough for three. Yet Howard leaned closer to her, though still discreet, so if seen from a distance he would look respectful. Was it decorum or restraint? But his action fueled a speeding up of her heartbeat. In anticipation of what? She couldn’t name it but knew she waited to see what he would do.

“See, that’s what attracts me to you, your audacity. I want to know your secret.” He slapped his newspaper on his knee. “Come on now, girl. Help a man out. Come with Garnett so we can all have a good time. You’ll meet Josephine, we’ll dance. 'Sides, Garnett is all for it.”

“My secret?” Instantly she knew they spoke a special language, one that left incomplete thoughts where the heart filled in the rest. Is my secret lusting after life experiences with no thought to the consequences?

Howard moved closer now, discarding decorum after all, and though she knew he did, she did not move away. She felt his warm breath on her face. “Your guile to draw me in without it seeming so. How do you do that? Is it those lovely eyes?” She couldn’t believe his words.

“Audacity, Mr. Hughes? I believe mine pales in comparison to yours.” She said it without disdain, her voice, as her feelings, suddenly very full. I sound like a Jane Austen novel.

A thousand responses filled her; she checked each one, as she considered the fact that he spoke to her in so casual a manner that he referred to her as ‘girl’, his obvious and undisguised flirting. Adelyn struggled with her deep need to put him in his place and with her peculiar desire to be near him. Howard telegraphed not just his charm but the strong message of his own need. She stood up abruptly, startling him to do the same. She bit her tongue against the cutting remarks she would have spit out, because if she were honest, they cut into her as well, deserved accusations for her emotions, which she knew he read very easily. She tried for propriety.

“Until I’ve talked with Garnett, I’m not really aware of any plans for Friday night.” As she turned to walk away, she saw his hand reaching again toward her, not for her chin, this time, but for her hand.

“Then I will wait, of course, until you talk with Garnett.” He had taken her hand in both of his, now released one, and gently shook hers with the other.

As she walked back to the apartment, the day grew colder and the breeze freshened, the sun now hiding behind a stubborn cloud. Relieved that the nurse had already taken Trey home and tucked him safe and warm in his crib, Adelyn shivered and put her handkerchief to her face, blocking the dust away from her nose.