The Secrets of Silk (12 page)

“The mortician promised to do a good job on Ernestine,” Clara said, breaking into Silk's thoughts. “Buddy wanted a closed casket because Ernestine's face was cut up so bad when she went through the windshield of the taxi cab. But the mortician assured him that
he could make her look true to herself when she's laid to rest in the white, satin-lined coffin that Buddy picked out.”

“Hmm.” Silk figured if she uttered only a grunt, Clara would take a hint and stop jabbering long enough for Silk to get her thoughts together and figure out a plan to ditch Clara on the porch and join the menfolk who were having a good time inside the house. Each of Buddy's friends had brought along a bottle of whiskey, and the scent drifted outside, tantalizing Silk.

“My brother was very particular about the quality of Ernestine's casket. He always gave her the best of everything while she was living and I suppose he didn't want to shortchange her in death.”

A hot streak of jealousy shot through Silk. She didn't like hearing that her husband-to-be was still doting on his dead wife. “Buddy was a good husband,” Silk murmured. Unable to think of anything else to contribute to the unpleasant conversation, she gulped down the lemonade and rose to her feet. “That lemonade was delicious and refreshing, Clara. Would you mind if I got myself another glass?”

“Of course. You're practically family; you don't need permission to help yourself to anything you'd like.”

“Thanks. That's really kind of you, Clara.” Silk had one foot inside the house when the children began bickering over something. She quickly closed the screen door behind her, relieved she'd vacated the porch in the nick of time. She'd had enough of tending to children for one day. It was Clara's turn to deal with the squabbles of the little buggers.

In the dining room, the conversation stopped and four sets of eyes ogled her. Silk had washed and ironed her polka dot dress, which was much more attractive than that drab, shapeless dress that Clara had loaned her. With a subtle wiggle in her walk, she
proceeded toward the sink and rinsed her glass, dried it, and put it away.

Realizing she was being admired, she gracefully opened the freezer door and took out an ice tray. She emptied the ice cubes into a bowl, and then sauntered in the direction of the dining room.

“I thought you gentlemen might need your drinks freshened. Anybody want some ice?”

Buddy's three friends held out their glasses at the same time. They'd all been drinking their whiskey straight, but were willing to switch to having it on the rocks merely to enjoy Silk's company.

Daintily, Silk picked up ice cubes and dropped them in their glasses. When each man thanked her, she exaggerated her Southern drawl when she responded, “It's truly my pleasure.” Talking extra-country made her seem sweet and naïve, as if she could be easily taken advantage of. Those two con artist sailors in Philadelphia had made out like bandits with all her worldly possessions, only because she'd been as drunk as a skunk. When sober and working with her full capacities, there wasn't a man alive who could outfox Silk Moreaux.

“My name is Leon, and I don't believe I've made your acquaintance,” said a squat, box-shaped man.

“I'm Silk.”

“Yes, you are,” said a short fellow with conk in his hair. He was the youngest in the bunch and wore a high pompadour that gave him the appearance of a rock-and-roll singer. He glanced at Buddy and said, “Richard Buddy Dixon, you sly ol' fox, you. You didn't mention that Miss Lena Horne was visiting you. If I knew a movie star was among us, I would have changed out of my grungy work uniform.”

Silk blushed and giggled as all the men broke out in laughter.
She liked the playful, teasing manner of the guy with the pompadour. Although he was short in stature, his big personality made up for his lack of height. Out of the three male visitors, he was the most attractive and also seemed to be the most fun.

“My name is Cephus, and by the way, I'm the only bachelor in the crowd,” he said with a charming smile. Then, he cut his eye at Buddy, dropping his smile when he remembered that tragedy had changed Buddy's status from married to single.

“Hi, Cephus. It's nice to meet you,” Silk said. “In fact, it's nice to meet all of you, gentlemen. I hope to see you again before I make the trip back home to Louisiana.” Silk positioned the bowl of ice on the table and waved at everyone as she exited the dining room.

Cephus followed her to the kitchen. “Uh, when are you splitting?” he inquired in a low voice.

“In a week or so. After, Buddy's sister, Clara, helps him find a full-time babysitter.”

“Maybe we can catch a movie before you leave Chester.”

“That sounds good. I've been cooped up in the house, and haven't had a chance to see much of this town.”

“I'll make it my business to do something about that. Give you a tour of Chester after the movie. By the way, do you like monster flicks?”

Silk nodded enthusiastically. “I like all kinds of picture shows.”

“King Kong vs. Godzilla
is playing at the State Theater, over town. Or we could catch a John Wayne western.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
is playing at the Apollo Theater. Oh, and the Strand Theater is showing an old flick,
Psycho.
The Strand and the Apollo are both located on Third Street, and that's where all the colored folks go. Those theaters aren't as nice as The State, but the popcorn is tasty,” Cephus said with laughter.

Silk waved a hand. “Oh, I'm not particular. Wherever you want to go is fine by me.” She leaned to the side so she could glance into the dining room and catch Buddy's reaction. Buddy was squirming in his seat. He didn't appear too comfortable with her being alone in the kitchen with Cephus. His uneasiness served him right. He'd been avoiding Silk like the plague after getting his thrills off of her last night.

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.

S
itting 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.”