by Vicky Jones
Lucy blinked several times, her mind racing. There was no doubt about it, Jonny was a good-looking young man, only twenty-six years old, and no one in town had a bad word to say about him. He would make a perfect boyfriend and any girl would be lucky to have him.
But Lucy couldn’t bear the heartbreak of that girl being Shona. Not now that she was starting to feel like Jonny was.
“Oh, Jonny, I really don’t think you should. I think she’s already seeing somebody. But she told me in strict confidence, so don’t you go saying anything to her, you hear?” The lies tumbled out of Lucy’s mouth before she had chance to process them.
Disappointed, Jonny nodded, then returned to the car he was polishing with much less gusto than before.
“Hey, Pearson. I hope you’re not hittin’ on my girl,” Frank called over from outside the bar. Jonny waved back, then moved on to the next vehicle as Frank crossed the road. “Shouldn’t you be gettin’ ready by now? That bar is gon’ be full soon.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“I'll be over there soon,” she protested, wiping her face.
Looking over her shoulder at the garage, Frank clenched his teeth. “Sweetie,” he began, his cold tone incongruent to the smile he forced onto his face. “I need you tonight. You understand? Can you put me first for one goddamn night?” His grip pinched the soft skin of her hand.
“OK, OK. I’ll go get ready.” Squirming free of his grasp, she walked away past Jonny, who was now sitting down on a tire staring at his boots.
Suddenly time stood still. All around her the world seemed to pulse and Lucy felt her heartbeat quicken just that little bit, beat by beat. A flush of warmth through her cheeks, and then her mouth went dry. She looked again at Jonny and instinctively knew he was picturing in his mind the same pair of blue eyes as she herself was picturing right that second. He was wishing for the same miracle as Lucy was: that the woman he had fallen for would somehow notice him and confess she felt the same way back. The anguish of not being able to communicate this to Shona was written all over Jonny’s face. Lucy recognized it immediately.
She felt it too.
“Get the hell off me, you stupid son of a bitch.”
Lucy quickened her pace up the fire escape after hearing the anguished cry from inside her apartment. Throwing open the door, she recoiled.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” she yelled, then motioned to Chuck to release his grip.
“Sorry, Miss Lucy, I caught this one goin’ through all your drawers.”
“What the…” Lucy paused to take in the scene in front of her. Dismissing Chuck, she closed the door behind him and turned to face the intruder.
“So it’s you who’s been stealing from me? Why?”
Caught red-handed and with no way to explain, Trish sank into the armchair next to her and buried her face in her hands.
“What’s goin’ on up there?” Frank asked as Chuck descended the internal stairs and sat at the bar next to him.
“Trish has been stealin’ from Lucy. I caught her.”
“What?”
“Yeah, she had about twenny dollars in there.” Chuck took a slurp of his drink. “But I got it back for her,” he added proudly.
“All this time I thought it was Chuck going through my stuff and taking my money. But you? Look, I know we ain’t seen eye to eye lately, but why would you do that?” Lucy raged.
Trish got up out of the armchair and looked at her through tear-filled eyes. “I work goddamn hard to keep everything together. Tommy’s sick, and that new technique they’ve been trying out, to clear the crap out of his lungs, is starting to work real good for him. But it’s expensive and he needs it every two weeks. His no good father ain’t no damn help.” Trish paused and hardened her stare at Lucy. “Then there’s you with everything going for her. Frank gave you all the good guys, the ones who didn’t rough you up. Then you go and announce that all you wanna do from now on is dance. And he lets you. And you’re still not happy. You still mope around this place with your head up your ass, acting as if you got it tough?” The anger in her words was completely undiluted.
“That ain’t no reason to go stealing. It’s not my fault you got problems at home,” Lucy shot back.
“Not your fault? How can you say that?” She paused and put her hand on her hip. “Did you know Frank and I were together for a few years on and off before you came along? I was his best girl. I had what you have right now, and I goddamn appreciated it, not like you. The way I figure, you stole my boyfriend so it’s only fair I steal something off you too.” Trish crossed her arms and stared at Lucy.
Lucy perched on the armrest of the sofa. “What? I didn’t know about that. When I met Frank at the bus station, he said he was single. If I’d have known, Trish…”
“We were together, but we broke up more times than I can remember. Oh, it don’t matter. He’s obsessed with you now. We dated, fooled around, you know? But any time the idea of getting married came up he got scared and became distant. He was never interested in ever becoming a father either, but stupid me thought he’d change his mind one day if I stuck around long enough.” Trish sat down on the sofa next to Lucy and picked at the seam on the armrest.
“I’m so sorry,” Lucy whispered, but it made no impact.
“I was his star once. Me. After you came along, though, all I got was the grubby little men. You got the rich, young businessmen and I got the shit. How’s that fair, huh?”
“Can’t Tommy’s father help out? Where is he anyway?” Lucy asked, leaning forward.
Trish wiped her eyes and set her face. “Doesn’t matter,” she said vaguely. “He’s a loser anyway. He don’t deserve to know how amazing his little boy is.”
Feeling the awkward pause between them, the anger diminished from Trish, leaving her feeling just the shame of what she’d done. Seeing this, Lucy reached into her skirt pocket.
“Here.” She held out the twenty dollars.
“What? I can’t take that,” she said, folding her arms.
“Take half then. We’ll call it teamwork,” Lucy insisted, counting out the bills and passing them over to Trish, who took them.
“Thank you. I’d better go do something with this mess before tonight,” Trish said, pointing at her own face.
“You’ll look gorgeous, like always. But please talk to me next time. Don’t keep it all inside. If I can help, I will, OK?” Lucy whispered, walking her to the door leading to the stairs above the bar.
“Lucy?” Trish began, her hand on the bannister as she stood on the top step.
“Yeah?”
“Can you talk to Chuck, please? He likes you. Ask him not to tell Frank about this. I can’t lose my job. Not now.”
Lucy nodded her agreement and watched a grateful Trish descend into the noisy bar below.
“You wanna tell me what the hell is goin’ on up here?” Frank appeared at the door minutes after Trish had passed him on the stairs. His voice was eerily calm.
“Trish just came up to see me about tonight, that’s all,” Lucy lied.
“How much did she take?” Frank said, flicking his eyes to her open top drawer.
“What?” Annoyed that Chuck had already spoken to Frank before she could get to him, she thought fast. “Oh, no, honey, you got it wrong. I said she could borrow some money from me.” She held her breath, waiting for his reaction.
Walking up behind her, Frank reached into her skirt pocket, taking out the remaining ten dollars from her stash. “You expect me to believe that? I spoke to Chuck. He told me what happened in there. At least he tells me the truth.”
“Frank, please. That’s my money. I earned it fair and square.”
“Wrong. It’s my money. And I need it for the game tonight. These hands are hot, honey. I can feel a big win comin’.” He walked back towards the door. “Oh, and don’t worry. I saw Trish on her way downstairs, got back the rest of the money she stole. I’ll triple it tonight, you just see if I don’t.”
Lucy lo
oked at Frank in horror. “You had no right to do that. I gave it to her. She needs it for her son. How can you be so heartless?”
“Why should I give a shit about some snot-nosed runt? Now get ready.”
“You OK, boss?” Chuck asked when he saw Frank return to the bar deep in thought.
“I want you on watch tonight. Keep a close eye on Lucy. I don’t want any jerks goin’ near her unless they’re payin’ for the privilege. And if that broad from across the street comes sniffin’ around her then you let me know, got it?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Harry stood outside Wreckers, his long day finally at an end. The crowds had dissipated, with the men descending on Chasers for the pool tournament about to start and the women and children grabbing dinner at the diner across the street. Sending his boys home with a few dollars’ bonus in their back pockets, he realized one member of his workforce hadn’t gone home yet.
“Leave that where it is for tonight. We’ll need it again tomorrow,” Harry said, smiling at Shona who hadn't stopped working out back all day. “Here.” He handed her a thin wad of bills. “Little bonus. Why don’t you go over to the pool competition? The guys are in there. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a run for their money. Especially Jonny.” His eyes twinkled.
“I’ll pass. But thanks for the bonus.” She picked up the last of her tools and placed them in their correct slots in the tool chest. “See you tomorrow, Harry. And thanks again.” Shona waved with the hand she was holding the money in, slung her jacket over her shoulder and headed over to her truck.
“You’ll break his heart, girl,” Harry called after her, then nodded towards the bar, smiling.
“He’ll get over it,” Shona called back, honking her horn as she sped away.
“Look, just go over there for an hour or so. It’ll be fine. It’s been over a year since you left Louisiana…” Dorothy paused. “You got friends now—and Lucy—just stay close to them.” She looked over to Shona who was sitting on the couch staring into space. Dropping her glasses and the TV guide into her lap, she sighed and toughened her tone. “You don’t wanna sit with me watching oaters all night, do you? Go have some fun.”
“Nah, the place’ll be crammed by now and I’ve already had my fill of the crowds today. Anyway, Jim Bowie is on later. You know you can never work out what’s going on without me,” Shona replied, cocking an eye sideways to see Dorothy purse her lips.
“I managed perfectly well before you came along,” she chastised. “Now go. You’re too young to be old.”
Shona thought about it for a moment, but, after seeing the old lady’s keen eyes encouraging her, she rose up out of her seat. “Alright then,” she said, pretending to sound reluctant, “I’ll go ‘have some fun’.”
“Good. Now scoot. And don’t forget to pull that damn door shut properly!” Dorothy yelled after her, smiling as she heard it clunk securely into its frame.
Pushing open Chasers’ door, Shona found herself met by a wall of noise. The bar was full to bursting, with most people crowded around the pool table at the opposite side to the bar area. The cheering got louder with each ball that was slotted home, then hushed again as the next one was carefully lined up.
“You came?” A happy, surprised voice separated itself from the dull roar of the crowd. Lucy shot across the floor towards Shona, leaving her customer with only half of the dance he’d paid her for.
“Yeah. Dorothy talked me into it. Again.”
Lucy tossed her hair out of her glowing eyes. “Well, I’m really glad she did. Come and get a drink—my treat.” She led the way through the crowds over to the bar and instructed Norm to clip the top off a bottle of Coca-Cola.
Bending over at the pool table to take his final shot, Frank’s eye was drawn away from the 8-ball. His confident grin melted when he saw who Lucy was standing with. Anger flooded through his body, his cue now shaking as the fire burned from his eyes. Moments later, he pulled back and thundered the cue tip through the ball, nearly ripping a hole in the baize as he skewed his shot.
“Goddamn it.” The 8-ball finally came to a halt an inch from the corner pocket.
“Well, that’s just too bad, Smith.” Max Whitfield’s son Michael eyed up the thirty dollars of prize money on the edge of the pool table and nailed the easiest shot he’d ever had.
Throwing his cue on the table, Frank fought to control his frustration as he shook Michael’s hand. His attention was then drawn by another man seated at the bar.
“Is my mother joinin’ you this evenin’?” Frank asked after walking over.
“She’s worried about you,” George replied, his eyes staring straight ahead as he sipped his rum and Coca-Cola.
“Like hell she is. She’s shacked up with you when she should be waitin’ for her husband to come home.”
George slammed his glass down on the bar and grabbed Frank’s shoulder. “For God’s sake, Frank, when are you gonna grow the hell up? He ain’t coming home, y’hear? Your mother is trying in every way she can to soften that blow to you, but it’s high time you got the message.”
Wrenching the hand away, Frank heard his name shouted over from the back room door. “Save your advice for someone who gives a shit. I’m busy. I’m about to make more money than ever.”
“The guys’ll be playing for hours before I’m needed for anything else. You wanna keep me company for a while?” Lucy offered.
Shona nodded. “Sure, why not.”
“You may even have a little fun, who knows.”
After waiting for their drinks, they clinked glasses and took a sip. Looking towards the pool table where another game had just begun, Shona turned to face Lucy. “So… does it not bother you that Frank uses you to dance for those guys?”
Surprised by Shona’s blunt question, Lucy took a moment to answer. “I have to do my bit, especially when we’re busy. He sees it as business. Simple as that, really,” she replied, taking a slow sip of her drink.
“And what do you see it as?” Shona asked.
“My way out,” Lucy said softly. She tapped her glass with her long red fingernail and looked at Shona, who had raised her eyebrow at Lucy’s response. “What I mean is, I have to keep Frank happy so I have a place to stay while I finish college. I only have a week left of this semester and I don’t have anywhere else. I’m thinking of transferring up to Tennessee for my second year, stay with my aunt maybe?” She winked and sipped her drink. “But I’d prefer it if I didn’t have to do that, of course.”
“What, leave?”
“No, I mean what I do here. On that dance floor.” She paused, seeing Shona swallow a lump that had clogged up her throat. “But if I had the choice, no, I wouldn’t wanna leave either. I like this town. And since I met you, I’ve started to like it even more.” Lucy paused again, her heart thudding. “You know, I wish you hadn’t seen me do what I was doing. I’d give anything to take that moment back.”
“Me too,” Shona whispered.
The crowd around the pool table suddenly erupted into cheers as the 8-ball dropped into the corner pocket, almost drowning out Norm as he announced the start of the poker game. Fresh from his victory, Chuck grinned as he picked up his winnings from Michael, who really shouldn’t have accepted that ‘one-for-the-road’ bonus game. As he caught sight of Lucy leaning into Shona as he walked past the bar, the dollar bills felt the crushing force of his now-clenched fist.
Leaving the game to fetch a fresh tray of drinks, and relieve the cash register of any dollar bills, Frank saw Trish laughing and joking with Joanie. Striding over to them, he grabbed Trish by the elbow then led her away.
“I don’t want you anywhere near the register today, you hear me? I can’t trust you not to line your pockets again with my money,” he growled.
“Well, ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black. Maybe if you paid me the money I work damn hard for, I wouldn’t have to,” Trish replied, freeing her arm and rubbing the red mark he’d left.
“You better watch
your damn mouth. Don’t ever forget how easy it is to replace you,” he hissed back, jabbing his finger in her face.
“How could I? You done it to me already, remember.” Trish swiped Frank’s finger away and nodded over to the bar where Lucy was still talking intently with Shona. Leaving him to fume, she stormed off into the bathroom. Setting off to follow her, Frank’s arm was pulled back.
“Frank? I’m Jimmy. Max Whitfield mention me?” The man now standing in front of Frank, smiling expectantly, was dressed immaculately in a dark blue three-piece suit. A long gold pin held his blue striped tie in place against his perfectly pressed white straight collar shirt.
“Yeah. He said you’d be poppin’ by tonight,” Frank lied, not wanting to lose this smartly-dressed stranger’s business.
“Well now, I came over to introduce myself but then I saw those two mighty fine young ladies at the bar.” He pointed over. “They both yours?”
As he turned his head to follow Jimmy’s pointing finger, an idea began to blossom in Frank’s brain.
“Doesn’t that ever piss you off?” Shona asked.
Lucy rolled her eyes in response to the guys raising their drinks at her. Just then, her attention was caught by Frank beckoning her over.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” she said to Shona, who nodded.
Walking over to Frank, through the usual whoops and cheers from the crowds of guys she passed, Lucy was surprised when she saw his smiling face. “You win?”
“I’m doin’ alright,” Frank replied. “Listen, I got a guy over there askin’ about Shona. Like, what’s the deal with her?”
Lucy shuffled her weight from one foot to the other, raking a hand through her hair. “Whaddaya mean ‘the deal’?”
“She could make me a lot of money.”
Lucy stared at Frank, open-mouthed at his lewd suggestion.
“And the two of you together? Wow,” Frank added.