Mitzi of the Ritz

by Lee René

  The band played a rumba version of “Here Comes the Bride” and my head began to spin. A giant spotlight lit Chick and Jill as they walked onto the stage, arm in arm, smiling as if they were the happiest lovers in the world. The band segued into “My Baby Just Cares for Me.” A slaphappy smile on his face, he began serenading his new bride with my song.

  I wanted to scream from the rafters, “That fink sang the same song to me!” I kept my mouth shut.

  For me, the night was over. I excused myself, “Frankie, forgive me, but I have to visit the powder room.”

  What a sap I was, the biggest in the world. How could I think Chick and I would ever be together? Jill Carpenter had pegged me right, a dumb cluck who fell for a two-bit chiseler who only knew one song. Luckily, the photographers were long gone by the time I staggered out of the Cocoanut Grove into the corridor. Except for a maid collecting cigarette butts from ash urns, I found the place deserted. I stepped into a small alcove and stood there trying to get my bearings.

  I refused to cry. It couldn’t help matters, and besides, I’d get mascara all over my face.

  My forehead against the wall, I heard soft footsteps padding up to me, and felt warm breath on my neck. Someone had crept behind me, and I recognized the spicy fragrance of David’s aftershave.

  “Doll, you really took one on the chin tonight. Leah’s worried about you.”

  He hadn’t come to gloat, but I wanted to be alone. I knew he thought I was a weak sister, but I wasn’t.

  “I’m fine. Please tell Leah I’m perfectly all right.”

  “Mitzi, you should go back in and tell her yourself.”

  I would rather have died than face Chick and his new spouse. “No, I don’t think so. I’m never going back in there, ever. If you don’t mind, I’ll just wait here.”

  “Well, how about I wait with you? Need some comfort, baby?”

  He moved closer, and let his soft lips roam up and down my spine. I guess I should have been devastated. After all, the man I loved had chosen another—but David’s mouth nibbling on my backbone felt so wonderful, I couldn’t think about anything else.

  He spoke softly against my ear. “It should be against the law to be as beautiful as you are. If I were a cop, I’d lock you up for driving a fellow crazy.”

  I didn’t move when he slipped down the straps of my gown and feathered his lips across my shoulders. By the time his mouth slid upwards to my neck, I couldn’t have pulled away even if I wanted to.

  His voice droned in my ear. “Don’t be mad at Chick. Marrying Jill wasn’t his idea. She’s in the family way and went to Ben about it.”

  Who was thinking about Chick, or Jill’s impending motherhood? The neck kissing became even more intense. He slowly pivoted me toward him until we were face to face. I thought my heart would stop. We looked at each other as if we were gazing into each other’s souls, and I wondered if his heart was racing like mine.

  I wouldn’t have thought it humanly possible for David to get any closer, but somehow he managed to. He moved his cheek next to mine, his deep baritone vibrating down to my toes.

  “Maybe I should have told you about Jill before, but I figured you’d get upset and wouldn’t come to the party. That would have been a shame, because I had to see you. I know you thought you’d finish that conversation with Chick, but how about you finish it with me?”

  He stopped talking. His lips touched my forehead, moved to each cheek then found their way to my mouth. We finally got back to the kiss. I closed my eyes and felt something as gentle as stroking my lips with rose petals. When David used his tongue to open my lips, the sensation almost knocked me off my feet. His breath smelled of mint and ginger ale, his skin spicy from aftershave. His tongue slowly ravaged my mouth, the sensation sweeter than the finest honey. We kissed for an eternity—mouths, lips, tongues entwined. His hand moved up to my bodice and released one of my breasts from the confines of my gown. He pressed his lips to it with a moan, suckling it like a babe.

  ****

  I couldn’t stop myself from rubbing up against him like a sex-crazed trollop, a common slut. Something hard throbbed against my thigh, and I moved my hand to feel his excitement. I didn’t want to stop, but he pulled up my bodice before fleeing to the men’s room. As he raced off, he yelled, “Don’t move and don’t talk to any men.”

  Wow, I finally knew what kissing was all about, a kiss to end all kisses, a million times better than Chick with his chapped lips and tobacco breath. It seemed like forever before David returned. When he did, I threw my arms around his neck and turned my face to his. Something must have happened, because he took hold of my arms, pulled them away, and backed away from me as though I were poison. Perhaps I’d been too forward, but everyone said fellows liked girls who were fast. He’d turned on the deep freeze. “What’s wrong, David? What did I do?”

  “You didn’t do anything. I’m taking you home.”

  “But I don’t want to go home. I want to stay and dance with you, just you, and drink champagne from a coffee cup. Please!”

  He put his arm around me and led me away.

  David didn’t say a word on the drive home. His silence was much worse than the news about Chick. We’d kissed with such passion at the Cocoanut Grove, but on the way to the Casa, he acted as if I had the plague.

  We arrived at the Casa de Monte and walked into the courtyard. Night-blooming jasmine and freesia perfumed the air, and the wind chimes tinkled in the evening breeze. Everything screamed romance, but David looked glum and wasn’t talking. My Romeo had transformed into a block of ice.

  David kept up the silent treatment all the way to the front door. I guessed he’d pegged me for a wanton hussy. How mortifying.

  “I can’t imagine what you must think of me for allowing so much familiarity. Please forgive me. I don’t know what came over me—”

  I never finished my sentence because he pulled me into his arms. The lovemaking began all over again, only even better. He held me, dropped my bodice, his lips moving over my bosoms while his hand moved south. Maybe a stronger girl would have stopped him, but who said I was strong? Then he touched me on that special place where only husbands tread. It was the most wonderful experience of my life. I guess I was one of those hot-assed mamas that fellows snicker about after all. He whispered naughty things when he touched me. I should have been shocked, but, slut that I was, I loved every trashy word.

  “Does it feel good when I touch your honey pot, baby?”

  The sensation was so intense that I moaned. It was the moan that did it. He pulled his hand away as if it was on fire.

  “I can’t do this! I’m sorry. I can’t take advantage of an innocent kid.”

  What? He called me an innocent kid? I threw my arms around his neck. “David, I’m a woman. Don’t you want me?”

  David shook his head as if he were punch drunk. “Yes, I want you, but not like this. I want you to be as screwy about me as you were about Chick. I want you to wake up thinking about me, not him, and when you go to sleep, I want you to dream about me, only me.” He pulled away. “Their marriage won’t last. Chick will be free again, and believe me, it’ll be soon. Which one of us will you choose? I won’t be played for a chump.”

  He stepped toward me and took my face in his hands. He planted a chaste kiss on my forehead as if he were my brother. We gazed into each other’s eyes for an eternity. I knew then and there that, despite his flaws, David Stein was the fellow for me. “I think I love you, David.”

  He kissed me on the forehead and looked at me for a long, sad moment. “Baby, when you really love someone, you say, ‘I love you,’ not ‘I think I love you.’ ”

  David walked away, and my tears began.

  Chapter Thirty

  After the Ball

  After my tears dried, I went inside our flat and scrubbed the makeup from my face. After I changed into a nightgown, I sat on my bed, pondering my predicament. It took a while, but I realized I didn’t have a predicament to ponder. The guy
loved me and I was nuts about him. Why should I worry?

  Despite my schoolgirl crush on Chick, I wasn’t a flippant girl. I’d always known that when I found my special someone, come hell or high water, I’d be with him forever. David didn’t know that, so I’d have to tell him.

  The next morning, my jacket hung next to the infamous gown, and my handbag sat on my dresser. I heard Leah puttering around the kitchen and knew I would have to face the music about last night.

  When I strolled into the kitchen, I’d prepared myself for Leah to hit the roof about me running away, but she didn’t blow up. Instead, she tormented me by saying, oh so sweetly, “I made my bubala her oatmeal the way she likes it, with a sliced banana and strawberries on the side. Here’s some orange juice to wash it down.”

  Leah called me “bubala,” her term of endearment since we were children. Maybe she’d smother me with kindness before launching into the lecture.

  “Thank you, Leah.”

  She sat across from me, a beatific smile lighting up her face.

  “Last night was magical. Everyone said you were the most beautiful girl in the place, and everyone commented on your gown.”

  I’m sure they did.

  She took my hand. “How are you, darling?”

  Perhaps it was best if I played the wounded dove. “Oh, I’m better, but everything was such a shock, it devastated me.”

  I didn’t mention that David had kissed and fondled me and I’d dreamed of him all night, that I hungered for his touch, that I had rubbed against him like an alley cat in heat and, most of all, that I didn’t care if the world knew I was a sex-crazed hussy; however, it wasn’t the type of information most girls shared with their older sisters. I didn’t say a word when she brought up Chick, figuring I’d play the sympathy angle. She’d feel sorry for me and wouldn’t comment about my torrid dance with Frankie or me behaving like a chippie.

  “I’m sorry about Mr. Hagan. I never liked him, but I hate the thought of him being trapped into marriage like that.”

  Golly, did the entire world know that he’d knocked up Jill Carpenter? Still, as long as Leah didn’t bring up the dress, the tango, or me running out on her, everything was copacetic.

  “Darling Mitzi, now that you have David, you must know that Chick was just a schoolgirl infatuation. Your David is such a lovely fellow.”

  “Your David?” I almost choked on my oatmeal. “How did you know?”

  She took my hand in hers. “By the time David came back to the Grove, he’d managed to wipe off most of your lipstick, but some still remained on his neck. I didn’t say a word, and that phony-baloney girl he’s been seeing never noticed. Too busy telling anyone who’d listen about her newest movies. David came back and spoke to me from his heart. He’s a very intense young fellow.”

  What an understatement. “Yes, he is, Leah.”

  She clasped my hand. “Of course, I’m thrilled about the two of you, but there are things that concern me. He’s older.”

  “You said yourself, only by four years. Isn’t Omar four years older than you?”

  Leah paused for a moment. “Yes, and I’m nuts about him. But, there are, uh, things we’ve never discussed. David is already a man of the world, yet you, you’re my Mitzi. Are you sure about your feelings for him?”

  This wasn’t kid stuff, and I knew it. “Yes, Leah.”

  She glanced down at her hands. “He’s been married, had affairs, and you’re so innocent.”

  If she knew about the shenanigans we’d gotten into last night, she might have second thoughts about me being “so innocent.”

  Leah stood up to clear the table. “David sent over a messenger this morning. I left everything in the living room.”

  I rushed into the room and found an envelope embossed with the Chateau Marmont watermark attached to a narrow box that looked like it held a fountain pen set.

  I opened the note. Typed, not one mistake, truly from my David.

  Doll,

  I thought about you all night. I wanted to stay with you, but you’re so young, so willing, and I’m no saint. Just know I’m a regular guy who is crazy about you and finds it hard to keep his hands to himself. I told Ben last night just how I feel, and he wants us to hold our horses.

  “Hold our horses?” What was I supposed to do in the meantime? Age like a wheel of Cheddar cheese? I bet Mr. Roth never told David to hold his horses with Miss Vassar. Did he expect me to twiddle my thumbs while he stayed chummy with that braying idiot? If he did, he had another think coming. I remembered how much I loved him and decided if necessary I’d wait for him until my hair turned white.

  There are others to think about, namely Beth. I didn’t bring you back to the ballroom because she was there, and, frankly, I didn’t want a scene. I can’t hide the way I feel about you any longer. I have to be careful with her. I know she’s self-centered and puts on airs, but in her way she cares for me. Please, darling, let me handle her. I’ve trampled on one heart already, and I don’t want to make the same mistake again.

  Then, of course, there is Chick. Regardless of what I think, I can’t underestimate your fondness for him and his attraction to you. This thing with Jill is already a disaster, and I’m sure Chick will want a shoulder to cry on.

  Why did he bring up Chick? He was old news.

  Lastly, the box. Maybe you’ll think it presumptuous, but I’d ordered it after the evening you made the latkes. I promise to make up for us not dancing together at the Grove. I hope one day you’ll wear a dress like your red one just for me. Think of what happened last night as a preview of coming attractions.

  Call me if you need me for anything. I’ll be waiting by the telephone. I’m close by at the Chateau Marmont.

  David

  I realized everything I’d done in the past weeks, including wearing the infamous gown, was for him. Every time I looked at it, I thought about his reaction to seeing me in it. He’d been all I’d been thinking about, and I hadn’t even realized it. Gosh, I loved the guy.

  I opened the narrow box and found a gorgeous jumble of baguette diamonds in a platinum setting which nearly blinded me. How could anything be so beautiful? Every stone looked perfect to me, but what did I know about diamonds? The inscription engraved on the underside read, “To my Mitzi, from David.” I heard Leah’s footstep and handed the bracelet to her.

  “He sent this diamond bracelet as a thank you for my latkes.”

  Leah responded with a whistle. “Wow.” She chuckled as she walked away. “Such a thoughtful guy. Feel free to wear your diamonds when you wash the dishes.”

  I had a diamond bracelet and the man I loved waited for my call. What a lucky girl I was!

  ****

  Before I entered the barn that morning, I heard the low murmur of chuckles and whispers. My watch said 10:00 a.m., but gossip whispered sotto voce from the corners.

  “I hear she’s in the family way and that’s why they did it.”

  “Mr. Roth must be fit to be tied, his big star knocked up.”

  “Well, at least Chick made an honest woman of her.”

  Chick? Honest woman? Finally, Edna clarified it. “Hey, Mitzi, want to know why Chick and Jill Carpenter got hitched in Mexico?”

  She looked about the room then whispered in pig Latin. “Everyoneway ayssay Ickchay ockedknay upway illJay Arpentercay. Eshay ouldn’tway etgay idray ofway itway osay Istermay Othray ademay imhay arrymay erhay. Everyone says Chick knocked up Jill Carpenter. She wouldn’t get rid of it, so Mr. Roth made him marry her.”

  Jill Carpenter had pegged me for a sap, the biggest in the world. How could I think Chick and I would ever be together? Yes, I was a dumb cluck who had a crush on a two-timing Casanova with tobacco breath. Imagine, whispering sweet nothings in my ear while he and Jill Carpenter were doing the ultimate.

  After two years of adoring a smiling dime-story Romeo from afar, I felt nothing but relief. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Fingers and Rollo showed up, and I spent the rest of the day tapp
ing my heart out.

  “Okay, kids, playtime’s over.”

  Gods of tap dance, thank you. We tapped our hearts out and called it quits after an arduous six hours. I emerged a sweaty mess.

  I was making my way toward Hair and Make-Up for a shower and shampoo when I heard a voice calling my name. “Miss Charles, it’s me, Betty. Come over here.” She signaled to me, a morose look on her usually sunny face.

  “I guess you heard about Miss Carpenter and Mr. Hagan.”

  When I nodded, she moved closer and whispered in my ear. “Well, forget it. She ain’t having no baby.” I pulled away from her, unable to believe her. Betty moved closer. “It’s part of my job to make sure she’s always ready for that time of the month. She ain’t missed her monthlies, so I know she ain’t knocked up. Mr. Chick Hagan was too dumb to figure out that gal pulled the wool over his eyes.”

  I couldn’t think of a worse fate than being stuck living with Jill Carpenter, except for getting cozy with Beth Cushing. Perish the thought.

  By the time I’d showered, dried, and fluffed my hair, I found the lot practically deserted. Despite the twilight heat, my temperature dropped. I walked past empty doorways and darkened alcoves without a sign of life. Something felt off and the hair on the nape of my neck rose. Before I could mount the front office steps, I heard a voice whisper my name. The speaker was male, definitely not Betty.

  “Mitzi.”

  My eyes searched my surroundings. Nothing. I must have been going screwy. The events of the last weeks would unhinge anyone and send them straight to the loony bin. The late August heat had stifled my breathing most of the day, but I suddenly felt a chill. I dashed into the front office lobby and up the elevator.

  I found David’s office door ajar. David sat in his shirtsleeves, engrossed with a stack of screenplays, blue pencil in hand, while Duke Ellington played on the Victrola.

  I tapped on the door and walked in. “Hello. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

  He sat back in his chair and looked me up and down. “You always disturb me, baby.”