by Linda Ellen
Lilly watched her closely, waiting for more. She could tell the subject was upsetting her daughter. “Well? What happened?”
Louise finished unbuttoning her blouse and paused to meet her mother’s eyes. “There was a big argument…he said some rude things and Vic lit into him.” Then pausing for a moment, she grinned with naughty satisfaction and added, “He knocked TJ flat on the ground. I was so proud of him…you should have seen him, Mama. It’s about time somebody put TJ in his place.” What happened after that came back to her mind then, and she added, “But Beatrice came running out of the house, screaming at us to leave. It was all a big mess. And nothing was settled about him paying support.” Knowing what Lilly’s next questions would be, she went on and related the rest of the details.
Lilly shook her head in disgust. “I wish you’d never gotten involved with that bunch.”
Louise nodded in total agreement, but bit back a sarcastic comment concerning her mother’s part in the whole debacle. Instead, she chose to focus on the thrilling sight of Vic in all of his raging glory as he had gone after TJ. She had never seen him that angry before, and it excited as well as frightened her, although she knew he would never turn that anger on her. She was a bit surprised, but she had known deep down that he harbored a simmering hatred toward TJ for all that had happened four years before. It gave her that cared-for feeling again, and she knew Vic would never let another human hurt her if he were anywhere near. It filled her with such a warm, bubbling feeling; it was hard to put into words. She closed her eyes and breathed in, enjoying the sensation.
“I saw the occupants of the third floor today,” Lilly mentioned a few moments later, glancing at her daughter. She’d been dying to share some gossip with another adult, after talking baby talk with her grandson all day, every day.
Louise turned from unbuttoning her skirt. “Really? Wait…occupants?” she queried, her eyes large with interested surprise, as it was the first time since they moved in three months before that any of them had seen the mysterious third-floor resident. Periodically, some expensive car would pull up out front and one of several well-dressed men would get out, walk up the walk, and head upstairs. If the occupants in the lower floors paid attention, they would hear the footsteps continue all the way to the top.
Nonchalantly, as if she were merely discussing what they were having for dinner, Lilly continued, whacking the pillows between her hands. “Mmm hmm. I watched out the front window. Two women, both of them dressed like…” she paused, glancing at Tommy, who was busy finding his mother’s house shoes under the bed, before spelling out, “F..l..o..o..z..i..e..s. Them and old Despaine, who was dressed up, complete with a feathered hat, got into one of the cars we’ve seen before and they left. They were gone better than two hours. I only saw them from behind, though, as I was in the kitchen when I heard then coming back.”
Louise paused her actions, staring to the side. “What do you suppose is going on? I mean, surely they’re not…” she paused knowing little ears were listening. The adults had discussed the subject on more than one occasion, and Lilly was convinced Old Despaine was a madam, keeping women upstairs, and in the identical apartment building she owned next door. That their landlord owned that building as well was something she had found out by accident several weeks after they moved in. If she was, it was an extremely discreet operation.
Finally huffing out a breath, Louise mumbled, “Oh well, guess we might never know for sure.” Then grinning down at her adorable little boy, she handed him a garment as she gathered her underthings and said, “Will you carry that to the bathroom for Mama?”
“Yeth Ma’am!” he squealed, feeling terribly important to be assigned such a vital task. But as he turned and began to run, she called, “Walk, Thomas Joseph!” and he immediately slowed down, tippy-toeing down the hall as if sneaking.
Lilly and Louise erupted in giggles. He was just so darn cute.
‡
CHAPTER 13
Now Vic’s Got a Secret
Vic parked the cab in the lot next to the dispatch and walked into the building. As soon as the dispatcher saw him, he motioned Vic over. “Boss wants to see you,” he mumbled, jerking a thumb toward the office at the back. Vic nodded and headed in that direction.
He stopped at the open door and knocked on the frame. George Bralick, the gravel-voiced, short, balding, cigar-smoking owner of the small taxi service, motioned him in and indicated for him to shut the door. He wasn’t smiling, nor did he remove the cigar from his mouth, merely relegated it to one side.
Bralick got right to the point. “Matthews, I just got off the phone with a woman who claims one of my cabs was just seen squealing tires and barreling down York, with a girl in the front seat.”
Vic felt his heart kick start into high gear and his mouth instantly went dry.
Bralick went on, “Before that I was on the phone with a very angry woman who claims the driver of one of our cabs double parked on York, got out, and proceeded to start a fist fight with a man. Both women gave the number of the cab assigned to you this morning.”
Vic had been toying with the idea of denying it was him, but with the last statement, that option went out the window. He stood staring at his boss, his hands gripping the brim of his cap, feeling a hundred times worse than when he’d gotten caught pilfering an apple from the neighborhood grocer when he was six and the man had dragged him by his collar over to his father.
The boss stared hard at him and Vic remembered his gravely voice reciting the rules his first day on the job – no using the cab for personal transports…no instances of public disturbances of any kind that could bring a bad name to the company…no straying from your assigned area…
“Well?” Bralick demanded. “You got something to say?”
For the life of him, Vic couldn’t think of a single thing to say to talk himself out of it. He merely shrugged and lowered his eyes to stare at the cap in his hands. Oh how he hated to be called on the carpet like that.
“Yeah, I thought so. You’re fired, Matthews. Turn in your keys, today’s fares, and your uniform. I don’t need your kind on my crew.”
“Yes, sir,” Vic mumbled, turning on his heel to follow the man’s instructions.
Minutes later, outside in the overly bright afternoon sun, Vic squinted and swallowed back the unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. His head hurt and he felt totally drained. Besides that, his knuckles ached from connecting with Blankenbaker’s hard jaw. What a day this has been. In the space of one day, he had picked up a fare that skipped out on paying him, broken the rules and gave his girl a free ride home, started a fistfight with her soon-to-be ex husband, and lost his job to boot.
He shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his trousers and slowly headed toward his car. He’d hated driving the taxi, but at least it had been something. Now, he would have to go to Louise’s and tell her he was once again unemployed, and watch the twinkling lights in her eyes fade in disappointment. It galled him to disappoint her, and just the thought of the coming scene made him grit his teeth and swear. What a mess. What a lousy, stinkin’ mess.
Just as he reached his car, a familiar voice behind him said, “Hey, Vic Matthews, that you?”
He turned to see Steve Baugh, the six foot tall, blond haired man who had been the manager of the betting windows the two times Vic had worked the Derby.
“Hey Steve,” Vic mumbled, stepping over near a building and out of the piercing rays of the sun and the afternoon crowd on the sidewalk.
“Long time no see, man. I heard you left town. What you been doing with yourself?” the man asked in a friendly tone as he shook Vic’s hand.
Vic removed the cigarette pack from his shirt pocket, drawing his last cigarette out with his lips and nodding thanks when the other man offered to light it and his own. “Yeah, I did a hitch in the C’s, and worked for a while in Evansville,” he mumbled, drawing in a large amount of smoke and quickly blowing it back out. “Came back four months ago.”
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The man nodded, glancing around. “So, you come back for a job, or what?”
Vic’s lips curled into a rueful half smile. “Came back cause I found out the girl I love still loves me. But now,” he paused. Gritting his teeth against the frustration, he mumbled a choice word. “Been drivin’ for B-Line,” he indicated the business with a jut of his chin, “but just got canned.”
Baugh nodded, his sharp gray eyes scrutinizing Vic, seemingly as if he were sizing him up for something. “That’s too bad. I uh…” he paused, glancing around again as if to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. “I might have a job for you…providing you’re game…and trustworthy.”
“Sure, I’m trustworthy,” Vic immediately answered, but then wondered at the odd expression as he met the other man’s eyes.
“Well…see I got me a little…venture on the side, you might say. Takes somebody who knows how to keep their mouth shut…if you know what I mean.”
Vic’s brows furrowed as he tried to read between the lines. “How illegal is it, and what’s the pay?”
Baugh drew a deep drought off his cigarette, squinting as the smoke blew into one eye before dissipating. “Not enough to get ya hung, and forty a week.”
Vic’s mouth dropped open. “Forty a week?” He whistled softly. “What the heck kinda job pays that much?” he wondered aloud, especially since the man said it was an on the side venture.
Baugh’s mouth formed into a half smile as he used his cigarette to point to Willie’s Pub, a small bar down the street next to a place with a big sign above the entrance that read Benbey Cigars. “Step over and have a beer with me and I’ll tell you about it.”
“Lead the way.”
As they walked, Vic wondered just what this ‘job’ entailed. Steve Baugh had admitted it was something illegal, and the thought gave him pause as his conscience began to roil in his chest and he wondered what the three people he loved most in the world would think. But heck, $40 bucks a week! He whistled softly again as he imagined it – that was more money than he made per week at Diamond! Well, as long as it ain’t got nothing to do with the Mob, or stealin’ from folks, I’ll take the job for now. I’ll just have ta keep it from Louise, Doc, and Irene until I can get something better. And besides… He thought with a wry half smile, I’d be makin’ more than Louise brings home…
*
Everything seemed to be coming up roses. Vic accepted the job, and Steve paid him a week’s pay in advance. He filled up his car with gas, paid his rent for a month, and to celebrate, he even went to a nearby pawnshop and bought his girl a present. He couldn’t wait to give it to her…and he hoped he could keep the particulars a secret until he could secure a job he could tell her about.
Once he’d gone home to his room, shaved and cleaned up, and drove on up to Louise’s, he was feeling quite good as he sprinted up the walk and knocked a spritely rhythm on the door. Billy answered with a smile and stepped back to let him in. Vic grinned at the young man, whom could now almost look him square in the eye. “How’s everything with you?”
Billy grinned back, an ever-present snack, this time a bowl of chocolate pudding, in his hand. “Right as rain.”
Vic turned in response to the familiar sound of little feet running across the hardwood floor, accompanied by an equally recognizable, “Misser Vic!” He stooped just in time to intercept the child before he could crash into his shins. Vic scooped the little boy up and immediately set to tickling his belly, amidst his delighted squeals. Louise smiled up at them both from her position on the floor, where she had been playing blocks with her son.
Vic smiled down at her. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she returned, her eyes lovingly sweeping over his form, the neatly combed hair, fresh shaven face, clean shirt and trousers. He, in turn, was giving her an equal perusal and enjoying the site of her clad in a soft housedress, furry house shoes on her delicate feet, and her hair freshly washed and still damp from her long steamy bath.
He carried the giggling little boy over and plopped him down next to the pile of blocks, then he reached a hand down to help Louise up off the floor.
Feeling spunky, he set her down on the settee and said, “Got news. Couple of things.”
“Okay,” she responded, not feeling the least trepidation in the face of his calm appearance.
“One, I got fired.”
“You what?” she burst out, her smile instantly transformed into a large O.
“Yep. Seems somebody called and reported what happened on York.”
Louise clamped her lips and shook her head slowly. “That old witch. I had a bad feeling when I saw her run up toward the house.”
Instead of answering, he went on, “And two, I got another job. Makin’ great pay this time.”
All of Louise’s angst immediately dissolved and she shot to her feet, wrapped her arms around Vic’s neck and gave him a hug. “Oh Vic, that’s wonderful!”
“I start Monday…and they already gave me a week’s pay in advance,” he confessed, hoping she wouldn’t ask too many specifics.
“A week’s pay, oh Vic! I can’t believe it!” she gushed, looking as if she might burst with excitement.
I’ll say. “Yeah, it’s great. I can hardly believe my luck,” he offered lamely as they sat down together on the settee.
“Oh, Irene would say it’s not luck, it’s prayer,” she reminded, her eyes twinkling. “When she was here the other day she said she felt like something good was going to happen. It looks like things are coming together just like she said they would! Oh Vic, I’m so happy,” she added, leaning close and lifting her face for a kiss.
“So tell me about it – what’s the company and what will you be doing? Is it driving a truck, like you wanted?”
He pulled back, resisting the squeezing iron grip of his conscience as he hedged, “Well, actually the place is right down the street from B-Line’s dispatch. I’ll be workin’ for a man by the name of Steve Baugh…” he paused, searching for a way to explain.
“And?” she prompted, her hands gripping his.
“And…you might say I’ll be in sales,” he finished, purposely distracting her by releasing one of her hands and reaching up to remove a slender package from inside his shirt.
“Like Sonny at Caufields? Is it like a store or something? What’s it called?”
“Here, I got ya somethin’,” he murmured as he placed the item in her hand.
Pleased and surprised, her attention effectively sidetracked, she protested softly as she gazed up at him, “Oh Vic, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
He shook his head, pushing aside her objection. “I wanted to.”
Louise giggled excitedly, truly touched by his sweet gesture. Carefully removing the wrapping, she discovered a narrow, oblong cream-colored box with the word “Hamilton” in the center. When she pried it open, she gasped in pleased surprise. There inside on a bed of blue suede was a lovely Art Deco style wristwatch. The gold dial showed the name “Hamilton” in tiny black letters above the hands. It had a black, corded cocktail bracelet with gold finished grommets and clasp.
“A watch! Oh Vic, it’s beautiful!”
“I wanted to get ya somethin’…and I when I saw this, I remembered how you’ve said it drives you crazy to sit at your machine at work and not know what time it is…”
She looked up at him, her eyes glowing with pleasure. “Thank you for thinking to get me something like this…you’re the sweetest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever known,” she murmured softly, raising one hand to gently cup his cheek. More than pleased, he grinned back, proud that he had thought of it, and that the man at the pawnshop had cut him a good deal.
“Here,” he murmured, taking it from her hands. “Let’s see how it looks on ya.” As he maneuvered it around her wrist and fastened the clasp, she whispered, “It’s perfect.”
To that, he smiled proudly. “Sure is.” Just like you…
Her words about the job being an answer to prayer had
made him inwardly wince, but he steadfastly pushed the feelings of guilt aside as he took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. They both seemed to melt when their lips touched, just like always, each one still amazed at the awesome power of the simple act of kissing one another. True love surely was amazing.
After a few minutes, they settled into snuggling in one another’s arms, eyes closed, just basking in the glow of being together and listening to a smooth ballad on the radio. After a while, Louise raised her arm and gazed at her watch, lifting it to her ear to listen to it ticking. Vic grinned down at her, warmed by her pleasure in his gift.
With a sigh, she snuggled contently against him, murmuring, “It’s so nice, being together like this, no secrets between us. This is the way it should have always been.”
Vic opened his eyes and glanced down at the crown of her head, resisting the urge to cringe at her statement. Now, the ‘secret’ shoe was on the other foot, and it was pinching painfully.
“Mmm, hmm,” he agreed, hoping this time around, things didn’t blow up in his face.
*
An hour later they were sitting together snacking on some homemade fudge Lilly had made earlier, everyone lounging in the living room listening to The Adventures of Superman on the radio. Lilly laughed fondly, watching as Tommy climbed to his little feet and commenced running around the room pretending to fly as the Superman ‘flying’ noise sounded. Louise had made sure he was wearing house shoes to muffle the sound a bit.
Louise and Vic exchanged smiles as she leaned forward to the table and picked up another piece of fudge, then turned and offered it to Vic. He winked and opened his mouth for her to feed it to him. Just as she was placing it in his mouth, a radio announcer broke into the program, interrupting Superman’s flight, to make an important announcement.
“At daybreak this morning, near Iceland while on a mission with four other destroyers to escort an eastbound British convoy, the USS Rueben James was torpedoed by a German U-boat, and sunk, killing more than 100 of our naval sailors.”