Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie (14 page)

  “Irma is?” he asked curiously.

Millie frowned. “Does it matter?”

Henry laughed. “No ma’am, it doesn’t matter. I forgot that my girl is real jealous.”

  Millie got up and quietly took her plate to the sink turned on the water and Henry followed behind her and stopping the water before wrapping his arms around her waist.

He whispered in her ear. “What’s the matter Millie?”

  She lowered her head. “I am jealous. I don’t ever want you thinking about another girl,” she told him honestly.

  Henry moved her hair away from her ear. “There’s not another girl who compares to my Honey.” He turned her in his arms and began to lead her in a slow dance before he started singing “My Girl” to her. They dance around the kitchen as Henry serenaded her in song. He spun her around then back into his arms and Millie looked up at him smiling.

  When Henry dipped her on his arm and kissed her softly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.

  Henry stood her upright and looked down at her. “Pretty woman, you are my girl. You don’t have to worry.”

  Millie wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. “I’ve never been in love before Henry.”

  Henry held her kissing the top of her now messy curls. “I’m not going anywhere Millie. I came here to find you.”

Millie smiled at his words. “You should know that I don’t play about Henry Patterson.”

He laughed. “I’ll remember that…and know that also applies to Millie Gaines.”

  Millie squealed as Henry swept her off her feet. He started walking toward the bedroom and she looked at him in question.

  “Irma says you’re flexible so I think we should test that out,” he told her entering the room.

Millie’s lashes lowered. “How’re you going to do that?” she asked sexily.

Henry laid her on the bed and winked at her. “Remember, I know lots of things.”

She began to unbutton the shirt. “Teach me some…”

******

  Later that night, Henry drove Millie home after their date. On the ride, they couldn’t keep their eyes and hands off of each other. When he parked in front of her house, she turned to him.

  “Did you enjoy our date Millie?” he asked taking her hand.

  “I think you already know the answer to that.”

He smiled. “I think you know my answer as well.”

Millie squeezed his hand. “It was the best date I could have ever imagined.”

  “We’ll have many more,” Henry promised.

  “You tell that Ford Motor Company don’t interfere with my dates with you,” she teased him.

He nodded. “I’ll let them know.”

  They both laughed before Henry learned over and kissed her completely taking her in his arms. A few more minutes of steamy kisses and he exited the car to walk her to the door. Hand in hand they climbed the stairs and stopped underneath the porch light.

  “Have sweet dreams Honey,” Henry told her toying with her fingers.

Millie stepped closer. “I’m going to dream about you.”

  Henry hugged her then kissed her gently. “Goodnight Millie. Go on inside before I pick you up and take you home with me.”

Millie kissed him once again. “Goodnight Henry.”

  Reluctantly, she opened the door and stepped inside then watched him as he walked back to his car. Henry turned and waved before climbing inside his vehicle and eventually driving off.

  Millie waited until his car was out of sight then closed the door. Placing her back against it, she closed her eyes remembering the day. Her body still tingled in certain places that brought a wicked grin to her face.

“Oooohhhh! You so nasty!” Maggie yelled and Millie’s eyes flew open.

She looked at her sister. “What are you talking about?” Millie demanded.

Her sister studied her. “You gave Henry the panties,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Don’t talk about my panties Maggie!” Millie told her then walked away to her room.

  Stepping inside, she closed the door and held herself as she leaned back against the wood taking a deep breath. Slowly she walked over to the bed and laid on the violet blanket. Millie smiled as she thought about her sister’s words. She certainly had given Henry Patterson her panties and they were currently sitting on top of the dresser in his bedroom.

They belonged to him anyway…

Chapter 14

The next few months, Henry and Millie were inseparable with him spending both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with her family. During those winter months, Henry would show up after work to shovel at the Gaines household, stating that pretty women shouldn’t have to be out in the cold removing snow.

  During that time, Henry had indeed taught Millie some of things that he knew and they were happier than either of them thought they could ever be. Millie was doing well in her classes and Henry had gotten a promotion at work.

  There had been a shake-up at the company when it was discovered that Bill along with a few others were taking shortcuts and assembling defective parts trying to make their quotas. Altogether, five workers had been fired along with a foreman. Henry had been promoted to Assistant Foreman with big responsibilities and a small increase in wages but it was the next step in his plan.

  On a Thursday morning in April, Henry got up and began his ritual. He dressed in his uniform before heading to the kitchen for breakfast. Opening his fridge, he saw the lunch that Millie had packed for him last night and smiled. He looked at his watch and waited for the phone to ring. On cue, the light shrill announced Millie’s call and Henry walked to answer.

  “Good morning pretty woman,” he said into the receiver.

  “Good morning Henry,” her raspy voice came across.

  “Thank you for the lunch.”

Millie smiled. “You’re welcome. Have a good day at work.”

  “I’m glad you called,” Henry told her. “I’ll see you tonight?”

  “Yes, I’m coming there after school.”

He nodded. “Don’t cook anything, I’ll bring something for us to eat. You have any requests?”

  “Hmmm…some burgers?” she suggested.

  “Top Hat or McDonald’s?” he asked.

She smiled broader. “You choose. You know I’ll eat either one.”

Henry laughed. “Okay, I’ll see you later. Have a good day at school.”

  The call ended and Henry finished his breakfast then headed off to work. At the end of the day, he picked up dinner for him and Millie and also stopped to get gas and drinks for them both before heading home. Henry entered the apartment and looked over at Millie who sat watching the nightly news on television. He put the food on the table before leaning down to kiss her.

  “What more can a man ask for than to come home to a pretty woman sitting on his sofa?” he said before kissing her again.

Millie kissed him back. “Hi Henry, I missed you.”

He winked at her. “I missed you too Millie. I’m going to take a quick shower and then we can eat.”

She kissed him again. “Okay, I’ll try not to start without you.”

Henry laughed. “I should hurry up then, I guess.”

Millie nodded. “I’m hungry. You took a long time.”

  “Okay hungry woman, give me a minute.” Millie watched him disappear then reached inside the bag to grab a golden fry.

  Her attention was captured by the television screen as she heard the words of Walter Kronkite, “
Good evening. Dr. Martin Luther King, the Apostle of non-violence in the civil rights movement has been shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee.”

  From that point, Millie didn’t hear anything else before she jumped to her feet and began screaming Henry’s name.

  “Henry!!! Henry!!!” she yelled as tears began to roll down her cheeks and her heart began to race.

Henry rushed back into the room in having just removed his shoes and work shirt.

“Millie, what’s wrong?” he asked seeing her tears. Crossing the room to the sofa, he took her into his arms and she began to sob outright.

  “Millie, tell me what happened?” Henry demanded pulling back to look into her tear stained face.

  Unable to speak, Millie pointed to the television. Confused, Henry turned to the black and white screen and heard the news report as it continued.

  “
Dr. King was standing on the balcony of a second floor hotel room tonight, when according to a companion, a shot was fired from across the street. And the friend’s words – the bullet exploded in his face
.”

  Millie raised a trembling hand to her mouth as Henry fell to the sofa in shock and the announcer pressed on.

  “
They rushed the thirty-nine- year-old Negro leader to a hospital where he died of a bullet wound to the neck.
”

  “He’s dead Henry!” she screamed loudly through her tears. “They killed him!”

  “Why would they do this?” Millie sobbed with her heart breaking. “Oh my God!!"

  Henry felt his own tears begin to form as he shook his head in disbelief. Millie watched him bury his face in his hands then his broad shoulders began to shake uncontrollably. Taking him into her arms, Millie held him tightly.

  “This can’t be…” he cried. “It just can’t be…”

Millie shook her head back and forth causing her tears to spill onto his bowed head.

  “Are they just gonna kill us all?” Henry asked lifting his head and Millie saw the tears on his face. “If we fight, they kill us…if we’re peaceful, they kill us.”

  “What is a black man supposed to do?” he asked helplessly.

Millie stared at him and answered softly. “I swear I don’t know Henry.”

Henry wiped his face and stood as President Johnson addressed the nation.

  “
America is shocked and saddened by the brutal slaying tonight of Dr. Martin Luther King. I ask every citizen to reject the blind violence that has struck Dr. King who lived by nonviolence…”

  Henry looked appalled at the screen. “Reject the violence! Where is the violence coming from? Whenever they’re beating us or killing us, we’re expected to respond with nonviolence.”

  “Non-violence just got Dr. King a bullet in his neck!” he yelled.

Millie stood. “Henry…”

  “I’m tired Millie.” His anger made his accent even stronger, making the word sound like ‘tied’. “Is death the only thing I got to look forward to is this world?”

  “They can take my job, my woman, and my life… and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop them.” He lowered his head and shook it slowly. “This ain’t no life, Millie.”

She took his hand. “Henry, we can’t give up.”

  He looked down at her. “Dr. King is gone Millie. Brother Malcolm. Medgar Evers. All gone. When is it gonna stop?”

  She touched his face. “We gotta make it stop, Henry. We can find groups here that are like those Black Panthers and get involved with protecting ourselves and our people.”

  “I gotta tell you Millie, I won’t hesitate to get my hands dirty to protect us,” Henry vowed.

  “I’ll get mine dirty with you,” she professed.

  Henry enfolded her in his arms and held her close for a while trying to understand something that was beyond comprehension. “Millie…this here is a terrible day.”

  Millie nodded against his chest. “Hopefully we won’t see many more of these Henry. I don’t think my heart can take it.”

  “Me either…” They stood quietly holding each other unsure of what their futures held.

******

  Through the Black Student Union at the college, Millie was able to secure two seats on the Greyhound bus that was transporting NAACP members to attend the funeral of Dr. King in Atlanta. A few days later, she sat next to Henry as they drove down to Woodward Ave., where the buses would disperse.

  “I’m nervous Henry,” she told him.

He glanced over at her. “What’s the matter?”

  “I’ve never been down South. I haven’t heard very good things about living in some parts down there,” she explained.

  Henry reached for her hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you Millie. I won’t leave your side while we’re there.”

She nodded. “I guess, I just don’t know all the rules down there and I don’t want to get us in trouble.”

  “You’ll be fine. We’re going to Atlanta and then we’ll be back on our way home,” he confirmed.

  They arrived and Henry found parking where he could leave his car unattended. Grabbing their small cases from the car, he took her hand then walked to get in line to board the bus. Millie looked around at all the people waiting and the row of buses to carry them from Detroit to Atlanta.

  Henry stood next to her in line. They both had on light coats for the Michigan weather but Henry had told her they probably wouldn’t need them in Atlanta. Her mother was worried about them traveling at this time but Henry had been able to assure her that he would take care of Millie.

  On the bus, they found seats with Millie next to the window. She turned and looked out as the people continued to board the buses and Henry reached over and took her hand in his.

  “You alright?” he asked.

Millie nodded sadly. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “You want me to tickle you to make you laugh?” he asked her.

  “No, I don’t want you to tickle me in front of all these people Henry Patterson,” she admonished him beginning to smile.

Henry shrugged. “You probably don’t want all these ladies on here to be jealous.”

  “You should stop that right now,” Millie told him without a smile.

  He laughed softly. “I’m just trying to make you smile pretty woman… since I’m sure they’ll be plenty of tears later on.”

Millie squeezed his hand. “I know. I brought lots of tissue, but I still don’t think it’ll be enough.”

Henry put his arm around her and pulled her close to his shoulder. “Let’s just enjoy the ride.”

  Millie made herself comfortable against him and settled in for the long ride. She looked out the window as her beloved city disappeared. Millie began to think about the reason for their trip and sadness overtook her.  Millie had always wanted to travel but never thought her first trip would be to attend the funeral of a beloved man and leader.

Henry heard Millie sigh and felt her restlessness. “What’s wrong Millie?” he asked.

  “I was just thinking that I wish I would have been more involved with Dr. King,” she admitted.

  “I did get to march with him in Selma,” Henry told her quietly and she turned to him in surprise.

  “What? You were in Selma?”

  Henry nodded. “Yes ma’am. I hitched a ride to Selma then walked to Montgomery. I slept in the fields along the way but I didn’t care because I believed that Dr. King was going to set us free.”

  “What do you believe now that he’s gone?” she asked.

  “Now I believe that no man can give you freedom, like Brother Malcolm said… you take it.”

  Millie nodded. “Brother Malcolm was so wise.” She turned back to the window and began taking in the scenery. “My Henry is too.”

  Henry leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I really love you Millie,” he whispered and she smiled while cuddling closer.

  “I really love you too Henry Patterson.”

  When they arrived in Atlanta, the events progressed quickly and before long, Henry and Millie found themselves in the midst of over one hundred thousand people at Morehouse College. Millie had never seen so many people in one place and it was nearly overwhelming. Henry, for his part, made sure to keep Millie close to his side since he didn’t want them getting separated in this large crowd.

  Henry and Millie listened to guest speakers as well as the loud wails and screams throughout the massive crowd. Millie used all of her tissues and Henry continued to hand her more while using quite a few for himself.

  “Look at all these people Henry…” Millie said in sad amazement.

  “Many people loved Dr. King. He was a great man.”

  Millie sniffed as she scanned the crowd and wondered why a group of people so beautiful and kind could be treated so horribly because of the color of their skin. She thought about the atrocities that had been and were still currently being inflicted upon this group and yet they were still here, still believing that things would get better even with the violent murder of their nonviolent leader. Her tears increased as the weight of the challenge overtook her. Henry took her into his arms feeling the depth of her pain.

  “I know Millie,” he consoled her blinking back his own tears.

  “I want to go home,” she said into his shirt. “This is too much.”

Henry held her. “The buses are leaving in a few hours. We can go and get our seats.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I would feel this way.”

  “I wish you didn’t have to,” he told her as he began leading her back to where the buses were parked. They weren’t the only ones who had departed from the services early as the bus was halfway filled. The passengers greeted the couple then Millie took her seat and sat back closing her eyes.

  This trip had been a taxing one. They’d stopped a few times at different stations along the way for bathroom and food breaks. The food hadn’t been the best and sleeping in bus seats was totally uncomfortable. At one point, Henry had held her on his lap while she slept.

  The services, all in all had been peaceful and uplifting, just like Dr. King would have wanted. Millie had met new people and the bus riders had been fun to ride along with even though the reason for the trip was one of sadness.