Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie (2 page)

Chapter 2

  At 3:30 am, Henry realized that he was not going back to sleep. He laid on his back and threw an arm across his face. He blamed pretty eyes and a honey toned face on his lack of rest. Millie was quite a little package with her toned honey arms that had been exposed under her short sleeved top and when she’d walked away from him, he’d noticed another nicely toned part of her body.

“Urgggh….” he groaned.

  Sliding out of bed, he headed to the shower. Under the stream of hot water, he shook his head to clear it. Henry had his fair share of young ladies to choose from but not one had interrupted his sleep. That sexy, raspy voice still reverberated in his ear. He wondered if it sounded that way first thing in the morning as well.

  He left the shower and dressed in his uniform before heading to the kitchen. Henry made his lunch then sat down to breakfast. He made himself a couple of eggs with bacon and toast. Washing it down with a glass of orange juice, he washed the few dishes then headed out the door.

  Henry parked in his usual spot, headed inside and put away his lunch before punching his timecard five minutes before his start time. He watched the door waiting for Bill to run inside at the last minute. Henry didn’t understand why Bill didn’t wake up earlier to get to work.

  True to form, Bill ran through the door, punching his card just in the nick of time. He smiled at Henry as he joined him on the line.

  “I dreamed of Honey last night,” Bill told him.

Henry studied the part he was working on. “And I want to know this because?”

  “So what would you do Henry?”

Henry looked up. “About what?”

  “I mean you’re good with the girls. What would you say to Honey?”

  “Nope, not doing that with you,” Henry went back to his part.

Bill frowned. “Come on Henry, help a brother out.”

  Henry stopped for a moment. “Bill, you don’t want to use another guy’s words to get your girl. I’m not your Cyrano.”

  “Who is Cyrano?” Bill asked confused.

Henry shook his head and went back to his part. “Read a book before you propose.”

  “Are you coming to the next game? It’s the last one before the championship.” Bill informed him.

Henry shrugged. “I might.”

Bill smiled. “You gotta admit I was right about Honey.”

  “If I do, will you shut up and do your job before you get us both fired?” Henry asked.

  Bill looked at Henry. “On second thought, I don’t want you thinking about Honey. You might try to steal my girl.”

“The girl whose real name you don’t know?” Henry challenged.

Bill frowned again. “Honey just doesn’t go around talking to guys.”

  “Interesting…” Henry continued with his work duties.

******

  Millie Gaines sat in class replaying her game from last night. She’d played well along with the rest of her team. Two more wins and they would be the champions. Millie loved baseball. It was the one thing she’d shared with her father that was special between the two of them. She knew he would have been proud of her and what she’d accomplished. Not only was she a great baseball player, she was an excellent nursing student. Her dream was to finish school and get a job at Detroit Memorial Hospital.

  With her grades and personality, she seemed to be a shoe in but in this day and age black nurses had to be exceptional to gain the coveted positions. Her training program at the community college was created for that purpose, to train black nurses to be able to compete and Millie took her studies seriously. She’d allowed herself one distraction: softball. When a few of the students wanted to start a team, Millie had been completely on board. This was their second year playing and they were vying for a championship.

  She opened her book and hid smile. She might as well let her mind focus a few minutes on what had been running through it since last night. Mr. Henry Patterson. He’d gotten her attention…attention that she didn’t relinquish easily. He was handsome and…and…
charming,
effortlessly. He had an aloofness that intrigued her with his nice haircut and clean shaven face. She secretly hoped that he would attend another game. Maybe she’d get to hear that deep baritone with the southern accent once more.

  “What are you over here smiling about Honey?” Irma asked taking the seat next to her.

  “Just thinking about the game.”

Irma smiled. “Did you see the guy with your stalker?”

  “Don’t call him that, that’s mean.”

  “What’s his name then?” Irma asked.

Millie shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s never talked to me.”

  “So he shall remain your stalker.” Both women laughed. “Back to the guy he was with…I’m diggin’ him.”

  “Irma Anderson, stop it!” Millie admonished.

Irma smirked. “You thought the same thing. I saw you watching him from in the dugout.”

  “I wasn’t watching him,” Millie protested.

  “Okay Honey, you can fool everybody else but I know you.” Irma watched her. “Where’d you disappear to after the showers?”

  Millie closed her book. “I needed a minute to settle my mind. You know the crowds get to be too much sometimes.”

  “That’s what happens when you’re so good,” Irma teased.

  “We’re all good.”

Irma smirked. “It’s okay Honey. We all know you’re the star. We’d lose nearly every game without you.”

Millie laughed. “I’d call that a hyperbole, if I’ve ever heard one.”

  “A what?”

Millie focused on her book. “Irma, read one of these outside of school work.”

******

  A few days later, Henry found himself sitting on crowded bleachers next to Bill, listening as the group chanted Honey’s name. Her team was down by two runs and he could see the concentration on her face as she approached the plate with two women on base.

She lifted her bat high and waited on the pitch. In his mind, Henry chanted, “Come on Millie…” She swung at the first pitch and missed. The crowd grimaced before she retook her stance.

  “Relax, wait on the ball,” Henry told her silently.

  The pitcher sent the ball towards the plate and Henry smiled when he heard the crack of the bat. He was on his feet along with everyone else as the ball sailed over the wall. Pandemonium erupted as the runners ran around the bases with Honey doing her now familiar showboating. Henry couldn’t help but applaud her. She was something else.

  After crossing the plate, she jogged over to the bleachers. Henry watched her search the crowd until their eyes connected. She removed her cap and presented her flawless bow before lifting her head again. She smiled and replaced the cap before dragging her eyes from his and heading to the dugout.

  “Honey, you’re the best!” Bill yelled next to Henry as Henry’s eyes followed her to the dugout until she disappeared.

  “You see that Henry?” Bill asked.

  “Yeah, I saw it Bill.”

  The game continued and Honey’s team emerged as the victor by one run. News spread through the crowd that a victory party was being held for the players at a nearby home.

  “You going to the party?” Bill questioned.

Henry looked at his watch. “What time does it end?”

  “They said around one in the morning.”

  “I might not stay the whole time, but I’ll come. I haven’t been to a party in a while,” Henry agreed.

Bill smiled. “I might get with Honey tonight.”

Henry nodded. “You need a ride?”

Bill shook his head. “Nah, had a Plan B tonight.”

Henry laughed. “Good. I guess I’ll see you there.”

  The two men clasped hands then Henry walked through the crowded parking lot to his car. Since the home was near the field, he arrived within a few minutes. Finding parking down the street, he cut the engine and watched the people arriving at the home.

  Since he’d planned to attend the game today, he’d had the foresight to bring another shirt so he wouldn’t be walking around with his name and company on his chest. He checked his attire then in the rearview for a look at his face. Satisfied, he exited the car and approached the home.

When Henry arrived at the door, a girl sat at the entrance.

  “Twenty-five cents,” she told him. “The money supports the team.”

Henry produced a dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to her. “Keep the change.”

She smiled at him. “There’s punch and food for sale inside if you’re hungry.”

He nodded. “Thank you.”

  As soon as Henry stepped inside, the smell of fried chicken tickled his nose. “Definitely trying some of that,” he said aloud.

  He walked into a room that was beginning to fill with people and spotted the stereo in the corner. Two guys were stacking 33’s and 45’s in preparation for the dancing that was to come. Following his nose, he walked towards the kitchen where a line was formed for the delicious smelling food.

  When he finally got to the front of the line, he ordered the chicken with macaroni and cheese along with green beans. Being a boy from the South, Henry appreciated good food. He paid his bill and made his way to find somewhere to enjoy his food in peace. Stepping out of a back door, he found a secluded area where a lone individual sat.

Smiling he walked over to her. “We meet again Miss Millie.”

She looked up at him. “Hello Mr. Henry Patterson. Are you following me?”

He shook his head. “No ma’am, just looking for a spot to eat my food.”

Millie looked at the plate in his hand. “Smells really good.”

Henry took the seat next to her. “Please have some.”

  “I can’t eat your food.” Millie refused. “I’ll buy some later. It wasn’t ready when I got here.”

  He looked into her pretty face. “It would be rude of me to sit here and eat in front of you.” He lifted the plate to her. “Please.”

Reluctantly, she agreed. “Okay, but later when I buy food, you have to help me eat it.”

  “Agreed,” he said handing her the plastic fork.

  Millie took small forkfuls of macaroni and green beans before finally snagging a chicken wing from the plate. She swallowed and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  “Do you want more?” he asked.

She laughed while handing the fork back to him. “I think I’ve eaten more than enough of your food.”

  “You’re welcome to all that you want Miss Millie,” he said like a sweet southern gentleman.

Millie took a bite of chicken. “I like your accent.”

He smiled. ‘’I’m a country boy.”

  She settled back as he began to eat what remained on the plate. “So what brings a country boy to Detroit?”

“Lynchings,” he answered without looking up.

Millie sat up. “I’ve read about those.”

  “Three years ago, three civil rights workers were abducted and killed in Mississippi by a lynch mob because they were registering blacks to vote,” he told her.

  “Just three years ago?” she asked appalled.

  Henry nodded and paused his eating. “KKK and the local police did it. They killed two white men and one black.” He looked down in his plate. “I figured if they’ll kill their own, that was not a place for this black man.” Henry resumed eating.

  “You came here alone?” Millie asked.

He nodded and she watched him finish off the rest of the food. “How old are you Henry?”

  “Twenty,” he answered looking up at her. “How old are you Miss Millie?”

She smiled. “I’m twenty-one. That’s why when you continue to call me Miss Millie, it makes me feel old.”

  “I don’t do it for that reason,” he explained. “There’s nothing old about you.”

  “I was just raised to be a gentleman,” Henry added.

  “And you are. I don’t think I’ve met one before,” she admitted.

  Henry smiled. “Then you’ve been meeting the wrong guys.” He wiped his hands on a napkin then placed it in the empty plate as the music began playing inside the house.

Millie watched as he got to his feet. “I should find a trash can. Enjoy the party Miss Millie.”

  “You’re supposed to share my food later,” she reminded.

Henry smiled down at her. “I’ll be around for a while.”

  She watched as he disappeared into the house thinking that Henry Patterson would probably continue to run through her mind for many days to come.

  Henry found a trash basket inside the home before going to the large room where the music was coming from. He leaned against a wall and watched the dancers on the floor. Henry looked over as he was joined by Bill.

  “Hey Henry,”

  “Hey Bill, enjoying the party?” Henry asked.

Bill frowned. “Not yet. I haven’t seen Honey. I wonder if she’s coming.”

  “She’s here.”

Bill looked confused. “You’ve seen her?”

  “Yep, I saw her.”

  “Where?”

Henry shrugged. “She’s around Bill, look for her.”