Harmony (20 page)

“
Hmph.” The woman said and turned to point to the linens she had brought up. “Fix your own bed honey. I’m sure you know how.”

“
Wait a sec.” Harmony stepped forward. “We got off on the wrong foot. My name is Harmony.”

“
I know who you are.” Mabel spat the words back at her. She dropped her curled fists on her round hips. “Poor Eloise. Poor, poor Eloise!” Mabel put her hand to her heart and raised the other above her head in some type of sad homage. Harmony drew back. The maid’s eyes flashed open and locked on her once more. “Eloise is turning over in her grave to see you now.”

The mention of her Grams sent her mind spinning. Did she know Mabel? Had they met before? Mabel either sensed her distress or the deep shadow of shame was written all over her face, because she pounced like a spider after his prey caught in his web. “First you start singing at that devil’s den, The Cotton. They don’t even let colored folk in that God forsaken place. And those yella girls that work there think they some new kind of special brand of Negro cause they can shake their tails for money. Call themselves tans when they nothing but jezebels. And if to make matters worse, here you come, sneaking around at night with Mr. Romano. Up in his room howling to the moon like some kind of bitch in heat, for what he doing to ya. And for what? To become his whore?”

“
Who the hell do you think you are? You wait a minute.” Harmony stammered.

“
No you wait! Your grandmother and my mother grew up in Slimwood, Mississippi barely escaping the sharecropper’s fields.” Mabel stepped to her and Harmony drew in her trembling bottom lip, trapped, by the raw anger and disgust fixed upon her. “I was fifteen but I remember it all. We damn near walked and swam for six months until we made it here to Negro heaven.” Mabel scoffed. “Eloise did the entire trip fully pregnant with your mother in her belly. Do you have any idea what her struggle was? Do you?”

“
No ma’am,” Harmony said softly.

“
Just like your selfish ma. She didn’t even bother to come back to see Eloise buried. Your grandmother had her heart and tears all prayed up on you child, and look at you now. Take a hard look at what you done become.”

“
Now you just hold on there Miss Mabel cause it’s my turn to speak. No need to recount my sins to me. I’ve lived each and every one of them. And there’s no need to tell me of my Grams’ sacrifices because they’re burned here.” She touched her heart. “Where were you when I had to bury her alone? I don’t remember you or any of her so-called friends lending my Grams a hand or a kind word when my ma run off.”

“
We all struggle,” Mabel said.

“
Maybe so. But ain’t no need to judge me, because you ain’t God. What I do and what I done is my burden, and I owe no one an explanation for it.”

“
You owe yourself more than to be some white man’s whore.” Mabel tossed back.

Harmony laughed. The bitter tears dropped from her cheeks, and she wiped them away, smiling. “Is that so? Because being his mammy works so much better for you?”

Mabel’s face pinched in anger.

“
And for the record.” Harmony sniffed, tossing her chin up and glaring down her nose at the self-righteous witch. “Vinnie and I are more than just friends. Wasn’t me howling to the moon, that you heard honey. It was him.”

“
Silly girl, you ain’t special,” Mabel said shaking her head.

“
You ain’t my Grams so you can’t convict me. You ain’t my minister so you can’t preach to me. Take your advice and sanctimonious attitude out of here! Get out!”

Mabel turned and walked away. Harmony could barely remain standing. She backed away until the bed hit the back of her legs. She dropped on the mattress shaking with grief. She didn’t cry. Didn’t know if she could summon tears, and the pain she carried over the painful reminder of broken promises to her Grams wouldn’t release her. Now what was she to do?

“
Vinnie, I know where the boy is,” Antonio whispered in Romano’s ear. The others argued over the best tactical advantage they could take with Collins boxed in between South Street and Pier 7. His gaze swung left and locked on his brother’s. He’d been waiting all day for news of the boy. He had begun to believe he’d find him dead. Especially, when he considered he was the only missing link between Mickey and where his booze had been stolen away to. If Antonio had found the kid then Romano had every intention of reuniting the boy with Harmony. The idea of the happiness the reunion would bring to his Songbird made him feel a bit of warmth himself. Harmony would be so grateful she’d be his without complaint. He could probably set her up here, and who knew what the future between them could bring.

Romano rose from his chair. A hush fell across the room. “Pay a visit to Chief O’Brien and make sure the night is ours. No cops in or out of South Street. I agree with Ignacio. We will take out his three warehouses first. Burn them to the ground. You must move in quickly, on foot. They’ll see cars coming and be ready for them. If you can save the booze try, if not fuck it, it’s not where Mickey is storing his supply. I’m sure of it.”

“
It’s not just business now boss.” Gio interrupted. “We need to send a message. In blood.”

“
Find his daughter and her husband. I believe they’ll be hiding in Brooklyn. Remember we don’t touch the women or children. Make sure the husband gets what Mickey Collins deserves. Understood?”

A few questions were asked and answered before every man in the room nodded in agreement. The room began to clear. Antonio paced impatiently to be heard as others approached Romano and expressed their personal desires within this new allegiance. After several minutes it was just him and his brother.

“
Where is he?”

“
There’s this Negro that plays the horn at The Cotton. He’s hidden the boy, tucked him away at St. Mary’s. Father Michaels is soft on the coloreds, from what I’m told. I’ve already paid him and the nuns a visit. He denied knowing where the kid is, but I’m sure he’s there.”

“
His name Milo?” Romano asked.

“
That’s him. Yes! He’s the one keeping him hid. I followed him last night after I got a tip. He disappeared inside the church, but went in through the rectory side doors. Stayed there for a while and then left. We’ll have the kid tonight. The services during the day would make it messy if we go for him now.”

Romano nodded. “Good. Remember I want him alive. And don’t you disrespect Father Michaels, handle it discreetly. Draw no attention to us in this, we clear? On second thought make a donation in my name.”

Antonio nodded. “Everything’s copasetic Vinnie. Thing is, something this delicate I think it’ll go over better if you and I go in and get the kid. While the boys take out Collins. What you think?”

The request made sense. Romano paced a bit thinking it through. He stopped and glanced up. “This Milo person? What’s his relationship with the boy?”

“
Not sure,” Antonio shrugged. “Why?”

“
Strange. If he was hiding the boy and he’s friends with Harmony then why not tell her?”

“
Who the fuck knows Vinnie. We get the kid we get the jump on where the booze is. You’re right to think it’s not at the pier. The boy knows where it is. Collins will be busy with holding off our guys. It’s the best plan.”

“
Okay. Not a word of this. You and I will take care of the boy.”

Antonio grinned. “Sure Vinnie, whatever you say.”

Time slowed to a painful crawl, each minute hammered in the memory of the past. She could feel every grievous emotion tenfold. Her breath quickened and her cheeks felt warm with shame. She gulped hard, hot tears slipped and she quickly wiped them away. Harmony rose from the bed on shaky legs. Her embarrassment had now turned to raw fury. How dare that woman say the things she said to her? She never wanted to disgrace her Grams or herself. She just wanted to find a place in a world where a woman like her often had none. Mabel was wrong. Hell maybe even Grams was wrong. Singing at The Cotton wasn’t her downfall. Jazz had provided her with a mindless solidity that helped camouflage the deep despair and loneliness in her heart after losing all the people she loved.

Harmony inhaled slowly and calmed herself. At first she’d dismissed the giddy feeling of contentment she felt in the night when she slept in Romano’s arms. Not anymore. The man had been straight from the start and he treated her kinder than Mabel and half the others who turned their nose up when she walked down the street. He loved her voice, her body. Hell he even said he loved her feet. Harmony laughed out loud until her spirit broke and she began to sob. To hell with Mabel and any judgmental witches like her. She wasn’t going to carry shame over being who she was anymore.

“
Hi beautiful.”

“
Vinnie?” She turned to find him standing in the doorway. She sniffed and wiped under her eyes to make sure they were dry. He walked in and she smiled brightly. “Your business done already?”

“
Not quite. I had to come check on you. Mabel get you settled in?”

Harmony nodded. She tried to sidestep him but he drew her into his arms. “Were you crying?”

“
Huh? No. I’m just, emotional. Missing Willie.”

“
That’s the second reason why I came upstairs. I got the best news Doll. Gonna make you smile.”

“
You do?”

He smirked. “I’ll have your brother here tonight. Plan to bring him in myself.”

A cry of relief broke from her lips. “You found him? You found Willie?”

“
Didn’t I tell you I would?”

Harmony threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. She felt the warm glow of joy spread through her within his kiss. She could devour him whole, with her body humming with excitement. Romano chuckled and she peppered his face with more kisses. “Yes! Yes! But how did you do it? Where is he?” She lowered her arms. Romano kept her snug in his embrace. He dropped his forehead to hers when he spoke.

“
This Milo person, you sure he’s a friend?”

“
Milo? Yes, he was Lewis’s best friend. Why?”

“
My men say he’s the one that hid your brother, been keeping him at St. Mary’s. Now why would he do that and not tell you?”

Harmony pushed until she broke free of his embrace. “That’s a lie. Milo wouldn’t do that, he’s not that type of guy. He wanted to help me find Willie. Your men are wrong!”

“
I got it from a reliable source.”

“
I don’t care! It’s a lie!”

“
Harmony, listen.”

“
No. It just can’t be. Milo is like family to us both. Even if he helpin’ Willie he wouldn’t lie to me. Not after he knew I was going…”

She stopped herself. She couldn’t look him in the eye and say the rest. Milo knew she would go as far as to sleep with Vinnie Romano to find Willie. He was sick with jealousy over it. She saw it all over his face. He would have never let her go through with it if he had Willie. “It’s not true,” she said sadly.

“
Harmony,” he grabbed her hand. “Slow down. Neither of us can be sure of the man’s motives right now. Maybe he did it to protect you both. Sometimes the less everyone knows the better. Either way I’ll bring your brother to you personally. Keep my promise.” He kissed her hand. “Does that make you happy?”

It took considerable effort to keep from squealing with joy then frustration. She couldn’t figure Milo on this one. She had no clue what was going through Willie’s head either. None of it made sense.

One look into her lover’s eyes and she saw how much he wanted to please her so she let the disappointment in Milo go. Her hand went up softly over his chest; her face drew closer to his. “Yes, that makes me happy, Vinnie. Thank you so much,” she said with her mouth only centimeters from his.

“
I want to take you out on my land,” he breathed, his gaze lowered to her lips and he licked his own. “We can have lunch. How does that sound?”

Being so close to him forced her heartbeat to skyrocket. “But you said you’d go get Willie? I need to see him Vinnie. I need to see him now.”

“
Tonight Songbird,” He touched her cheek and all the blood in her body seemed to rush to that spot. “It’s best we pick him up after dark. Besides the day is nice, it’s warm. We can take my horse. She hasn’t been ridden in a while. Mabel has fixed us lunch.”

“
Yes. I’d like that. I, ah, I need to get some fresh air.”