As Royal swung Rose around in the midst of the revelers, she caught a glimpse of Ella May and her man dancing a jig. More than one celebrator within arm’s length reached out and gave Royal a friendly slap on the back. She hoped it was because they were happy to see her, that they genuinely liked her, and not just because she’d been the one to bring the liquor.
Royal stayed on with Rose and her friends for another hour before she headed back north to the hill country. It was long past midnight when she rounded the bend and traveled in front of Lovey’s house. She slowed and considered stopping. Should she?
She hadn’t been able to stop thinking of Lovey since she’d left her the previous day. Maybe if she crept close to the house she’d be lucky and Lovey would be feeling as sleepless as she was. Royal eased the Ford sedan off the side of the road just past the driveway, behind some trees and out of sight of the reverend’s house. The house stood dark and silent.
Royal had a few small stones in her hand that she tossed at the bedroom window once she was close enough to the house. After three stones, a low wattage bulb came on and a dark figure was outlined against the glass. The window slid open and Royal knew immediately she had the wrong room. Shit!
Reverend Edwards leaned out the open window into the darkness, his nightshirt hanging loosely past his waist. Royal had ducked between the shrubs close to the wall just out of his peripheral view. The elderly pastor leaned further, squinting into the dark corners of the yard before he closed the window, and moments later dimmed the lamp.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. How did she get the wrong window? She heard muffled voices. Lovey must have gotten up and was now talking with her father. After silence returned, Royal slunk away from the window and started to walk back to where she’d left her car. But she was no more than twenty feet from the house when the sound of a window sliding up caused her to turn. Lovey in her white nightgown practically glowed against the outline of the dark window.
Quickly, Royal trotted back to the house.
“What are you doing?” Lovey whispered.
“I wanted to see you.” Royal crouched under the window looking up at Lovey. “I accidentally hit the wrong window.”
Lovey covered her mouth to keep from laughing. She silently motioned for Royal to climb into the window, which was two windows down from her father’s room. Halfway through the opening, Lovey had to pull Royal by her belt to help her the rest of the way in.
“You’re crazy.”
“I thought you might be up.” Once she righted herself, Royal nervously put her hands in her pockets. The room was dark. Their voices were barely a whisper.
Lovey leaned in, smelling Royal’s shirt. “You smell like cigars.”
“Hazard of the job, I suppose.” Royal watched as Lovey opened the door a little, checked for movement from the hallway, and then silently shut it.
Lovey pulled Royal over to sit on the bed. “I’m glad you stopped by. I couldn’t sleep.” She pulled her feet up onto the bed and patted the space beside her, an indication for Royal to sit.
Chapter Eight
Now that Royal was in Lovey’s bedroom she was a bundle of nerves. In her head she hadn’t gotten much past throwing rocks at the window. She hadn’t really envisioned what would transpire if Lovey actually invited her in. Even in the dark, barely moonlit room she could see enough detail to know that Lovey was wearing a thin nightgown that revealed the subtle contours of what lay beneath. Her shoulders and arms were bare. As Royal took in these details Lovey reached over and entwined their fingers, which she felt all the way to her toes.
“I should go.” Royal started to stand up.
“You just got here.”
“I know…I…I just…”
“Come here.” Lovey moved across the bed to make more room for Royal. “You must be tired. It’s late and you’ve been driving. Rest with me for a little while.”
Royal knew that lying down next to Lovey would be anything but restful. Her nervous system was charged to the max at the moment, and if there’d been more light in the room she was sure Lovey would be able to see how red her cheeks were. But how could she refuse?
“Lie down and talk to me,” Lovey whispered. She motioned again for Royal to join her.
Royal stretched out beside Lovey. They lay side by side like coconspirators planning some late night caper.
“Does the cigar smell bother you?”
“No, I rather like it.”
“What did you do today?” Royal pulled the pillow up under her head so that she could more fully face Lovey.
“I was at the church, helping prepare meals for shut-ins.”
“No kidding?” She thought this sounded like something her mother might do, but not a woman as young as Lovey.
“I’m the minister’s daughter. It’s politic to assist with efforts in the community. Feeding the infirm is a good thing.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean any disrespect. I was just surprised is all.”
“It was actually nice. Most of the women who brought food to prepare are great to talk with. I’ve been spending too much time in the house by myself the past few weeks.”
They were silent for a couple of minutes. Royal tentatively reached over and caressed Lovey’s arm with her fingers.
“I suppose our worlds are very different. Although, I’m told moonshine can be used for many medicinal purposes.” Royal made the statement with a straight face, but then they both had to stifle laughs.
“Don’t make me laugh. We’re supposed to be quiet, remember?” Lovey playfully shoved her in the
