Royal slipped in her sock feet on the last step, almost tumbling to the floor. She righted herself before falling completely and then attempted to recover with a smile.
“Hey.” Royal ran her fingers through her mussed hair to try to smooth it back.
“I’m sorry to wake you. I guess I didn’t think that you might have been out late.”
“It’s okay. I’m really glad to see you.” Royal stepped closer as she tucked in her shirttail. She’d probably gotten dressed in a hurry.
“Lillian, huh?” Lovey tried not to laugh at the pained expression on Royal’s handsome face.
“She uses my full name when she’s annoyed with me. Can we pretend you didn’t hear that?”
“Lillian is a beautiful name.”
“Yes, it is. For someone else.” Royal reached for one of the biscuits on the stovetop. She nodded toward the skillet, with the biscuit already in her mouth, offering Lovey one.
“No, thank you.”
“Um, I need to get my shoes.” Royal turned, about to head back up the stairs. “Would you…would you like to see my room?”
Lovey nodded and followed Royal up the narrow, steep stairs to the second floor. A single bulb hung from a wire in the ceiling at the top of the steps, which opened into a large open room with two smaller bedrooms at each end. Of course Royal’s bed was unmade and there were clothes thrown across a straight-backed wooden chair next to a small desk stacked with books and papers. There were more books in small stacks next to the baseboards of the wall on either side of the narrow oak desk.
Royal was looking for her shoes under the far side of the bed. There didn’t seem to be anywhere for Lovey to sit except on the bed. But she’d not been invited to do so. Instead she stood clasping her hands in front of her and waited for Royal.
“Do you mind waiting just a quick moment while I go wash up a little?”
Lovey nodded.
Royal slipped past her out of the room and clomped quickly down the stairs in her unlaced shoes. Lovey was happy to have a few minutes alone with Royal’s things. She moved slowly around the simply furnished room. On the dresser along the wall facing the desk rested a pocket watch. Lovey picked it up and rubbed her fingers across the engraved pattern on the back of the casing. There was a framed photo, probably Royal’s father and mother in their younger years. They were smiling and leaning against a dark Model T Ford. The man’s head was tilted back with laughter. Lovey lifted the shirt hanging on the back of the chair and held it to her nose. It smelled like Royal, which made her smile. A book of poetry by Robert Frost was on top of the papers on the desk. Lovey flipped through the pages, not really settling on any one in particular. She moved to the far side of the room and sat on the edge of the bed, running her hand across the pillow that still registered an indention from where Royal had been sleeping.
She realized after a moment that Royal had silently returned and was leaning against the door frame watching her as she rolled the sleeves of her bright white shirt. She gave Lovey a heart-stopping slow smile from across the room. Lovey thought she should stand up, but she was immobilized, her heart pounding in her chest.
“I am really glad you stopped by.” Royal walked around the bed. She stopped at the footboard, leaning on the tall post at the corner.
“Do you think your mother knows about us?”
“Well, she knows I like girls, if that’s what you mean.” Royal shoved her free hand deep into her trouser pocket. “And if we stay up here much longer she might begin to have suspicions about what we’re doing.”
“So she’s a mind reader then?” Lovey stood and stepped close to Royal. A breeze blew the light cotton fabric of the curtain away from the window and stirred the hair around her face.
“Whose mind would she be reading?”
“Mine. Right this minute.” Lovey took Royal’s suspender between her fingers and slid her hand up and down the length of it slowly.
Royal cleared her throat. Her cheeks grew red, which entertained Lovey. Royal acted so tough but was so easily ruffled by innuendo. Lovey found the juxtaposition of those two details adorable.
“Am I making you nervous?” She fingered the collar of Royal’s shirt.
“Um, no.”
She’s obviously not a good liar was Lovey’s quick assessment. That discovery pleased her.
“I’d really like to kiss you,” whispered Lovey.
Royal leaned in and their lips met. The kiss was short and sweet, with a promise of more.
“Let’s take a walk.” Royal took her hand and pulled her toward the stairs.
They passed through the kitchen and out the back door. Royal’s car was parked near an aging mimosa tree in full bloom that swayed in the warm breeze dropping flowers on the dark sedan. Lovey’s gaze swept across the car as they strolled past. She pulled to a stop when she saw the bullet hole.
“Royal?” Lovey walked toward the back of the car. “What’s this?”
Royal followed Lovey’s pointing finger.
“A bad shot.”
“That’s not funny. Is this what I think it is? Is this a bullet hole?” Lovey was trying not to get angry, but it wasn’t working.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a joke. It happens sometimes.”
“Royal, was someone shooting at your car while you were in it?”
“It happened last night. They
