Sugar and Spice, page 2
“Do you know that girl?” Jimmy whispered.
Eddy glanced over and grinned. “Sure, I know her. Why?”
“Will you introduce us?”
“I might, for a price.” He was enjoying this too much.
“Name it.”
“Hey, I was only kidding. Come on.”
Eddy led the way through the departing church members to where she stood.
As they approached, she smiled at Eddy. “Hi, Eddy. If you’re looking for Helen, she’s home with a cold.” She glanced briefly in Jimmy’s direction then lowered her eyes, her long lashes fluttering against her cheeks.
“I know.” He threw a sideways glance at Jimmy. “Actually, I came to say hello to you and to introduce you to my friend, Jimmy Grayson.”
She lifted her glance to Jimmy, her lips curving in an adorable little smile, and held out her hand. “Hello, my name is Cici. I’m happy you came to our service today.”
Jimmy stared into her eyes as he held the soft, gloved hand in his. He hadn’t been dreaming. She really was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“Not as happy as I am.” Hardly knowing what he was doing, he lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss on the gloved fingers, then lifted his eyes and looked into hers.
A blush colored her cheeks and her lips turned up in a slightly shocked smile. “A chivalrous deed,” she said. “A trifle bold, perhaps, but I think I liked it.”
“Forgive me. I couldn’t restrain myself.”
“Well, we’d better go. Good-bye, Cici.” Eddy grabbed Jimmy’s arm and practically dragged him away.
Jimmy followed as though in a daze. Had he actually kissed her hand? “Why did we have to leave so fast?” he objected as they walked down the street.
“For your own protection.”
“What?”
“If I’d known she was going to have that effect on you, I’d never have introduced you.” He gave Jimmy a pitying look.
“What are you talking about, you idiot?”
“Cici is Rev. Willow’s daughter, and she devours love-smitten fellows like you. One minute she’s all sweet and girly; then the next she’s giving a fellow a tongue-lashing. Sort of like sugar and spice, you know?”
❧
Helen sat straight up on her bed, then moaned and leaned back onto her pillows. “Are you kidding me?” She coughed. “It was the same man?”
Cici nodded. “The very same.”
Helen’s eyes widened and she grabbed a hanky from her bedside table and sneezed loudly.
“Goodness, maybe I’d better leave so you can rest.”
“No, don’t you dare. Tell me everything. Do you mean to say he kissed your hand, right there in church, with everyone looking on?”
“Mm-hmm,” Cici said in a dreamy voice. “Well, not everyone. Nearly everyone had left, but I think Papa may have seen.”
“Oh no. Did he say anything?” Helen’s red-rimmed eyes rounded with excitement.
“Not yet.” A niggling of worry bit at Cici’s mind, but she pushed it away. “Anyway, what could he say? It wasn’t my fault Jimmy kissed me.”
“Kissed your hand,” Helen corrected.
“But it seemed like more.” Cici closed her eyes and could almost feel the touch of Jimmy’s lips on her hand. She shivered.
“Watch out, Cici.” Helen’s lips tilted. “I think you’ve finally fallen for someone.”
Cici opened her eyes and sat up. “Oh, it was just the novelty of it all. It was rather romantic though. I wonder if he’ll be back.”
“I’m going to ask Eddy about him.” Helen gave a short but emphatic nod then grabbed another handkerchief and dabbed at her nose. “After all, you don’t know the man at all.”
“I know. But I don’t think Eddy would be friends with someone who wasn’t all right. Do you?”
“Well, no, but. . .”
Cici rose and bent to kiss her friend on the forehead. “You take care of that cold. I have to go now. I’m almost late for my appointment at Milady’s Coiffure.”
Helen sighed, a dreamy look on her face. “You’re so lucky. I’d die to have my hair done there.”
“Well, perhaps when you turn eighteen next month, your parents will allow it. Like mine did.” She grinned. “I think it’s their way of turning me from a tomboy to a lady. But I really, really must go. I’ll drop by again tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Cici gave a little wave and left.
Twenty minutes later, she sat in the chair at Milady’s, her hair in tangled knots.
“The things we go through to be beautiful.”
Cici turned, curious to see who’d spoken the laughing words. The girl in the next chair appeared to be a little older than Cici. Short brown hair framed a heart-shaped face. Lips pursed in a pretty pout were a little too pink to be natural. Not wishing to appear rude, Cici forced her glance away from the lips and met a pair of gold-flecked green eyes filled with amusement.
“Are you shocked because my lips are painted?”
Cici felt her face grow warm. “I really hadn’t noticed,” she lied.
The girl chuckled. “All righty, then.” She leaned over and held out her hand. “My name is Gail. And you are?”
Cici took the girl’s hand. “Cici.”
“Well, Cici, lipstick is growing quite popular. Almost everyone uses it now. You should try it.”
A little bolt of excitement ran through Cici. To be honest, she’d wanted to try painting her face to see how she would look. “I wouldn’t dare,” she whispered.
“Why not?” Gail gave her the once-over. “You’re quite attractive, but makeup would make you look even better.”
“Do you think so?” Cici asked.
“Absolutely. You’re very pretty, but with a little lipstick and mascara, you could look like a movie star.”
“Oh, I would never use mascara.” The very thought seemed daring yet exciting.
“Well, here, then. Let’s try a little color on your lips.” Gail slipped off her chair and produced a small cylinder. “Here, pucker your lips like you are about to be kissed.”
Unable to resist, Cici closed her eyes and did as directed. Something smooth and moist glided across her lips.
“Now press them together to even it out and see what you think.”
Her heart in her throat, Cici opened her eyes and looked in the mirror. Her eyes widened. Gail was right. The lipstick did make her look prettier.
“Well, what do you think? Shall we take it off?” Gail held up tissue.
Cici bit her lip, indecision battling inside her. She couldn’t really wear it in public. Could she? “No.” Cici held up her hand. “Don’t remove it. Thank you very much.”
“My pleasure.” The girl grinned and sat back on her chair.
Cici took a closer look at her new acquaintance. Actually, Gail seemed quite nice, in spite of her painted face.
Gail chatted endlessly for the next hour and a half while the girls had their hair dressed and nails done. Gail was finished first but continued to chatter to Cici until she, too, was ready to go. By the time they left the salon together, Cici was totally enthralled with her new friend. They agreed to meet somewhere for lunch sometime soon.
“Here.” Gail quickly scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Cici. “This is my landlady’s phone number. I live upstairs. Just ask for me.”
Excitement bubbled in Cici as she rode home. She’d never met anyone as intriguing as Gail. A twinge of guilt pinched at her as she thought of Helen, who Cici was sure wouldn’t approve of Gail. But she didn’t have to know. Cici ignored the second twinge.
As she neared her stop, she grabbed a handkerchief from her pocket and scrubbed, then reached into her handbag and removed a small mirror. Good, there was no sign of the lipstick, but her mouth was red from the scrubbing. She replaced the mirror and stuffed the hankie deep into her handbag, then pulled the bell cord.
She walked the half block home, and as she slipped through the door, her lips curved. What would that daring Jimmy Grayson think of painted lips?
Three
Jimmy lifted a heavy crate and stacked it with others intended for the same warehouse. He was glad he’d hired on to work on the docks until noon today. He loved it out here in the open, even with a cold March breeze from the river whipping around his collar. Maybe he should try to find permanent employment here instead of at the warehouse. A steam whistle blew and another boat pulled up.
What was it about this place that kept drawing him back? Children dodged and chased each other as they played on the crowded street. Every now and then, one would get too near the dock and a worker would run him or her off.
Jimmy was getting ready to leave when he saw a small boy being chased off by a stocky laborer who yelled at him to stay away. Something clicked in Jimmy’s mind, and he took a closer look at the man. His stomach knotted as though someone had punched him. It was Cobb. The one who’d led Jimmy and Danni to Sutton that cold day so many years ago. Cobb had been a mere boy himself at the time, maybe twelve. By the time Jimmy and his sister were rescued, he must have been twenty or so. He had always been friendly to them, but still, Jimmy felt his heart chill. He turned to leave.
“Hey! Jimbo! Is that you?”
Jimmy groaned and turned to face the man who was sprinting toward him.
Cobb didn’t look much different than he did when he was hauled off by the police eight years ago. Cobb grabbed him in a bear hug. “It is you. I can’t believe it.” He smacked Jimmy on the arm and laughed. “How’ve you been, kid? How’s Danni?”
Jimmy swallowed and attempted a friendly smile. “I’m fine, and Danni’s doing well. How about you?”
“Great, just great. I keep busy.” He shook his head, grinning widely.
“So how long have you been working here?”
“A couple of years, I guess. Mostly I work in the galley on the Eastland. When we’re docked, I work here to keep busy.”
“They actually pay you to cook?” Jimmy laughed. He could still remember some of Cobb’s concoctions; they were pretty bad.
“Yeah, I finally learned you don’t add salt to corned beef and you don’t put molasses in mashed potatoes.” He guffawed.
Jimmy couldn’t help grinning back at the friendly face. Why had he even tried to avoid Cobb? After all, he’d been as much a victim of Sutton’s as Jimmy and Danni had. And he hadn’t gotten off the way they had. He’d served time in prison.
Impulsively, he threw his arm around Cobb’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go to lunch somewhere.”
“Perfect timing. I just finished loading the Swallow. Let me get my stuff.” Cobb walked away and was back in five minutes.
They headed down Michigan Avenue, with Cobb continuing to pound Jimmy on the back. “I’ve missed you, Jimbo. Didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“Yeah, I know. Here, how about this place?”
They entered the diner and found it packed, but they managed to get a table toward the back.
After they had ordered, Cobb glanced at Jimmy, curiosity in his eyes. “So how about you, Jimmy? You working by the docks, too?”
“Yeah, I’m at Henderson’s Warehouse.”
“Yeah? I worked there a couple of times. Not a bad place. A little surprised to see you there, though. You were always daydreaming. Once that lawyer fellow took you in, I figured you’d get educated.”
Jimmy hesitated. “Yes, I went to school. Then college. I’m actually taking a semester off from law school.”
Cobb stiffened. “So why are you working as a laborer? Seeing how the lower class lives?”
“That’s a dumb thing to say, Cobb,” Jimmy retorted. “I grew up here, too, you know.”
“Okay, okay. Sorry.”
“I took time off to do some soul-searching. I’m just not sure I’m supposed to be a lawyer.” He stared at the cup as he stirred sugar into his coffee. “I feel like there’s something else I’m supposed to be doing.”
Cobb looked puzzled. “Guess I just always figured I’m supposed to do what I have to to get by.”
Jimmy nodded, not answering.
“Hey, Jimbo, I noticed you weren’t limping. What happened?”
Jimmy hardly remembered anymore that he’d once had a lame foot. “I had an operation. The doctor said if I’d waited much longer, he wouldn’t have been able to do much.” He took a drink of his coffee. “I still favor it a little when I’m overtired.”
“That’s great. I thought it might get worse as you grew. Sure glad they could fix it.”
Jimmy listened with interest as Cobb regaled him with stories of his adventures at sea. He had a feeling his former friend might be stretching the truth part of the time.
The Eastland was leaving the next day for a two-week cruise. They agreed to get together when Cobb returned.
Jimmy took the streetcar home to find a frantic Danni, her auburn curls escaping from the pins that held them back.
“You didn’t forget we’re having the Kramers and the Robertses over to dinner tonight, did you?”
Jimmy had forgotten, and Danni could read him like a book. As he looked at her frowning face, he grinned. “What can I do to help?”
He spent the rest of the afternoon picking up last-minute items for the dinner and helping Danni with cleaning. As he worked, he thought of the afternoon with Cobb. Should he tell Danni about it?
“Jimmy”—Danni touched his arm—“I have something to tell you. I want you to be one of the first to know.”
“What is it?” She’d probably bought something new for the house. She knew she could count on him to praise anything she did around the place.
“Brother, you’re going to be an uncle.”
Jimmy’s mouth fell open and he laughed in delight. He knew his sister had longed for a child. He gave her a gentle hug. “Danni, that’s wonderful news. When?”
“Around the first of October.” She beamed.
Jimmy felt a tug of emotion at the joy on her face. “You’ll be the best mother in the world.” And he’d definitely not tell her about Cobb.
“Are you going to services with Blake and me tomorrow,” she asked, “or to your friend Eddy’s church?”
Jimmy hesitated. And suddenly the adorable face flooded his memories. He’d attended a couple of services with Eddy but had only seen Cici from across the sanctuary. Perhaps that was for the best. He’d tried not to think about her. His future was too up in the air right now to get involved anyway. Maybe he should go with Danni and Blake. But he had promised Rev. Willow he’d be there for the monthly church dinner. “Uh. . .no, I. . .sort of committed to go to Eddy’s church tomorrow.”
❧
“Is he here?” Cici whispered to Helen. She wasn’t about to turn and look, but she was dying to know if Jimmy was here. It had been five weeks since his first visit and he’d only been back twice. But her father had invited Jimmy to the church dinner after today’s service and he had promised to come.
“He’s coming in now, with Eddy,” Helen whispered. “Oh. They sat down two rows behind us.”
“Well, turn around. Don’t let him see you looking,” Cici whispered fiercely. It wouldn’t do to let him think she was watching for him.
Helen giggled and Cici swatted her arm. She didn’t know why she was so attracted to Jimmy. He wasn’t all that special. Well, he did have those gorgeous big brown eyes. But there was something about him that had caught her attention from the beginning.
She forced herself not to turn around but to focus on her father who was taking his place on the platform. Papa looked quite handsome today, she thought. His dark blue suit was perfectly pressed and his mustache waxed to perfection. He was starting to turn gray at the temples, but Cici thought that made him look very distinguished. She felt a little knot of pride for her father as he smiled and opened his Bible.
She tried to focus on the sermon, but she was too aware of Jimmy two rows behind her. Determined not to let her mind dwell on the handsome young man or the tantalizing kiss he had planted on her hand, she steered her thoughts to her new friend, Gail. Cici had called her a few days before and they’d agreed to meet a week from Tuesday for lunch. She wondered if she dared take the tube of lipstick she’d purchased and hidden in a bureau drawer in a pair of rolled-up stockings. She could apply it after she got on the streetcar. She pushed aside the twinge of guilt and forced herself to listen to her father’s sermon. But her thoughts wandered again and again until the congregation stood for a final hymn and then her father closed in prayer.
Picking up her Bible, Cici stepped into the aisle. She and Helen headed for the basement to help set the tables and get the food ready to serve. She used to love church dinners, but for the past couple of years she’d found them boring. Today, however, she felt an excitement she hadn’t felt about a church event in a long time.
She’d just served Mr. Gladstone a double portion of mashed potatoes, when out of the corner of her eye she observed Jimmy and Eddy walk in. When they came through the line, she found her hands were trembling.
Jimmy stopped in front of her. “Hi, Cici.”
“Oh. Hello, Jimmy. It’s nice to see you again.” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as nervous to him as it did to her own ears.
“It’s very nice to see you again, too.”
Hmm. He sounded nervous, too. And something else. Was it possible he’d lost interest? Or had she only thought he was interested? Perhaps she should be aloof. It wouldn’t do for him to think she cared if he didn’t.
“Hi, Helen, Cici. Would you girls join us for lunch?” Eddy asked with a grin.
Helen smiled and nodded. “Thank you. That would be lovely. We’ll just be a few more minutes.”
Jimmy’s eyes found Cici’s. He smiled but still had that nervous look on his face. “Is that all right with you, Miss Willow?”
“Yes, I suppose so.” She and Helen finished serving then filled their own plates and joined Jimmy and Eddy. She was glad to find that after a few moments with Jimmy, her nervousness disappeared. He seemed to relax also.
After a while, Eddy and Helen wandered off. Cici grew suddenly tongue-tied and groped around for something to say. “What do you think of our little church?”
