The Improbable Read online

  “Yeah that’s it,” Timmy nodded. “Thanks man.”

  “It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Finley.” Nicholas cocked his head at me.

  “Likewise,” I nodded. “Get Chris, let’s go.” I hissed at Timmy on my way out.

  “What was with the temper, my man?” Timmy asked once all three of us were in the hallway. “I thought you wanted to make some connections!”

  “You didn’t tell me he was a queer and he scammed me!” I whispered as loud as I could.

  “He’s not a queer, Nicholas just swings whichever way feels right at the moment.” Timmy defended. “But it was funny to see him hit on you.” He laughed.

  I laughed and shoved him. “Well now I know for sure that he’s who I need to look more into.”

  Timmy nodded and held up his hand. “High five, good thinking, brother.” He looked over at Chris. “Are you okay?”

  “I feel fucking amazing,” Chris nodded, his eyes low.

  “Like I said, lay off of the liquor.” Timmy reminded him. “Now let’s go enjoy this party boys. Besides, I know Eva’s here tonight, that should really loosen you up.” He nudged me and chuckled.

  I couldn’t deny that, now that she and I were on good terms I wanted to show her what a kind gentleman I could be. She sounded like the absolute most perfect way to enjoy the night.

  11. The Ball

  Mama shut and locked the door to the powder room and quickly began smoothing down my edges and loose pieces of hair. She straightened up my strapless gown and made sure the black satin gloves that sheathed my hands and forearms were pulled up as high as they could go. I wanted to sock her in the face and go home.

  “I don’t mean to be so forceful, baby, I just want you to look your best when you meet Ray’s folks. Though, I can’t understand why you wore black; we wanna give off the impression of bride not doom, darlin’.” She reminded me.

  I assessed my dress in the mirror; it was a black, form-fitting gown that flared out below the knees and was embellished with a gold jewel pattern across the bust. The dark color of the dress favored my deep plum-colored lipstick. “It’s Dubois, no one detests Dubois.” I responded in a flat tone.

  My mother placed her hands on her hips and exhaled loudly, irritated.

  I shrugged and eyed her in the mirror. “I don’t want to meet them anyways.”

  Mama grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, looking me dead in the eyes. “Oh Eva, don’t make me always remind you why it’s important that you do this.” She pleaded.

  I looked her dead in the eye, seething. “I’ll tell you why it’s important to you. It’s because you sold me out.” I snorted. “Some mother you are.”

  A shocked expression took over her face.

  Without another word I grabbed my clutch and exited the powder room. She didn’t deserve an explanation.

  “Ladies, there you are.” Ray rose from a bench on the wall. He walked over and linked his arm with mine. “My parents are waiting.”

  I wanted badly to twist out of his arm and go in the opposite direction, but with the New Members’ Ball in full effect, I wouldn’t have made it far in the crowd.

  “Smile, you’re lookin’ quite uncomfortable darlin’.” My mother whispered in my ear.

  I slapped an awkward smile on my face and figured it’d have to do; there was no masking when I was upset.

  Ray pulled me closer and leaned down to my ear. “Behave yourself, Eva-Marie.”

  I shot him a burning glare but had no time for a feisty comeback. Smiling politely, I reached my hand out to introduce myself to his parents. “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, it’s so nice to meet you both.”

  “God, she’s beautiful Ray. Turn around, let me see you girl!” Mrs. Jackson hugged me and then held me out at arm’s length.

  Flattered, I twirled around for her to see my dress.

  “You know how to pick them, son.” Mr. Jackson patted his son’s back, speaking as if Ray had just bought an item from the super market.

  “Jackson family, good to see you here!” My father’s voice joined in. He stepped forward, giving my mother a kiss and shaking the hands of the Jackson family.

  “Percy, lovely daughter you have here.” Mr. Jackson said approvingly.

  “Thank you,” I spoke up at the same time as my father. We looked at each other and I smiled tightly. He pulled me in and kissed my forehead.

  “She is a phenomenal young lady.” Daddy added, squeezing my shoulder.

  “That she is,” Mrs. Jackson chimed in. “Ray I’d love to see a wedding with this one, and soon.”

  “I sure am working on it Mama.” Ray said taking a sip of his liquor and looking at me.

  Mrs. Jackson leaned closer to me. “He’s not getting any younger, dearie.”

  I giggled nervously. “Would you please excuse me?” It was one thing to have all of them in my face as if I was an animal at the zoo, but the wedding talk would’ve surely sent me into a nervous breakdown. I grabbed a glass of wine and finished it quickly.

  “She’s a little hard to tame.” I heard Ray mumble as I walked away.

  I shook my head, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.

  “Look. At. You!” My southern belle of a best friend squealed when I approached my circle of friends.

  “No look at you all, everyone looks amazing!” I exclaimed, greeting them with hugs and kisses.

  “That dress is absolutely to die for!” Yvonne said as she felt on my gown.

  “Let’s see the shoes!” Sarah insisted eagerly.

  I lifted my dress just enough for them to catch sight of my gold pumps, grinning because I knew they’d all loved them when we saw them in the store a few weeks back.

  “Good Lord woman! I’d die to trade looks right now, mine was so last minute.” Rita pouted.

  I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Oh please Rita, you look gorgeous.”

  “Plus she needs hers to impress Mr. Right.” Yvonne said, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

  “What’re you talking about?” I furrowed my eyebrows.

  “We all know about Mr. Finley, Eva! You guys were so close the night of the field party.” Sarah laughed. “But he hasn’t been spotted around tonight.”

  “He’s here?” I asked, excited. If he looked heavenly in everyday clothes, I couldn’t have imagined what he looked like all dressed up!

  “Yes honey,” Yvonne purred.

  “But what I did spot was you with Ray over there.” Kate eyed me with her hands on her hips. “Remember who you came to impress.”

  “Oh Kate, I didn’t come to impress anyone, I didn’t even know he’d be here.” I laughed lightly and rolled my eyes. I reached for another drink before explaining to the girls why I was with Ray and meeting his parents.

  “Marriage?” Yvonne questioned in a disgusted tone.

  “Why so soon?” Sarah looked concerned.

  “Especially if you don’t even like him.” Rita shook her head.

  I snorted, throwing back the rest of my drink. “It’s an extremely complicated situation.” I reached for another glass. “Most of me is waiting for him to get the hint that I’m not the least bit interested. But another part of me knows–” I stopped when I realized they had traded listening for gawking at something behind me. I furrowed my eyebrows and whirled around to see who or what they were staring at. Oh.

  It was as if he attracted my eyes immediately like magnets attracted metals – my eyes had no choice but to land on him! There, closing in on his last steps towards our group, was the gorgeous David Finley. My heartbeat quickened and nervous heat prickled at my underarms. It felt as if my mouth had gone dry and I surely had lost all train of thought. I mean, good Lord he looked devilishly handsome! He donned a perfectly tailored, all black suit completed with a black satin bow tie and his hair was slicked back with his facial hair more tame than any other time I’d seen him. My mouth had dropped open slightly yet I couldn’t find it in myself to close it.

  Once he reached
me, he lightly placed his hand on the small of my back and leaned to my ear. “I’d slow down on the drinks, remember what happened at the boat party?” He squeezed my hip and chuckled in my ear.

  Oh good heavens, the feeling of his breath tickling my ear was enough to make me lose it right then and there! However, I kept my composure. “Mr. Finley, it’s a pleasure seeing you here.”

  “Please, call me David.” He smiled. “And I must say there is absolutely no greater pleasure than seeing you in this lovely gown this evening.” He bent down to plant a gentle kiss on the back of my free hand.

  My breath caught; I felt as if I was going to faint. I smiled in attempt to cover up how badly he was getting to me. Was it possible for a virgin to be so turned on?

  “There you are lover-boy, I found him Chris!” Timmy’s voice broke into my budding fantasy. He broke through my circle of friends to get to Kate. “I missed you so much, baby.” He kissed her multiple times.

  I watched with envy as they went back and forth on who missed who more than the other.

  “Good evening ladies, you already know our friend David.” Chris said when he entered the circle.

  “We sure do, Eva definitely wasn’t exaggerating when she told us how handsome you are, David.” Yvonne gushed. I hadn’t said that but I knew what she was doing.

  “Is that what she said?” David raised his eyebrows and eyed me. “So you think I’m handsome?” He asked in my ear.

  I nervously fixed an imaginary flaw in my hair and avoided his intense eye contact. “Very,” I mumbled, embarrassed.

  He chuckled. “Ah you already know how I feel about your beauty, such a sight for sore eyes.”

  The compliment coming from anyone else would have gone in one ear and out the other; however, coming from David made me feel like the most beautiful and sensual being on the planet! David grabbed hold of a champagne flute filled with water from a suited server and swiftly replaced the drink in my hand with the water. Before I could protest, he drank the remains of my drink and handed the empty glass to the server and looked anywhere but at me with a goofy grin on his face, covering his mouth and pretending to listen to what my friends were saying.

  “You’re insane!” I hissed but I couldn’t help but smile.

  “So David, tell us about yourself, we didn’t get to talk to you much the last time.” Rita chirped up.

  “I’m twenty-four and I attend law school.” He said simply.

  “Oh tell us about how you met Eva!” Yvonne suggested eagerly. “I didn’t make it to the field party to hear it! She wouldn’t give me anything.”

  “Can we please not relive that horrendous story?” I pleaded, covering my face with my hand.

  “You already know he saved her,” Kate said. “Mr. Knight in Shining Armor!” She nudged David’s shoulder.

  “That’s my man!” Timmy hollered with pride.

  “I just love to hear the story, it’s like a fairytale.” Sarah said with stars in her eyes.

  “Can we please not?” I whined.

  “Oh come on Eva, it’s nothing to be ashamed of!” Yvonne tried to comfort me.

  David laughed lightly. “So this is how the story goes…” He began.

  I kept my hand over my face, embarrassed by the story of my stupidity.

  “At an amazing party, thrown by my best friend’s girlfriend, there was this girl. This girl was so out-of-this-world-beautiful that one look in her eyes made me feel like I would do anything humanly possible that she asked of me, I mean her eyes were simply hypnotic.” He paused for dramatic effect. “She decided to go for a midnight swim and even though she didn’t ask me to join, I’m the one who was crazy enough to do so…the end.” He finished.

  I uncovered my eyes to see David gazing at me with a warm smile.

  “Oh we want the real version!” Yvonne complained.

  “Thanks for sparing me the embarrassment,” I mumbled to David.

  “He is a gentleman that does not kiss and tell, ladies!” Chris defended his best friend.

  All of a sudden I felt a strong hand grab hold of my elbow and spin me around. Ray, of course. “There you are, dammit Eva-Marie you can’t just keep disappearing!”

  I swallowed my hateful words and avoided eye contact with him. As much as I hated him, I didn’t want to make him too upset. “I’m sorry.”

  He assessed my group of friends and let his gaze linger on David. “Oh, you again.” He put his hands on his hips. “What is it you want from her? I mean I know you saved her life but come on!”

  David chuckled and shook his head.

  “By the way I’m sure Percy would love to know you’re here.” Ray challenged.

  My eyes widened. “No! No he wouldn’t.” Remembering the fury in my father’s eyes when he had discovered David with me the day after the party gave me chills. I didn’t want to be responsible for putting David through that again.

  Ray was persistent. “Oh don’t be silly Eva-Marie.” He began leading me toward my family. “Come on David, I mean this must be what you want, correct? An apology from Percy for the misunderstanding, am I wrong?”

  I yanked down on Ray’s arm and planted my feet, feeling awfully protective over David. “I. Said. No.”

  David intervened coolly, keeping eye contact with Ray. He took a gulp of his wine. “Lead the way.”

  My heart sank; I couldn’t tell if I was entirely smitten by the fact that David hadn’t backed down to Ray or if I was terrified of how my father would react. I looked back at my friends who appeared just as surprised as myself, knowing what a hard ass my father was.

  I followed behind Ray, wanting to melt and disappear into the ground with every step. David looked at ease…or more so in control when I glanced over my shoulder at him. He shot me a quick smile that even in that situation put a smile on my face. What was it about this man?

  “Excuse me for a moment mother,” Ray interrupted Mrs. Jackson’s conversation with my father. “Percy, I –” He began before David swiftly stepped forward and held out his hand.

  “Mr. Percy Hutchinson, I’m David Finley.” David shook my father’s hand.

  Daddy’s eyebrows furrowed as he assessed David’s face. It was clear when he registered David’s face and who he was; his expression was cold. “Hello son, what’s going on? I thought I told you I didn’t want you around my little girl anymore.”

  “That’s exactly what I came over to discuss Percy. See –” Ray tried to squeeze in between David and my father but David wouldn’t budge.

  “Yes I remember Mr. Hutchinson, but I think it may have been possible that we started off on the wrong foot. The morning that you found Eva-Marie and I was strictly the result of me trying to keep her safe throughout the night and nothing more, I couldn’t drive as I had been drinking myself. I would never even dream of violating her or any other female in that way. And if I did…I’d give you full permission to do away with me, sir.” David explained genuinely. He was so in control of the situation and executed his explanation with such perfection that it was possible he could’ve gotten away with murder! I was beyond impressed.

  I watched, along with everyone else in our circle, as I waited for Daddy’s reaction. To everyone’s surprise, he burst out with laughter! Who would’ve thought he’d laugh in David’s presence considering their last encounter!

  “David, all I’ve got to say is that any grown man who would give a father permission to off him for even thinking about his daughter in the wrong way…deserves my full apologies.” This time my father held out his hand to David with a warm smile.

  I breathed, not realizing I had been holding my breath the whole time, nervous for the outcome.

  “Oh that’s terrific!” Mrs. Jackson clapped with a smile, influencing my parents and myself to do so as well. Ray shook his head with disbelief.

  David held his hands up. “I wasn’t seeking any apologies, sir, just wanting to clear up any confusion.”

  “Well thank you David, it is very much appreciated.�
� Daddy raised his glass to David and took a swig. “And I would like to thank you for saving my baby’s life.”

  “Welcome to Chicago’s Prestigious City Club’s New Members Ball of 1950! Would you please be seated for the welcoming speech?” A voice announced over the microphone.

  “It was nice meeting you son,” Daddy nodded at David before leading Mama to the table. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson followed close behind them.

  “Come on dear, let’s go get ourselves seated.” Ray placed his hand on my lower back and began guiding me toward my parents’ table.

  I looked over my shoulder at David, who was watching me with those forever-intense blue eyes, and smiled. “It was nice seeing you, David.”

  “You as well Eva-Marie.” He gave me a half-smile.

  “This guy,” Ray mumbled with irritation.

  I giggled at him being bothered by David, whom I was clearly more interested in.

  “Well isn’t he such a sweetheart!” Mama gushed with fake enthusiasm.

  “He sure is, and he’s in law school Mama.” I boasted.

  “Law school? Huh, maybe I could teach him a few things.” Ray snickered.

  “Well he certainly didn’t need your help explaining himself to Daddy, what makes you think he’ll need your help with law school, darlin’?” I teased; rubbing it in Ray’s face that David could handle himself quite well.

  “Mary, I agree with you he is a nice young man.” Ray spoke a tad louder so the whole table could hear. “However, I don’t think it’s appropriate for Eva to be around such a flirtatious man when she’s unmistakably taken. What’s a rich white man got to do with a young negro girl anyhow? Now don’t get me wrong, who wouldn’t want to be with her? She’s beautiful but it is quite odd, his interest in her.” He paused to arrogantly sip at his liquor. “Unless he’s looking for a tramp to fool around with.”

  Mrs. Jackson and my mother’s eyes enlarged at his foul language. I was furious at the fact that he still somehow managed to turn the situation against David! However, there was a small part of me that did wonder why in the world David was hung up on me of all people…did he really just see me as a sexual object and nothing more? My spirits slowly descended from the high they’d been on as I leaned back in my seat, fuming while glaring at the back of Ray’s head. Daddy seemed to be pondering what Ray said.