Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie (5 page)

  “Please make yourself comfortable. There’re drinks in the fridge. Help yourself to anything you like,” Henry offered. “I’ll be quick because I know it’s been a long day for you.”

  “Thank you. I can wait until you’re done, you don’t have to rush.” Millie took a seat on the sofa and opened her bag. “I can do some reading.”

  Henry went into the bedroom closing the door behind him. He went to his closet and retrieved his moneybox. He smiled noticing that Millie had put everything back precisely how she’d found it. Reaching inside, he counted out some bills before replacing the box.

  Grabbing a towel, he exited the bedroom then walked across the little hall to the bathroom. Henry paused as he spotted Millie on the sofa with her head in her book.

******

  Millie heard the bathroom door close then released the breath that she’d been holding. She’d heard Henry stop in the hall and kept her eyes glued on her book. Being here with him alone in his apartment had all kinds of thoughts going through her head that had nothing to do with the nursing manual she was studying.

  She heard the shower running and imagined him naked underneath the running water. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on something other than Henry Patterson. Being in a room surrounded by his things and his scent didn’t help in any way.

  Five minutes later she heard the bathroom door open and against her better judgement turned to look in that direction. Her eyes met his then slowly traveled down a naked brown, muscled chest and abdomen to a white towel and then strong brown legs. The journey back up was just as slow.

Henry pointed at his bedroom. “I’m just going to get dressed now. Do you need anything?”

  Unable to speak, Millie just shook her head. Henry smiled and disappeared into the other room as Millie came to her senses. Standing, she went to the kitchen. A drink of something cold was what she needed right now. Opening his refrigerator, she was once again impressed. Henry’s icebox was stocked with food.

  Reaching inside, Millie retrieved a bottle of Vernors…Detroit’s version of ginger ale. She opened the bottle with the bottle opener made into the wall and disposed of the cap in the trash before walking back to the sofa and slowly sipping her drink while she waited.

  Thirty minutes later, Millie became concerned as Henry had not reappeared. She walked to his bedroom door and called his name. When she got no response, she called again.

  “Henry? Are you okay?” she questioned.

  When she again received no response, she turned the knob and opened the door. What she saw caused her to freeze in the doorway and put a hand to her open mouth.

  Millie walked over and looked down at the sleeping man on the bed. He still had the white towel wrapped around his waist and even in repose, Millie detected a very nice print underneath the fabric. She let her eyes have their fill of him as he laid sprawled out on his back.

  Poor baby, she thought. He probably hadn’t slept a wink in the last three days. Millie turned quietly and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Walking back into the living room, she figured that he probably hadn’t eaten well either. With a shrug, she went to his kitchen and began retrieving items from the cabinets and fridge.

Chapter 5

  Henry awakened to the most delicious smelling food he’d smelled in a long time. It transported him back to Mississippi when he’d awaken to his Big Momma’s cooking. Rubbing a hand down his face, he tried to clear his head.

  Sitting up quickly he glanced over at the clock on the nightstand that read 9 pm. “Damn, Millie!”  Henry jumped from the bed and dressed in record speed, running out of the bedroom he rushed to the living room where Millie was watching the black and white screen on the television.

She looked up with a smile. “Hey sleepy head.”

  “I’m so sorry…” he began.

  Millie got to her feet and walked over to him. “It’s okay Henry. You probably haven’t slept well in that jail cell.” She took his hand. “I figured you didn’t eat well either, so I made you some food.”

He looked down at her. “You didn’t have to do that Miss Millie.”

  “Okay, you just call me Millie and we’re all even.”

Henry brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it softly. “Thank you Millie.”

  She smiled and led him into the kitchen. “It smells so good in here. Reminds me of home,” Henry told her. “I didn’t know that city girls could burn in the kitchen.”

  Millie stood by the stove while Henry got the plates from the cabinet. “I didn’t know that country boys were so charming.”

He turned and gave her a grin. “You think I’m charming?”

  “You’re the only country boy that I know.” She took the plate he handed to her then turned to the pots on the stove.

Henry stepped up behind her. “You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen Millie.”

  She felt his words against her temple as he whispered them to her from behind her back. Millie lowered her head and held back a smile. “Thank you Henry.” She turned to face him. “I hope you like the food.”

Their eyes met and held. “I’ve learned that there is nothing that Honey doesn’t do well.”

Millie turned and filled a plate with the food she’d made. Henry waited patiently until she was done then followed her to the small dining table to hold her chair out. When she was seated, he moved back to the kitchen to make his own plate, which was substantially larger than hers. He took the seat across from her and she stared at his food.

  “You must really be hungry,” she commented.

Henry shook his head. “I just like to eat.”

From his fully stocked kitchen, Millie could see that was true. “You cook too?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I cook.”

  Millie sat across from him as they watched one another. Henry gave a quick blessing of the food then they sat for an extended time before she looked at his plate. “I thought you wanted to eat.”

  “I’m waiting for you Miss…” he caught himself. “Millie.”

She laughed. “I didn’t know. Let’s eat then.” Millie dug into her food before Henry followed suit.

  They settled comfortably into the meal and Henry thought he’d died and gone to heaven from the perfectly prepared baked chicken and vegetables.

  “This is really good Millie,” he told her between bites.

  Millie grinned. “We’ll see if you say the same thing when you haven’t been eating jail food for three days.”

Henry laughed. “I’m sure my opinion will remain the same.”

  Millie paused at his southern drawl and the way his words held the long ‘a’ sound. “I really like your accent.” She gave him a sexy smile.

  Henry paused then sat his fork to the side holding her gaze. “Millie, I had planned to ask you out on a date when I saw you next week but now with all that I have going on, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. It wouldn’t be right.”

Millie dropped her own utensil. “I’m not going anywhere Henry.”

  “But there’s a strong possibility that I might be.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. You were standing up for yourself!”

  “They may not see it that way Millie,” he told her.

  Millie stood to her feet and walked away from the table then Henry followed and stood quietly behind her.

  “Okay, let’s just see what happens when you talk to an attorney,” she said quietly.

  “I want to be honest with you,” Henry told her. “Because I’m an honest man.”

She turned to him. “I believe that Henry.”

He lifted her chin to his face. “When this is over, I’m going to court you Millie.”

  “Are you asking for my permission?” she asked staring up at him.

  “No ma’am.” He lowered his face to hers. “Do I need to?”

Millie smiled. “No sir.”

Henry pulled her closer against his body. “It’s late and I need to take you home. I’ve had you out all day.”

She wound her arms around her neck. “Yes, it’s late.”

Their eyes locked. “You told the officer you were my wife,” he said softly.

  “I signed the paper as Mrs. Henry Patterson.”

Henry smiled.  “What am I going to do with you Millie?”

  “I want to find out…”

Henry kissed her forehead. “I need to take you home now.”

  “Let me help you clean up,” Millie said as he released her.

  “I’ve got it. You can get your things together while I get ready.”

  Millie agreed then went to gather her books while Henry finished dressing. He came out of the room then grabbed his keys. Walking over to Millie, he placed a number of bills into her hand.

She looked down in confusion at the money. “Henry, what is this?”

  “It’s for you,” he answered. “For running all around town on the buses for me today.”

  “I don’t want your money Henry,” Millie protested.

Henry shrugged as he opened the door for her. “Then donate it to your team.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

He took her hand. “And you didn’t have to help me.”

Millie looked at the money again. “I helped because you needed it.”

  “Take the money Millie.” He looked down at her. “Buy yourself something real pretty to wear for our date.”

Millie felt butterflies in her stomach. “Okay Henry,” she finally conceded. “I’m going to be the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen.”

  “I’ve told you Millie…you already are.”

******

  Henry’s first night at home was a peaceful one where he dreamed of honey toned skin and pretty eyes. As badly as he’d wanted to kiss Millie, he knew he had to wait until he could court her properly. She deserved a man who was going to be a protector and provider, and he couldn’t be either behind bars.

  First thing this morning, he was going to see a lawyer. He had to know where he stood in this whole situation. Henry still couldn’t believe how Millie had come to his rescue. She had come and done everything he’d asked of her…and more.

  He heard his phone ringing and climbed out of bed to go into the other room to answer. In his underwear and T-Shirt, he grabbed the receiver.

  “Hello?”

  “May I speak to Henry Patterson?”

He frowned. “This is Henry.”

  “Henry this is Mary Jenkins at the Ford Plant. We would like for you to come in this afternoon about your employment here.”

Henry sighed. “What time?”

  “If you could be here at two please.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Henry replaced the receiver and stared at the phone. He hoped this was good news but it didn’t sound that way. He’d just have to find out when he got there. The phone rang again startling him.

  “Hello?” he answered.

  “Hi Henry,” Millie’s voice came through the line.

Henry smiled. “Good morning Millie.”

  “I tried to call a few minutes ago but your line was busy,” she told him.

  “My job called. They want me to come in today to talk.”

  “Is that good?” Millie asked.

Henry blew out a breath. “I’ll find out when I get there.”

Millie was quiet for a moment. “Did you get some sleep?”

  “Yes, I did.” He answered. “Are you on your way to school?”

  “Yes, but I wanted to talk to you before I left and I have practice tonight so I won’t be home until late,” she explained.

  “I’m glad you called,” he told her.

She laughed. “I just like to hear your accent.”

  “I know.” He teased her. “Can I talk to you tonight when you get home?”

  “Do you want me to call?” she inquired.

  “Yes, ma’am, I sure do.”

Millie felt those familiar butterflies. “Then I will talk to you later.”

  “Have a good day at school,” Henry said remembering her presence in his apartment.

  “I hope things go well at your job and with the lawyer today.”

He nodded. “Me too, but I’ll let you know.”

  Henry ended the call with Millie and began his day. He drove to the Legal Aid office and spoke to an attorney who took all of his information then said he was going to check into things and get back to him within a day or two. He also gave him some advice for his meeting at his job later.

  His next stop was at the Ford plant. Upon arrival, he was shown inside to the offices and seated in a conference room alone. Henry had never been in this part of the building and took a moment to look around before he was joined by several men, none of whom looked like him. He watched as they filled the empty seats across from him.

  “Mr. Patterson, thank you for coming in. We understand you made bail yesterday.”

Henry nodded appropriately.

  “Well, Mr. Patterson, we have checked into the situation and we’ve come to the following conclusions…We verified that it was not your error that created the faulty parts, in addition we understand that Mr. Schmidt initiated the physical contact between the two of you. Therefore, you still have your employment here, as you are an exemplary employee and we would hate to lose you. Everyone on the line has vouched for you and has had nothing but good things to say about you.”

  “Scott Schmidt has been moved to another part of the facility and has agreed to drop all charges against you pertaining to the incident and he is not to come into contact with you on the premises.”

“And one last thing, you will be suspended for two days without pay for your actions.”

They pushed a paper towards him. “We just need you to sign the paperwork.”

Henry sat listening quietly. “Was Mr. Schmidt suspended also?” he asked.

The men looked at each other. “We can’t divulge the information of another employee.”

  Henry took that to mean no, so he pushed the paper back across the table. “I spoke with an attorney today so I think I need to consult with him again before I sign anything.”

The room became silent as Henry sat back.

  “Okay Mr. Patterson, what are you saying?” one man asked.

  “I’m saying that your foreman falsely accused me of making faulty parts then assaulted me. I spent three days in jail and had to spend two hundred dollars to get released.” He paused. “Yet, I’m supposed to agree to two day’s suspension without pay?”

  “I need to talk to my lawyer about that. Something about that just don’t seem right to me at all, now does it?” He told them watching their reactions. “He may have some other suggestions for me to recoup my losses.”

  The men all looked around again before another spoke. “Let’s settle this right now Mr. Patterson, there’s no need for lawyers.” With racial tensions peaked in the city, the last thing Ford wanted was a legal case played out in the media.

  “What do you say if we revoke the suspension and reimburse you for wages lost?” he offered.

Henry nodded slowly. “I’m thinking you’ve got my attention.”

  “What else Mr. Patterson?” the man asked. “We’ve removed Schmidt and gotten all charges dropped so you’re in the clear now.”

  “I want to make sure my record is clean,” Henry said placing a hand on the table.

  “It’s like it never happened,” another one assured him.

Henry nodded. “When I see that in writing, we’re all set.”

  The men all stood and left the room and thirty minutes later, a document had been prepared with all of Henry’s requests. He looked it over then agreed to bring back the signed copy when he returned to work in the morning. Henry wanted the lawyer to make sure there were no tricks included.

  After being assured that everything was on the up and up, Henry signed the document with his attorney and walked out of the Legal Aid office a man in the clear. All charges were dropped and he would receive his bail money back in a few days.

  Henry sat behind the wheel of his car and let out a long breath. He had never been so afraid in his life, not even in the murderous south but the thought of being locked away for something that didn’t have to happen was unthinkable, along with the thought of not being able to see Millie.

  One thing this whole incident had taught him was that life was too fragile and decisions made in a split second could change your life forever. It also gave him a glimpse of having a strong, determined woman by his side. He knew that Millie wouldn’t be pretending to be Mrs. Henry Patterson for too long.