The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (30 page)
“I’m sorry to hear that. I had the opportunity to meet her a couple of weeks ago. She came here. Danced beautifully and Took the place by storm. She’s one helluva dancer. Well, it was nice to meet you, William. Now that you know we’re here, don’t be a stranger. As for you, young lady, I could certainly use you over the next couple of weeks. I’ve got some business to take care of and will be out of town until the first of the month. If you could sort of hang around and keep an eye on things and look over the books until I get back, I’d appreciate it.”
“No problem, just call me and let me know when you’re leavin’, Uncle Jon.” Melinda said. Jazzy hugged her and was soon engulfed in the ever-growing crowd.
Melinda sighed, almost wishing she hadn’t introduced William. William, on the other hand, hadn’t even considered the fact that Sylvia was still in Fulton County. Knowing that she was, only tended to peak his curiosity. If she was still there, what the devil was she doing at Dante’s and with whom? A mutual friend of Jazzy’s? It had to be. Otherwise, how would he have come to meet her? Jazzy obviously knew something and, being that he was Melinda’s uncle, she could surely give him the 411 on Sill’s whereabouts. But then what? His lawyer had already advised him on the improbability of his recovering the money and it was comparatively inexpensive in comparison to the alimony he would be forced to pay. So, what was the use?
William shrugged and before he knew it, he found himself tapping his foot lightly, actually groovin’ right along with the saxophonist and the tiny brown songstress, crooning on stage. Melinda smiled a nervous smile, wondering if she’d lost everything she’d recently gained. William shot her a reassuring glance, then moved his chair next to hers in what Melinda thought, was an attempt to better see the stage.
Looking at William, Melinda considered the months she spent at the gym, the late nights spent at the office, filing, editing. For what? Had she really been trying to better herself or had she been trying to lure William. Now this. A mention of her name and all her efforts were in vain. It was then that she felt something under the table: William’s hand was gently massaging her thigh and moving upwards! She gasped. His eyes never left the bandstand though his hand had made plenty of progress as he now caressed her inner thigh making her sing a song all her own.
Oh my God! Oh, my God!
She grabbed her drink
with both hands while William parted her thighs and kissed away her tears of
jo
y.
Feeling his warm breath on her earlobe, she could only imagine what William had to say. Hand still caressing her inner thigh, she moved closer. How long she had waited. Ready to sing song
aloud,
Melinda was certain William was ready to leave when he whispered something to her. Kirk Whalum was wailin’ on his sax,
“Melinda, would you mind introducing me to Mr. Davis when you get a chance?” he asked her finally, surprisingly.
Melinda shoved William’s hand from her thigh, angrily. Business, always business. Fixing her hair and gown, she got up from the table and made her way to Mr. Davis’ table. The two hugged as old friends who haven’t seen each other in some time often do. Edwin introduced Melinda to the members in his party. Melinda waited a few minutes inquiring about the family before relaying William’s message. She returned to the table a few moments later. “Edwin knows more than you think, William, but he can be trusted so whatever it is, don’t worry. Just remember that. Don’t be arrogant, though. He despises that
In the meantime, I’m gonna take a look at Jazzy’s books and see what kind of shape they’re in. Let you men talk. Just remember to go slow and be easy. Don’t be pretentious.”
Presently, Edwin Davis made his way to William’s table. Half an hour later Melinda watched as the two men raised their glasses and made a toast. A deal of some sort of had been consummated and Melinda’s intuition told her that a major transaction was in the works.
William looked around for Melinda and eventually noticed her standing idly by the bar. He beckoned her, ordered another bottle of champagne, filled both glasses, then leaned over and kissed her gently. All of Melinda’s fears and trepidations faded with the kiss.
“If you have a mind to,” he said, “you may want to start looking for a two bedroom condominium. Something in the low 90’s that we can both be comfortable with. I’m seriously considering putting the Greenwich Hill house on the market sometime in the next couple of weeks with the help of Mr. Davis or should we keep it in the family and let your uncle have the commish?”
Staggered by the news, Melinda Bailey found herself speechless for the first time in her life. As much as she wanted to scream and tell him yes, yes, yes she could not utter a word. Only a few minutes ago, when Jazzy mentioned Sylvia, she wondered if she had lost him, again. Now, he was asking her to pick out a
home in which they would be comfortable. She figured there had to be more to it than that but tickled by the news she didn’t inquire further.
The William Stanton she thought she knew so well was chock full of surprises but she never expected this. Not wanting to appear too anxious or too easy, she chose her words carefully.
“Don’t you think it would be better if we waited, William, and looked together?” she inquired politely.
Mondays always arrived in the office of Hill and Morris with a gloomy vengeance and though not readily welcomed by most, Melinda’s cheery presence usually brightened even the gloomiest of her co-workers. For Melinda, the weekends were the time she dreaded the most. Home alone again she began to feel more and more like a Black female version of McCauley Culkin. She hated the fact that she was on a first name basis with the manager of Blockbuster’s and the idea that after weighing all of her weekend options, she found herself on aisle seven once again, trying to choose between Blockbuster’s new arrivals and the five movies for five nights special At least in the movie
Home Alone,
Macaulay had an intruder to occupy his time. She didn’t even have that. Oh, how she abhorred the weekends.
Every weekend, it seemed that the whole world was moving—doing something. And, of course, everyone had a mate. Everyone that is but her. How nice it would be, to be off somewhere, snuggled up with William. And it didn’t have to be in an exclusive hotel like the Marriott or the Hilton on some exotic beach in Tahiti or San Tropea. No, in all actuality a Motel 6 on the outskirts of town would suffice nicely right through here. The idea of her finding a place for them was nice but hey that had been a while ago and he hadn’t mentioned it since. And Lord knows her moods swings were in a frenzy teetering back and forth between horny and lonely. If she wasn’t one she could count on being the other.
If William had, time constraints, and he always did and he couldn’t spend as much time as she needed or wanted, then she guessed she’d just have to adjust. Hell, if she was nothing else, she was flexible. If he couldn’t spend the night because he was preoccupied with work and business and making a dollar, then fine. Better they didn’t go to Tahiti or San Tropea. If he couldn’t spend a weekend, then, a night would do. If he couldn’t spend a night then—. Oh hell, that’s what made Motel 6, Motel 6. It was one of the few motels that had hourly rates and hell an hour with William was a month of memories. She could at least use those memories to carry her through those next few lonely weekends and Lord knows her memories beat the 5 for 5 Blockbuster specials hands down. Now those dreams of spending quality time that she had coveted over the years, like so many Afghans in a spinster’s hope chest were fast becoming a reality. And she had to commend herself on playing her cards close to the vest.
Yet, she couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been. She had actually dissuaded him from spending time alone with her.
She tried to rationalize her mistake by remembering her mother’s advice when it came to sex and men.
“Why should they buy the cow, when they can get the milk free?” And then telling herself that she’d waited this long she might as well stick to her guns and let the whole scenario play out. After all, at this juncture in their relationship she still had virtually nothing more than a promise and good intentions. Therefore, she had nothing to lose. She believed him to be sincere and William had assured her that their union was inevitable but until she heard the words, ‘I do’, she would take nothing for granted and would remain alone on the weekends.
The waiting had become even more painstaking since they’d begun seeing each other and by the time Monday morning rolled around, she could hardly wait to get to the office to tackle the memos and files, which she knew awaited her.
Arriving earlier than usual, Melinda found the fax machine already purring. And after putting the coffee on, rearranging her desk and prioritizing her workload, she somehow found her way over to the fax and tore the long sheet off. Another memo from corporate, no doubt, probably suggesting they limit the use of toilet paper to cut down on rising costs. This would, in turn, heighten the chances of the clerical staff getting a cost of living raise in the upcoming fiscal year. Hell, Melinda thought aloud, if they just cut down on the number of ridiculous faxes, which in itself would be a start.
She put the fax on her desk and checked the coffee maker. She poured herself a cup and checked her watch. Five minutes to nine, William should be walking through the door momentarily. She then poured his coffee, added two spoonfuls of sugar and that horrible French Vanilla creamer he so adored. It was God-awful but he loved it and refused to drink his coffee without it. Putting the mug on his desk, she returned to her own and picked up the fax to see what those brainless twits in corporate had come up with now. But her thoughts retreated to Friday night at Jazzy’s and the way William had looked at her. Smiling now, she could almost feel William’s hand parting her thighs. She thought about her mother’s advice and wondered just how strong her convictions would have been of William had decided to grab her suddenly and take her back to his home or even the nearest hotel room.
She was still smiling and holding the fax when William burst into the office, looking almost as fine as he had on Friday night. Good God Almighty, she thought to herself! She couldn’t wait to get a hold of that man. Attempting to regain her composure, she dropped her head and mumbled, “Good morning, Mr. Stanton”.
“Mornin’, Melinda.” He was strictly business now and Melinda wondered if he was having the same problem she was having in trying to maintain proper office decorum after all the time they’d spent together lately. But William didn’t seem to be having any problem and seemed to barely notice her at all after taking the fax from her hand. He read it quickly and then placed it back on her desk. There was no mention of the weekend, no reference to her appearance, not even a thank you for his coffee which he always thanked her for before even entering his office. Had she done something to annoy him? She wondered. What?
“Melinda.”
“Yes, William?”
“Would you arrange my itinerary and get Terry Shannon on the phone for me. I think it’s a go,” he said the anxiety now obvious in his voice.
Melinda was shocked. “When? What, William?”
“Didn’t you read the fax? Morris has me scheduled to leave on Wednesday and I’m only to be there until Sunday, supposedly just to tie up any loose ends from the previous trip and to make sure that everything is being set up according to our specs and guidelines with no penny pinching by the crew that’s over there but you and I both know the skinny.”
Melinda placed her finger to her lips in an effort to shush him, summoned him close enough so only he could hear then whispered.
“Be careful William. You know Morris has his own division of Homeland Security and I wouldn’t be too surprised if he’s not sittin’, listenin’ to every word,” she whispered, slowly regaining her composure.
“Don’t worry. This is the last run through and everything’s gonna work out just fine. Trust me you’re gonna be happier than a pig in slop when this whole mess blows over. Now pick up the phone, Terry Shannon’s on line one. Better yet, I’m gonna disconnect him and you call him back on your cell. Apologize to him for me cuttin’ him off but I should have never called from this phone.”
William smiled, walked into his office, then turned, and stuck his head out of the door as he hung his suit jacket on the coat rack behind the door.
“Melinda?”
“Yes, William?”
“Did I mention how utterly desirable you look this morning?”
“No, you didn’t,” she said, smiling.
“And I didn’t thank you for my coffee either, did I?”
“No, you didn’t,” she repeated.
“I didn’t think so,” he said, grinning right along with her like a couple of teenaged pranksters. He then closed the door to his office picked up his coffee in one hand and his cell in the other and called Terry Shannon.
“Terry? William here. Looks like everything’s a go. Can’t really talk now but just keeping you posted.”
The usually tight-lipped D.E.A agent was elated about this latest turn of events and insisted, despite William objecting vehemently that he take William out to dinner sometime before William’s departure on Wednesday. That left only two days and William, still exhausted from the weekend, hardly wanted to sit in some crowded restaurant with the very bland and morose D.E.A agent when he could be wining and dining his very sexy, very voluptuous secretary who seemed to be getting better looking everyday. Yet, he agreed to meet him that night and get it over with once and for all. After all, they were finally coming to the finish line of what had become a very nerve wracking and grueling marathon between good and evil and, frankly, he was ready for the whole damn thing to be behind him once and for all.
“Do you know where Li’l Paisano’s is down on Mulberry and West 4
th
?” Shannon asked
William affirmed.
“How ‘bout we meet there. Say, about eight?”
“Eight o’clock is fine. I’ll see you then.”