The fury slowly left Bessie’s eyes. She lowered the stick but still cast an untrusting glance at Ezekiel. “You sure, Honoree?”
“I’m positive,” she said, taking short breaths to exhale her nerves. “And what are you doing out here, dressed like that? You’ll freeze to death.” Bessie was still wearing her costume, a pair of brightly colored bloomers, and a midriff top.
“Miss Dolly sent me to fetch you. The cook said you were out here—with him.” Bessie gave Ezekiel another dark look. “Those railroad workers want another show.”
“It’s three o’clock in the morning.”
“Don’t matter to Miss Dolly or Archie what time it is.”
Honoree took off Ezekiel’s peacoat and handed it to him. “I’d better go.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
“When?”
He had lowered his hands but remained behind her. “I’ll find you when I know something.”
Honoree nodded at Ezekiel and smiled, a weary, apologetic smile. Then she grabbed Bessie’s hand and dragged her back inside Miss Hattie’s Garden Cafe.
* * *
“Are you crazy, coming after Ezekiel like that?” Honoree dragged Bessie by the arm through the kitchen. “What was on your mind, girl?”
“I was afraid for you,” Bessie squealed. “Ezekiel could’ve hurt you with a snap of his fingers. He’s twice your size.”
“Ezekiel is twice everyone’s size but would never hurt me. Not that way.”
They rushed by the railroad workers and slammed the storage room door behind them, but Honoree didn’t move toward the stairwell. She had to collect her thoughts.
The room had a clean odor, sweet and sharp—fresh lemon and honey drowned the stench of beer and whiskey. A drink would calm Honoree’s nerves, but that was unlikely now. She released Bessie’s hand.
“What’s wrong?” Bessie touched her arm.
“Why you always pawing at me?”
“Why you getting mad? I didn’t hit Ezekiel. Didn’t touch him.”
Bessie eyed her with suspicion. “You carry a torch for Ezekiel? I mean, are you in love with him?”
“Why would you say something like that?”
“’Cause you ain’t mad at him,” she said. “When I saw you through that window—he was looking at you with a fire in his eyes, and I picked up a stick.” She considered her words. “If you missed that look, you must love him something awful.”
“What do you know about love?”
“Nothin’. I never loved nobody. Too much trouble to love a man. You told me that.”
Honoree laughed. “I told you something like that. I said I would never let a man hurt me more than once, but you might be right about love. It is too much trouble.”
“If I were gonna love somebody, it’d be you.”
“I never loved a woman that way and would rather lie with a man than a woman, anyhow.”
“I didn’t mean in bed together. More like sisters—”
Honoree started down the stairwell, not sure how she felt about Bessie’s admission. But her words had touched Honoree. Though she wouldn’t admit it out loud. “Sorry for snapping; been dining on upset and woe for a week.”
Bessie smiled. “I’m learning the things I worry about only matter when I worry about them. So I don’t worry about them.”
