“She’s not shy.” Lil smiled. “She’s in Mr. Buttons’s new vaudeville production.”
“When does this new act debut? When’s your opening night?” Oscar pinched her cheek. “I’ll make sure to be there.”
Honoree swallowed a shriek. Instead, she smiled daintily as the conversation continued. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Bessie near the phonograph standing next to a couple of young men as Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five recording with OKeh Records played.
There was a man seated next to her, his features hidden from Honoree’s view, who was holding Bessie’s attention. Honoree sensed something familiar about the man she could barely see in the tilt of his head and the breadth of his shoulders.
Then he stood, and Honoree reared back on her heels.
Ezekiel had Bessie giggling like a schoolgirl, only a few weeks after she tried to bash him in his head with a stick.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry,” she said to Lil and Oscar Micheaux. “I see an old friend.”
Honoree had not set eyes on him since the auto body shop. Walking toward him, she felt the nerves in her stomach tingle. “What are you doing here?” she said when she reached Ezekiel.
“Chatting with your housemate. She’s been catching me up on the happenings at Miss Hattie’s.”
“You’ve been away? I had no idea you’d left town—again.”
“Only for a few days,” Bessie said with a silly grin on her lips. “He went to Detroit to visit friends.”
“And how do you know his travel schedule?” Honoree asked, swallowing the unexpected gulp of jealousy in her throat.
“He just told me,” Bessie offered.
“Do you mind—I need to chat with Ezekiel.”
“Oh.” Bessie looked unsure of where to go. “I guess I could eat some more food from the buffet.”
As Bessie wandered off, Honoree turned to Ezekiel, only to discover disapproval in his arched brow.
“What did I do?” she asked.
“What’s your beef with Bessie? She’s a sweet girl who adores you.”
“So you forgave her for trying to clobber you with a stick?”
“She misunderstood what was happening between us.”
“And the next time she misunderstands, should I let her have a crack at you?” She took a breath. This was not a reason to walk across the room. “Let’s forget about Bessie for a moment. Have you talked to Mr. Buttons?”
“Yes, and you’re square with him.”
“Just like that? Are you sure? And with Archie?”
He nodded, and she exhaled, relieved.
“Thank you, Ezekiel.” She stepped in close to him. “Is that why you’re here? To give me the good news? You could’ve left me a message at Mr. Turner’s.”
“I’m here because it’s a party, and I like parties.” He beamed at her in a way she hated to like but did. “What are you doing here, Honoree?”
She was about to give Ezekiel an elaborate reply, but Oscar Micheaux was slapping him on the back and greeting him like a long-lost friend.
“Ezekiel! Where have you been?”
“Around. What are you doing here? I thought you were in Harlem.”
Then Lil arrived, and Ezekiel was kissing her on the cheek. “You look lovely, dear.”
