“And what do you think Oscar is doing?” Lil said. “Trying to talk these lovely ladies into making a motion picture?”
Ezekiel placed a hand over his vest pocket, protecting his wallet. “And raising funds for your next film, I’m sure.”
Micheaux laughed. “Doesn’t everyone want to be in the movies?” Oscar put an arm around Honoree’s shoulders and squeezed. “Especially this beautiful young girl.”
“Now, don’t you get too attached to my friend,” Ezekiel said with a slightly jealous tone. “She and I are old acquaintances who’ve only gotten reacquainted recently—and I would hate to lose her to showbiz fame. But her talent is worthy of the big screen.” He turned and, in the most gentlemanly way possible, took Honoree’s hand and stared romantically into her eyes. “I should tell you the story of how we met. It would make for a great love story in one of your motion pictures.”
Honoree gasped—a love story. “He’s teasing, of course.”
Seeing her dismay, he laughed out loud. “Never.”
Oscar’s arm fell quickly from her shoulders as if caught messing with another man’s wife. He cleared his throat. “Tell it. I love a good love story.”
Ezekiel scratched his forehead, apparently figuring out what kind of story he should tell.
Honoree’s nervous laughter filled the lull. “Our story would make a lousy motion picture.”
Ezekiel muttered a passionate disagreement. “I’m not so sure about that, Honoree.” The arched eyebrow was meant for her. “We were children, and her mother and father—”
“These good people do not want to be bored with that old story.” Honoree’s voice was light and playful, but that had nothing to do with her jumbled insides. Lil and her friends didn’t need to know her family had worked as servants in the Bailey home.
“Excuse me. I need another minute of your time, Ezekiel.” She smiled at Oscar and Lil. “A friend of the family asked me to deliver a message if I ran into him, and I’ve run into him. If you would excuse us.”
* * *
Honoree led Ezekiel toward the buffet table, thanking the Lord he hadn’t resisted, but then that changed.
“Don’t manhandle me, Honoree. I’m not that kind of fella,” he said, smirking.
“I couldn’t have you embarrassing me. I don’t want Lil to know my parents worked for you. Or that I used to wash and iron your clothes.”
“Honoree, I only intended to tell them we were friends and played together when we were children. Why do you have such little faith in me?”
“My days of putting my faith in you are gone.” She said this without the usual sting in her heart. “I’m trying to make friends with these people. They can help me with my career. Unless you mess it up.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not here to mess up anything for you.” He lowered his voice. “The fact is these people are my customers.”
“You came to Lil’s party to take bets?”
“No, Honoree.” The dimple in his cheek deepened. “I don’t run numbers. I operate a policy wheel, but I also own an auto body shop. You were there, remember?” The teasing grin on his lips was annoying. “And since I can’t be trusted, I’ll also tell you that my brother and I worked on one of Louis’s new automobiles, which I dropped off a few minutes ago.”
“Oh.” It was all she could think of to say. She snapped open her purse, removed a cigarette from her pack of Marlboros, and waved it in his face. “Can you light this, please?”
He fought a smile as he pulled a box of matches from his pocket and lit her cigarette and then his own. A smoke ring rose between them, and for a moment that didn’t feel too awkward, they stared into each other’s eyes. She saw humor and affection in his gaze, but she wondered what he saw. Should she ask, or let the moment pass?
She inhaled the cigarette smoke deep into her lungs. “I think we should get back to the party,” she finally said.
“No, I thinkyoushould. You’ve got Lil and Oscar under your spell; why don’t I leave you to work your magic?”
Honoree tugged on his sleeve. “You’re right. She’s the bee’s knees.” She snuffed out her cigarette in an ashtray on the buffet and led the way back to Lil and her friends.
“Would you like a drink?”
Honoree whirled toward the voice behind her. Oscar Micheaux was holding a coupe of champagne. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all, Oscar,” Ezekiel said. “Sorry to monopolize this young lady’s time. Old friends and all, you understand—”
“No worries. I was keeping an eye on you, wanted to make sure you didn’t sneak off,” Oscar said.
