Page 64 of Meet Me on Greenwood

"Dementia? I haven’t heard of that. Is that what you call the softening of the brain up North?"

"Uh, yes. Do you think he’d want to see me?" she asked.

"He’s not really conscious, but it is—"

"Whites only," she finished.

I frowned, but nodded. "I’ll tell him you asked about him." She shook her head. "That’s okay. It’ll just confuse him."

"I wanted to let you know — I got a hold of the copper you needed. It'll be on the next train, a day or two at most."

Her face changed entirely. "Really?"

"Really." I paused. "I could bring it to you. Or—" I stopped. "Lettie misses you. You could come to the house."

She looked at me for a moment in that way she had, like she wanted to tell me something. But whatever it was, she didn't get the chance.

"Well, look who the cat dragged in," Perry said, rounding the corner. "What brings you here? You never come on Thursdays."

"I have a prior engagement tomorrow, so I thought I’d put in a shift today," I said smoothly.

"Well, I have to thank you for bringing Gema to me. She has been a huge help, especially with our patients with hysteria."

"I just talked to them," she said. "It’s been nice, actually. A good change of pace."

"It sounds like it’s helping," I offered.

It was quiet for a moment. Perry cleared his throat. "Gema, don’t you need to get to your dance lesson? Camille will kill me if you are late."

She looked at the clock. "It is a little early, but I guess it couldn’t hurt. I’ll call Rita, and let her know I’m ready."

"Dance lessons?" I asked.

"Yes, in preparation for the gala at the Stradford."

"Is that still happening?" I asked skeptically.

"Mamie Smith will be there. She brings it all together," Dr. Brown interjected. "The woman practically started the whole blues record craze single-handed. 'Crazy Blues' sold like nothing anyone's ever seen. Now the whole town is coming. I will be there. I hope you will save me a dance, Gema."

"Well, turns out I am a lousy dancer, so now I’m taking dancing lessons. My feet live in bath salts afterwards."

"Try eucalyptus," I offered. "Lettie can find some if you need it."

"Thanks. I’ll ask her at church this Sunday."

"Good to see you," I said, only because I couldn’t think of anything else.

"You, too."

24

Gema

Golden Pound Tea Cakes for Afternoon Refreshments

One week was all it took for me to break my promise to Camille. I was sitting on the porch steps, going over the excuse I'd give her one more time, when her car rounded the drive and pulled to a stop in front of the house. She stepped out without a word, her mouth already set in the tight line I'd come to recognize meant she'd heard something she didn't like.

It wasn't as if I could help it, but the guilt still burned as she came to collect me, her silence somehow louder than anything she could have said. Camille was right. I had no business being around Houston, and I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to their family because of me. It was time for me to leave. I knew that, and maybe now that the copper had arrived, I could finally make my way home.