Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie (10 page)

  “Let it go Bill,” Henry told him.

  “Patterson!”

Henry paused at the sound of his name. Turning he saw the new foreman coming towards him.

  “What can I do for you?” Henry asked when he got to him.

  “We need to see you in the break room.”

Henry nodded then followed him to the room as Bill watched wondering what was going on.

  Inside the break room, Henry was offered a seat. He took it then sat waiting for the man across from him to speak.

  “We have a huge increase in sales and we need to produce. We’re putting all our best workers on mandatory seven-day, twelve hour shifts for the next three weeks. So while your bank account will be happy, your social life will take a hit,” he said smiling.

  “Starting when?” Henry asked.

  “Right now.”

Henry thought about his date with Millie. “For three weeks?” he inquired.

The foreman nodded. “We gotta meet this demand.”

Henry shrugged. “Okay, I have to do what I have to do.”

  “Thanks Henry. You’re one of our top workers and you have a bright future here at Ford.”

  “Thanks.” Henry stood and went back to his station.

  When he returned, Bill looked over at him in question. Henry went back to his parts not looking forward to telling Millie that he needed to postpone their date. Working eighty-four hours per week would definitely increase in wallet, but how would it affect his courtship?

  Now, he’d be out of commission for three weeks and Bill was sniffing like a wolf on the prowl. He could feel that Bill had questions but he knew not to ask them. He’d find out soon enough about the extra shifts and Henry figured that Bill had not been one of the ones chosen to work since the foreman had moved on, calling other workers into the break room.

  Henry had told Millie that he’d call later that night, but decided that he needed to see her in person to tell her about the change in plans. He just hoped that she understood…

Chapter 10

  Henry arrived on Millie’s porch that evening and rang the doorbell. Standing, he quietly waited until she answered the door.

  “Henry!” she said happily opening the screen door and stepping outside.

Henry took her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Hello Millie.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked looking him over in his work uniform.

  “Can we take a short ride?” he asked quietly.

Millie stared at him. “Is something wrong?”

He took her hand. “No, nothing wrong. I just want to talk to you.”

Hesitantly she agreed. “Okay.”

  Henry led her to the car and opened the door for her. After settling her inside, he drove them to the nearby park where they’d practiced. He took her hand again and they walked to the empty bleachers taking seats beside one another

  “I have to postpone our date Millie,” Henry told her.

He watched her face fall. “Why?”

  “I’ve been put on a mandatory work schedule for the next three weeks. Twelve hours a day for seven days,” he explained.

Millie frowned. “What? That’s crazy.”

  Henry shrugged. “We have to meet the demand for the cars and the extra money will help my savings.”  Millie looked away.

  “I’m sorry Millie,” Henry said turning her face back to his. “I promise I will make it up to you.”

  “Are you disappointed about changing our date?”

  “Yes ma’am. I didn’t want to come and tell you this,” he answered.

Millie looked into honest brown eyes. “I know I’m being selfish, but I’m so sad.” She pouted.

  “Aww Millie, don’t do that.” Henry lifted her onto his lap, holding her close. “I never want to make my girl sad.”

She clasped her arms around his neck. “Three weeks is a long time Henry.”

  “You’ll wait for me?” he asked watching her.

  Millie smiled slowly. “Of course I’ll wait for you Henry Patterson.” She touched his face. “A handsome, sweet, charming guy like you? I’ll wait as long as necessary ‘cause my momma didn’t raise no fool.”

Henry laughed softly. “I’m going to take you on the best date of your life Millie Gaines.”

  “I don’t think you can top what happened the last time I was at your apartment,” she told him blushing.

Henry whispered in her ear. “Yeah, I can.”

Millie’s eyes widened as she turned redder. “How do you know how to do that?”

  “I may not have gone to college, but I know lots of things Millie.” He kissed her lips gently. “Things that can make a pretty woman real happy.”

“You made me real happy.” She kissed him back. “I’m still remembering it.”

  Henry pulled her closer now kissing her fully, tangling his tongue with hers. Millie marveled at how skilled he was at pleasuring her mouth. The way his tongue stroked hers causing warmth all over her body. She moved closer pressing her body against his.

  Henry moved away from her mouth to kiss her neck. “I hope these three weeks go by real fast,” he said against her skin.

  “At least you don’t have time to give Helen ‘a hand’.” Millie said sarcastically.

Henry lifted his face to hers. “Are you serious?”

Millie remained silent.

  “You know I was only helping her for you,” he pointed out.

  “Then you have no business with her anymore.”

Henry shook his head. “No ma’am.”

Millie nodded. “Good.”

  “So my girl is jealous?” Henry asked smiling.

  “Honey can be bitter as well as sweet,” she told him.

  Henry laughed. “Hmmm, well I like my Honey sweet.” He kissed her slowly until she moaned softly. “Like that,” he whispered against her damp lips.

  The pair sat on the risers looking up at the darkened sky for a while between intermittent kisses. “I can’t believe it’s still this warm outside,” Henry commented.

  “They call it Indian Summer when it’s this warm in the fall,” Millie explained.

  “Is that what they call it?” he asked confused.

Millie shrugged and laughed. “I have no idea why and I’ve never asked.”

  “I guess that’s a northerner thing…”

  “I guess so country boy,” she teased.

  Millie laid her forehead against his. “You tell that Ford Motor Company that in three weeks, Henry Patterson is all mine.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

She stared down into his face. “This is going to be hard Henry.”

  “I know Millie. I’ll be sure to call.”

Millie nodded before lowering her head to his for their final kisses of the night.

******

  A few days later, Bill walked down the hall next to the Student President who was giving him a tour of the Community College. Helen was giving him all the information about the school, but he was on the lookout for one person.

  He’d taken off work, using one of his few remaining personal days to check out the school. He had no idea what classes he would even consider because seeing Honey was his main objective.

  “So Bill, do you have any questions?” Helen asked.

Bill smiled. “I love your softball team here. I’m a big supporter.”

Helen beamed. “Yes, our women won the championship! We’re so proud of them.”

  “They all go to school here right?” Bill questioned.

  “Oh yes! That’s a requirement. Our MVP, Honey is in our nursing program.”

Bill nodded. “Her name’s Millie right?”

Helen nodded and looked at him suspiciously.

  “I was at the celebration after the championship and you announced her name,” Bill supplied.

  “Oh, that’s right.” Helen remembered. “So what program do you think you’d like to visit next?”

Bill smiled again. “I’d like to check out Nursing.”

Helen pursed her lips. “Sure…let’s go this way.”

  Bill followed Helen happily into the nursing classrooms. To his dismay, Honey wasn’t in any of the rooms they toured and when it ended, he still hadn’t seen her.

  “That concludes our tour Bill,” Helen announced. “If you have any other questions, you can contact our Admissions department.”

  Bill reluctantly exited the building and headed outside. It was another warm fall day and students were outside eating lunch and conversing. He smiled at his fortune when he saw Honey sitting at one of the tables. He knew his plan would work…

******

  Irma looked over at Millie. “How many days has it been?”

Millie looked sad. “Three.”

Irma laughed. “Girl, you got it bad for that guy.”

  “I know. I won’t survive three weeks without seeing Henry,” Millie complained.

  “You’re acting like the man has gone off to war, Honey. He’s just working.”

Millie put her chin on her palm resting her elbow on the table. “You don’t understand Irma.”

Irma gave her a sly smile. “Oh, I understand. Henry’s got you hot in the panties.”

  “Don’t talk about my panties, Irma!” Millie laughed.

  Both women continued to laugh as someone approached their table. Irma looked up and frowned then Millie looked up and blushed as her legs clenched, remembering Henry’s words that had been spoken against the inside of her thigh.

  “Hello ladies,” Bill greeted.

  “Hi,” Millie greeted while Irma just raised a brow.

He turned to Millie. “Bill, I met you at the celebration.”

Millie nodded. “Hi Bill.”

  “You mind if I join you?” he asked.

  Irma looked at Millie before grabbing her bag. “I’ve got class, so I’ll see you later Honey.” Standing she glanced at Bill then back at Millie. “Tell Henry I said hello.”

Millie grinned as Irma walked away and Bill took a seat at the table.

  “Do you go here Bill?” Millie asked confused.

He smiled. “I’m thinking about it. The plant will pay for my classes.”

  “That’s nice,” Millie responded. “So you work at the plant with Henry Patterson?”

His smile faded. “Yeah, we work across from each other.”

Millie frowned. “I thought you guys were on mandatory overtime?”

  “Not all of us and I took the day off to tour the campus,” Bill explained.

  “It’s great here. What program are you interested in?” Millie asked.

Bill smiled. “I’m really interested in Nursing.”

  “Male nurses are in demand,” she commented. “It’s a pretty intense program. I’m not sure how you would do that and work at the plant full time.”

  He leaned forward. “I was thinking that maybe I could take you out for dinner and maybe ask you some questions about the program.”

Millie leaned back. “Well we have Admissions counselors for that. They can tell you more than I can.”

He shrugged. “Well you can tell me from the student’s perspective.”

Millie drew back further. “Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea Bill.”

Bill’s face fell. “Because of Henry?” he asked.

She nodded slowly. “Yes, I’m Henry’s girl.”

  “Henry would never have even met you if it wasn’t for me. He didn’t even want to come to your game,” Bill told her.

  “Look Bill,” Millie began.

  “He knew that I liked you, but he went after you anyway,” he told her adamantly.

  Millie grabbed her bag. “I don’t know what’s going on here but I’m leaving.” She stood and began to walk away when Bill grabbed her arm.

“Wait Millie, I’m sorry.”

She looked at the hand on her arm. “You should let me go right now.”

  Bill quickly removed his hand. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. Unfortunately, he was saying it to her back as she walked away.

******

  Seven days into his twenty-one-day mandatory schedule, Henry returned home from work. To say that he missed seeing Millie would be a huge understatement. Hearing her voice each night only made him long to touch her, look into those pretty eyes and taste those plush lips.

  Henry had been moved to another part of the plant for his some of his overtime so he hadn’t seen Bill in several days. This suited him just fine, as he didn’t have to listen to his chatter all day. Henry wondered if Bill had been in contact with Millie. She hadn’t mentioned anything in their nightly phone calls and if so, he wanted her to tell him herself without him having to question her about it.

  Henry knew that he could trust Millie. Although they hadn’t been courting long, his heart had already told him that she was the one he’d come to Detroit to find. Millie was everything he wanted in a girl and he was going to make sure she didn’t get away. Twenty-one workdays might slow down his plans but they wouldn’t deter him.

Henry parked and headed inside his building where his landlord stopped him at the entrance.

  “Hey Henry.”

He smiled. “Hello Mrs. Jones.”

  “I got a package for you down the hall,” she informed him. “Didn’t fit in your mailbox.”

  “Thanks, I’ll come get it right now.”

  Henry followed her and retrieved the box then thanked her again before heading upstairs. As he walked down the hall, he smiled.

Stopping in front of his door, he placed a hand flat on the panel and looked down. “Am I dreamin’?”

He felt plush lips touch his before a raspy voice answered. “Do you dream of me outside your door?”

  Dropping the box to the floor, he slid an arm around her waist pulling her against him. “I dream of you in all kinds of places and in all kinds of ways Millie.”

He touched her face. “Next time, get the key from the landlord.”

She smiled. “Okay, I didn’t want to do that without your permission.”

  Henry lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist holding on to him. Finally, he allowed himself to taste his Honey and she was as sweet as he remembered.

  “Millie…” He paused to breath against her lips.

  “Irma’s picking me up in two hours. I know that you need your rest for work,” she whispered. “But I couldn’t wait another day to see you.”

  Henry reached in his pocket and retrieved the keys still holding on to Millie. Opening the door, he gently kicked the box inside before carrying her into the room.

  “What are we going to do for two hours?” he asked once they were inside.

  Millie smiled. “I’m going to make you some dinner and then we’re going to fool around until it’s time for me to go.”

Henry sat her on her feet. “Can I take a shower first?”

She gave him a once over and feasted her eyes on him. “Yes, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  He gave her another kiss before heading to the bedroom. Millie went to the kitchen and checked Henry’s fridge. She saw that he had ground beef waiting to be prepared. Taking it out, she placed it on the counter.

  Millie went to the bedroom door and gave a light knock. It opened and Henry stood in his white underwear against his brown skin. “Yes, Millie.”