The Secrets of Silk (15 page)

Buddy shuddered as he became aroused once again. “That feels good. Don't stop.”

Silk removed her hand. “My tongue down there will feel even better.”

“You'll lick my balls?” Buddy asked disbelievingly.

“I'll do whatever it takes to make you feel good and forget your troubles. Didn't your wife lick your balls, Buddy?”

“Heavens, no!”

“Did she take it in the ass?”

“Of course not.” He sounded appalled.

“Well, I do. You wanna try it?”

“Uh, I don't know.”

“Come on, baby, try something new,” she urged as she positioned herself on her hands and knees. “Let me take you on a little trip to paradise.”

T
he day before the funeral, Buddy received the insurance money for his wife's taxicab accident. Silk convinced him to take her to look at engagement rings. In a small town like Chester, their visit to Morris Jewelers didn't go unnoticed, and the gossip spread like wildfire. They were also spotted shopping in Rodger's Department Store and Kay's Women's Dress Shop.

When they returned home, the house was filled with food-bearing mourners, who had whipped up meals in a hurry in order to get a bird's-eye view of the diamond ring that Silk was allegedly sporting on her left hand.

Clara didn't believe one word of the gossip and as soon as Silk waltzed through the door, toting an armful of fancy shopping bags, Clara escorted her up the stairs

“Folks are gossiping about you and Buddy. They say you two have been carrying on right under my nose, and that you're planning to get married. Is this true?”

Silk took a deep breath and nodded.

“When did you and Buddy…” Clara shook her head without finishing the question.

Silk placed her bags on Dallas' bed. She clasped Clara's hands. “I should have told you, but it all happened quite suddenly. Buddy and I are deeply in love, Clara. We're getting married next week.”

Clara gasped.

“Don't fret. I love your little niece and nephews, and I'm gonna be a good mama to those children.”

“But when…how did this happen?”

“I think it was love at first sight. I tried to fight it. I even went out on a date with Buddy's friend, Cephus, hoping to get Buddy out of my mind. But being with another man made me want Buddy even more. He didn't want this to happen any more than I did, but when Cupid shoots an arrow at two hearts, there ain't much that can be done about it.”

“What about the doctor who's waiting for you back home?”

“I sent him a telegram today and broke it off with him. And I sent my mama a telegram, telling her to ship my bridal chest to Chester.”

“Are you and Buddy planning a big wedding?”

“No. We'll have a small affair at the justice of the peace.”

“What about teaching? Are you gonna give it up?”

Silk nodded. “I love Buddy so much, I'm gonna devote myself to being a good wife and good mama to his kids.”

Surprisingly, Clara threw her arms around Silk's neck. “Welcome to the family. This is wonderful news. I'm gonna miss your company on the long bus ride home, but I'll have peace of mind knowing that my brother and his children are being loved and cared for.”

Silk hugged Clara back. “Fate brought us together on the bus, and we're sisters, now.”

“Those church folks are gossiping about you and Buddy something terrible, they said he bought you a diamond ring, today. Can I see it?”

“The one we picked out is too large, and the jeweler is fixing it to fit my skinny, little finger. It won't be ready until Wednesday, and unfortunately, you'll already be gone.”

“Well, make sure you send me a picture of you and Buddy's wedding day.”

“I will.” Silk opened one of her bags. “Your sweet brother is so kindhearted. He felt bad that I had to borrow clothes from you and from his deceased wife's closet, and so he bought me some fancy, new getups.” Silk began pulling one item after another out of the bags, and Clara seemed genuinely delighted that Buddy had splurged on his bride-to-be.

When Clara and Silk returned downstairs, Silk had changed into one of her new outfits, a pair of Bermuda shorts and a shell top with fancy beading around the neckline. Silk was a knockout whether she was dressed casually or decked out in heels and a tight-fitting dress. It was a known fact that Silk had arrived at Buddy's house with only the clothes on her back, and after taking note of her new clothes, curious eyes drifted to her left hand.

Sister Beverly, who was fussing over Buddy and the children, preparing their plates with generous portions of barbeque spareribs, fried cabbage, and biscuits, looked visibly relieved that Silk's ring finger was bare.

“I want you to meet my niece, but she couldn't make it today because she had to work. She's a fine, upstanding young woman, and she's willing to help you out with the children. I'll be sure to introduce you two after the burial tomorrow,” Sister Beverly said to Buddy.

“I won't be needing a sitter, after all,” Buddy said as he chowed down on the ribs.

“Who's going to help you to tend to the children? They're too young to look after themselves.” Sister Beverly gazed around the dining room at her fellow church members for support.

“They sure can't,” Sister Yvonne agreed, cutting a disapproving eye at Buddy for even suggesting such a thing.

“I didn't want to share my good news until after the funeral, but I'm bursting with happiness. The Lord blessed me with Ernestine's love and now he has blessed me with the love of another good woman.” He beckoned Silk. She crossed the room and stood next to Buddy's chair.

“What are you saying, Buddy? Don't tell me that terrible rumor is true?” Sister Beverly said, looking aghast.

“It's not a rumor. I asked Silk to marry me, and she said, yes.” He gazed at Silk and smiled.

Stunned silent, Sister Beverly went limp and eased into an empty chair. It took a few moments for her to find her voice. “But…she's not a suitable wife,” Sister Beverly blurted. “I heard she was in the Melody Lounge bar the other night, shaking her rear-end and drinking liquor.”

“That was a one-time thing. Silk plans to join the church, get saved, and put any type of fast-living behind her. She's gonna make a good mother for my children.”

Displeased with his father's announcement, Myron mumbled under his breath, “She's not my mother.”

Bruce blinked rapidly as he took in the shocking news. “I don't like her. I want my real mother to come back.”

“Watch your mouth, boy,” Buddy chastised his son. “You're getting too big for your britches anytime you think you can sit at my table and complain about grown folk decisions. We're going to miss your mother terribly; she'll always be in our hearts. But we have to move forward as a strong Christian family, and now that Miss Silk will be helping me raise you children, I expect all of you to give her respect. Do you hear me, Bruce?”

“Yes,” the boy said grudgingly.

“What about you, Myron?”

Myron poked out his lips resentfully. “Yes, Daddy,” he mumbled.

“Dallas?”

“I love Miss Silk, Daddy.”

Dallas' brothers grumbled and rolled their eyes at their sister. Silk smiled at Dallas and the shy little girl lowered her eyes and blushed.

“Well, I suppose I should be getting over to the church to make sure everything is in order for the funeral tomorrow,” Sister Beverly announced, gazing around the dining room and giving the other church members significant looks. Taking a cue from Sister Beverly, Deacon Whiteside cleared his throat and muttered that he needed to head on over to the church, also.

One by one, the church members filed out of Buddy's home to meet up at the church where they could openly discuss the scandalous upcoming wedding of Buddy and the woman he barely knew.

C
lara escorted the children up to the casket where their mother lay, dressed in blue and appeared to be merely sleeping. She lifted Dallas in her arms and held the child hovering in the air above her mother's body.

“Wake up, Mommy. Please wake up,” Dallas pleaded.

“She's gone, Dallas. Kiss your mother goodbye,” Clara said.

“No!” Dallas screamed. “She needs a doctor to make her better.”

Clutching each other, the boys crept up to the casket and both said, “Bye, Mommy,” and then collapsed into tears. There wasn't a dry eye in the church after Dallas' sorrowful outburst and the boys' woeful farewell.

Quietly weeping, Buddy was being comforted by Silk. After the children were back in their seats, Buddy and Silk approached the coffin together. A hush came over the room. Spectators sat on the edges of their seats, capturing every detail of the scandalous couple's behavior.

One look at his wife and Buddy had an unexpected outburst. “Not my wife! Not my wife! Ernestine, you were too young to die!” His knees buckled and a horde of pallbearers and deaconesses rushed to his aid, holding him up and fanning his face. Escorted back to his seat, Buddy was comforted by a host of attendants.

Silk remained standing at the coffin, whispering something inaudible as she stood over the body of her predecessor.

Gossipers would put their own imaginative spin on Silk's final words to the woman she had replaced, but what Silk actually said was:

I always wanted to live up North in a home of my own, and although the one you left me is rather nice, it's kind of small and not exactly what I had in mind. Maybe we'll add some more rooms with that insurance check we collected from your accident. Don't worry about your kids; I'm gonna try to do right by them. Dallas is sweet, but those boys of yours pluck my nerves. If they can abide by my rules, we'll get along fine and dandy. As you can see, Buddy is feeling a little emotional, but don't worry about him. He'll be all right after we get hitched. Once I officially move into your former bedroom, Buddy's gonna keep a smile on his face. Well, that's about all I have to say. Sleep tight, chickadee.
Silk concluded by patting Ernestine's folded hands.

•  •  •

When Buddy pulled up in front of the Greyhound Station at five-thirty in the morning, Clara hugged Silk tight, promising to stay in touch.

Clara offered Silk some last-minute advice in a whispered voice. “I know you're the curious type, but promise me you won't venture down Twelfth Street to those project houses. I heard some of the church folks say that those Fairground Project people aren't up to any good. They sit out in their yards cussing and drinking while they play Pinochle until the wee hours of the morning. I'm only warning you because you tend to be such an innocent little lamb, and I don't want you mixing in with a bad crowd. If you stay on Flower Street, you'll be fine. For your own safety, please don't travel to Twelfth Street unless Buddy is with you.”

Silk nodded. She let out a sigh of relief when Clara and her baby finally boarded a bus that was Mississippi-bound.

“Bye, Buddy and Silk. Bye, kids,” Clara said, sticking an arm out the open window and waving. “Tell Aunt Silk, Uncle Buddy, and your cousins bye-bye,” she said to Vernon, Jr., holding his wrist and waving for him.

Aunt Silk, my ass. I ain't no kin to that little rugrat.
Silk smiled sweetly and waved vigorously.

On the way back home, Silk scooted close to Buddy, and they drove back to Chester snuggled up together like teenage lovebirds. Buddy ran his fingers through Silk's hair and she caressed his hand as he shifted the gears. The three children sat in the backseat, quiet and forlorn. They appeared lost and bewildered, but Silk and Buddy were so wrapped up in each other, neither seemed to notice.

Buddy had to return to his job after being off for over a week on bereavement leave. Before dropping Silk and the kids off at home, Buddy reached in his pocket. “Here's your household money for the week,” he said, slipping Silk twenty-five dollars. It was a generous amount, and Buddy smiled proudly.