Page 106 of The Deadly Candies

The girls lay nose-to-nose on the pillow. Kathy bit her lip before confessing in a hushed tone,"I saw him last night."

"What?How?"Debbie’s eyes went round as saucers.

"Melo’s crazy, that boy is really crazyandbrave,"Kathy sighed, the memory making her toes curl under the quilt."Came right to Harlem, parked outside my window where any of Daddy’s men could’ve spotted him. And he waited in the car, where he could have gotten caught, just to see me. I came out of the shower, and for some reason, I went to the window, and there he was. Flashing the car lights. Sending me a signal.”

"Yousureit was him?"

"Positive."Kathy’s fingertips tingled, remembering how she’d pressed them to the cold glass, then opened the window before he drove off as if she could reach across the street to touch him."Had Matteo’s car and everything."

Debbie clutched the blanket."That was brave as hell and stupid as sin. Your daddy’s got eyes all over Harlem now, he’s tight with Bumpy. You gotta becareful, Kathy. Really careful.”

"I know,"Kathy promised. Then, nudging Debbie:"Now tell me how this Matteo and José business really happened."

Debbie rolled onto her back, staring at the water-stained ceiling.

"Magdalena,"she finally said.

"Who?"

"They call her Magdalia. The woman who...fixesgirls. Remember when Suga got in trouble and told us about her?"Debbie’s hand drifted to her stomach."I went to see her. Asked José to take me. He told Matteo, and they stopped me before—"Her voice broke."They saved me. Saved the baby from the worst sin."

Kathy clapped a hand over her mouth.

The story tumbled out then—Matteo’s promises, José’s secret love affair with an older white judge ("Awhat?"Kathy gasped), the elaborate plan to fake a marriage so they could all be free.

"Matteo’s even got some secret surprise for when you get home,"Debbie finished, wiping her nose on the sheet."Ain’t that something? All this mess—me pregnant, you exiled, José in love with some powerful white man—we sure made life complicated."

Kathy stared at the cracks in the plaster above them."Maybe it’s Harlem magic. Down in the delta, everything’s heavy, like wearing a coat made of lead. But here?"She flexed her work-roughened hands, the broken nails and scraped knuckles a map of her labor."Here I can breathe differently.Feeldifferent, not put upon.”

Debbie caught her hand, tracing the calluses."It was tough on you down there, huh?"

"It was,"Kathy admitted. Then, pushing thoughts of Aunt Janey away for later:"But having family there kept me sane. Especially when Auntie came. Felt like having you with me."

"Well, today you’rehere,"Debbie said, squeezing her fingers."Got my final wedding dress fitting at Mrs. Sexton’s. Can’t wait much longer."Her palm curved over the slight swell beneath her nightgown.

Kathy hugged her again. They lay tangled together until Big Mama’s raspy laugh floated up the stairs, mingling with the men’s deeper voices and the sizzle of frying ham from the kitchen. The sweet, greasy scent made Kathy’s stomach growl.

"I need to see Melo,"she whispered into Debbie’s hair.

"I know,"Debbie whispered back."We’ll figure it out. Welcome home, sister."

As Debbie launched into the story of how Matteo had won her heart, Kathy let the words wash over her. She was happy for her cousin—truly—but a bitter seed took root in her chest.Why wasn’t it her and Carmelo? They deserved the happily ever after.Why not us, Lord? Weren’t we faithful?

Somewhere downstairs, a record started playing—Billie Holiday’s"I’ll Be Seeing You,"the trumpet line curling through the house like smoke. Kathy closed her eyes. Life wasn’t fair. But maybe, just maybe, Harlem magic wasn’t done with them yet.

* * *

“Come here,”Brenda said, taking her husband’s hand. Henry had been laughing with his brother while Pete playfully gave Big Mama a hard time, but now he looked up in surprise as Brenda gently pulled him out of his chair and toward the stairs. Without a word, she led him swiftly into the upstairs bathroom, closing the door firmly behind them.

“What I do now?” he asked.

Before Henry could ask the second question, Brenda was already upon him, kissing him deeply, her fingers eagerly undoing his belt. Her passion was hot and fast, catching him off guard, but he couldn’t help but respond.

“Wait a second, woman—have you lost your mind?” Henry asked, a shy, blushing smile spread across his face, his open-face gold tooth gleaming.

“You don’t want it?” Brenda teased, stepping back with a mischievous smirk. Slowly, deliberately, she reached beneath her dress, sliding her panties down and stepping out of them.

Henry always wanted it. In fact, it had been nearly two weeks since she'd last let him roll on top of her in bed, and the thought alone set him on fire. He didn’t hesitate another second; he grasped her hips, hoisting her effortlessly onto the sink. Brenda hiked her skirt to hr waist then quickly unzipped his trousers while Henry held her throat gently with one hand, pulling her into a deep, urgent kiss.

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