Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (28 page)

“Is the other part of your offer open to modification?” Dottie asked, abruptly ending the marriage discussion.

“Sure, I guess,” George said wiping the perspiration from his face with a pocket-handkerchief.

“The way Dot is growing, more inexpensive housing is desperately needed. Not even Billy knows that I own about forty acres on Schoolhouse Road. That's the only asset I did not deplete in fighting to keep Dot's Diner open. At one time, I was going to build my dream house there. Recently I've been thinking about turning it into a trailer park with both spaces and trailers to rent. Does that sound like a workable idea to you, George?"

“It's a great idea, Dottie."

“Well, then. Here's my counterproposal. We build the trailer park, group with it the restaurants and service stations, give a twenty-five percent interest to Billy and Tracy, a twenty-five percent interest to Maggie if she'll agree to run the restaurants for us, and we keep fifty percent."

“You old biddy,” he said, smiling broadly and shaking his head. “I've always heard that a man chases a woman until she catches him. Now I've experienced it first hand. How long have you been planning this?"

“You can never tell what an old woman fantasizes about when she's lying alone in her bed at night. Now, if you ring my chimes, where are we going to live—my place or yours?"

“My place, of course,” George replied.

“Why? Do you find my house to be such a dump?"

“No, Dottie. It's not that. But my place is twice, maybe three times the size of yours and it's brand new."

“And we need all that space because...?"

“You've never seen my house."

“True."

“I'll make you a deal. You look my place over carefully—maybe spend a weekend there. Then you decide where you want us to live."

“You claim to be a cook, George. Can you make a decent pot of coffee? We have a long night ahead of us."

“Is coffee a good idea, Dot. That stuff runs through me as fast as beer and you probably have the same problem."

“Doesn't matter,” she said. “We now know how to get me to the bathroom and back."

He smiled at her and patted her leg as he stood up. “I'll be back in a couple of minutes."

“George."

He turned to face her as he reached the bedroom door.

“Do you play golf?"

“Not much,” he said with a curious smile on his face.

“Tennis?"

“Nope."

“Fish?"

He shook his head.

“Do you swim?"

“I do, but I don't care much for it."

“Me either."

“What's on your mind, Dottie."

“I was just thinking. If we are going to live in the middle of the Dollars’ playground, we ought to play their games."

“We can learn together."

She winked at him. “By the way, from now on, you don't have to close your eyes when you take me to pee."

June's legs turned to jelly as the tall, slender man with jet-black hair entered Dot's Diner. She couldn't take her eyes off his bulging biceps as he spoke to her.

“Lovely Lady,” he began, “I'm looking for Maggie Skinner and I'm told that she is working here now. Is she in?"

June's mouth moved but no sound emerged. “Lovely Lady” echoed through her mind and the boyish smile he flashed hypnotized her.

“Sweet Thing,” he said, “are you okay?"

She nodded and again unsuccessfully tried to speak. Her eyes fell to his snug fitting jeans and her feet seemed attached to the floor.

Suddenly he turned and went out the door, and immediately returned. Again, his brilliant white teeth flashed as he smiled and said, “Let's start over. Good afternoon you gorgeous gal. I'm looking for Maggie Skinner. Is she here?"

June burst out laughing and motioned towards the kitchen.

He focused on her nametag and grinned. “June,” he said, “you are the girl of my dreams—pretty as a picture and silent as the falling snow. Your husband is one lucky man."

“I'm ... I'm not married,” she managed to say, extending the back of her unadorned left hand for his inspection.

He closed his eyes and dreamily said, “Ah, the voice of an angel.” He looked at her and took her hand in his as his expression changed. “Will you marry me, you cuddly cute creature?"

June's breath was coming in noisy gasps. “I ... I..."

“Don't let Casanova get to you, June,” Maggie said as she came through the kitchen door. “He has a honey-coated tongue and a heart of stone."

“Maggie,” he exclaimed as she rushed around the counter into his outstretched arms. “Is that any way to talk about your favorite brother?"

“June,” Maggie said as she hugged him tightly, “this is my brother Frank."

“And don't you believe for one minute,” Frank said to June, “that I have a heart of stone. I'm the most kindhearted, warm, loving, sincere man every born."

“You big lug,” Maggie said, still hugging him. “It's great to see you. What brings you to Dot?"

“Why, I came to see my favorite sister, of course,” he said.

“I'll bet. We're between rush hours, Frank. Let's sit in the back booth and catch each other up. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

“I sure would,” he said, “if June will sweeten it with her dainty little finger."

June smiled and soon placed two steaming cups on their table. She made a point of sticking her finger into his coffee. He took her hand, kissed it and gently sucked the liquid from her moist finger.

“Seriously, Maggie,” Frank said when June was again behind the counter. “Why is that lovely little lady not hitched? Is she a lesbian?"

“I don't think so,” Maggie said. “She's a bit shy, but I swear if I had let you sweet talk her another five minutes I believe she would have stripped and raped you right here in the dining room."

“I'm serious, Maggie. That foxy female races my motor."

“She's an innocent girl, Frank. Leave her alone."

“Innocent, maybe, but I'm not going to leave her alone. I'm going to make that charming child my wife."

Maggie grinned. “Then you're not just passing through. It takes three days in North Carolina to get a marriage license."

Frank returned her grin. “No, I'm not just passing through. The garden shop in Atlanta is doing great, but five bosses is four too many. There's no feud going on among your brothers, Maggie. I just decided it's time to go out on my own. I have twenty-five thousand dollars in my pocket and a truck packed with all my earthly belonging. I'm going open a garden shop in Dot if everything works out."

“Frank, that's wonderful. But why Dot?"

“Your letters, Maggie. I fell in love with the place from your letters. I've already talked with Tim and he says he will throw some business my way."

“Tim Dollar?"

He nodded. “I found him at home a while ago when I went looking for you. I introduced myself and before long, we were talking business. He said he was not pleased with the landscaper he has been using out of Charlotte and would send some business my way to see what I can do. He suggested that he might even finance the heavy equipment I will need."

“Frank, that's great,” Maggie said with enthusiasm and then she joked, “You're not after my job are you?"

“With just a snap of my fingers I could have your job, Maggie,” he bragged, “but I wouldn't do that to you."

Her expression changed. “You know, Frank. This might work out good."

“What do you mean?"

“Circumstances have changed since I quit the job as manager of the Korner Kafe. I really liked that job and Mr. Bennett has asked me to come back to work for him. I think I would like to do that, but I have worked for the Dollars such a short time I hate the thought of walking out on them."

“But now that I am here you can bow out gracefully. It'll be in the Dollars’ best interest. Everybody knows a woman can't do a man's work."

“Screw you, Frank Skinner."

“Okay, but that's kind of kinky. I think it's called incest."

Maggie laughed. “That's why I quit wrestling with you when we were kids."

“What are you talking about?"

“I found out from a friend one day about the facts of life and realized you didn't really have a roll of quarters in your pocket every time we wrestled."

He blushed, but said, “Even at thirteen you were sprouting a super budding bosom, Maggie. It beats me why you keep those delightful delicacies strapped down."

“Let's change the subject, Frank. Where are you bunking?” Maggie asked.

“I could stay at the motel, I suppose, but I was hoping you would put me up until I get things worked out."

“I'd like that, Frank, but I've rented out the spare bedroom."

“I know. I went by your house after Tim pointed it out and met Sewana. She suggested the living room. She said the sofa folds out into a bed and I could store my stuff partly in the hall closet and partly in the utility room."

“It suits me,” Maggie said. “Look, Big Brother, I must get back to work. We have a lot of catching up to do, but it looks like we're going to have plenty of time to swap lies. Why don't you go out to the house and get settled in?"

“I'll do it,” he said as they slipped out of the booth. “Maggie, maybe I should let Sewana tell you, but while I was there she received a phone call from a real estate agent. A furnished apartment opened up and she took it. She'll be moving in a few days."

“Then that settles it, Frank. You are now officially my new roommate."

They embraced and Frank whispered, “Do you think June will go out with me?"

“If you want an answer, ask her, not me."

He smiled and watched his sister disappear through the kitchen door. He approached the counter where June stood transfixed.

“June, where does a couple on a date go in Dot?” he asked.

She smiled nervously. “There's not much happening in Dot after dark,” she replied.

“Do you live close by?"

She nodded. “I have a little apartment in the Dollar Building next door."

“You have a TV?"

She nodded.

“What time do you get off work?"

“Eight o'clock."

“Well, we could go to your place, have sex and watch TV, but you might prefer to go to a movie in Charlotte."

Her eyes locked with his. “I'll do whatever you like,” she said. “I'm a virgin. You'll have to teach me."

His eyes widened. “I can't believe that you've never..."

She picked up a damp cloth and rubbed furiously on a nonexistent spot on the counter. “I had a bad case of acne from my early teens until just a few months ago. Boys made fun of me. I haven't dated much. Truth is,” she continued as she dropped her voice, “I've never been on a real date."

“I know what you mean,” he said. “I had acne too as a teenager.” He reached out and cupped her chin with his strong, rough right hand, turned her head from one side to the other and said, “Yeah, I see the tiny scars when I look closely, but you still have the face of an angel. Look closely and you can see I have the same scars."

She gently touched his face, first with one hand and then both. “You have such a dark tan I see nothing but a perfect face."

“I'll see you tonight about eight,” he said.

“Frank."

“Yes."

“I ... I'm not on the pill. You'll need to bring, uh, something."

He gently held her head with both of his hands and drew her close to his lips across the counter. “June,” he said quietly, “one day I'm going to teach you the joys of being a woman, but not until you change your name.” He nibbled on her lower lip.

She felt weak and propped her hands on the counter for support. “I don't understand,” she said.

“Mrs. Frank Skinner,” he explained. He kissed her tenderly on the lips, nose and forehead. “Tonight we'll just enjoy each other's company and start getting acquainted.”

Greta eased her aching body out of the Whirl Pool and began dabbing at her bruised body with a soft bath towel. He said he wouldn't do it no more, she thought, but I don't believe him. There will be a next time, and it's coming up Monday night. Maggie ain't gonna screw him and I ain't gonna kill Sewana.

She reached for a bathrobe, but changed her mind. I hated it when he made me go naked, but now that it's okay to put on clothes, I can't ‘cause it hurts too much. He's gonna kill me unless I can figure something out.

She went to the kitchen and filled a glass with water. She dropped four Alka-Seltzer Plus tablets into the glass and watched the bubbles form. Maybe I ought to kill
him
, she thought and then she laughed dryly. Hell, I can't even squash a roach. Maybe somehow he'll be killed at work today, or have a wreck on the way home.

She gulped down the lemon-flavored medicine and painfully descended the basement steps. She entered the torture chamber, snapped on the light and gazed at the scene that met her eyes. She saw the air pistol hanging on the pegboard and remembered the night he used her nipples as a target. “He's gonna kill me one of these days,” she mumbled. “He's crazy. Sometimes he gets so angry he don't realize what he's doing."

She touched the sharp edge of the horse and shuddered. She looked at the chains suspended from the ceiling and pictured herself shackled to the instrument of torture. I ought to take the Dollars up on their offer to live with them, she thought, but they can't protect me from him. Hell, Sandra Dollar is as good as dead just like I am. Sewana too. Ain't nobody gonna stop him, unless...

As fast as her rebelling muscles would allow she went back upstairs and entered the spare room. “Miz Jenkins, where are you?” she cried out. “I need you."

“Good Lord, Greta. What happened to you?” Sandra said as she entered the kitchen on Friday morning. “I thought you were out sick with a cold."

Greta shook her head.

“Did Eddie do this to you?” Sandra asked as she traced with her index finger the dark pigmentation under Greta's left eye.

“He didn't mean to. At least, that's what he says. He was fired from the Korner Kafe and took it out on me when he came home."

“Greta, you must move out. That bastard is going to kill you one of these days."

“He says he won't do it again."

“How many times have you heard that?"