Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie Read online

  “What do you say if we revoke the suspension and reimburse you for wages lost?” he offered.

  Henry nodded slowly. “I’m thinking you’ve got my attention.”

  “What else Mr. Patterson?” the man asked. “We’ve removed Schmidt and gotten all charges dropped so you’re in the clear now.”

  “I want to make sure my record is clean,” Henry said placing a hand on the table.

  “It’s like it never happened,” another one assured him.

  Henry nodded. “When I see that in writing, we’re all set.”

  The men all stood and left the room and thirty minutes later, a document had been prepared with all of Henry’s requests. He looked it over then agreed to bring back the signed copy when he returned to work in the morning. Henry wanted the lawyer to make sure there were no tricks included.

  After being assured that everything was on the up and up, Henry signed the document with his attorney and walked out of the Legal Aid office a man in the clear. All charges were dropped and he would receive his bail money back in a few days.

  Henry sat behind the wheel of his car and let out a long breath. He had never been so afraid in his life, not even in the murderous south but the thought of being locked away for something that didn’t have to happen was unthinkable, along with the thought of not being able to see Millie.

  One thing this whole incident had taught him was that life was too fragile and decisions made in a split second could change your life forever. It also gave him a glimpse of having a strong, determined woman by his side. He knew that Millie wouldn’t be pretending to be Mrs. Henry Patterson for too long.

  ******

  Millie finished practice and decided to shower at home so that she could get home earlier to call Henry. Her mind had been on him all day and she wondered how things had went at his job and with the attorney.

  Still in her practice clothes, she exited the locker room out to the field. On the bleachers, she saw a lone figure sitting and recognized him immediately. Millie ran over to where he waited and he stood and met her.

  “Henry, what happened?” she asked eagerly.

  “Everything is fine Millie,” he told her smiling.

  She looked confused. “What do you mean?”

  “I still got my job and all the charges have been dropped.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Oh my god Henry! I’m so happy.” Millie threw her arms around him.

  Henry lifted her off her feet and held her tightly. “Thank you Millie for everything.”

  “I knew it would be alright. You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said against his shoulder.

  He lowered her to her feet and looked down at her. “Will you go out with me Millie?”

  She smiled broadly. “Yes, I will Henry…but you have to wait until after the championship game.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Henry pulled her closer and she protested. “I’m all dirty Henry. I’ve been practicing.”

  “I didn’t shower because I wanted to get home to call you,” she explained.

  He still held her against him. “I don’t care Millie.”

  Henry lifted a hand to cradle her face. “Do I have to wait until after the championship to kiss you?”

  Millie stared into his eyes. “No sir…” she whispered before he lowered his lips to hers.

  Chapter 6

  At the first contact of his full lips, Millie felt a jolt to her system. Aware of their surroundings, Henry kept the kiss short and sweet with the mere touching of lips but with that brief contact, Henry confirmed that Millie was sweeter than honey.

  “May I take you home?” he asked.

  “Yes, I was going to take the bus.”

  Henry frowned. “Where’s Irma?”

  “I’m not relying on Irma these days,” Millie told him and he looked confused. “I’ll tell you about it on the way.”

  He nodded then gestured for her to go ahead of him on the way to his car. On the ride, Millie told him about her conversation with Irma after the party.

  “She was mad because you spent so much time with me that night,” Millie explained.

  “Interesting…” he responded.

  Millie looked at him. “What’s interesting?”

  Henry turned to her. “That Irma would be concerned about who I was spending my time with.”

  “She said she was digging you.”

  He frowned. “I met her and shared a few dances. We didn’t even talk.”

  Millie smiled. “I don’t think Irma was interested in talking with you Henry.”

  Henry watched her smile. “So how do you feel about that Millie?”

  “If I was your girl, I wouldn’t be happy.”

  He took her hand. “If you were my girl, I’d be very happy.”

  Millie studied him. “How many girls have you had Henry?”

  “Well, I’m twenty years old and I’ve been mostly working, learning and saving…so not that many.” He concentrated on maneuvering the streets.

  “What do you want in a girl?” Millie questioned.

  Henry contemplated her question. “Somebody who’s smart, who has her own mind and somebody I can trust.”

  He turned to her. “And real pretty…”

  Millie laughed. “In that order?”

  “No ma’am.”

  She laughed again. “You’re something else Henry Patterson.”

  “How many times have you been courted?” he asked as he pulled in front of her house.

  “This is my first time…” she told him. “Being courted.”

  Henry smiled to himself knowing this would be the only time Millie would be courted.

  He turned to her. “May I walk you to the door?”

  “Would you like to come in? It’s still early.”

  Not wanting to depart from her company just yet, he agreed before they exited the car and walked to the home. Inside the dwelling, Henry looked around the brightly furnished room.

  “I live here with my Momma and sister,” Millie told him as she led him through the home. “My Momma’s at work and Maggie is probably...out.”

  Henry nodded and continued to follow Millie to a back room. Stepping inside, he figured this was her bedroom from all the awards and trophies with the name Millie Gaines on them.

  “You’ve won all these awards?” he asked looking at the many plaques.

  Millie blushed. “Yeah…these are mine.”

  To say Henry was impressed was an understatement. Not only was Millie an accomplished athlete, she was really smart from all the academic awards on her wall.

  “Wow…” was all that he could say aloud.

  Millie smiled as she reached into a drawer for some clean clothes. Turning to Henry, she watched as he continued to study her various achievements.

  “I’m going to change into some clean clothes. You can hang out in here until I’m done,” Millie said walking over to him.

  Henry was pleased to know that Millie felt safe with him. He smiled down at her. “I’ll be right here.

  “Don’t fall asleep,” she teased.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  He watched as she disappeared down the hall. After cataloguing all of Millie’s skills, Henry took a seat on the edge of her purple covered bed.

  “Who are you?” the voice accused and Henry jumped to his feet.

  “Henry Patterson,” he answered the young woman holding a little girl who looked just like her.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you in Honey’s room?”

  “She’s changing in the bathroom,” he explained.

  “Honey!” the woman yelled and Millie appeared a minute later, freshly showered and dressed.

  Millie looked at her sister. “Why are you yelling?”

  “Why do you have a guy in your room?” her sister accused.

  Millie frowned. “Uh, my Momma is at work and I know you’re not talking. Henry is my guest so you can get out.”

  Mag
gie looked over at Henry and smirked. “The only thing that turns Honey on is a baseball.”

  “Get out Maggie!” Millie yelled then slammed the door behind her sister and the baby as she left the room.

  Turning, she faced Henry who was still standing by the bed. “So, that’s my sister Maggie and my niece.”

  “I gathered that.”

  Millie leaned back against the door. “She’s always been wild and out of control. She doesn’t do anything my Momma asks and expects us to take care of Amber.”

  “How old is she?” he asked.

  “Maggie’s twenty-four but she acts fourteen most of the time. She doesn’t go to school or work,” Millie explained. “Momma takes care of her and the baby.”

  Millie looked away. “That’s why I’m so focused on nursing school. I’m not going to be dependent on my Momma or have her taking care of my babies,” she vowed vehemently.

  Henry took a few steps forward to stand in front of her. He didn’t say anything as she silently studied the buttons on his shirt. Finally, Millie raised a hand to his chest placing her palm over his strong heartbeat.

  Henry placed his hand over hers before quietly leading her to the bed where he took a seat and Millie placed her hands on his shoulders as she looked down into his face.

  “I don’t want to end up like my sister,” she whispered. “I want to travel, get married and have my own house to live in.”

  Henry nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I understand.”

  Millie blushed. “I’m not telling you that because I want you to do it Henry.”

  He placed his hands on her waist. “But I’m listening because it’s important for me to know.”

  “That country boy charm is going to be my downfall, I can already see it.” Millie touched his jaw before lowering her lips to his.

  When she lifted her head, he smiled at her. “Tell me what happened today,” Millie said sitting back on the bed and patting the space next to her. Henry joined her stretching his long legs out on the mattress.

  “The Legal Aid office helped a lot, because of them I was able to avoid a suspension and get paid for the days that I missed while I was in jail. The plant admitted that the foreman was wrong about my parts being faulty.” He paused then looked over at her.

  “I’m sorry you saw me like that Millie. I’ve never been arrested before and I don’t plan on it happening ever again,” he assured her.

  “It wasn’t your fault Henry.”

  He took her hand again. “I have to always remember that a black man’s life is not valued in this country and I can’t do things that put this life in more jeopardy because… I want to travel, get married and have my own house to live in.”

  Millie’s heart fluttered. “That sounds nice.”

  “I’m going to make sure I make that happen, but I won’t ever compromise my principles. I’m a man and I won’t be treated less than that…by anybody.”

  “I would never want you to do that Henry. As a people we can’t just stand by and allow injustices against us,” Millie said passionately.

  “Brother Malcolm said we should defend and advance ourselves by any means necessary. He was one of the reasons I chose to come here. I wanted to see the place where Detroit Red gave his last speech.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “My heart was broken,” Millie agreed laying her head on his shoulder. “I was so worried about your safety when I found out you were in jail. Black men die in many ways.”

  “I was worried too until my wife showed up.” He glanced down at her and smiled.

  “That officer knew I was lying the whole time, but once I’d started there was no turning back,” she confessed.

  Henry laughed. “I knew Honey was tough from watching her play, but I had no idea.”

  “I was going to see you, no matter what. They weren’t going to stop me.”

  He placed an arm around her. “Tell me how your practice went tonight. Are you ready for the big game?”

  “Practice was okay. The team we’re playing has an ace pitcher. She has a rocket for an arm. We’ve never faced anyone who pitches nearly as fast as her,” Millie told him worriedly.

  Henry gently stroked her temple. “If you like, I can practice with you.”

  Millie looked up. “You played baseball?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I played for a team back in Mississippi.”

  She looked surprised. “Really?”

  “I told you baseball was my favorite sport,” he reminded her.

  “You don’t mind practicing with me?”

  He continued to touch the hair around her hairline. “I want you to win your championship Millie.” Henry lifted her face to his. “I love how Honey rounds those bases then smiles at me in the crowd.”

  “I don’t know why I smiled at you. I’ve never done it before,” she said honestly.

  “Us country boys are irresistible,” he teased her softly.

  Millie stared at him. “Yeah, I think so.”

  This time when Henry kissed her, it was neither short nor sweet. This one was long and hot, causing Millie to willingly submit to his loving embrace. Henry slowly tasted her plush lips before letting his tongue discover the recesses of her mouth. He could tell that Honey was innocently sweet which fueled his desire for her.

  Millie for her part, was in heaven. Never had she been so lovingly held in a man’s arms and her mouth treated as though it was the most delicious delicacy. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she was gently laid on the bed. Her heart raced frantically as he ended the kiss and stared down into her flushed face, loving stroking her temple.

  “I should go now because I have work in the morning,” he told her quietly.

  Millie nodded, unable to speak because of the fog in her mind. She wondered what had just happened and what was going to happen going forward with Henry Patterson. Henry read the questions in her pretty eyes and kissed her again until he heard a soft moan come from her throat.

  “Millie…”

  “Henry…”

  He kissed her one last time before getting up from the bed. “Let me go home pretty woman before we get into a world of trouble.”

  Millie smiled at him from the bed. “Yes sir.”

  Henry crooked a finger at her. “Come on now.”

  Millie slowly climbed off the bed and met him at the door. Henry opened it and led her past her sister and niece on the sofa toward the front exit.

  “Bye Henry,” Maggie sang, giving him a look.

  “Good night Miss Maggie and little Miss Amber,” Henry said on his way to the door.

  Millie smirked at her sister as Henry held her hand and they walked out to his car. At the vehicle, he turned to her.

  “I’ll pick you up after work to practice,” Henry told her.

  “I’ll be ready,”

  Henry kissed her forehead. “Good night Millie.”

  “Good night Henry.” Millie watched until he drove away before heading back inside. Her sister sat sprawled on the coach while the baby now played on the floor.

  “Little Honey’s got herself a man. A fine one too,” her sister taunted. “Looks like Amber won’t be the only baby running around here.”

  Millie frowned and started towards the kitchen. “I’m not like you.”

  “You’re no better than me Honey and you’re little Henry only wants one thing, to get the panties.”

  Millie turned back to her. “Henry is not your concern.”

  “Don’t fool yourself, Henry is a man and there’s nothing special about him,” Maggie yelled.

  “Why don’t you focus on taking care of Amber?” Millie snapped.

  The door opened and their mother entered frowning at the pair. “What is going on in here? I could hear you as soon as I hit the stairs.”

  “Honey’s making babies in your house!” Maggie accused.

  Her mother turned to her in surprise.

  “I had a guest over to visit,” Millie explained. “Nobody wa
s making babies.”

  “You were in your bedroom with the door closed for a long time,” Maggie accused.

  Their mother frowned. “Honey?”

  Millie fumed. “Nothing happened.” She turned to her sister. “I told you, I’m not like you!”

  Her mother watched as Millie ran off to her room. “Get that baby and put her to bed,” she ordered Maggie who reluctantly got up from her place on the couch. After watching her daughter pick up the baby and walk towards her bedroom, Millie’s mother went to see her youngest daughter.

  Knocking softly on the door, she entered finding Millie on the bed. Gina Gaines took a seat on the edge of her daughter’s bed and rubbed a hand down her back.

  “Honey?” she called. “Baby what’s going on? Who is this man?”

  Millie turned and faced her mother. “His name is Henry Patterson and he works at the Ford Motor Company.”

  Gina saw the glow on her daughter’s face. “How did you meet him?”

  “He came to my games,” Millie explained. “And we spent time together at a house party.”

  “Does he treat you nice?”

  Millie smiled. “Henry is a gentleman.”

  “He says he wants to court me,” she finished.

  Gina looked surprised. “Really? How old is he?”

  “He’s twenty but he’s very mature,” Millie told her. “He has a job, his own apartment and a car.”

  “He sounds very mature.”

  Millie flushed. “I can’t believe he likes me. He says I’m really pretty.”

  Gina touched her daughter’s face. “You’re beautiful Honey. Your Daddy told you every day.”

  Millie smiled sadly. “I miss him so much.”

  “He’d be so proud of you,” Gina whispered. “I’m sorry I’ve missed your games.”

  “I know you have to work Momma. It’s okay.”

  “I know how much they mean to you and I’ve proud of you too,” Gina hugged her daughter.

  “Thank you Momma,” Millie returned her embrace. “I’m sorry for arguing with Maggie. She makes me so mad.” Millie pulled back and looked at her.

  “It’s not easy being a mother Millie. You’ll see when you have a daughter of your own.” Gina shook her head. “Sometimes you can do everything you can for them, but they choose their own way.”