Chapter 1 continued

The next morning Delilah slept late and then spent the afternoon unpacking her clothes. The following day she received a call from Anna. They spoke for several minutes about her trip, how the girls were doing and how the house was shaping up. They agreed to meet the following evening for dinner at a nearby club. Delilah was excited to see her friend and get out on the town. It had been a long time since she had a night out. While she was married she rarely went out and even after the girls were born she only went out without her father or Jim.

                On the evening of her night out with Anna she helped get the girls ready for bed and then read them a story before returning to her room to dress. She chose a black sleeveless silk gown with a deep V-neck decorated with black and gold sequins. The hem had a scalloped cut reaching just below the knee, but part of the skirt was sheer with gold embroidery. She braided her long ash blonde curly hair around the front of her head and wrapped around the back. With the remaining tail of her hair she pinned into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She finished the look off with a gold head chain. She kept her makeup simple with black eye liner, pink blush and red lip rogue.

                Delilah stood in front of the mirror satisfied with her appearance. She slipped on her usual gold bracelet and gold earrings, and then her high heels. She checked her the clock realizing she was running a bit late. She slipped on her velvet fringe shawl and ran down stairs where Jim helped her on with her coat and drove her over to the club. Jim offered to stay, but she insisted on him leaving. She didn’t need him hovering.

                After checking her coat, Delilah walked down the hall to the club, but wasn’t paying attention as she slipped her coat tag into her purse. She ran right into the gentlemen walking in front of her.

                “Oh I apologize mister. I wasn’t paying attention.” Delilah said as the man turned to look at her. He was average height with broad shoulders. His dark wavy hair was parted to the side. He had square masculine jaw, but a boyish face. The only thing that gave his age away were the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled. She guessed he was in his late thirties, possibly forty. When he turned to her he smiled, but it didn’t quite meet his deep brown eyes.

                “That’s alright Miss?” He ended the sentence with a question, obviously wanting her name. He had a pleasant voice, steady, calm and completely controlled. He seemed to choose his words just right, even with something as simple as Miss.

                “Delilah Monroe, pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She replied as he took her hand.

                “The pleasure is mine. My name is Bernard Reinhard. Your accent is southern?”

                “Texas.” She replied.

                “And what brings you to New York?” He soothing voice urged her on.

                “I just moved here, got into town just a couple of days ago. I’m a writer.”

                “Of what?”

                “Everything.” She replied with a flirty smile.

                “And you moved here on your own?”

                “I brought my daughters with me.” She felt a little like she was being interrogated.

                “No husband?” He replied. It was a bold question, but she replied anyway.

                “He’s deceased.”

                “I’m sorry for you loss.” He replied. She hated when people said that, always assuming that the person was sad about it.

                “Thank you. I’m meeting a friend. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you joined us.” Delilah added. She found him quite attractive. He was dressed in a beautiful suit. He obviously took great care with his appearance. There was something about him that she just couldn’t put her finger on, something she knew. And his name, she was sure had heard it before, but couldn’t place it.

                His expression was serious as he looked her over.

                “Shouldn’t mothers be home this time of the evening tending to their children?” He replied flatly, obviously not joking.

                Delilah was completely offended and could not believe the man’s nerve. Nothing bothered her more than people who thought to tell mothers how to parent. She didn’t appreciate being judged. She didn’t let it show on her face. She just smiled and proceeded to walk away. She didn’t say anything in response since what he said didn’t deserve a response. She was sure he would view the action as rude, but she didn’t care. She’d been through too much in her life to waste her time on people who were going to judge her in that way. She continued into the dining hall where she spotted Anna already seated at a table.

                Anna stood to greet her. Anna was a tall red head, who was perfectly proportioned with just the right amount bosom to hip ratio, unlike Delilah who had a little too much of both. They hugged and kissed.

                “I hope I didn’t keep you long?” Delilah said as they took a seat.

                “Not at all. It’s no problem. I hope you don’t mind I ordered you a glass of champagne.” Anna replied. Prohibition might still be in effect, but places like this kept on serving, just upping the price.

                “Perfect.” Delilah said as she picked up the glass and took a sip.

                “I spotted you speaking to someone over in the hall, but I couldn’t make out who it was?” Anna asked.

                “Oh I bumped into a man because I wasn’t paying attention. A Mr. Bernard Reinhard?” His name sounded so familiar.

                “Really. Wow. What was he like?”

                “What do you mean? Do you know him?”

                “Not personally, but he’s a man like your father. You know, runs everything. He even owns this club.” Anna replied as she looked over the menu.

                Anna muttered under her breath, “Figures the first person you speak to in New York is a man like that.”

                Now Delilah knew where she had heard that name. Her father was in a business deal in Florida with multiple big business men like Reinhard. They had a combined deal to import rum through there. Her father had mentioned Reinhard when he told her about the deal. He had been impressed by the man, especially his professionalism and the way he presented himself. It was rare for her father to bestow such a compliment on any one, let alone a business associate.

Anna knew everything about Delilah’s life, and about her father. They had been friends since the first day at Wellesley College. They were roommates and neither of them fit in with the other girls. Delilah didn’t fit if for obvious reasons. Once everyone learned what kind of man her father was and how he got his money, they wanted nothing to do with her. Anna too was shunned because her family didn’t come from “old money”. Her father owned a successful publishing company that he built up all his own. Hard work was not necessarily praised in high society. They were also both English majors and were able to hide away together in their books and writing. In college they were inseparable.

                Due to their closeness there were rumors that they were more than friends. Most of that was because it had gotten around that Anna was indeed a lesbian. Delilah still remembered the day Anna confided in her, confirming the rumors. It was the first week of their junior year.

                “Delilah I have to tell you something.” Anna had said, standing in front of Delilah’s bed as Delilah sat there with her head in book. Delilah had sensed the seriousness of her friend’s statement and looked up from her book.

                “I like girls.” Anna stated just as she would say the sky was blue.

                Delilah looked at her friend and saw fear in her eyes. Anna was scared that her best friend wouldn’t approve.  She didn’t know what to say in response. She scooted off the bed and stood in front of her friend. Delilah just hugged her. She didn’t know any other way to express the fact that she would love Anna no matter what. She was like the sister she never had.

                They remained close through everything, even during the difficult years of Delilah’s marriage and after her husband’s death. Anna was even there for the birth of her daughters. She was Aunt Anna to the girls.

 

                They ordered dinner and another round of drinks. They reminisced about their college days, the summers they spend in Europe and all of the good times. There was lots of laughter. By the time they finished their meal they were both a tad bit tipsy. After paying for their meal they decided to walk back to Delilah’s house since it was a clear night and both had been dropped off.

                As they exited the club, Delilah saw Mr. Reinhard again as he was about to get into his car. Two young men were with him. She wasn’t sure if they would even be classified as men yet, they barely looked above eighteen years old. She guessed they worked for Mr. Reinhard. Her father had similar young men working for him, kids looking for a way to make some money, gain some power and hopefully get out of the situations that they had at home. Mr. Reinhard looked over at the girls, as Delilah and Anna linked arms, preparing to make the walk the few blocks home. She looked away from him without smiling, still feeling irritated by his comment. Men always liked to judge women for their choices. There weren’t laws against a single mother going out and having dinner and drinks with a friend. Her children were safe nestled in their beds, and that was the only thing that matter.

                Delilah and Anna proceeded to walk arm-in-arm down the street the few blocks to Delilah’s new home. It was chilly, but a refreshing walk. Delilah was just happy to be near her dear friend again. She was feeling hopeful of the future and that this new move was going to be good for them all.