Speak Low (Speak Easy 2)

“What time is it?” I demanded in a whisper, jumping off the sofa. My muscles and joints felt stiff, as if I had been curled in one position for hours.

“Oh!” She whirled on me and put a hand to her heart. “You scared me! What are you doing down here?”

“Waiting for you. You were supposed to be home by eleven. What time is it?”

“Uh, about midnight?”

“About?”

“Maybe a little after?” She started laughing and clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, I know I’m late and you’re mad, but you look so funny with those rags going every which way on your head. Did Mary Grace do it?”

“Yes. Now, where were you? And don’t tell me you were at the movie theater all this time.”

“I—I wasn’t.”

“So? Where were you?”

“After the movie, we were going to go out for ice cream but the shop had closed early or something. The entire block was dark.”

“Electricity went out.”

“Right. So we just drove around a bit and then…parked.”

“Parked?” Immediately the image of Enzo and I in the front seat of his Packard lodged, unwanted, in my mind.

She sighed. “Yes, OK? Parked. Please don’t lecture me. I had such a wonderful night and I didn’t do anything to be ashamed of, and for once, I didn’t have Mary Grace around to bug me or tease me or tattle. Daddy’s car isn’t here, so he’s not home and he doesn’t have to know.”

“Unless I tell him.”

She gripped the banister with two hands. “Please don’t, Tiny! I’m being honest with you, aren’t I? I could lie and say we were at someone’s house or at a party…but I’m not. I was alone with Chet, in his car, and I was safe.”

I held back a sarcastic response, because it wouldn’t do any good. I didn’t want to argue with her about what was and wasn’t safe when you went parking with a boy. And based on our conversation yesterday, she knew more than I thought she did about what boys want from a girl in the dark. And what girls want too. I took a deep breath.

“Listen, Molly. I’m glad you had a nice time, and I appreciate knowing the truth about where you were. I’m going to trust that you know right from wrong and that you’re aware of what can happen if a girl gets a reputation. I know it’s not fair, the boy should have the reputation too,” I said when I saw her about to protest, “but that’s just the way it is. The more important thing is, you had a curfew and you disobeyed it.”

“Not on purpose! We just lost track of time,” she whined. “Please don’t punish me for it, Tiny. Just let me have this one night, please. I’ll never do it again, I promise. I’ll—“

At the sound of a light knock on the front door, we both gasped. She rushed off the steps and we clutched one another’s arms. “Who could that be this late at night?” she whispered.

“I don’t know. Maybe Daddy forgot his key?”

Whoever it was knocked lightly again, and then pushed the door open.

“Hello?” The voice was deep and familiar. A face appeared.

“Joey, you scared us half to death!” Molly scolded.

“Sorry. I was out this way, and I saw the light on.” He came in and shut the door behind him. His suit and hat were wet, but even so, the sight of him quickened my pulse. He took off his fedora and met my eyes. “I wanted to talk to you.”

Frantically, I tried to position my arms so they covered as much of my bare skin as possible. My usual nightgown wasn’t dry, so I’d put on an old eyelet-trimmed chemise, which had thin straps, a low neckline, and didn’t even reach my knees. I crossed my arms and legs and covered one bare foot with the other, but not before I noticed Joey stealing a glance at my chest.

“What were you doing over here at this hour?” I asked.

“Dropping Rosie off.”

“Oh.” Jealousy flared in my gut. “Molly, you go on up,” I said to my sister. “We can continue our discussion tomorrow.”

“Or not.” She scurried up the stairs. “We could just forget about it. That’s fine, too.”