the back of the stage, up the side of the dance patch, and into the light again. Billy didnât ask Maud to dance, but a couple of other boys did. She turned them down, watched Lovely dancing with Gilda through two songs, and then she and Billy walked down Lee Street into the dark. They made a stop at the back end of a car. Then they sat on the front steps of a lawyerâs office, drank choc beer, and smoked cigarettes. Eventually, they fell to necking as, even to Maud, that seemed to be the only thing left to do.
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She awoke the next morning thinking about Booker in jail. Her father had spent many a night with the sheriff and was, in her estimation, safer behind bars than out. So while still on her cot, she convinced herself that a night on a feather mattress probably hadnât produced any hardship on Booker beyond humiliation and that the danger to him would pass for lack of evidence. Bookerâs being guilty didnât even cross Maudâs mind.
When she finally got up and let the chickens out, they scattered like shot from a barrel. She pumped water, went back in, lit the fire, and started making biscuits. Her father was still snoring. Lovely came in the kitchen door from his time outside. He slid between the wall and the table and said, âHowâd you get home?â
âWith Aunt Nan and Uncle Ryde.â
âWhereâd you go?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âWell, you disappeared. You were dancing and never came back.â
Maud turned from the cabinet, flour on her hands. âI did come back. I watched you and Gilda for quite a while. Make any progress?â
Lovely looked to the other room and then back to Maud. âI think I did.â
She turned back to the counter and took up her rolling pin, thinking Lovely would keep talking. But he didnât. So, finally, while cutting biscuits, Maudâs curiosity overtook her, and she said, âWhat makes you think you made progress?â
âShe danced with me all night. Even when Charles Howell headed to cut in, she waved him off.â
âI thought she dated Charles in school?â
âShe did.â
âWhat else?â
âWhat do you mean, âWhat else?ââ
Maud was cutting the dough quite deliberately. She twisted with added pressure. âThis is like pulling teeth. What else makes you think you made progress?â
Blood came up into Lovelyâs ears. âNot what you think.â
âHow do you know what I think?â
Lovely looked to the other room again. Then he said, âAre you gonna take forever with the biscuits?â
âYou may not get any biscuits unless I get some details.â
âA decent man doesnât tell.â
Maud looked around at Lovely, widening her eyes for effect. She slipped the biscuit pan into the oven and then sat down at the table. She looked to the main room, confirmed that her daddy was still asleep, and said in a whisper, âYou didnât . . . ?â
âI did not.â Lovely acted indignant.
âDonât pretend.â
âIâm not pretending. We didnât.â
âI didnât think you did. But donât pretend you didnât want to.â
âIâm not pretending anything.â Lovely spread his hands.
âThen what was âA decent man doesnât tellâ all about?â
âI was just piquing your interest. I know how you like to run your imagination.â
âI do not!â
âThen why are you asking?â
âThatâs half the fun of a dance. Talking about it later.â
Lovely shook his head and swatted the air like he was going after a fly. He looked once again toward his fatherâs bed and then leaned into the table. âThe thing is, Gildaâs a Christian. She wonât do anything but kiss.â
Maud straightened her back and looked at Lovely with a wrinkle between her eyes. âThereâs nothing wrong with not being