Hiding The Truth

Getting Going

Lila looked wistfully at her ribbon skirts and moccasins. She had kept them wrapped in tissue in a hatbox as a memento of her Red origins, but she didn't quite dare wear them to the ceremony tonight. Nita would be fit to be tied, and more importantly, with her dark looks it would destroy any semblance of passing as White.

She didn't have loads of nice clothes, but she selected a denim skirt and a fitted blouse with a low neckline for the evening's festivities. It would be warm in the crowded Monument Park during the day, and the outfit would be perfect for dancing later on. Nita had agreed to bring Junior home after the ice cream social so Lila could enjoy herself. It had been so long since she had done anything remotely akin to fun Nita had insisted she take some time for herself. It was unlike her, Lila knew, and she was grateful for her mother's generosity.

Powdered, primped, and perfumed, Lila and Nita met Cam at the door with Junior in his Sunday best, which was really just a button-down shirt and pair of khaki pants with his favorite boots peeking out from underneath.

"You ladies are looking lovely today! And who is this little scrounger?" Cam said, reaching to shake hands with Junior.

"I'm Anthony Marlowe Hunt Junior, but mostly people just call me Junior because that's a mouthful," the child answered. "Who are you?"

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Junior. I'm your mother's friend. My name is Campbell Wallace Stuart, but mostly people call me Cam, because my name is a mouthful too." His eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Cam, this is my mother, Nita Greaves," Lila introduced, remembering her manners through the haze of warmth that flooded her body watching the lean Scot.

He bowed. Actually bowed. If nothing else, no one could say Campbell Stuart was anything less than perfectly charming.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Stuart," Nita said.

"Let's get this show on the road," he said, holding the door open for the ladies as Junior dashed past him to squirm his way onto the upholstered seats of the large car.

"Lila tells me you're a writer for the newspaper. Clearly journalism hasn't left you wanting." Nita appreciated the trappings of success even if she did drive a fifteen year old car. She'd ridden a buckboard wagon to school with ten other Red children growing up, so she figured even her used Ford was a step up in the world, even if she would have liked a newer, better one.

"I get by," Cam said simply.

"Oh I do like a modest gentleman." Nita smiled and Lila could hear the humor in her voice. "Lila here will be driving a Cadillac before you know it the way she talks, with her new job and everything."

"Oh?" Cam raised an eyebrow.

Nita chattered on about Lila's big opportunity with the Organization. She still wasn't happy about he daughter's decision to take the job, but Lila was obviously going to do whatever she thought would change their fortunes for the better, so why make it more difficult? There was no point letting her leave thinking Nita was angry with her. And maybe if Mr. Stuart was impressed with her, he would make a suitable replacement for Tony in their lives and Lila would stay home and marry him.