RHAPSODY IN BLUE

ACT 6: SHADE AND COMEUPPANCE

Rhonda took a deep drag on her cigarette, as she looked up at Harry's apartment window.

His sheer curtains revealed the silhouette of two figures embracing lovingly.

"Bitch..." she hissed and dropped it to the ground crushing it beneath her designer heel.

She couldn't tell who she was, but she was as sure as she wasn't really a blond, she would find out...

~~~

It was Sunday evening and Harry and Eva had spent the enitre weekend together. The ate in bed, made love, and spoke about their future together.

Harry seemed optimistic.

"We could go to France!" he said excitedly.

"They don't care if you're colored over there.  We could settle down together in Paris, and nobody would give us a second look...   Listen Eva, I've been saving up anyways.  I almost have enough, so we can buy a nice cottage and start a family, over there.  No more crooks, no more hoods, no more greasing out marks who I don't even know  deserve it."

"It's a nice dream."  she replied.

Eva nuzzled his chest, imagining herself singing in some glamorous French nightclub.

He sighed deeply.

"I have'ta meet with Halliday tomorrow. I'm gonna to try 'an collect all that dough, he's had on reserve for me."

Eva lifted her head to look at his face, with obvious concern.

"What if he says no?"

"Well, then...   If that happens, I'll just take what I have and we'll go to France, anyway.  With your pipes, we could start over easy."

She sighed, while she played with the sparse hair on his chest, not truly believing that any of it was possible.  It did make for a nice dream though, so she refused to break the love-drunk spell... 

"Sure, babe."

~~~

"The next morning Eva woke up early to go to work. She showered and got dressed in the work-clothes, Harry had purchased for her and then she kissed Harry goodbye.

"It's okay if we have to make it work here.  Please, be careful today." she said seriously, as she smoothed his lapels.

"Don't worry, babe. I'm always careful." he said,  fingering the brim of his hat. He leaned in and planted one last sweet kiss on her lush mouth and then watched her turn to leave.

She left the building and walked briskly down the street towards her job. Harry peeked out of his window and watched her go as a furrow creased his brow.

~~~

Rhonda had stayed in her car all night, waiting to see who this floozy was that was shacking up with Harry.

Her breath caught when she saw her, and she hicked like she might throw up.

"It's that, that tar-bitch!!" she said, completely floored.

She gripped her steering wheel tightly, hurting her palms. She shook with anger.  Just who did he think he was dropping a prize like herself for some back-alley nigress!

She sat there for bit, figuring out her next step.  Eventually, she started her caddie and peeled out into the street.   

She was going to Rudy's place.