Page 22 of Kiss Me at Midnight
Grandma Dotty was all ears, as was Marta, who softened her brush strokes.
“It was a horrid place.” Rachel shuddered.
“It wasn’t. It isn’t.” Lily was as sure of it today as she’d been back then. “The women and children there are down on their luck, that’s all.” Their clothes and haircuts weren’t to Rachel’s upper class standards.
“We spent the next day in Central Park, dancing for change and flirting with guys.” Rachel glossed over things like worry and thirst, making it sound like one big adventure.
Lily wondered if Rachel was going to gloss over everything. Apprehension knotted her stomach. She didn’t want the details of that day to be aired in front of her grandmother. The family had protected Grandma Dotty from learning the truth. But given what Jud had told her about Rachel today, Lily was curious about her take on what had happened.
“The most adorable guy gave us a flyer.” Rachel’s mouth tipped up in one corner, as if remembering a sweet moment in the midst of all the unpleasantness. “He told us they were looking for cage dancers for a pop-up party that night. He said we could make hundreds in tips.”
“Is cage dancing like cage fighting?” Grandma Dotty’s ears perked up. “He invited you to a dance-off?”
“No,” Lily blurted. “I didn’t want to go.”
“But I wasn’t going to spend another night in that shelter. I wanted money for a hotel.” Rachel’s voice sharpened. “So we went and–”
“And that’s where you left me,” Lily choked out. “Enough said.”
Rachel’s chill gaze settled on Lily as her chin came up. “It was fine at first. We got money just for dancing. The cage was latched and the guys were polite.”
“That’s enough.” Lily didn’t want to hear anymore. Her breath came in ragged gasps just remembering.
“Other girls left as the night wore on.” Rachel’s blue eyes glittered. “But I wanted more money, so we stayed.”
“And then you left me,” Lily repeated, wanting her to stop.
“Lily,” Grandma Dotty’s expression was soft and loving, and Lily desperately didn’t want her grandmother to hear any more.
“And then guys began reaching through the bars,” Rachel said in an emotionless voice. “Grabbing. Tearing at our clothes and hair.”
Grandma Dotty gasped.
“Stop, Rachel. Stop.” Lily wheezed the words past the chokehold fear had on her throat. “Your scaring my grandmother.”
“You’re upsetting Lily.” Grandma Dotty carefully climbed out of the pedicure chair. “And now I understand why Lily stopped being your friend, Rachel, because you left her there.”
“Everybody stop talking. I made it home safe and sound.” Lily pushed the lie into the universe, amazed as she always was that lightning didn’t strike her down.
“As did I,” Rachel said in that hard voice. “I had to convince some dude he’d get lucky if he brought me home. The doorman at our building let me in and turned him away.” Rachel shook her head. “And then I wondered if Lily made it home safely.”
“We’re here today, talking about bridesmaid dresses and wedding hairstyles.” Lily caught Marta’s eye, trying to plead for an assist. “What do you suggest, Marta? I’m open for anything.”
Marta hesitated, glancing toward Rachel, who was still not at a loss for words.
“Open to anything? Maybe you used to be.” Rachel gave a little mirthless laugh. “I’ve watched your political career, Lily. You always look and act as if the only way you can serve New York is by fitting in to the establishment, by not threatening anyone, including with your appearance. That’s not open to anything.” Rachel unlocked her arms and unfurled her legs. “And being so closed up keeps men outside of touching distance. It’s ironic how we went through something similar and came out the other side impacted differently.”
We did not go through something similar!
Lily had to unclench her jaw to defend herself, to deflect and diffuse. “I’m not going to be taken seriously in politics if I dress like I’m clubbing. Don’t make my wardrobe choices more than it is.” But Rachel could probably see how close to the truth she’d come.
“Wardrobe?” Rachel gave a shout of laughter. “Honey, I’m talking about the whole enchilada. All that repression, all that hiding of who you truly are must be weighing on you. You forget that I know you’ve got a tattoo.”
“Lily has no such thing.” Grandma Dotty put her hands on her hips.
There went that secret. “Actually, Grandma Dotty, I do have a tattoo.” Just inside her hip where no one would ever see it, even when she wore a bathing suit. She’d gotten inked just before their purses had been stolen.
“Maybe I should get one,” her grandmother mused.
