Affection
"The characters are not just names on a page, but real people with complex layers, making their journey a compelling read." -- Goodreads Reader Review
Chapter 1
Little Rock, Arkansas
January 23, 1959
Joanna Gardner’s telephone rang at seven-thirty on Friday evening, and her heart surprisingly kicked up a beat. Oh, for goodness' sake, it’s just a phone call. However, the only telephone calls she received at home were business-related, and none of them came in the evening. Could it be Junior calling?
The telephone rang three times before she picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Joanna, it’s Junior. Is this a good time to call?”
“Yes, of course.”
She sat on her love seat and persuaded her heartbeat to slow and her voice to remain calm. It had been a week since he’d asked for her telephone number. When she interviewed him at the Colbert & Colbert Little Rock law office about Charles Winston before she began painting Mr. Winston’s portrait, she first thought Junior flirted with her. However, he hadn’t impressed her as a smart aleck, and she reconsidered her opinion. She recalled how, during the interview, she had learned more about Junior than the man she had questioned him about.
When she’d asked him why people called him Junior as a grown man, he revealed his full name was Broderick Adam Neale, Jr., and explained what an impossible moniker that was for a kid. So, he’d grown up with everyone calling him Junior.
That day, she’d sensed they both felt the undeniable attraction between them. When he mentioned having dinner sometime, they exchanged business cards. But soon afterward, convincing her fluttering heart to behave, she decided that if he ever phoned her, she’d make some excuse not to go on a date with him. She normally was not a helpless person, but Junior easily caused her to become weak and susceptible to his notions. Now, he asked her a question.
“What’s your favorite kind of food?”
“My what?” Her agitation notched up. What kind of question was that?
“I want to take you out to dinner tomorrow night where you can have something you like. So, what’s your favorite food?”
“Oh, well, that’s considerate of you. I’m quite eclectic in my selection of food. My choices are wide-ranging as long as they’re healthy.”
“Good. Then, where we’ll go will be a surprise for you.”
Even on the telephone, his charms managed to captivate her senses. In her mind’s eye, she could see his smile as he spoke—and that dimple winking at her from his left cheek. She was quiet for a moment, trying to put together words to refuse this dinner date with Junior. Instead, all she could say was, “I don’t like surprises.”
“I assume you’re used to knowing ahead of time how things will go.”
“Yes.”
“Well, this time, trust me. You’ll be pleased. May I pick you up at six-thirty?”
“Yes.”
“And may I have your address? Your business card didn’t include that.”
She found her voice long enough to give him her address.
“Thanks. See you tomorrow evening.”
“Can you at least tell me how I should dress for this mystery dinner location?”
“Okay. Dress as you would for church. You do go to church, don’t you?”
“Yes, I go to church!” He had provoked her irritation…again.
“See you tomorrow. Bye.”
He hadn’t waited for her to reply but abruptly ended the conversation. Ooooh! How Junior could fluster her. And she had accepted the dinner date with him as she’d been determined not to do!
Later, when Joanna dressed for bed and slipped beneath the covers, she recalled the day she’d met Junior at his office. Of all the men she’d been near in the law office that day, only Junior had claimed her attention so strongly. What was it about him that had allured her the moment she entered his office? She drifted off to sleep, recalling Junior’s smile and that dimple it teased from his left cheek.
The next evening when Joanna prepared for her dinner date with Junior, she continued to scold herself for being in the position of going out with him. But her date with him was of her own doing because she foolishly didn’t refuse his invitation. At the closet, she pushed the clothes hangers aside with more force than necessary. Finally, she chose a burgundy skirt suit from several others of various colors in her closet, along with a red, draped-collar silk blouse.
In a few minutes, fully dressed in her selection, she stood before the dresser mirror, turning this way and that, making sure her appearance was perfect. Why did she even care how she looked? She certainly wasn’t trying to impress Junior Neale! She’d get this evening over with as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, she checked to make sure her blonde hair was tightly secure in the back, then slipped her feet into her high heels.
Junior arrived promptly at six-thirty dressed in an expensive dark suit, gold cufflinks peeking out from his jacket sleeves. He wore an attractive pastel blue necktie with a muted dark stripe running through it. His black dress shoes shone like new money.
“Hey, there. You ready?” he greeted her when she opened the door, the seductive, musky aroma of his aftershave drifting over her.
His attractive appearance rendered her almost speechless; however, she swallowed and then nodded, “Yes, I am.”
He helped her into the light coat she held. She grabbed her small purse from a nearby table and closed the door behind her. With a touch of his hand at the small of her back, he guided her to his car and opened the passenger side door. Once safely inside, she admired his silver Chevrolet Impala as he slowly walked around the front of the car and slid onto the driver’s side of the seat.
Before starting the engine, he gazed into her eyes. “You look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you.” Just his eyes locking with hers altered her ability to speak. Thank you! Is that all she could say? As he drove away from the curb, she stared straight ahead through the windshield. Then she stole glances at Junior as he concentrated on his driving. Despite a scattering of gray hair at his temples, he probably wasn’t too much older than she was, maybe in his late thirties. The premature graying added to his captivating appeal. Finally regaining her composure, she offered, “You look quite handsome yourself.”
“Thanks. Did you paint today?”
Oh, he knew how to distract her by asking about her life’s passion. “Saturday is the one day I don’t ever plan to paint so that I can do the normal things of living—laundry, cleaning house, grocery shopping—you know, necessary things. But sometimes I do get some time to paint on Saturdays. Not today, however, since I had other plans this evening.”
“And I’m glad you did.”
She knew Little Rock well and soon decided he drove toward the country club. Did he think tonight was special? Or maybe he was a regular Saturday night customer in the club’s dining room. Arriving at his destination, Junior chose valet parking. He left the engine running as he exited the car and came around to her side to help her get out before the attendant drove the car away.
Inside, the country club’s large dining room had impressive soft chandelier lighting and pleasant tinkling piano music in the background. The waiter seated them at a table nestled in a quiet corner with a view of the partially filled room. He laid menus in front of them and left.
In a few minutes, Junior inquired, “See something you’d like?”
“Yes, I’d like the broiled salmon with a baked sweet potato, garden salad with blue cheese dressing on the side, and sweet tea.”
When the waiter returned, he set glasses of iced water before them. “Are you ready to order?”
“Yes,” Junior answered. “The lady will have the broiled salmon, a salad with blue cheese dressing on the side, and a baked sweet potato. And I’ll have the rib eye, well done, salad with ranch dressing, and a baked potato. Two sweet teas to drink.”
The waiter jotted down their order. “Very well.” He collected their menus and later brought their drinks.
“You do eat healthy,” Junior commented.
“Yes, I try to. I love shopping at the farmers’ market in the spring and summer when I can get fresh fruit and vegetables.”
“I bet you’re a good cook.”
“Yes, I am. Or at least I cook well for myself.”
“Do you rent the place you live?”
She tried to decide whether to classify his question as nosy or showing interest. “I rent my tiny apartment.” Then she turned the question to him: “And what about your living accommodations?”
“I live in a rented apartment. Don’t need a house till I get ready to settle down.”
“And when will that be?” Oh, goodness! Why had she questioned him about such?
He took a sip of his sweet tea, looking at her over the rim of his glass. Finally, he set down the glass and replied, “When the woman comes into my life that I want beside me while we grow old.”
“So, this woman will just appear, and you’ll know she’s the one? You’re not searching, but only waiting for her to magically show up?”
He leaned toward her across the table and gave her one of his taunting smiles. At that moment, the waiter appeared, preventing Junior from answering her question. Why had she even asked him such a silly thing? What did she care about who or what he waited for? Maybe she should let him do the talking and be just a silent little woman till this evening was over. That would be inconsistent with her forthright personality, but she could try.
Later, after consuming their meal and a light dessert, they lingered over coffee. Joanna had spoken little throughout the meal, even though he had coaxed her with more questions. Activity began on the other side of the dining room, where a small band set up.
“It’s our lucky night,” Junior teased. “Live music.”
She smiled in reply.
When the band struck up their first number, a slow one, Junior stood and extended his hand to her. “Want to dance?”
“No, I’d rather sit and listen to the music.”
He stepped closer. “Where else would you rather be on a Saturday night than dancing to live music in a beautiful room…with me?”
wwwww
Rage stormed through her like liquid fire. He’d done okay until he added with me. She looked around her. How could she gracefully exit the now-full room? She couldn’t.
“Joanna?”
She smacked her hand onto his outstretched palm. One dance, then she’d ask him to take her home. One dance.
Copyright 2024 Jo Huddleston