In the time I was gone, mom had made a lot of friends around the city of Dayton. Becoming a town council member, she knew pretty much everybody. The service was already set up curtesy of the town. The only out of towners were myself and a few of dad’s Army brothers that knew my mom. Of course, the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel was there. They were the ones who took me twelve years ago.
The church was filling up with a lot of people but not the person I was hoping to see most. Where was she?
“Mr. Winters? It’s time we started.”
I looked at the pastor I remember growing up with here in Dayton and I nodded my head for him to proceed.
I sat in the front row looking ahead at the 16x20 framed pictured of my mother. She was beautiful. I couldn’t believe her life was cut so short. She’d never get to see me get married or have children. It would happen one day. Didn’t think it would have taken this long, but things just never seemed to work out my way.
Soft music began playing in the background as the pastor talked about her life and how she was such a Godsend to our little county.
It was about thirty minutes in when I heard commotion in the back. I turned to see a man standing in front of Mrs. Summers and a woman who must be Evony. Why was he not letting them pass? The service was interrupted and although I didn’t hear anything, I could hear a heated argument happening with the shorter Summers woman.
Evony.
I needed to get a good look at her. I got up, and the pastor came to me, laid a hand on my arm, stopping me from going to her.
“Excuse me?”
“Gavin. We don’t need their ilk in here ruining a beautiful service.”
“Their ilk? That woman was my best friend growing up. I suggest you get your hands off me before I remove them and hurt something in the process.”
What the fuck was going on? Pastor Mike looked somewhat upset but instead of continuing the argument, he snapped his fingers and the man in the back turned to look at him.
“Let them through.”
“But—
“But nothing. If you don’t let them through, I will break your hand.”
“Gavin, you’re in church. And your mother’s funeral. What would she say?”
“She’d be proud that I’m sticking up for someone I care about. What is the problem here?”
The pastor refused to say anything and that’s when I heard a throaty, made for sex voice speak.
“Sorry we’re so late. I knew it was a mistake even coming here.”
I turned and looked down at the most beautiful creature God ever created. Jesus.
She was stunning. She wasn’t tall, but she was all curves. Her hair, braided and resting over one shoulder showed off a long bare neck and I could see her pulse thumping frantically against the silky skin. Unlike my dark tan, she was still snow white pale. Light makeup adorned her face. She looked fresh and more alive than anything I’ve ever seen. Her eyes still the same light crystal blue and almond shaped. She grew into her eyes.
“I missed you, Evony.” And while I hadn’t meant it to, it came out breathless. She was absolutely beautiful.
Her brows shot up high and she scoffed in denial. “Don’t worry, Gavin. I’m here out of respect to your mother. No niceties needed. We’ll just take our seats in the back.”
“No. I have your seats right next to me. You were closest to her growing up. She’d want you right next to me.”
She looked at her mother, who just rolled her eyes and shrugged. There must be something I was missing. And somehow, it was making me angry.
“Sure she would.” She said, scoffing. “Let’s just sit down so the good teacher can continue. We are sorry we came so late.”
Her jaw clenched as her eyes shifted to her mother. Ah. That’s why they were late. Her mother.
I put a smile on my face and gestured for her mother to sit down, and I put my hand on the small of Evony’s back, trying to lead her but she stepped away, sitting next to her mother.
What the hell was going on? I sat down next her, hoping she’d try to look my way, but her eyes stayed forward. Her eyes were hard and unwavering.
I bent down and whispered, “I missed you, Evony.”
Nothing. No awareness of me. No rapidly beating pulse anymore. I knew mine was beating hard in my chest. I hadn’t seen her in over a decade and she looked sexy, sweet and stunning.
But her stiff-like attitude made her look like a mannequin.
Then she rotated her shoulders and shifted closer to her mother. Now that was pissing me off. It wasn’t like I was some lecher. I looked up and around to the other guests, some who had some tears in their eyes, but most had their stares on me. Or not me, but on Evony. And they weren’t of the friendly kind.
I hooked my arm around the back pew behind her. Surrounding her with my support. Whatever the hell was going on and me not knowing about it made my hackles rise. No one was going to bully her. She was my best friend. Surely she knew everything I did, I did for her. Even though I never came home. The money and few letters I sent surely must have meant something.
So I scooted over until my side was touching hers completely and I said, “Why the hell is everyone looking at you weird?”
Then her eyes narrowed and she looked over her shoulder at the people in the room. A snicker flew passed her lips and she look forward once more.
“Maybe being so close to you offends them?”
“Why would it? You’re a close friend. Were my best friend.”
“Were being the word of the day. And I’m not a close friend. I’m just a girl you once knew. Don’t pretend otherwise, Gavin.”
“Bullshit.”
That finally got a reaction. I said it loud enough she wasn’t the only one who gasped. I knew a small growl vibrated in my throat as I got close enough only she could hear, “I know you. Time can’t change that, Evony.”
Then she turned her body fully to the side so her face was looking at mine straight on.
It didn’t take me long to notice something was very wrong with this picture. No carefree light dangled in her eyes. They just looked…dead. This wasn’t my Evony. Something changed.
It wasn’t because she grew up and fuck me, did she grow up nice. Like dick hardening nice. Which would be totally wrong, but then it’s been twelve years. Time could change things around. Could change a man’s feelings. Because I can promise you this, the things I was thinking about were hardly brotherly. Her lips were full and supple. Begging to be bitten and nipped at. Only a few freckles spotted her cheeks. She looked young. Her hair like black silk. What I wouldn’t give to run my fingers through those masses. I knew she wore that braid for me.
I always braided her hair when she came and stayed over, anything to get away from her arguing parents. Brushing her hair relaxed her and when I braided it, it was just something I did.
“You don’t know anything about me. Don’t act all friendly to me. I’m only here to pay my respects. Not to reminisce about so called friendships. Don’t. Just don’t, Gavin.”
She stopped me when I was going to interrupt, but I looked up to see the pastor, who had a disapproving look on his face making me keep silent.
For now at least.
I don’t know what the fuck is everybody’s damn problem, especially Evony but before I left Dayton, I would get answers.
“We’re not finished.”
“Oh, yes, Gavin Winters. We are. We were finished twelve years ago when you left me broken and alone.” Not one crack in her hard voice. And something inside my chest splintered. The hell?
My head jerked back. The shock that she’d actually think I’d leave her willingly astounded me.
“Like hell.”
“I’m already there.” She got up, grabbed her mother and began walking around when I grabbed her bicep gently.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to work tonight.” She yanked her arm out of mine and said, “Not that it’s any of your damn business, Winters.”
Then like a cloud of dust, she left, towing her mother after her. Work? She had to work when it was my mother’s funeral? What happened to her?
That question burned in my brain and it seemed with their exit, the tension that had surrounded the room dissipated. It didn’t take long after that when I stood up and everybody came and gave me their condolences. The younger women looked at me with eagerness and flirtatiousness. But none of them got my blood boiling like Evony had.
Only myself and a handful of people were allowed to go to the cemetery. Afterwards, I was ready for a cool drink. My two mentors followed me to this dive back in Dayton.
“Here’s to Mary and Daniel. May they rest in peace and live happily ever after.”
We clinked our classes and drank to my mother. The bar was crowded and some youngsters, probably no more than twenty came up to the bar.
“Dude, let’s go to Gentleman’s Fancy.”
Gentleman’s Fancy? Why did that sound familiar?
“Oh, hells yeah. Black Beauty is performing tonight.”
“Damn, what I wouldn’t give to tap that.”
“She’s fucking hot. Long black hair she keeps in a braid, eyes blue like diamonds. And her body? Damn. Those tats on her are hot as fuck.”
Long, black braided hair? Eyes like diamonds? Why did that sound like Evony? And what the hell is Gentleman’s Fancy.
“Excuse me?”
One boy looked over, half drunk and half day dreaming.
“What’s up, man?”
“What’s Gentleman’s Fancy?”
“You must be new. It’s a strip club.”
“Dude, it’s a freaking sex club. What the women will do for money is insane. And Black Beauty? She’s the hottest one of them all.”
No. That couldn’t be my Evony. None of her earlier sass was going to keep me away from seeing her again but shit. That’s when it hit me. Gentleman’s Fancy was the same fucking club her mother worked at. This shit wasn’t happening.
The boys laughed on their way out the door and I laid a bill down on the table.
“What are you doing, Gavin?”
“Don’t worry about what I’m doing.”
“Son, you don’t need to go there.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“Your commanding officer, Major.”
“Not today you’re not. And if they are even describing who I think they are—
“They are, Gavin.”
“What?”
“She works there. Has been for quite some time.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. Don’t. I’ll see for myself.”
I tore out of that bar, one mission burning in my mind.
Evony.
Stripping.
Taking her clothes off for men’s pleasure. Other men’s pleasure.
My stomach felt queasy and I was just about ready to throw up the beer I just had. No way. Nope. Not my Evony. She had no place in a disgusting strip club. She was everything sweet, innocent and pure. She had no reason to be working there.
Not after everything I went through. Everything I sent her should have kept her at least comfortable enough to be able to just work some office job while going to college or something. She was smart as hell and had to have went to on to graduate high school in the top of her class and then on to college.
Right?