I take the lesser of the two evils and point to Asa. “He will be takin’ me home.”
Susan hooks her purse strap through her arm, her eyes twinkling as she looks at me. “Have a pleasant evenin’, Nat.”
“Good evenin’, ladies,” I reply, pointedly evading their stares and grins.
Once they’re gone, I look up at Asa. “You don’t have to take me home.”
“I insist. If Étienne discovered I let you walk home, he would execute me.”
“One could argue that if Étienne was so worried about my transportation, he would pick me up and take me home himself.” The moment I say it, I realize that if Étienne does catch wind I’m walking with my friends, he will more than likely do just that.
I sigh. “All right. But don’t you tell Étienne how I get home each night.”
Asa lifts a brow at my bargain before he nods. “Very well.”
I gesture down the hall. “Let me get my belongins’ and we can leave.”
My heels click on the floor, falling into rhythm with my rapid beating heart. I don’t know why I’m excited. It is chivalrous what Asa is doing, but nothing else. If this was Rainey or Serene, he would drive them home as well.
He’s married now, Nathalie.
I grab my coat and purse from the sitting room, and hurry down the hall. When I see Asa is where I left him, I almost feel relief.
“Okay,” I say, “I’m ready.”
Asa turns to me; his eyes sweep me up and down. Even though his face remains impassive, his eyes nearly burn. My grip on my purse tightens. Perhaps I’m better off walking home alone.
On the way out of the building, I’m painfully aware of Asa’s presence. Even the slightest brush of his shoulder against mine makes my stomach clench. When he opens the front door for me and lets me walk in front of him, I feel the barest touch of his fingers on my back. I stop myself seconds before I gasp, although I could say it was the cool air that brought it out of me.
After working inside for eleven hours, the cool fresh air feels amazing. I close my eyes and tilt my head back.
This is why I relish walking home with my friends. We talk and laugh, and those minutes I have with them are a wonderful reprieve before it all begins again.
When I open my eyes, I find Asa intently staring at me. I exhale a shaky breath.
He’s married now, Nathalie.
Seconds later, Asa breaks eye contact. He looks around the street. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s walk.”
“But it’s a thirty-minute walk to the Lacroix House,” I protest.
“But it’s December in Charleston and there’s a nice breeze coming from The Battery. How often can we say that?”
As much as I would like to put an end to time spent alone with Asa, I can’t dispute his words. And after the day I had, I need the cool air against my skin.
“Very well. Let’s walk.”
We set off down the brick sidewalk. Streetlamps are lit, casting the streets of Charleston in a dream-like haze. Cars and horses mingle on the road. Very few people walk on the street at this time of night, and as Asa and I walk, I comfortably look at the shops closed for the night and the homes lining the street. The windows glow from within, and I can imagine how comfortable and cozy families are tucked in for the night.
After we turn the corner and head down Logan Street, I look at Asa. “They’re goin’ wonder,” I comment.
“They are?”
“Most certainly.” I clasp my hands together in front of me, and my voice goes up two octaves. “‘Nathalie, why did you leave with Mr. Calhoun?’”
A reluctant smile tugs at Asa’s lips. Just for a second. Then, he’s back to being solemn. “You tell them the truth. I’m a close family friend.”
“Then they will say I got the job because of you.”
“You did get the job because of me.” Before I have the chance to interject, Asa quickly says, “But you’re keepin’ the job because of your hard work. Do you know how many young ladies have quit or been fired?”
I look up at him. “A lot?” I offer.
“More than half.”
“Truthfully, I’m not surprised.” I sigh. “Can I tell you the truth?”
I can feel Asa’s gaze as he turns to me, waiting for me to speak.
“I meant what I said. It should be fifteen dollars a day,” I confess. “Just when you think you’ve answered all the calls, there’s twenty new calls on the switchboard. You always need to do more, more, more. And you’re expected to be brisk and intelligent while bein’ gentle and kind.” I take a deep breath. “I think it’s next to impossible.”
“Perhaps you’re right. Yet you’re accomplishin’ it,” Asa bluntly states.
That’s the closest I will get to a compliment from him.
“I once had one young lady that was terminated because she spoke far too often on the floor and was warned twice about wearin’ colored blouses.”
I would like to be surprised, but I’m not. “Louise runs a tight ship.”
“I believe generals in the Army would be proud of her,” Asa remarks.
Louise is severe and uncompromising, but she isn’t cruel. I know cruel. I lived with cruel. I can spot it a mile away.
Louise is far from it.
“How are you managinin’ all the information they’ve been teachin’ you?” Asa asks.
I carefully think over my reply, mindful that he could tell Étienne or Livingston what I say. “At times it has been challengin’ but I believe I have a firm understandin’ of the job.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
With a start, I realize we’re already on Tradd Street. We’re close to the Lacroix House. How has time moved that fast? Then again, time always moved far too quickly when I was in Asa’s presence. Rather, it felt like coming home after being left out in the cold. Now that I am here, warm and safe, I don’t want to leave.
“For the past six days I’ve had a man call asking for the number to the White House,” I divulge. It’s a sudden act of desperation to keep our conversation going.
Asa doesn’t seem the least bit surprise and merely nods. “Ah, yes, Victor.”
My eyes widen. “He has a name?”
“I certainly hope he does. Victor has been callin’ since I began workin’ for Southern Bell.”
“Ah, I didn’t know. I’ve named him ‘The Duke’ because of his fake English accent.”
Asa nods. “Quite fittin’.”
“Has he always been this eccentric?”
“Yes. His requests have been different. Once he asked to speak with Henry J. Heinz. Another time he had to discuss business with Andrew Carnegie. He also requested to speak to Dr. John S. Pemberton because he was convinced he knew the formula for Coca-Cola.”
A short burst of laughter escapes me. “Surely you jest.”
Asa shakes his head. “You spoke with him. You know what he’s possible of sayin’.”
“That is true.”
“With the exception of Victor, all is well?”
“Well, there are many people who call that are demandin’ and impolite.”