Chapter Ten

As they entered the restaurant, Neil tried to push Sally from his thoughts. Unfortunately, his friends had a very different plan.

“Seems like we were right all along, Roland.” Clarence said. Roland snickered.

“As if we were not already aware of this, no? He is…what was the word you used yesterday?”

“Smitten, I believe.”

“Oh, yes, I believe this is the best word to describe it.” Neil glared daggers at him. They took their usual seat, and waved hello at the owner. He was a regular at the Music Box, and a good friend to Stew. Not to far, was Timmy O’Conner, in uniform and having his lunch break. Three menus were subsequently slapped on the table in front of them, startling all three of them. The girl, not much older than seventeen, was glaring at them all individually, as if dared to be challenged.

“Good afternoon, Mademoiselle.” Roland smiled warmly. “How are you this afternoon?” She glanced at him, then did a double-take. Most women of just about any age couldn’t resist the good looks and charm that was Roland Dubois. She started to say something, but then Clarence spoke up to Neil with, “You seen Stew lately?” Before he could respond, the girl huffed, and snapped, “You can’t sweet talk me, Mister Dubois. You’re here hanging out with the likes of him.” She snapped.

“I know he’s a pain in my backside, but this is no way to treat Doctor Dunn here.” Roland looked at her evenly. She knew he wasn’t going to play along with her antics, so she huffed and stomped off. Clarence was quiet, staring at his menu.

“I have always told you, when you are with me, nobody will be allowed to touch you.” Roland spoke in French, masking the sentiment behind a language nobody around them spoke.

“Me either.” Clarence smiled in his appreciation, but Roland snorted.

“You call this French, Doctor?”

“We can’t all learn to speak seven languages, Dubois.” Roland shrugged.

“My father, bastard as he may be, was smart enough to teach us at least to learn a skill. Mine happened to be languages. Several of my siblings learned to be politicians. One of them learned to be…well, let’s just say De Luca could hire her.” Clarence snickered. “Anyway, how is your new girlfriend, Cornélius?” When he was feeling up to being extra annoying, Roland had the habit of using his full first name in French. It was as if he was signaling the world that he was about to be a pain in the ass.

The waitress approached then, and realized who it was, “Oi, you boys are in today! Well, no worries then. What are you lot drinking?” They ordered, and she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of ya, loves.” She winked at Neil.

“You better be careful Katie; someone might think you and I are stepping out.”

“Wouldn’t want them to think I could get my hands on a doctor and his famous friends, now would I?” She winked again and walked away. Neil snorted and shook his head.

“There it is. The difference.”

“What?” Before Clarence could answer, however, Neil caught a familiar face behind him and Roland.

“Sally, Clementine, and Clara are here.”

“I thought Clem told me they were going to dine next door. This is a surprise.” Roland pointed out, turning to them. Katie was putting down their drinks.

“I’ll go bring them to you, loves.” She went over, and grabbed them, leading them to the table. Clementine sat right next to Clarence and Roland. Sally picked the seat beside Neil, and on her other side was Clara.

“I thought you guys were eating at the café.”

“We caught Timmy outside, and he suggested the place. Said he’d been having his lunch break here for years.” Clara said. “And it sure smells good.”

“Well, that and there’s some good company at this table, don’t you boys think?” Clarence asked. Roland heartily agreed, and he didn’t miss the way Roland’s hand went to Clarence’s knee for just a moment. I bet he’s still bothered by that waitress. It annoyed Neil that she'd gotten to his friend.

“What are you all doing today anyhow?” Neil asked. “Clementine getting you into trouble?” Clementine grinned wolfishly, and Roland grinned.

“Actually, they’re taking me dress shopping.” Sally blushed a bit when he turned to look at her. “She uh…I mean, that is…. I’ve never…” She stopped, blushed even deeper, then looked at the menu. “So, what’s good here?” What the hell was that about? Clementine attempted to cover a giggle, but it failed, and Sally glared at her.

Clarence, much to Neil’s annoyance, was hiding behind his menu, although the slight shaking of it made it obvious he was hiding laughter. Roland, always the one to keep his composure, leaned over to point Sally to his favorite section, the sandwiches.

“The Boston Clam Chowder is also pretty good.” Neil offered as well, pointing to it on her menu.

“Oh, not as good as your maman makes it.”

“Well, my mother makes it authentic from clams fished right in Boston. They don’t have the luxury of that here. But my favorite is the cheeseburger with fries.” He turned to pick up his drink, and asked, “So, I’m sorry what were you saying?”

“We’re going dress shopping.” Sally said. “I’ve been here and worn the only two good dresses I could smuggle past mama, and if I’m gonna run this joint, I better make sure I look fresh.” But you look so pretty anyway, Sally May…god even her name is so perfect. He nodded. “And the girls offered so I don’t get lost navigating all these big stores.”

“Macy’s is perfect, I can even convince the boys to go there.”

“They have nice ties.” Roland said. “Reminds me, I do need a new tie for your play next week, you think we could stop in on our way home?”

“Oh, do you guys live together?” Sally asked. Clementine and Neil shared a look. Roland nodded.

“Yes, I used to travel between here and Hollywood a lot more for movies, so it was nice to have someone to keep an eye on the apartment. Not to mention, that he is also an actor as well.” Roland answered very smoothly.

“Don’t lie, it’s because you would go crazy living on your own. You’d start talking to the walls.”

“He says this as if I did not see him do this only two weeks ago.”

“I was rehearsing my lines, Roland. It ain’t like I was ordering lunch or something.” Sally giggled.

“Imagine if Neil lived there as well. They’d never stop bickering.” Clementine teased.

“No chance in hell.”

“We have offered, he declines every time.” Roland admitted. “So, anywhere else aside from Macy’s?”

“All of them, Sears, Marshall’s, all of the stores we can. We want to make Sally look her best.” They ordered their food. While they waited, they talked more of shopping.

As they ate, smaller conversations broke out amongst them. Clara and Clementine started planning their trip, Roland and Clarence spoke about his latest role, and Neil sort of picked at his lunch, while Sally ate quietly for a moment.

“Maybe you’re the person to ask.” Neil turned to Sally at her statement. “I’m looking for a place that sells stuff.”

“Great, Clementine’s taking you to several.” She snorted and rolled her eyes.

“No, I’m looking for a chess board. Something nice. Stew’s only one is that small travel one in his hospital room, and I’d like to get him a nice one. When he comes homes he’s going to be there a lot, and he loves to play.”

“I know of a place actually. Little bookstore. Guy sells those as well.” Sally seemed interested suddenly.

“Bookstore, you say?”

“Yes, you know, a small building with lots of shelves full of books.”

“Neil.” He smirked. “I wanted something to read. Stew has…nothing.”

“He’s very well read, but his library is kept private, I believe in his room. I can swing you by there at some point tonight. What did you have in mind?”

“There’s a couple, but I mostly want to browse.”

“If you get the chessboard for Stew, I’ll put it in my car, and we can drop it off at home when I take you home tonight.” Roland, Clementine, and Clarence were leaned in close, whispering. Clara was snickering, but Sally and Neil were clueless as to what was going on.

“What are you three up to?”

“Nothing at all.” Clementine didn’t sound even remotely like she was telling the truth.

“Great job at covering, Clem. Really fooled him.” Roland replied rather drily. Clara snickered.

“It’s rare when Roland gets sarcastic, but it’s so funny when he does.”

“Try living with him.” Clarence said. Neil snorted.

“No, thanks. I can’t handle you two as it is.” Roland smirked, but Clarence laughed.

As they ate, conversation started to turn to stories of woes, tales of a misspent youth, and even migration stories. As it turned out, not a single one of them were from Chicago originally. Sally was raised in a tiny little town in Kentucky. Neil had been raised in Boston, Roland started out in France, left for New York at thirteen, and made his way around as he could. Clarence had been raised in Alabama to two parents who were now freed slaves. Clara had originated from Illinois, but not Chicago. Clementine was born in England, to two British aristocrats, but they moved to the United States just after she was born, due to her father’s government work. Neil vaguely wondered if her father had ever worked with his.

“So, I moved here because my daddy died, and mama couldn’t afford to feed me.” Clara admitted. “So, what did you all do to get here?”

“Theater brought me here. It was the best way to get acting work.” Clarence admitted. “That was on Roland’s advice when we met in Hollywood.”

“I moved here because I despise living in Hollywood. I should live there, but honestly it is no place for anyone to survive. Some of the things you hear…” Roland shook his head but didn’t elaborate past that.

“I followed Roland. I was in…a not so good place with work and moved me here. I was only going to stay a few weeks, and then go back home to my parents, but I fell in love with the city, and New York is just so far from my only friends.”

“You all know how I ended up here.”

“I do not, actually.” Roland admitted.

“Well, more tales of a misspent youth I’m afraid.” He grinned. “I was secretly stepping out with a boy, and they found out. Nothing crazy like a petting party, but they saw him, and papa nearly exploded.” Clara and Clementine laughed. “Then I bobbed my hair, which they eventually learned to love, and finally I got caught one night. I went with this beau off to a different city to go dancing, and not the appropriate kind my parents approve of. Black Bottom’s and Foxtrots galore.” They laughed. “I came home reeking of booze, and they…well…”

“Read you the riot act?”

“Exactly.” Sally looked at Neil, and asked, “What about you?” Neil contemplated how to tell that story in his head.

“I struggled after the war. Felt…out of place.” Roland’s eyes widened slightly. “Roland dragged me to Atlantic City, wanted something different, especially with my job as an emergency doctor. Chicago offered a lot, with Prohibition. And when he was given the chance to come here, I…tagged along.” Sally seemed to think about that. He had to stop himself from thinking too much about that train of thought before he drove himself crazy.