Marcos had moved most of his belongings to an attic on top of Charley´s store and house but still kept renting his own apartment. The small room had an old rickety bed and Charley had acquired a new mattress. When sitting on it the elastic springs creaked producing a real metal concert tune.
That afternoon, after closing the store the young man went to his attic and was putting in order some additional things he had brought on his last trip to his apartment when he heard footsteps on the wooden staircase leading from the house to the attic. The soft steps could only belong to one person, as Charley trudged due to some old wounds of war. The door opened indeed and Nubia appeared in the frame. The girl was wearing a dress made of cotton fabric printed with strong African folk reminiscences of bright and contrasting colors, tight to the body and a with long opening in the skirt showing her beautiful legs when walking. No doubt Charley had purchased it for her and Marcos wondered if he had done that to allow the woman to seduce him, since the old man seemed to have that purpose in mind.
With an absent look Nubia sat on the narrow bed, so that the skirt of her dress moved to one side leaving a provocative vision of her legs. Then she placed an object on her right thigh, which as Marcos approach turned out to be a short chocolate bar. Its color was exactly the same shade of the woman´s skin, so in the dim light of the only window in the small piece it was difficult to discern one from the other.
“You like chocolate? Come and eat.” She said with a neutral air.
The sudden hormonal discharge that Marcos experienced produced an instant erection that the boy did not try to conceal. He knelt on the floor by Nubia´s side and began to suck the bar that with the warmth of his breath began to melt dripping a viscous liquid on the girl's thigh.
“Look what you're doing!” Exclaimed Nubia in a tone between reproach and humorous. “Now you must clean the mess.”
Marcos questioningly raised his eyes to meet the girl´s.
“ ... With your tongue, of course, and very gently.” She added.
A few weeks had passed since Vince´s arrival to the hospital and improvement in his injuries was evident. Every day the nurse accompanied him to walk with his crutches through the halls crowded with people and now he could do it with relative ease. The forecast was for a full recovery in six to nine weeks, mostly at home, and the doctors were even reducing the massive dose of painkillers and antibiotics with which Vince was being treated. Upon returning to his room that day he found the pleasant surprise that Loretta was waiting at its door. Marcos kissed the woman on the cheek and thanked the nurse who retired discreetly.
“I´ll be back in one hour to control the bandages.” Gently warned the lady before going away so as to set a limit to the meeting of the young couple.
Loretta sat on the edge of the bed and Vince put one hand between hers.
“Have the doctors confirmed when will you leave the hospital?” Asked the woman.
“Tentatively within three days, if the evolution of the wounds remains the same.”
“Have you thought about us?”
“I do not have anything to think about.” Answered the man. “I already made up my mind. The one who must make a decision is you.”
Loretta had visited the wounded man practically every day. The feelings that existed between them before her marriage with Leroy had emerged to the surface once more. After her wedding Vince had dedicated to sleep with white and black women in a foolish way but Loretta knew it was just a way in which his spite manifested. In an introspection the woman had to recognize that her feelings toward the attractive man were still intact, but were fighting with her closed religious education and respect for the forms by the still recent death of her husband. What both youngsters had agreed was to marry after a reasonable period.
“There is one thing I must tell you. This is a non-negotiable condition for us to stay together.” Expressed Loretta.
“What is it?” Asked Vince somewhat alarmed.
“You must leave the police force as soon as you leave the hospital.”
“Oh Loretta! You cannot ask me that! I have not been anything but a cop since I was a young boy. It is what I like and what I do. I have nothing else.”
Loretta pressed the hand she held between hers as tears appeared in her beautiful eyes.
“Vince. I cannot afford to lose another man in my life. Especially I cannot lose you. If you really love me you must satisfy my request and let us reshape our lives in other ways. I cannot spend every night sighing when you do not arrive on time.”
“But what will I do for a living? Since the academy I've never done anything else.”
“That's the good news I bring you today. I talked to my father and he is sure he can get you a job in the administration of the City of New York.”
Philip Gardner, Loretta´s father, was one of the oldest and most respected members of the Manhattan City Council, and was re-elected periodically by a district populated mostly by African American citizens. Being also a prominent member of a Baptist congregation he was also a stronghold of the best Christian values in the neighborhood. At the time he had opposed the romance between his daughter Loretta, the apple of his eye, with a white and that was one of the factors that had led to the marriage with Leroy. None of the young people mentioned it but they both knew the fact.
“Do not you think he will oppose again to me?”
“He won´t. Everything evolves over time and also his opinions. Also he knows that this time I have already made my own decision and certainly will not want to oppose my wishes. For your peace of mind I should clarify that I have already spoken with him. Not only has he accepted my decision but is looking for a job well suited to your knowledge and experience profile. With your expertise in computer science it will not be difficult.”
Vince was moved by the resoluteness of the woman. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he slid his right hand on the knees of the girl, who jerked away.
“With me you must learn to control your Italian genes.”
“Do you expect to impose me chastity?”
“Not a question of chastity but of opportunity.”
The girl got up from the bed because she had seen the nurse reappearing at the door of the room. She kissed Vince on his forehead as she whispered in his ear.
“I'm not made of iron. I desire you too.”