Belle put down her water glass. She smoothed her dress; it wasn’t store-bought, but it was one of her favorites. A baby-blue cotton with tiny navy flowers. Her grandmother had made the dress for her, without taking any measurements. And by hand, too. Not a stitch had been sewn on a machine.
“I guess that’s it, then,” Belle said. “I didn’t come to fight. But I can’t share a man, neither. I’ll cry, I know. I’ve shed a few tears already, but I have a baby to see about, so I can’t cry but for so long.”
Evelyn stubbed out her cigarette. “I didn’t mean to cause you pain, sister.”
“Oh, I don’t blame you. Geoff’s the one I married. But he’s pretty charming when he wants to be. I guess you know that.”
“He certainly is.”
“All that poetry he recites!” Belle laughed. At least she had her memories.
“Oh, we don’t talk much about that. We don’t have time for frivolities. It’s all about the movement around here. About the revolution coming. Geoff’s a pretty serious man, and he has so many great ideas. He just needs somebody to listen.”
Belle stood, holding out her hand. She’d never performed a handshake before, but she made sure her grip was firm. She told Evelyn, thank you for the hospitality.
*
The next evening was the Wednesday meeting at the community center. Belle dressed Lydia in a romper and pulled on a plain shift and flat shoes. Nothing fancy, because she wasn’t going to put forth too much effort. She pushed the carriage up the sidewalk and waved at folks in the neighborhood. She didn’t know most of their names, but she wanted to be seen. She wanted them to carry the news that she wasn’t crying. She was strong and with her baby girl.
In the community center, she saw Evelyn and Zulu standing with her husband. She didn’t have to call his name because the baby did that for her. “Dada,” she cried, and waved her hands. Zulu and Evelyn stepped in front, a shield as in ancient times, but Belle pushed the stroller toward them.
She told them this was between two married folks, and she didn’t want no trouble. Belle didn’t care that she sounded country; her temper was traveling.
Zulu stepped aside, leaving Evelyn to hold the field. The woman smiled, as if she knew the outcome of this scene. She was that sure of another woman’s husband, and Belle gave a second warning.
“Evelyn, what I say? This ain’t none of your business. But now, if you want to cut a jig, I can cut one right on with you.”
A crowd had formed to watch. Some weren’t even regular attendees of the meeting, but they’d come off the street because this was a new scene to them. There were used to the police getting rowdy and sometimes a brother beating on a sister and having to be pulled off, but they’d never seen a tiny woman with a very big voice getting her husband told. This was something else altogether. This was out of sight. Right on.
“Geoff, I know we young,” Belle said. “And I know we both tired. But I’m the one taking care of this baby, and you the one wanted her. You the one wanted to get married, too.”
There was clapping and cosigning from women in the crowd, even Zulu’s wives. Go ’head, sister, they all said. Tell that brother how you feel.
Geoff stepped toward her, whispering, “Woman, do we have to do this here?”
Her tone was sarcastic. “Yes, man. We gone do this right here, ’cause you been messing ’round with her.” Belle pointed in the direction of Evelyn, whose amused dispassion had flown; she was so alarmed her eyes were popping. “And it ain’t no secret, neither. Everybody here knows it. So I’ma say what I came here to say, and then I’ma go. You see this baby in this stroller, Geoff? You keep on acting a fool and my baby and me going home to Georgia. ’Cause I’m not staying here without a husband. And I ain’t sharing a man. I came to the City for you, and if you don’t want me no more, I’ma leave you here.”
Geoff spoke then, but not to his wife. He touched Evelyn’s arm and told her he needed to return to his family. He had responsibilities, but he hadn’t meant to do her wrong. Gosh, he was sorry, he called, as Evelyn strode away. Then he walked to a folding chair and sat down, hanging his head. A few of the men came over to him and patted his shoulder. Damn, brother, they told him. Your wife sure is loud.
Belle turned the stroller and pushed it outside, but within a few steps, Zulu caught up. It was too dark for her to walk alone, he told her. At the apartment, he held her sleeping toddler and followed as Belle walked the stroller up the stairs.