But all she said was, “Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. I’ve given Frannie the day off, so you can sleep in as late as you like. We’ll watch the fireworks on the beach in the evening.”
“That,” I squeaked, then cleared my throat. “That sounds lovely.”
“Are you coming down with something?” She put the back of her hand to my forehead. “Or just too much sun?”
I felt my cheeks flushing. “Maybe. I’m sure a good night’s sleep will fix whatever it is.”
“Don’t stay up too late,” she said, turning to her door.
“Excuse me?”
She looked back at me with those shrewd eyes that missed nothing. “Reading.”
“Of course. No, I’ll go right to sleep tonight.”
“Good,” Ada said. She went into her room and shut the door. But I couldn’t shake the suspicion that she knew anyway.
I didn’t want to chance the front door. It was heavy and it stuck, and while she didn’t lock it, there was a high likelihood that either opening or closing it would give me away. Not to mention I would have to walk past her room to get down the stairs. But my bedroom windows opened, and the roof of the front porch was right outside. And even better, it was on the other side of the house from Ada’s window. I waited until ten minutes after the light under her bedroom door went out, and then I slid my window open and unlatched the screen.
I did hope Freddy couldn’t see me, as my shuffle down the roof to the edge was far from graceful, but it was an easy climb to the porch railing and then down from there. Freddy was practically invisible aside from the light of his cigarette glowing in the darkness.
“I knew you were the type who could sneak out,” he said, his teeth shining in the moonlight as he smiled, holding out his arm to me. “Let’s go. I left my car around the corner so it wouldn’t wake the old bat.”
“Don’t call her that,” I said, taking his arm. “She’s strict about certain things, but she’s not what she seems.”
“If you say so.”
Then I thought about what he had said. “Car? Where are we going?”
I saw the flash of his teeth again. “To have some fun.”
“I’m good for some kisses, but I’m not that kind of girl, buster.”
He threw his cigarette into the rock lawn of a nearby house and grabbed my waist, pulling me to him and kissing me deeply. “Who says I’m that kind of boy?” he breathed into my ear when he broke the kiss. “Come on.” He pulled me along again. “I promise. All clean fun tonight.”
His car was a red-and-white Bel Air convertible, a few years old, but immaculately kept. “Let’s go,” he said, opening the door for me. He climbed into the driver’s seat and held out a scarf. “Stole this from Shirley. She won’t ride with me unless her hair is tied up.”
“How thoughtful.” He looked over as I secured the scarf around my hair. “What?”
“You look beautiful,” he said. “Like you belong in this car.”
I shook my head as he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he started the car and drove off toward 30th Street, the road out of town, the moonlight shining over the bay and the channels as we passed through the marshlands, which held a beauty in the darkness that I had failed to see on the drive in. He turned right onto the Garden State Parkway, and the wind whipped around us, making conversation impossible. But Freddy reached over and took my hand around the exit for Ocean City, and I felt a shiver up and down my spine as he traced a thumb along my palm.
The road was empty and dark, surrounded by pine trees on the left and the shore towns in the distance on the right, the moon and stars our only companions. It felt terribly romantic. Like we were running away together. I wanted to slide over and let him put an arm around me, but I felt it was best to keep my wits about me. The last thing I needed was for us to not make it to our destination, but wind up in the backseat on the side of the road.
Eventually Freddy exited the highway, and the sign read “Atlantic City.” “Really?” I shouted over the wind.
“Have you been?” I shook my head. “I’ll take you during the day sometime. A proper visit.”
Ada would never allow it. But I didn’t want to spoil the fun.
Instead, I watched the horizon as the lights of the most famous boardwalk came into focus.
Avalon was quiet by ten o’clock. Atlantic City was just getting started. We parked and walked up a set of stairs to the boardwalk, and I immediately felt overstimulated by the sights, sounds, and smells that accosted me. And this coming from a New York City girl!
Everyone wore their finest. Suits and ties on the men, dresses with starched crinolines on the women. Ignoring the heat, many women wore faux mink stoles around their shoulders and were dripping with rhinestones. The few children who could be seen were asleep in strollers or their parents’ arms.
I felt almost underdressed in my sundress and espadrilles, but if I had learned anything from Ada, it was that confidence was everything. So I didn’t smooth my skirt or fluff my hair. I walked along on Freddy’s arm as if I were the one whom everyone else had come to see. And the two of us did turn heads.
“You look like a movie star,” Freddy said, taking my hand and twirling me around. He pulled me toward a photography booth. “Come on. Let’s get a picture.”
But I resisted. “I don’t want a trail of evidence for Ada.”
“Why doesn’t she like me?”
Well, there was certainly no way to explain about his family, which was a sobering thought in and of itself. Even if marriage had been an option, the idea of being tied to his parents was quite disconcerting. “She said I’m not allowed to date while I’m here.”
“Does she have someone in mind for you?”
“Oh no! Nothing like that!” But I did remember her comment about needing a man who would stand up to me. That could be Freddy, I thought, looking up at him. He refused to take no for an answer, and while he didn’t overpower me, he got me to cave with charm. I could see where that would be appealing in the long term. “No, she’s got strict rules about her business. Once you gave me your number, you became off limits.”
“But I gave you my number. Because you said you would go out with me if I didn’t like Ada’s matches.”
“I, technically, wasn’t authorized to say that.”
“Well, you did. And I don’t like any of her matches.”
“You still haven’t met any of them!”
He grinned down at me. “Doesn’t matter. I still know I like you better.”
I turned away so he wouldn’t see my smile.
Freddy paid the admission for us to go onto the Steel Pier. The smells of fried foods and popcorn assailed us as a man directed us toward the diving horses. “One last dive tonight, folks. Just one last dive tonight.”
“Is that real?” I asked.
“Of course.” He pulled my hand. “You have to experience it.” I let myself be tugged along, and Freddy secured us a spot in the stands. The announcer told us we were about to experience one of the greatest wonders of the world.