Tiny Smiles

Chapter Two

Reine had always been a pleasant person but most of the day her customers and even her supervisor commented on how chipper and giddy she seemed. One guessed it was probably a boy. She decided to tone it down then. She didn't want anyone to start making assumptions. The old and even not so old ladies as well as the men loved to gossip and she didn't want to be fodder for their entertainment.

"Reine, clean up your area then you can leave," Mr. Murray said. "Thanks again for staying a bit longer. I can't count on anyone these days. People beg for jobs then when you give it to them they only bother to show up when it's convenient for them. This will be the last time."

Reine realized he was no longer talking to her but venting to himself as he ambled off. She didn't mind staying longer. She'd just started a couple of weeks ago and so far she liked the job. She liked being paid and earning money. She'd be able to help her grandmother, maybe buy her a nice dress as a birthday present next month.

She tossed the trash she'd collected and finished putting cans of food that had been placed willy-nilly about the store back in their proper places. She grabbed her small purse from its hiding spot and dipped inside the employee bathroom. Earlier when there was no customers and Mr. Murray was in the back she'd paid for a small vial of cheap lip gloss. She knew she was supposed to have someone else to check her out but she didn't want to call any attention to her purchase. Reine looked into the mirror and dotted the subtle color on her lips then blended it in. She gave herself a hesitant smile and grimaced at her protruding canine. Just another imperfection in her already flawed appearance. She wondered if Remy had seen it. She wondered if he was blind. He thinks I'm beautiful.

Remy was the first person other than her grandmother to say so. Most people focused on what made her odd. Or asked what ethnicity she was. But the most embarrassing question was always, "What does your parents look like?" She'd only seen N'Dare a handful of times, the last time two years ago for two days. Her mother had taken the bus from New York down to New Orleans for Thanksgiving. The hours N'Dare spent on the bus far exceeded the time she'd spent with her family. The hours would have been almost the same had she not decided to spend the first night on the town revisiting old friends and their old bar haunts on Bourbon Street.

And as far as what her father looked like…anyone's guess was as good as hers. Not even her grandmother had an idea who he was. Reine remembered when she was about four or five years old noticing an old man with snow white hair like her own and asking her grandmother if he was her father. He wasn't and neither were the next man or the one after that. Soon she stopped asking and became comfortable with the fact she didn't know and probably would never find out.

Reine let out a sigh and pushed the thoughts away. It made no sense to fret over things that were out of her control. She left the bathroom then the front of the store telling Mr. Murray goodbye and that she'd see him after church tomorrow. She wasn't in any hurry to get home. Her grandmother usually spent Saturdays at the church cooking for the Sunday potlucks and socializing with the other elders. Usually the pastor would drive most of the ladies home so they didn't have to walk or have someone come to get them. That was the least he could do in return for their time and energy.

The silver convertible Saab was parked across the street from her grandmother's little house. She wasn't surprised that Remy knew where she lived; he'd dropped her off the night of the party. But she was surprised that he was even there. It was still daylight and she couldn't have her neighbors seeing her get into a car with a boy, a white boy at that. It would be a scandal.

Reine continued her walk as if she didn't see the car. She opened the gate to her yard and was about to go in when she heard Remy call her name. She turned and shook her head briefly trying to warn him off. He took no heed to her gesture. Instead he opened his car door and got out. Reine's eyes stretched wide when she realized he was about to cross the street. She quickly turned towards him and said, "Go down to the corner and make a right. Five minutes…five minutes," she nodded hoping he understood her clipped cryptic words.

Remy nodded and got back into his car. Reine watched as he started it and pulled onto the street. She let out a breath of relief when he made the right turn at the corner.

"Reine?" she heard the next door neighbor, Mrs. Johnson, call from her front door. "What did that man want?" Reine turned and smiled. She'd known Mrs. Johnson her whole life and her grandmother had known her two times as long as that. She'd be the first to tell her grandmother and everyone else on the block if she suspected Remy was there to see Reine.

"Nothing, ma'am," she lied. "Just wanted some directions on how to find the interstate."

Mrs. Johnson looked at her satisfied with the answer and nodded. The access to the interstate was a few blocks over and if a person wasn't paying attention the road leading to it could be easily missed. "Okay, baby. But you know not to talk to these strange men. That car had been sitting there so long I was about to call the police. People are snatching people off the streets now. I don't know what this world is coming to. People act like they don't have any sense these days!" she ranted.

"I know, Mrs. Johnson. And I won't," Reine said as she made her way to her front door. Mrs. Johnson watched Reine until she unlocked her door and went inside before going inside herself. "Dang it!" Reine spat. The houses were only a few feet apart and Mrs. Johnson would be at the door in a second if Reine went back out. But Remy was waiting.

Fifteen agonizing minutes later she heard a car pull up outside. It was Mrs. Johnson's son and her two grandsons. "Yes!" Reine almost did a fist pump. Mrs. Johnson doted on her boys and would be too preoccupied to pay any attention to what Reine was doing. She eased out the door and locked it. She briskly walked out of the gate and down the sidewalk.

Reine let out a sigh of relief when she saw Remy's car still there. She walked up to it with a wide grin on her face. He didn't have to tell her to get in this time. She opened the door and slid in knowing that's what he wanted her to do. As she settled her bashfulness set in and her smile faded. She let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry. Neighbors."

He nodded understanding what she meant. "It's okay," he said then silence hung between them until he spoke again. "How long can you stay?"

Reine looked at the clock on the dash. "A few hours."

"Good," he said and graced her with a tiny smile then started the car and maneuvered them through the weekend traffic.

This time they drove farther than the last time but she didn't ask him where they were going. She trusted that he would have her back home at the appropriate time. After getting off the main road and a few more turns they ended up in Fountainebleau Park on Lake Pontchartrain. Reine had never been there before and it was a far cry from the park in her neighborhood or even the nicer ones in the tourist parts of New Orleans. This was full of families picnicking with small children running around. It looked like something out of a movie…perhaps a romantic movie.

Remy opened the top on the car. Warm sunlight made goose bumps pop up on Reine's previously air conditioned skin. She rubbed them away but left her arms folded across her chest unconsciously protecting herself from Remy's penetrating eyes.

"Why are you wearing that?" he asked.

Reine looked down at her clothes. A simple cotton baby blue short-sleeved shirt and a knee length denim skirt. They didn't look bad. They were clean. "I wore this to work. Is something wrong with it?" she asked. Her eyes darted over to him. His ensemble of a white polo shirt paired with khakis and Sperry shoes was simple but she was sure they probably cost more than her whole wardrobe.

"Not that," he said. "Your lips." Reine's face heated and she folded her lips inward. She'd forgotten she'd put on the lip gloss. "If you did that for me…don't. I don't like it."

"Oh…I thought I'd try something new," she said. Her knee jerked when he reached towards the glove compartment in front of her. He ignored her reaction and opened it, retrieving a packet of travel size facial tissue. Reine watched him pull one out and turn towards her. He used it to wipe away the fading remnants of the gloss staining her lips. His face was slightly contorted in a look of concentration as he went about his task.

"There," he said with a look of approval when he'd finished. Reine couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips. He returned it then leaned forward and kissed her softly. He rested his forehead on hers and breathed in her air. "I like the taste of your lips. Don't cover them up," then kissed her again.

Reine squeezed her knees together and gripped the hem of her skirt in her hands to keep a shiver of excitement at bay. This was all too much. So unexpected. If she ever got the courage she'd ask him Why? Why her?

"Come. Let's walk," he said.

"Okay," she mumbled.

They walked side by side in silence. She stole glances at him. His eyes were trained ahead, eyes focused on the pier overhanging the lake. He stopped suddenly and she stopped too. She watched him as he bent and began picking up small pebbles. She stooped and did the same. Once their hands were full they finished the short trek to the edge of the pier. She followed his lead in placing the small stones in a pile. When they were finished they sat. Him with his shoes and socks at his side and his legs dangling over the edge and her with her legs curled beneath her while bracing her self on one arm. She didn't take off the white canvas slip-ons she'd worn to work. Compared to his feet hers looked like they'd been mangled. Too many years of wearing ill-fitting shoes had crooked her toes. Not even the prettiest shade of polish would make her want to don a pair of sandals or flip-flops.

But his pale feet amused Reine. She wanted to ask him if he got pedicures but decided against it. Instead she closed her eyes and enjoyed the subtle breeze blowing against her face. She listened to the soft plops of the pebbles Remy threw hit the still water. She opened her eyes when she heard him speak, "You don't talk much." He threw another pebble.

"No," she answered simply as she watched the pebble sail over the water then plunge into its depths.

"Me neither."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because no one actually listens. They'd prefer to hear themselves talk."

"Yeah," she said on a sigh. Another moment of silence passed.

"I like your voice though. It's low and silky," his eyes darted towards her. "I like to listen to you talk."

Reine flustered. "I never know what to say," she said then picked up one of the stones and flicked it off the pier in an effort of distraction. It skipped twice over the water before sinking. Remy looked at her and smiled, showing his perfect set of white straight teeth.

Reine laughed. "I've never done that before. Even when I tried."

He decided at that moment he liked the sound of her laugh too…more than any other sound he'd ever heard. "You do a lot of things without trying."

"Like what?" she ventured to ask, really wanting to hear him compliment her.

He shrugged then leaned back on his hands. His smile gone. "You demand my attention even though I don't want to give it to you."

She didn't expect that response. "Oh," she said and picked up another pebble. She didn't throw it this time, just rolled it between her thumb and forefinger. "Is that bad?" she asked looking over at him.

He nodded. "For both of us."

"Yeah, I know," she said then threw the pebble she was holding.

Just as the sun began to set Remy parked in the same spot where he'd picked up Reine. For what seemed like the hundredth time in the last couple of hours he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. Yes, she was very bad for him and him for her but he couldn't help himself. Her full lips enticed him, lured him in to the sweetest nectar he'd ever tasted. Her shy smiles and expressive eyes intrigued him. Her natural scent made him want to literally sink his teeth into her flesh but he settled for tender kisses along her neck. And each time he did she'd whimper surprised little sighs and he'd kiss her more to hear them again and again.

"Remy, I have to go."

"You do," he said and kissed her again feeling her smile against his lips. "I wish I could keep you. You make me…happy." He pulled away from her and waited for her response.

Her expression was one of bemusement. "I haven't done anything."

"You don't have to. Just…being you is enough, ma belle." Remy watched Reine's eyes slightly widened. "Why do my words always surprise you?"

"Because the things you say…no one has ever said those things to me before."

"You should hear someone tell you how beautiful you are every day."

Reine tried hard to contain the grin that sprouted on her face but she couldn't. And for the first time to reached over and pulled Remy to her and kissed him quickly on the lips. A second later she was gone.

Remy sighed as he watched her walk away through his rearview mirror. He knew she should be running. He was only going to break her heart.

Even though the library was relatively empty Jean was glad Remy was sitting in a secluded area. She sat next to him and waited for him to acknowledge her. He didn't. Just turned the page of the text he was reading.

"Remy," she said in a hushed whisper. "Can you please tell Scott to call me?"

"No," he said, eyes never wavering from the words on the page.

"Please. I need to talk to him," she begged.

"He's not going to talk to you, girl. Not until he wants you to spread your legs for him again." For a fraction of a second Jean's already pale face managed an ashen ghostly appearance before a blush stained her cheeks. Remy looked up at her and almost felt bad for his harshness but she needed to hear it. "Scott is a selfish bastard. He doesn't care about you, only what he wants. He wanted your virginity and you gave it to him. What made him look at you twice is now gone. He doesn't want you anymore." A tear formed then fell from Jean's eyes. Remy hesitated before he continued. "Forget about Scott. He's already forgotten about you." Jean stifled the sob tearing at her throat. "Next time look beyond looks and status and you won't find yourself heartbroken and pining after egotistical jerks."

Jean stood, eyes downcast, too ashamed to look at him. She nodded then walked briskly away and out the library doors.

Remy exhaled then tried to focus on the words in his book. He couldn't. The things he'd said to Jean, he should say to Reine. That he was a selfish bastard and no good would come of anything between them. That he would taint her and make her into someone he'd eventually want nothing to do with. He was no better than Scott. He'd done the same to plenty of girls; he'd planned to do the same with Reine that first night he'd taken her to the meadow. But she surprised him. It wasn't him that had grabbed and kept her attention but the night sky. For the first time it wasn't him that was the center of some foolish female's admiration. He was convinced that she would have stared up at the stars for hours without giving him a second glance. The look of joy she wore on her face from the simplest thing roused a feeling deep within him. One he'd forgotten existed. Naivety.

Remy had lost his a long time ago. And as much as he hated to admit it, he was just like his father…cold with no real feelings or respect for anyone. Especially women. Both his mother and father had made sure of that. Martha used to be a blazing beauty that had her choice of any man she'd wanted. But she chose his father because of his status and he'd made her pay for it every day. He'd worn her down, tamed her and stolen her light with his philandering domineering ways.

He didn't want Reine to know that side of him…how he truly was on the inside. Just like his father. She deserved more. Someone who didn't have to keep her a secret and wasn't afraid of ruining his families reputation. The precious LeBeau name would be tarnished if his father knew his son was fraternizing with a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The fact that she was black, or colored as Jean-Luc liked to say would just be the cherry on top. And it wasn't lost on him that he wasn't exactly the person anyone in her neighborhood would like to see on her arm.

Since their time at Fountainebleau Park they'd gone about a skewed up version of a relationship. More of a relationship either of them had ever had. Pretending like they didn't see the other when others where around while taking advantage of stolen moments and the cover of night. With each meeting they had become more comfortable with each other. He discovered she had an easy smile and an even easier blush. Every not and then she would catch him off guard with her wit. He found himself thinking of her during the day and dreaming of blue eyes and of flowing white hair at night.

He sighed and closed the book. What they were doing had to stop.