BOOTLEG LOVE

2

Evangeline could barely breathe as the maid pulled the bindings tight. For the longest time, she looked like a boy and then when masculinity came into style, her figure came in and ruined everything. Her friends had suggested a Symington Side Lacer, a bra that could be laced at both sides and pulled tight to give the appearance of a flattened chest. It was tight and constricting, but it gave her the desired appearance… even if she couldn’t breathe.

            Once the bra was good and tight, the maid helped her on with her white camisole, which hung over her knickers and ended just above her knee. Next came the figureless blue dress with the black silk wrapped around her hips that tied off on her left side. The handkerchief hemline rested just below her knees and concealed the top of her stockings. The dress was sleeveless, and the wrap matched her black leather-heeled boots.

            Once she was dressed, the maid sat her down at the vanity and pulled a comb through her short blonde hair. She had just cut it a week ago after some serious peer pressure from her friends. “There is nothing more fashionable than short hair.” Her best friend Pamela Falcon had said the other day as she forced Evangeline into the salon chair. “Cut it off.”

            “I don’t know about this.” Evangeline had complained, trying to get out of the chair.

            “You want to look fashionable, don’t you?” Asked Becky Samson as she shoved her back into the seat.

            “What if it doesn’t look good?” Evangeline worried as the stylist turned her chair to face the mirror.

            “You will look stunning.” Tina Edwards promised.

            They had all been good friends since the day Evangeline’s family moved to Toronto. After four years, they were inseparable. Pamela and Becky had cropped their dark hair short the month before, and Tina leading the trend, had chopped off her blonde curls six months ago. Evangeline had to admit it looked good on them, but she had long flowing gold locks all her life. She was very attached to her hair, but nonetheless, the stylist cut it all off, and now her sun-kissed hair was chin-length and with the aid of gel slicked back in what was the latest fashion.

            Evangeline painstakingly applied her eyeliner and the ruby red lipstick she had purchased yesterday. The dark eyeliner really made her baby blues pop. Satisfied with her appearance Evangeline took the blue hat from the closet and placed it on her head. She and her mother were going downtown for lunch with the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Her family was very politically connected, especially her brother Winston, who was a city Alderman at the young age of twenty.

            Their parents quickly took advantage of their son’s power and used his office to their own devices. Their father and brother James used Winston to help pass and abolish certain industrial laws as they built their sawmills and logging company. They were, at the moment, the largest distributor of paper products and building supplies, and since the city was growing exponentially, business was good.

            But the manipulation did not stop there. Their mother used her son’s connections to further her women’s movement. Her family’s success and connections made them powerful and popular. At eighteen, Evangeline had become the most eligible lady in Toronto. There were men everywhere clamouring for her attention, hoping to win her hand and, through marriage, advance their political agendas, but she was not alone. Her brothers had the ladies banging down their doors.

            James was looking to settle down with a young girl with powerful parents, real big wigs in the industry. It was more of a corporate merger than an actual marriage. As for Winston, he was looking for just the right woman to make himself look good. The family man always advanced in the political arena. As for Evangeline, she wasn’t looking to tie the knot any time soon. She didn’t want to marry for anything less than love, and she had yet to meet any man that could stoke her fire enough for her to want to bind herself to them for life. Not that her scheming mother didn’t present her with many options.

            Evangeline joined her mother downstairs, and they took the car over to the country club. They took lunch with the women of elite society. Evangeline tuned out as the women talked about their upcoming function. Evangeline was staring out the window watching the passers-by scurry about their busy lives.

            She was so terribly bored, but then across the street just outside the seamstress, a black car parked and stepping out of the driver’s door came a familiar face. It couldn’t be. Then the passenger got out, and Evangeline almost jumped… it was! He looked very different now, but she would know that woman anywhere; she had only seen her smiling face every day of her life for fourteen years.

            Evangeline excused herself promptly and rushed out of the club. She darted across the busy street, narrowly avoiding a car. She reached the other side just as he opened the shop door for the woman. “Payton? Payton Kingston?” She called to him as she came up the boardwalk.

            They paused, and both looked her way. It was him. Now that she got a better look at his face and those dark eyes, she knew it was him. He had changed, but his eyes had stayed the same. He towered over his mother now, and his hair was a little on the longer side for the fashion but tidy. His boyish features were now chiselled but clean-shaven. His body looked solid beneath his suit. His shoulders were broad, and his legs long and powerful while his waist was narrow. He was dressed like any well-to-do gentleman, which was very different from the country boy she knew. The boy she knew had become a man and what a man he was.

            His mother looked the same as Evangeline remembered, only better dressed. Her hair was done up nicely, and her dress was both flattering and fashionable. Her eyes were no longer tired, and she seemed rejuvenated and happy. They both looked at her for a moment, and then Mrs. Kingston threw up her arms and cried out. “Oh, blessed be, look at you, Miss. Canyon, you have become a woman.” She cried happily. “Come here and give me a hug.” She ordered, wrapping her arms around Evangeline and hugging her tightly. “It is so good to see you.”

            Mrs. Kingston stepped back, and Evangeline smiled at Payton. “You probably don’t remember me.”

            He shook his dark head. “Why wouldn’t I? You are only in every memory I have.” He smiled, extending his hand to shake hers. This was no way for old friends to act. She knew it was inappropriate, but Evangeline threw her arms around him and hugged Payton tight. She had missed him terribly. He tensed only at first, and then he relaxed and hugged her back.

            Holding him perhaps a little longer than she should have, Evangeline took a step back and smiled up at him. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw you. You look so different. Look at your clothes.” She said, pointing out his revamped image. “You look like a businessman now. What are you doing in Toronto?”

            “We live here now, over the last eighteen months.” His mother informed her.

            “Really? You look like you are doing well for yourself; what are you doing? Are you still a gardener?”

            “He is in shipping.” Mrs. Kingston answered for her son.

            “Shipping, really? What got you into that?”

            “Oh, you know how it is. When opportunity knocks, you answer the door.” The old woman laughed. She noticed that Payton wasn’t answering for himself. Not that she didn’t think he would, but his mother was beating him to it. “What are you doing here?”

            “My mother and I were having lunch in the club.” She said, pointing across the street. “But when I saw you, I knew I had to come over and say hello.”

            “Well, we are mighty glad you did.” Mrs. Kingston said with a smile. “We should get together for coffee and catch up.”

            “Oh, yes, I would like that.”

            “How about now?” The old woman suggested.

            She looked back at the club. Her mother would certainly be wondering where she got off to, but it was Payton, and God only knew when she would see him again. “Ok. I suppose I can spare a few moments.”

            “Great.” She said, pointing to the coffee shop down the street. “Right over there, and Payton, bring me back one of those little cakes.”

            “You are not coming?” Evangeline asked.

            “Oh, heavens, no love, I have an appointment to keep, but Payton will be happy to catch up. He will tell me all about it.” She winked at her son and then vanished into the shop.

            Payton offered Evangeline that oh-so-familiar smile. They both knew what his mother was doing, but Evangeline didn’t care; she was just happy to see him again. “She is meddling again.” He said, gesturing for Evangeline to walk with him.

            “I don’t mind; her heart’s in the right place.” She said, walking beside him as they made their way down the boardwalk. “I can’t get over how much you have changed.” She said, taking him in.

            He nodded with a brilliant smile. “As have you. You were just a child the last I saw you.” He said.

            “Children have a way of growing up.”

            “So, they do.” He opened the door for her, and Evangeline shot him a playful teasing grin.

            “My, aren’t we the gentleman now.”

            “My days of climbing trees are over. It is time to be a man.”

            “What a shame.” She said as he pulled out her chair. “What happened to the mischievous boy I knew?”

            “Oh, he is still in there somewhere,” he said, taking the seat next to her, “he is just better dressed now.” He flagged down the waitress and ordered two coffees and a plate of cupcakes. “How have you been?”

            She gestured to her clothes and flashed him a wicked grin. “As you can see, I’m doing well. James is working with Daddy in the mills, and Winston is now an Alderman.”

            He shook his head. “I asked how you were doing, not your family.”

            “I cut my hair recently.” She said, not knowing what else to say.

            “And it looks lovely.”

            She couldn’t fight the smile, curving her lips. “Really?”

            “Very flattering.” He said as the waitress placed two cups and a plate in front of them. “Are you married?” He asked curiously.

            “No, are you?”

            “No.” He said, taking the pitcher of cream from the table and pouring it into his cup. “I see the odd woman here and there, but no one special.” For some reason, that really pleased her. “Do you have a suitor?”

            “No.” She shook her head as she put sugar into her cup. “Not that my Mother is not trying.”

            Payton looked down at his cup, and the smile faded from his face. “I want you to know I came that day… the day you left Ottwell. I made it in time to watch you drive away, but I did come.” She could tell from his expression it was something that had been bothering him greatly.

            She reached out and took his hand in hers. “I know I saw you as we were leaving. I wish we could have said goodbye properly.”

            He smiled and squeezed her hand. “The past is in the past. Look at us together again.”

            “Have mercy on the world; you always got me in trouble.” She teased.

            “You liked it. You got me into more trouble than I did you.”

            “I bet you still get into trouble.”

            “Every chance I can.” He winked. Evangeline laughed and took a sip of her coffee. That was the Payton she remembered.

            She placed her cup down and leaned forward. “So, where are you living now?”

            Payton mirrored her movement and rested his elbows on the table. “Just north of here about ten, maybe fifteen-minute drive. Got a nice little house of my own. Nothing special, a kitchen, a dining room and a bedroom,” then he grinned, “even got my own bed.”

            She remembered how he had to share his bed with his brothers growing up in that one-room shack outside Ottwell. “My-my, you are coming up in the world.”

            “What about you? Are you on your own?”

            She shook her head, no. “I’m still living with my parents. Mother says I should stay under their roof until I find a husband.”

            “Isn’t your mother part of the feminist movement?” He asked, recalling what she was like while they were growing up.

            Evangeline laughed; she supposed it was contradictory. She believed in equality but still felt a man should take care of his woman and that a woman was not complete without a husband to provide for her. “Well, yes, she is, but she still thinks I should marry before I move out. She doesn’t think I could provide for myself.”

            “I suppose there is not much work for a lady of your stature.” He was right. There were plenty of working women. They were maids and cooks, some were seamstresses, waitresses, and of course, there were shadier careers such as entertainment. Jazz girls and prostitution. None of which were suitable for a woman like herself. “So, what do you do with your time?”

            “My mother insists I accompany her to her various rallies and functions. Right now, the Ladies’ Auxiliary is planning a Temperance fundraiser to help fund the police department in their fight against the illegal liquor trade.” For a moment, she saw something. His expression never changed, but his eye said he was in disagreement with her. She couldn’t help but wonder what his view on the matter was. “You don’t think liquor is evil?”

            He just smiled. “I think it is not a subject we should discuss.” He said, sipping his coffee.

            “Why not? We used to be able to talk about anything.” She reminded him.

            Payton looked at her thoughtfully, then placed his cup on the table and leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Have you ever had liquor?”

            “No, of course not. It is illegal.” She said, offended. Then something occurred to her. “Have you?”

            “I pose a question to you then. How can you know something to be wicked if you have never tried it?”

            “I don’t need to. I have never met the devil, but I know he is evil.”

            “You only think it is evil because your mother has brainwashed you with this Temperance Act bullshit… excuse my harsh language.”                     

            That was when she realized he had been in the underground clubs she had heard of. If Payton was involved in it, how bad could it be? She leaned forward and lowered her voice so as not to be overheard. “Have you been to those underground clubs?”

            A wicked smile graced his face. “Why, do you want to go?” The very idea seemed wrong but in a deliciously tempting way. She had heard stories of such places, and she had to admit she was curious about them. Though such things went against every idea her mother tried to implant in her head. Yet Payton made a very good point; how could she judge something she had never experience. Moreover, she had never had a drink in her life, and frankly, she didn’t know anyone that drank. Hence, she was completely clueless as to whether or not liquor actually incited all the immorality and violence people said it did or if it was just an overreached useless law.

            “If I said I did, what would you say?” She asked, trying to feel him out about the matter. The smirk on his face told her he could grant her the experience she was looking for.

            “There is an old coffee shop in Greenwood.” Greenwood was said to be a terrible neighbourhood; she supposed that made it the perfect place for an illegal drinking establishment. “Go inside and tell the lady behind the counter that you would like an Irish coffee. She will tell you where to go.”

            “Will you-”

            “There you are.” She heard her mother snap as she reached the table. “What are you doing here?” She asked, glaring at Payton. “Who is this?”

            “Mother, you remember Payton Kingston,” Evangeline said, introducing them once more.

            “No.” She said flatly as she looked him over closely, and then Evangeline saw it, the moment of recognition. She knew just who he was. “Oh, wait, you are that nasty little boy the maid brought around. The one that my daughter was always running off with. How unfortunate that you have found each other once more.” Then she looked over the fine suit he was wearing and took note of how well-groomed he was. “I must say you dress up nice. Where did you get that suit? I bet you stole it.” She scoffed.

            “Mother, be nice.”

            “I will not.” She said, grabbing Evangeline by the arm and forcing her to her feet. “And neither will you. We have more pressing matters than you mingling with the rift raft.”

            Payton didn’t say anything, but from the twitch of his jaw, he wanted to. He came to his feet, adjusted his suit jacket and picked up one of the cupcakes. “Well, Evangeline, it has been nice, but I’m afraid I must go; my Mother is waiting for me.” He said with a polite nod to her mother. “Mrs. Canyon always a pleasure…” he said, pushing past her, “like f*****g a hill of fire ants.” He muttered, heading for the door.

            Evangeline tried not to laugh. They had both heard his leaving comment, and as much as she was amused, her mother was offended. “Such language in front of ladies. That is why he will always be a rogue. I knew I should have never let you play with that boy.”

            “You were awfully rude,” Evangeline said as they left the shop.

            “With men like that, you have to be otherwise; they start thinking they are good enough for you when clearly they are not.” Her mother said, ushering Evangeline down the street. “Now tonight, we are hosting a fundraising dinner for the campaign Winston has been working on. There will be many eligible bachelors at this party.” She smiled suggestively. “Men with wealth and power, perfect marriage material for a young lady who knows how to cast a wide net.”

            Evangeline groaned; she wasn’t interested in Winston’s so-called friends. Why did her mother have to meddle? She would attend the dinner and excuse herself early. If she was lucky, she could find her way to the club before it got too late.

***

            Payton dropped down onto the seat beside the dressing room where his mother was trying on the new dress she had made two weeks ago. In his hand, the cake his mother had asked him to bring. The door opened, and out she came in her new tanned dress with the white belt and bow on the right shoulder.

            “So, how did it go?” His mother asked, looking herself over in the mirror, pleased with what she saw.

            “Well enough, I suppose.” He said, holding out the cake.

            Tempest frowned and took the cake. “What is wrong?” She asked outright; she didn’t believe in beating around the bush.

            “It is just hard to reconnect after four years.”

            “I don’t buy that; you two were as thick as thieves.” She said, taking a bite of the cake in her hands. “What went wrong?”

            “Her mother came across us. Let’s just say she doesn’t like me any more than the last time we spoke. Still thinks of me as rift raft.” He said, picking a piece of lint off his trousers.

            His mother placed her hand alongside his face and smiled down at him lovingly. “You are so much more than rift raft, my Dear. You are a good man; any woman should consider herself lucky to be in your favour.” 

            “It is not the woman; it is the mother.”

            “Screw the mother.” She said, returning to the mirror. “She was always a witch anyway.”

            Payton couldn’t fight his smile. His mother didn’t cuss often, but when she did, it always sounded funny. She was such a good-hearted woman. She rarely ever said a cross thing about anyone, but when her boys were involved, she was like a mother bear rearing up on her hind legs and letting out that ‘don’t f**k with me’ roar.

            “I think I’m finished here.” She said, heading back to the change room. “Just let me change, and we can go.”

            She changed back into the outfit she had come in, and the shopkeeper folded and placed her new dresses in a bag. As they left, his mother finished her cake, and they got into the car. They had business to take care of. They drove out of the city to the farmhouse his parents now lived in. It was much bigger than the house he grew up in but was still small enough for Tempest to maintain alone.

            Out back behind the house was a small fleet of trucks they used to transport their moonshine. His mother took her new dresses into the house, and Payton went out back where he found his father and Trenton stalking the trucks with crates of what looked like eggs. The crates in the back were loaded up with liquor bottles with a padded layer of eggs on top should someone look in the box. The crates near the tailgate were all eggs just in case they were stopped and inspected.

            “Got your order ready,” Trenton said when he spotted Payton as he loaded the last crate onto the truck.

            Remington put up the tailgate and leaned against the truck with a self-satisfied smile. “Where is your Mother?”

            “In the house, putting away her new dresses.” He said, coming to stand by his father. “Look, I’m going to need a second shipment. We ran dry last night, and that can’t be happening. People expect to get what they came for.”

            “Colton said the same thing. I’m telling you demand has doubled.” Trenton said with a pleased smile. “We are going to need to build another still.”

            “Ok, you start work on the new still. I will take this shipment to Colton and Payton,” Remington said, banging on the side of the loaded truck, “this one is yours. It is all we got, so make it last.” Payton looked at the truck feeling a little less enthusiastic than usual. “What’s wrong, Boy?” His father asked.

            “We are doing the right thing… right?”

            “Suddenly, you have a moral conscience?” Trenton teased.

            “What brought this on?” His father asked, concerned.

            “There is this girl-”

            “Should have known it would be a dame.” Trenton laughed. “You go and fall for one of those Temperance ladies?”

            “Son, in our profession, that is not a wise idea. Stick with the jazz girls. They are better suited for what we do.” He knew his father was right, and usually, he would agree with him, but this was not just any dame. This was Evangeline, the girl he thought about every day for the last four years.

            He wanted to see her again but wasn’t sure if she would actually defy her mother, and all she was taught was right and actually showed up at the club. Now usually, he would bounce between clubs and make sure things were going well, but tonight he was going just to spend the night hanging out under the coffee shop and see if Evangeline made an appearance. If she did, then fate was telling him to pick up where they left off. If not, he would put her behind him. Only the night would tell.