Chapter Text
Their flat was a single room with two windows that overlooked the street below.
There was an armoire; a small, round table with two chairs; an armchair with a side table; a floor lamp; and a small sink in the corner with a mirrored cupboard above it.
The bed was a double that pulled down from the wall and was made by Murphy Door Company. Thomas Barrow's new employer and landlord, clockmaker Garrett Lowenstein, had apologized for there just being the one bed, as he knew Thomas' friend, Jimmy Kent, would also be living with him, but it was a large bed, at least. Fighting to suppress a smile, Thomas had told Garrett that he and Jimmy would manage somehow....
Indeed, when the bed was deployed, it took up nearly the entire room.
The first day in the flat, Thomas pulled down the bed and lay upon it. "Not too bad," he said. "Certainly no worse than what we had at Downton."
Suddenly, Jimmy pounced on Thomas like a large cat, kissing him and tugging at his clothes. "Let's give it a try," he said lustily. Jimmy shed his clothes, tossing them to the floor. Thomas followed suit.
They had sex twice that first day, again that night, and somewhere in the wee hours, as the sky was turning gray, Jimmy climbed onto Thomas and they had sex yet again. The following morning, as Jimmy stood at the mirror fiddling with his hair, Thomas came up behind him, and they did it for a fifth time.
Thomas then declared their New York City flat officially christened "Our Home."
It was wonderful to finally sleep together in the same bed all night and do whatever they wanted as often as they wanted without worrying about somebody bursting in on them.
They shared their bath with a young couple down the hall, which was far fewer people than they'd shared the one male-servants' bath with at Downton.
Their flat had no kitchen, but they were able to use the one behind the Lowenstein clock shop directly below, which had a large sink, stove, and icebox. This is where they kept their meager cooking supplies and groceries.
Mrs. Lowenstein, Mariam, was a wonderful cook, especially of Jewish cuisine. She was also generous and insisted on feeding Thomas and Jimmy, as well as Garrett and herself, so the men rarely had to use the kitchen at all.
The Lowenstein's only son, Abraham, had died in The Great War, and they knew that Thomas had also served in this war and in fact been shot during it. They did not, however, know how he'd been shot, and Thomas and Jimmy agreed never to tell them, which was probably wise....
Tuesday through Saturday, Thomas worked in the clock shop with Garrett. Jimmy would do any chores or shopping that needed to be done. When Mrs. Lowenstein would shop, Jimmy would accompany her and push the cart or carry the bags. Thomas had told him there was no rush to find a job, as their money situation was good. Jimmy liked Mrs. Lowenstein (and her potato pancakes) and said he'd rather serve her than the Crawleys any time.
After work, Thomas and Jimmy would go for long walks, exploring the city. Sometimes they would get dinner out, if they hadn't already eaten, or bring something back to the flat.
Sunday and Monday the shop was closed, and Thomas and Jimmy would walk for hours in Central Park, or take a streetcar or ferry somewhere. Jimmy especially liked Chinatown, trying all the exotic and strange seafood and vegetables. Thomas enjoyed the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Sunday mornings were spent in bed. Thomas would bring up tea and food from the kitchen, and then he'd read the paper while Jimmy snoozed beside him until eleven. They hadn't planned for this, but it had become their little routine.
One such Sunday, Jimmy was dozing, and he woke up--half woke up, actually. His back was to Thomas, but he could feel Thomas' leg against his spine and hear him turning the pages of his paper.
Jimmy was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of contentment and security. He hadn't felt anything close to that since before the business with Christopher Glover back in England....
I want to feel like this forever, Jimmy thought. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep, as the curtains moved in the breeze and the sounds of the city drifted up from the street below.
@@@
As Prohibition was in effect, there was no alcohol sold in the open, though the Lowenstein's managed to get a little wine for "religious purposes," which they shared with Thomas and Jimmy.
Alcohol was also available in the city's many speakeasies, in addition to wonderful music and entertainment. Every Saturday, Thomas and Jimmy would dress in their best and try a new speakeasy they'd heard about or a previous one they'd especially liked.
Tonight, it was the Cotton Club at 142nd and Lenox in Harlem.
Jimmy was particularly excited, as the Cotton Club was known for some of the best and most innovative jazz in the city. The Harlem Renaissance was in full swing, and there was a huge interest in African-American music and dance. White patrons were drawn by the lure of something "wild" and "exotic" (whether or not it was actually true), and this fact was fully exploited by the club.
Juxtaposed against conservative white attitudes about sex were dramatic, often jungle- or plantation-themed numbers performed by beautiful brown men and women, dressed in flamboyant, often skimpy costumes. The implication was savage, unbridled lust and sexual prowess.
The result was that the Cotton Club was packed to the rafters every night.
Thomas and Jimmy were dressed and groomed "to the nines," making them a stunning pair, and they had no problem gaining admittance to the club. Their table wasn't near the stage, but they had a clear view of it.
They ordered their drinks, and Thomas lit up a cigarette. The decor of the club included fine furnishings, fake palm trees, and dramatic lighting.
The show began with a chorus of beautiful girls in bright feather costumes and matching head dresses. They rounded the stage and danced for a minute, then the chorus line parted in the middle, and out slid two gents in top hats and tails who began tap dancing with amazing speed and synchronicity.
The entertainers were all black, most of them light skinned and appearing to be bi-racial or mixed with other ethnicities. The majority appeared to be in their twenties, though some of the female dancers appeared younger.
The customers were all white. It would be several years before blacks were allowed into the Cotton Club as patrons.
Jimmy was taking in the sights and sounds with an expression of wonderment. The atmosphere of the club was unlike any they'd ever seen before. Suddenly, Jimmy's eyes grew large.
"Thomas! Charlie Chaplin is here! Over there to the right of the stage, look!"
Thomas leaned over and craned his neck to see. "Blimey, Jimmy, so he is!" Thomas continued to look. "Where's his latest young girl?"
"Says the chap who robbed my cradle," Jimmy teased, grinning his curly grin.
Thomas exhaled a stream of smoke and tapped off his ashes elegantly. He grinned. "I didn't have to rob it, love. You stripped off your nappy and jumped right into my arms."
Jimmy laughed, nearly choking on the piece of ice he'd been sucking on.
Thomas was glad to see Jimmy so thoroughly enjoying himself. Jimmy had been profoundly depressed when they'd left Downton months earlier. He'd been barely functioning: eating, sleeping, muddling through his tasks; that had been about it. His eyes had been glazed, dull, and sad, as he'd wandered about in his fog....
Now, Jimmy was excited and engaged, his eyes full of life. He was the way he was when Thomas had first met him.
The sight of it brought joy to Thomas. He was enjoying the show immensely, but seeing Jimmy's excitement was the best thing of all....
The next act was being introduced. "And now, the Cotton Club's own Darcy Haywood singing 'I've Found a New Baby,' accompanied by her brother, Ambrose Haywood, on trumpet, and The Haywood Band."
The singer was exquisite. She had caramel-colored skin and wide-set, green, catlike eyes fringed with dark lashes. Her short, dark hair lay in waves against her head. She wore a shimmering emerald gown that clung to her slender figure.
Darcy Haywood began to sing. Her voice was clear and smooth, her style a tad sassy:
Everybody look at me,
Happy girlie, you will see,
I've got someone nice, oh, gee!
Oh, joy, what bliss!
Just the treasure that I need,
Pure as gold and guaranteed,
Is he handsome? Yes, indeed!
Let me tell you this:
I found a new baby,
A sweet honey boy;
My fashion-plate baby
Has thrilled me with joy!
His new way of lovin'
Has made me his slave;
His sweet turtle dovin'
Is all that I crave!
Sweetest kiss, what a kiss, full of bliss, can't resist, somehow!
Tells me lies, but he's wise, naughty eyes mesmerize, I vow and how!
I don't mean maybe,
I just had to fall;
I found a new baby,
A new baby, that's all!
Ambrose Haywood broke in with his trumpet solo. He was a male version of his beautiful sister. His trumpet wailed and called from the stage. His style was a touch sassy, like his sister's singing, and he almost seemed to tease her with his playing. The siblings exchanged looks a few times during the solo, Darcy appearing to be mildly annoyed, and Ambrose swaying and cocking his head with attitude in response. It was obviously part of the act, and it was delightful.
Darcy continued to sing, and Ambrose's trumpet played in the background.
I found a new baby,
A sweet honey boy;
My fashion-plate baby
Has thrilled me with joy!
His new way of lovin'
Has made me his slave;
His sweet turtle dovin'
Is all that I crave!
Sweetest kiss, what a kiss, full of bliss, can't resist, somehow!
Tells me lies, but he's wise, naughty eyes mesmerize, I vow and how!
I don't mean maybe,
I just had to fall;
I found a new baby,
A new baby, that's all!
Jimmy was mesmerized, his eyes fixed on the stage. There was an energy in this place, you could feel it, especially from this particular act.
When the performers finished, the club exploded with applause. Some patrons threw money onto the stage, which Nancy gracefully retrieved.
Afterwards, Jimmy turned to Thomas. "I must meet them," he declared.
"Meet them?" Thomas said, surprised. "The performers? How?"
"Backstage."
"They won't let you back there," Thomas said. "You'll run into a bouncer."
"I can try," said Jimmy. "I'll say I'm a fan. I'll be charming. Come with me, Thomas."
Thomas shook his head and nursed his drink. "You go, love," he said, amused. "Have your adventure. I'll wait here."
Jimmy stood up.
"Good luck." Thomas grinned.
Jimmy gave him a wink and headed across the club.
As Thomas predicted, he was stopped by a bouncer.
"Excuse me," Jimmy began. "Please, I'd like to tell Mr. Haywood and his band how wonderful they were. I'm a huge fan all the way from England."
"They're next door," said the bouncer. "That's where the performers go."
Jimmy walked out the back door and into the building directly next door....