Wine and Spirits

by J. J. Fogg

  “Does that jukebox over there work?”

  She smiled. “Are you tired of talking?”

  “Just for now.”

  “Yes. It works. Every song in there was hand-picked by Doc. So, if you don't find what you're looking for…”

  “It's there. I just didn't know if it worked. I've never heard anyone use it.”

  “Ha! You should be here after-hours. Eddie over there loves this thing.” She reached out her hand and he took it. “So, should I try to guess the song? Is it 'Love Shack' by the B-52's? 'Eye of the Tiger', maybe?” she joked.

  “Stuck in the eighties, much?” he chuckled. “No, I'd be embarrassed to tell you, actually. Why don't you pick something?”

  “Oh, I'm not allowed to, sorry.”

  “What? No, really, pick a song.”

  She looked back at him with a squeamish expression.

  “Wait, you're serious? You're really not allowed?”

  “Sorry. House rules. Only customers can pick songs from the jukebox while the bar is open.”

  “Hmm, interesting. I guess it's back on me, then.” He studied the list of songs available—a surprisingly wide variety considering only one person picked them all. “Sorry, Lily, I don't see 'Eye of the Tiger.' I guess that's not the vibe he was going for.”

  “Why don't you just play the song you wanted?”

  “Um…are you sure? Are you going to laugh at me? I mean, it's a great song, but you might think it's kinda cheesy, too.”

  “I won't laugh at you. I promise.”

  “Okay, but…only if you dance with me. You still sure?”

  “I was actually hoping. But god help me, I hope you didn't find 'Love Shack.' I wouldn't want to break a promise.”

  He started the song and led her out to the 'dance floor'—a six-foot square area that just happened to not have a table in it.

  She recognized the song right away—Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. “Well, it's not the Love Shack.” She grinned as she reached up and placed her hands on his shoulders.

  He settled his hands on her waist as they swayed.

  She loved this song and knew it by heart. It was one of her dad's favorites, too. Oh, I miss him, so much. She lowered her head and leaned in closer.

  Her favorite line was coming up.

  Lonely rivers flow, to the sea, to the sea…

  She closed her eyes and leaned even closer, until her head was nestling into his chest. He felt warm and soft, yet strong. She felt safe. But she still felt tears forming in her eyes. Why the hell am I crying?

  She wasn't sure if she was just overwhelmed by the moment, slow dancing to a beautiful song with Nick, or maybe, she just desperately missed her family. Even though she knew they'd always be near, she also knew it would never be the same. Sure, she might hear their voices or even see their faces. But they could no longer wipe away her tears, or stroke her hair, or hold her—the way that Nick was now. Or maybe it was all of those things combining.

  The song ended too soon and at just the right time.

  She raised her head and took a half step back. Cooler air breezed between them, reminding her of the warmth they'd just shared. She looked up at him, through tear-blurred eyes and saw him reaching to her face. She closed her eyes, just in time to feel him gently wipe away her tears.

  “Why are you crying, Lily?” he asked softly.

  “I was just thinking about my dad. I miss him. I still see him sometimes, you know…here and there. But I know, someday, I won't see him like that anymore…or hear him speaking to me still. I’ll forget what he looks like. The sound of his voice. I don't know what I'll do, then. I barely know what to do now.”

  “Yeah, I think I understand that. If it's any consolation, I think he did a great job. I'm sure he's incredibly proud of you.”

  “Yeah, I know he is. He's told me so. But it's still hard to move on without feeling like I'm leaving him behind, you know?”

  “Yeah, I do know.”

  “And…my god, I'm so lonely…”

  He pulled her back close to himself and again started swaying with her, as if the jukebox had started again on its own, though it hadn't.

  She swayed with him, silent dancing in an empty bar room full of strangers, letting his warmth ease her pain.

  Chapter 13

  Eddie watched from the bar, as Nick and Lily danced. He smiled. There would be no ass-kicking needed tonight, no reason to 'have a conversation' with him in the back alley. Maybe this Nick guy was the real-deal after all—just a little bit stuck as Doc would say. And maybe Lily was the right person—the only person—to help him get unstuck.

  Eddie was lost in thought and didn't notice the customer at the bar trying to get his attention.

  “Excuse me, young man…helloo?” The elderly woman sounded proper, though not pretentious.

  “Oh!” he startled. “I'm so sorry. Hi Mrs. Whitley. Your usual Gin and Tonic?”

  “Yes, please.” She grinned a little before asking him what he'd been so distracted by.

  “Oh, yeah. That's my sis over there…I mean, technically, we're just…well, we're kind of like family. Anyway, she's happy right now. She hasn't been that way much since I've known her. It's just nice to see…really nice to see.”

  “Hmm. I see. So, you're the kind of man who finds his own joy in the happiness of others?”

  “Wow.”

  “What?”

  “Well, you made me sound like a pretty swell guy, just there.”

  “And you're not?”

  “Oh, no, I'm not perfect—not by any stretch. But I am getting better…becoming a better man. And that's not just wishful thinking. I really am. Thanks to Doc…and my currently giggly 'sister' over there.”

  “So, you're also honest and dare I say, a family man?” She smiled at him.

  “Oh my, you're really laying it on thick, aren't you?” He smiled back at her. “No ma'am. I've not been in a family long enough to say something like that. I am hooked though, on the family part. I can honestly say that.”

  “And humble.”

  “Okay, now you're embarrassing me. Do you mind if we change the subject?” He set a cocktail napkin on the bar and placed her drink on it.

  “Actually, I do kind of mind. But that's okay. I've already learned quite a bit about you and we've only talked a couple of minutes.”

  Doc somehow snuck up behind him and settled into a spot just to his right. “I see you've met Mrs. Whitley.” he whispered just loud enough that only Eddie could hear him.

  “Yeah, Doc. Good to see you,” he whispered back. “She's nice, but she keeps asking about me. It's kinda freaking me out. I'm gonna say something stupid if I keep talking about myself. I always do, you know.”

  “You're doing fine, son. Just be yourself, not a made-up version to try to impress her, okay?”

  He nodded.

  “Why don't you ask her about her daughter?”

  He nodded again. “So, Mrs. Whitley, I saw your daughter with you the last time. Is she all done with school now?”

  “Good job, Eddie. That was good.” Doc encouraged with a nod.

  “No, she's only in town for another couple of weeks. She had to come back home to help with some legal stuff. She's the executor on an estate and needed some help getting through it all.”

  “Oh, yeah? I imagine that would be difficult.”

  “Indeed. It's been very emotional and taken a real toll on her.”

  “You're doing great, son!” Doc whispered again into his ear. “Keep asking about her daughter. Don't talk about yourself unless asked and you'll keep doing great, I just know it.”

  “So, she still has some school left then?”

  “She is, indeed. She took a short leave from classes, but she's already a senior. She'll be graduating in the spring.”

  “You must be proud.”

  “Oh, we are. She'll be the first person in our family to get a college degree, you know. But even if she didn't, we're still proud of her. She'
s become a fine young woman, you know—smart, funny…”

  “Pretty,” he added. Oh, shit!

  “Yes.” She laughed. “She is pretty, too.”

  “I'm sorry, Mrs. Whitley. I didn't mean to say that out loud.” He was blushing from embarrassment.

  “Oh, it's alright, Eddie,” she said reassuringly. “It's quite alright.”

  “Eddie, come over here a minute.” Doc whispered again.

  “Excuse me just a minute, Mrs. Whitley.” He grabbed a couple of glasses that weren't even dirtied and carried them to the sink where Doc was waiting for him. Then he started washing them, as he spoke with Doc. “Well, I just screwed up again.”

  “No, you didn't! Are you kidding me? I just wanted to tell you how incredible you're doing! Making mistakes isn't screwing up. They're not the same thing. So long as you concentrate on those around you and not yourself, you'll always be successful, even if you do take a few missteps here and there. Just remember that, okay? You'll be a better man for it. Always think of others first. And that's exactly what you're doing, son. I'm so proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Doc. I really appreciate that.”

  “Okay, now get back over there. I think these glasses are pretty damn clean.”

  “Sure, Doc.” He returned to the other end of the bar. “Sorry, Mrs. Whitley. Where were we?” Eddie unpaused their conversation.

  “Oh, we were just chatting about my pretty daughter.”

  He blushed again.

  “Unfortunately, I need to go for now, but I'll be back in a couple of weeks. I assume you'll be tending bar?”

  “Yes, ma'am. I almost live here anymore, so I'll definitely be here.”

  “Okay, very good, then. Thanks for the talk. I’m honored to have met you, Eddie.”

  “Likewise, Mrs. Whitley. Good night!”

  Chapter 14

  Sarah still didn't make an appearance the following Friday. But even though Lily hadn't really expected her to, she still felt nervous for the first few hours of the evening. Would Nick remember to ask Sarah about talking to her? Would Sarah even agree to do it? What would Sarah say if she did? And was she ready to hear it?

  She would relive all of her fretting again the following week. But tonight, ten o'clock finally arrived. She made her way to Nick's table. He stood to greet her.

  “You'll never stop doing that, will you?” she teased.

  “Force of habit, I guess.”

  “It's okay. I don't mind. I think it's nice.”

  “I'm glad to see you again.”

  “You are?”

  “Yeah, and I brought you something. Actually, two things.”

  “Hmm, okay?”

  He pulled two gift-wrapped boxes from a shopping bag and set them on the table. “Pick one.”

  “Pick one?” she acted confused. “Do I only get to keep one? Are you just going to return the other? Or are you going to give it to someone else? Who is she, Nick?” She gave him a pretend accusatory look.

  “Oh yeah, that's how I operate, Lily. I'm definitely going to take the other gift back. I sure hope you don't pick the used tube socks. I'd hate to have to return the diamond bracelet, or worse, give it to Eddie over there.” He said it straight-faced until he couldn't keep from smiling. “Of course, you get to keep both gifts, Lily! But we won't have enough time for both of them in one night.”

  “Okay, for real, I have no idea what's happening here.”

  “Well, it's not a trick! Just open a present. But whichever one you open first, is what we'll do tonight. We'll do the other another time.”

  “Do you even hear yourself? You're not making any sense.”

  “Please, just trust me. Pick one!”

  “Fine, this one.”

  “Okay. open it.”

  She tore into the wrapping paper, immediately seeing '550 Pieces' printed on the side of the box. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “Probably.”

  She finished unwrapping it. “It's a puzzle.”

  “Yep. I figured we could do it together—like old people,” he chuckled. “Five-hundred-fifty pieces isn't too much is it?”

  “No, I'm sure it's fine.” She flipped the box over to see what the picture was and covered her mouth in surprise. “Are you serious?” She almost started crying.

  “You said you always wanted one…I know it's not the same as a real one. But maybe you can frame it or something. I mean, if you like it, of course.”

  She dropped the box on the table and threw her arms around him in a big hug. “Oh, I do, Nick. I love it! Thank you! I've always wanted a Golden Retriever!” She leaned up and kissed him right on the lips.

  It happened so fast that she hadn't even processed what she'd done or considered whether she should have. Once she pulled back and it dawned on her what she'd just done, her face went pale and she started stammering. “Oh, Nick…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…I…” She was struggling to complete even half of an intelligible sentence.

  “Shh!” he placed a finger on her lips. “It's okay.”

  She immediately quieted, gazing into his eyes, looking for some assurance that she hadn't just messed everything up. She found it when he removed his finger from her lips, leaned down, and planted a kiss of his own.

  She closed her eyes. The kiss was gentle…soft…tender. She felt his fingertips touching her cheeks—first on one side, then also on the other—so light that it felt like a butterfly’s landing. She wanted to stay there forever, but the kiss only lasted a few seconds before he pulled back, still caressing her cheeks with his fingertips.

  She opened her eyes and found his eyes already gazing back at her. “Oh, Nick.”

  “Ahem…” he croaked, as his senses suddenly returned. He pulled his hands back as if he was about to put them on a hot burner plate. “Oh, Lily. I'm…I got carried away…I…I didn't mean to.”

  A quickly rising crescendo of emotions mixed and churned within her, causing her ears to ring and sending her into a sudden panic. “I'll be right back,” she yelped, already out of breath before she ran off, leaving him speechless as she scurried to the bar.

  As soon as she got behind the bar, she slid down and sat on the ground, out of sight and leaning against the back of the bar. She fanned her face and reached over to a glass of water and splashed some on her cheeks, then patted them dry with a towel. Oh god. What was THAT? She wanted to start crying from an overdose of longing and desire. She felt like a powder keg and he'd just lit the fuse. It was INCREDIBLE, that's what it was! She gasped for air while taking a small swallow of water.

  “Um, dare I ask?” Eddie inquired with a subdued voice, just above a whisper.

  She looked up, not even remembering if Eddie had been there all along or if he'd just arrived. She reached up and grabbed his arm sleeve, yanking him down until he was at eye level with her. “Did you see what just happened?” she asked, still in a near-panic.

  “Well, I'm not sure what you're referring to exactly, but I saw him give you a couple of presents, and you only opened one. Looked like a jigsaw puzzle, maybe?”

  “Not that, you idiot! The kiss…did you see the kiss?”

  “Oh, yeah, I saw that too. See, I told you I wasn't sure what you were referring to.” He gave her a wink and a Cheshire cat grin.

  “Oh my god, so it really did happen. What should I do now, Eddie?! What do I do? It was wonderful…it was…but, oh god, I hope I haven't ruined everything!”

  “You haven't ruined anything, Lily.”

  “Huh?” She looked above her head to find Nick looking down at her. He was leaning across the bar top, no doubt his feet weren't touching the ground on the other side.

  “Are…are you sure?” she asked from her squatted position on the floor, her breathing finally calming down.

  “I'm positive. Come on. Don't we have a puzzle to figure out?”

  Boy, if that isn't the truth.

  “Sorry to interrupt here,” Nick’s tone sounded serious. “But this guy's dangerously close to
breaking the 'No customers behind the bar' rule. Will you please just go with him, so I don't have to get physical with him?”

  She looked over at Eddie and the serious look on her face gave way to a mischievous grin as she reached up and smacked him on his butt—not playfully, even, but with her full force behind it.

  “YOUCH!” he screeched.

  “Like that?”

  “Damn, that hurt, Lily! And no! I wasn't going to slap his ass!” Eddie started rubbing his butt as he looked over to Nick. “Okay, mister, I'm giving you ten seconds to get back here and remove this troublemaker from behind my bar.”

  Nick hesitated.

  “I'm not kidding!! Snap, snap! Get her out of here!”

  Nick hurried around the bar and pull her to her feet. Then drug her by the hands away from the bar and back to his table in the corner.

  She giggled the whole way.

  Chapter 15

  Lily eventually calmed down—apparently doing a jigsaw puzzle is an anti-aphrodisiac, even if it is with someone you're passionate about. It was still highly affectionate, though.

  There was something deeply intimate about sharing the table space, intertwining arms to reach here and there to set the border pieces first, then searching for specific shapes and shades after that.

  More than once, she would intentionally lean close to him and hover a few extra seconds, hoping to make some sort of physical contact with him. And he obliged, meeting her with a soft, grazing caress.

  And he wasn't above fabricating a reason to get close to her either. He sometimes would hold out a piece and ask her if she knew where it went, simply in the hopes that she would take the piece from his hand and feel her fingers touch his in the process.

  But her favorite move was when he'd lean forward to set a piece and she would quickly move over him, as if she was trying to fetch a piece from the other side of the table. She would then lower herself until her breasts swept across his back. Then she would place one hand on his shoulders, presumably for balance, as she lifted herself back up to her side of the table.

  Every touch was meant to appear innocent and yet, in reality, was anything but. They both played the game and, as they neared finishing the puzzle around two in the morning, they dispensed with the pretense—freely touching and intertwining fingers with one hand while testing puzzle pieces with the other.