by Mary Tribbey
Chapter 20
Before dinner, they went out and sat down in Dave’s favorite viewpoint on the terrace. The California sun was beginning to lower in the sky. They heard the cry of seagulls on the beaches below his house. A gentle ocean breeze caressed them as they sat watching the day coming to an end. Dave moved over, and put his good arm lightly around Joan’s shoulder. She sighed contentedly and leaned back against him. They watched the sun disappear below the horizon line. Each one was lost in their own thoughts.
Gradually darkness arrived and they went back into the house. Dave led her over to the leather couch and pulled her down to sit by his side. Joan looked over at Dave and said, “I was just thinking, I’ve met and talked to many people this week and heard what they have to say, but I’ve never interviewed you to get your opinions. Do you feel up to answering some question?” She asked.
“I’ll try my best to answer, just no prying or looking for sinister sensational past indiscretions,” he hinted mysteriously.
“Now you’ve aroused my reporter’s curiosity. Let’s have the facts, all the facts,” she said in her sternest business-like voice.
“Being with you and talking to you has aroused many things in me. I wish you’d tell me more about yourself. I really don’t have any dark secrets buried in my past. You pretty well have seen the best and worst in me. Will you answer my questions, if I answer yours?” he asked.
“Sorry, that’s not part of this writing assignment,” she said. Dave got up and returned with two glasses of white wine. They sipped on them and Joan began asking questions.
“What do you want to be doing five or ten years down the road?” she asked in her best reporter voice.
“That’s an easy question. I’ve thought a lot about it lately. I hope I will be healthy enough and still playing well enough to be out on the field playing football. I realize only time will tell if I will stay healthy, but that is part of what I want to have in my life. If I am not able to play, I would like to coach football somewhere or possibly be a TV commentator. When my football career is over, I’d like to settle down on a small ranch or someplace like my Mom and Dad have and do something to help children, but I’m not sure what that will be.”
Joan scribbled notes as long as he kept talking. She finished jotting them down and realized Dave was no longer talking. “What else do you want in your lifetime?” she asked.
“I know I want to get married, settle down somewhere, and raise a family. All I really need now is someone who’ll share her love and life with me. I long to find a woman who will love me for me, someone who loves me and me alone. Is that too much to ask for?” he asked quietly looking at her.
“No, it sounds like a perfectly natural desire. I think that’s what most people want, too, but, sometimes it’s hard to find,” Joan added. “Why haven’t you married before now?”
“I was so driven to be successful in my football career, I spent most of my time and energy practicing and concentrating on my studies. I didn’t date much in college, and after college, I never was sure if women wanted to date me or the ‘great Dave Allen, pro quarterback’. I got pretty disillusioned by some of the women I met. I guess I never found the right woman, until earlier this year. I have met and fallen in love with the right woman for me, the one I love and want to marry, but she’s involved with another man right now and she isn’t being honest about him with me. I still love her and want to marry her. I am longing for her to tell me the truth and tell me that she loves me, only me. All I want is for her to love me, and only me. Is that too much to ask for?” Dave spat out brokenly.
“No,” Joan answered wistfully, looking down at her hands to keep him from seeing the hurt and pain in her eyes. She sat quietly as she realized that Dave was already in love with someone. “That explains so many things about how he responds to me. He has desires and needs, but the one he loves doesn’t return his passion,” Joan mused.
Dave intently watched her, hoping she would tell him about George, but she remained silent. When she doesn’t tell him anything, Dave leaned away from her. He put his head in his hands and groaned with sadness and frustration. Joan looked at him and instinctively longed to reach out and comfort him, but she stopped because she knew now that he loved someone else.
Dave straightened up and sadly shook his head. Changing the subject, Joan reminded Dave that he was going to show her some of his paintings. He stood up, pulled her to her feet and began walking through the house. In the entry way, he pointed out a large picture of a wave breaking on the rocks below his house. The wave was frosted with white foam while the sunlight caught and reflected a sense of restless power.
“Is this one of your paintings?” she asked.
“Yes, this is an old one. For a long time, I just painted them and stored them in closets. Lately I have put them out on display. They aren’t works of the great masters of the past, but they do reflect how I see the world,” he explained.
Further down the hallway, he pointed out ‘twin’ paintings. “These two paintings are of the same location. One was painted on a clear summer day, and the other was painted in the cold days of winter,” he explained.
“These are beautiful. I am amazed at how well you captured the mood of the moment in each one. Summer is alive, happy, and hopeful. The winter one is brooding and pensive. It reveals the exquisite detail of the gnarled tree trunk, and each twist hints of storms that it survived. It makes me think of life: some parts are beautiful and filled with hope; other parts are filled with gloom and lack of hope. You are very talented, Dave. After football, you could easily paint and sell your paintings. “
“I don’t know about that. I paint them to express feelings trapped inside my heart. I doubt if I’d ever try to sell them, but, after a while, unless I sell them or give them away, I’ll run out of wall space I don’t want to appear to be bragging, but with my dad’s example of hard work, saving, and wise investing when I was growing up, and my education in finance and business, I have made a lot of good investments over the years I’ve been playing. I could retire right now and live a very comfortable lifestyle. I am not ready to quit working and living and settle down in a rocking chair and watch the world go by. I still enjoy playing football and want to play for as long as I can do it well,” Dave admitted.
The chiming of a tall grandfather clock in the hallway startled them. Joan looked at her watch, “I can’t believe it is midnight. It seems like we just began talking a few minutes ago. I don’t know about you, but I need to get to bed if I’m going to be of any help tomorrow when we start going over the information for the article. You’d better get some rest, too. I’m hoping you can guide me on how to approach this story.” Joan stood up and carried the wine glasses back to the kitchen. Dave heard her turn on the water and rinse each glass clean. When she returned, he took her hand in his and walked her down the hall to her bedroom door.
“Remember, I’m just across the hall if you need me,” he whispered. He gently pulled her into a loose embrace. He kissed her forehead and opened the door for her. “Sleep well, dearest Joan,” he whispered before turning and walking quickly into his bedroom.
Joan watched him walk away and heard his door close. ‘Now I understand why he no longer kisses me with such passion. I was afraid of his passion and touch. I guess I got what I wanted, but why do I feel so sad about it? That explains why he’s treating me like a virgin queen. At least, he admitted his love for another woman. That woman must be a fool not to run into his arms and marry him. If things were different, that’s exactly what I would want to do! I have to stop seeing Dave. Since he’s in love with another, I can only get hurt by staying around him,” she thought.
