Sweeter Than W(h)ine

by Nancy Goldberg Levine

  “He and my sister-in-law are coming for a visit next month. Maybe you’ll get to meet them, and he can show you some pictures.”

  “That’ll be nice,” Dina said, gazing at the sky outside again.

  “Are you getting tired?” Rafe asked.

  “Kind of,” Dina said. “I just didn’t want to say anything because you’ve been such a great host.”

  “You haven’t even seen the whole house, but maybe we’ll take the grand tour another time. It’s been kind of a crazy night. I hope this won’t be our last date, though.”

  “I…” Dina blinked her eyes. “I hope it won’t be either.”

  His friends from the Village all started to leave, which meant Dina was soon alone with Rafe.

  “I’ll take you home,” he said, helping her from the window seat. She reached for her walker the way she’d practiced so many times at Wellstone. She still had pain, but she tried not to complain about it.

  Dina settled back into the warmth of the car, and Rafe turned on the radio. He had it tuned to a local college station, and she heard Jay and his band singing “Winter’s Day.”

  “Hey, who’s that band?” Rafe asked.

  “Jay & the Cincinnatians. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them. They’re an obscure local group.”

  “Nope. Never heard of ’em.”

  Dina laughed, and wondered what would happen when they got back to her condo.

  Would he kiss her? What would she do? Rob was the only man for her, right?

  He helped her out of the car, and to the front door. Snow flurries had started to fall, but nothing serious. A cold wind whipped around them; winter was still hanging on. Sirens went off in the distance–the sounds of the city. Rafe put his arm around her waist, pulling her close. “I had a great time tonight, Dina.”

  “So did I.”

  “Do you mind if I kiss you goodnight?”

  Dina closed her eyes and murmured, “Mmmm. Not at all.”

  He pulled her even closer, and she liked it. Heaven help her, she wanted him to kiss her now. He did so, and she felt the warmth of his lips against her own. She brushed her lips against his, and her caress was sweet and innocent. She could taste the expensive chocolate he’d also indulged in on her lips.

  “You seem like a very nice person, Dina,” he said, before kissing her a second time. It was as pleasing as before. His scent was fresh and clean, like the night air and newly-washed laundry.

  The ice cold breeze made him move away, and she didn’t want him to.

  “It’s awfully cold out here,” Rafe said. “I’m sorry we stayed out so long.”

  “That’s okay,” Dina said. “It was great…being with you. Goodnight, Doc.”

  “Goodnight, Dina.”

  ***

  Schmoopie came rushing up to see if there were any leftovers from the party before Dina could get the door open. Her knee hurt, but she also felt weak from the kiss. That part was good, but guilt set in when she sat down on the bench of her piano. She noticed that Schmoopie had knocked the paisley Victorian piano shawl her mother-in-law had given her on the floor. He’d also thrown some of her mom’s old sheet music onto the Oriental rug. “Shame on you, Schmoopie.”

  The kitty looked up at her as if to say “Who, me?”

  “Yes, you,” Dina scolded, but she couldn’t stay mad at him. “At least you didn’t knock over Dad’s picture.” She held the photo of Rob in her hands. Tears started to run down her cheeks; she couldn’t stop them. It was a picture of him as a teenager, right after he and his family had moved to Cincinnati. He looked so handsome standing next to his dad’s car. He wore a turtleneck sweater and jeans that emphasized the muscles in his tall, slender form.

  “Oh, Rob,” Dina said, a sob catching in her throat. “I’m sorry. Doc invited me to a dinner party and he kissed me and I shouldn’t have kissed him back, but I did.” She sighed. “I kind of liked it, but he’s not you.” She thought back to his last days in the hospital. Some of those days he was out of it from the chemotherapy, and had been incoherent. When he was lucid, she remembered his words. She looked up toward the heavens. “Is it really okay?”

  A cool breeze swept through the room and she realized she’d left her front door open a crack. It was still a sign. Rob was all right with her dating someone else.

  Dina blinked her eyes and rose slowly when the phone rang, startling her out of a sound afternoon nap. Schmoopie put his ears back and meowed. The doorbell rang, and she called “Just a minute!” and made her way–slowly–from the bedroom to the hall and the front door. She looked through the keyhole and saw Holden Bixler. She opened the door and her dog came toward her, sniffing her feet.

  “Hi,” Holden said. “I thought you might want to practice walking and go out with Buster and me. After that, we’ll be having pizza if you want to stop by.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Holden wore a sage green sweatshirt with a hood, and blue jeans that clung to his muscular body. Once again, Dina didn’t miss his easy smile. And though she was a cat person, she kind of liked Buster. She wasn’t used to so much male attention, though. Sure, she’d had Rob and male friends like Jay, but she didn’t like having to fill in gaps in the conversation. Her neighbor probably didn’t want to hear about the comparison between the coffee at Hanover Hospital and the coffee at Wellstone Village. Maybe he liked the Red Wolves?

  “So, how about those Red Wolves?”

  “I’m a football fan myself. I love the Tigers.”

  “I hate football,” Dina said, thinking of the hometown team, the Cincinnati Tigers. “And so does my cab driver.”

  “You have your own cab driver?”

  “Kind of. My dad can’t drive any more, my mom doesn’t like to drive, and I’ve got the bad knee so I don’t like to drive either and I’m not ready to take the bus again. And he’s a friend, too.”

  “That’s the guy who brought you home from the hospital.”

  “Right.”

  “What about the one who picked you up last night? I happened to look out the window and see you get into a pretty fancy car.”

  “He was my doctor at Wellstone Village. We had a date, but it’s nothing serious.”

  “So you like the Red Wolves, hate the Tigers, and had a casual date with your doctor. Anything else I should know?”

  He asked the questions in a teasing, fun way, so Dina wasn’t offended or put off. He looked younger than her, but she was a bad judge of people’s ages. “No, but tell me something about yourself.”

  Buster had stopped at the front outside door of the condo. Holden held it open for her and she entered. He came in after her and then walked in front so he and Buster could lead her to their bachelor pad. In the hallway, pretty woman in a pink and black jogging suit slipped by them to pick up her mail from the set of boxes. Dina saw Holden grin widely at her.

  “Hi, Dawn.”

  Dina greeted their neighbor, too, but Dawn barely acknowledged her. Dawn had a ready smile for Holden, though, and her eyes sparkled when she looked at him. “Hi, Holden.” So the police officer was a ladies’ man, Dina thought. Not that there was anything wrong with that; she wasn’t looking for a serious relationship right now—probably not ever. Holden had spoken correctly about her—she was casually dating. She wasn’t sure if she liked it, though. She’d met Rob and they’d clicked right away; no casual dating.

  She followed Holden and his dog into the condo and saw typical “guy” stuff like a big-screen TV and leather recliner and sofa. His kitchen was the same size as hers, but he had a lot of gadgets like a pizza stone. “Where are you ordering the pizza from?” she asked, easing herself from the walker onto the black leather sofa. She held onto an orange, black and white Cincinnati Tigers pillow and shivered a little from the cold weather outside.

  “Here,” Holden said, throwing a blanket that matched the pillow around her shoulders. “I’ll turn the heat up to.”

  He moved deftly to the thermostat and did just that, Buster at h
is heels, barking.

  Dina thought Buster was a cutie, but that bark was awful. It was more of a yap than an actual bark.

  “I’m not ordering pizza,” Holden said. “I like to make my own.” He went into the kitchen and took dough out of the fridge. He shaped two pizzas, and threw one into the air, like a real pizza chef. Dina watched, fascinated with the whole process. He got the pizzas ready, then added tomato sauce and asked what kind of toppings she wanted. She asked for pineapple and mushroom and he loaded her pie with cheese (three kinds) and her other two toppings, and then made his with just a lot of cheese. While they waited, she asked a few more questions.

  “Voila!” he said, when the pies were finished and hot from the oven. Buster yipped and yapped and Dina didn’t know how Holden could stand that obnoxious sound. She guessed his pet had a bark only a doggie dad could love. Holden put the pizzas on paper plates, and offered her salad in a paper bowl. He gave her napkins, plastic silverware and an actual drink glass filled with her requested choice of water.

  “What kind of dog is Buster?” Dina asked. She knew zip about dogs but maybe she could find out if some breeds barked more than others.

  “Lab,” Holden said, amid bites of pizza. He was very informal; what she saw was what she got. She looked at a shelf of CDs next to the couch, but nothing looked familiar until she saw one of the group Kevin’s Prophets.

  “You like Kevin’s Prophets?”

  “Yeah, man! They’re great! That’s their latest CD, ‘Goochland.’ They’ve got a song on there called ‘Isaiah?’ It’s da bomb!”

  “That’s not music,” Dina said. “It’s just noise. Besides, Jay would throw me out of his cab if he found out I was listening to his competition.”

  “Wouldn’t want that to happen, but Kevin Gooch definitely plays music. And it’s got a message.”

  Yeah, Dina thought. Turn. It. Off. She’d finished her pizza, and was getting tired. She did like her new neighbor, but his taste in music and dogs left a lot to be desired.

  Chapter Five

  Rafe watched Dina as she stood in the courtyard of her condo, talking to a brawny, good-looking guy with a dog in the court-yard of her condo. He wondered who this macho man was and had to admit that he felt a little possessive. That was ridiculous. They’d had one informal date. And they’d kissed. He had no claim on her, and didn’t want to make one. Things between them were, and for now, always would be, strictly casual.

  “Hi, Rafe,” Dina said, waving to him when she saw him. “This is my neighbor, Holden Bixler, and his dog, Buster. Holden and I were just having a difference of opinion about Buster’s barking.”

  Rafe could see why. The dog appeared to be one of the kind that never shut up.

  “Seems like we have a lot of differences of opinion,” Holden said, with a wide smile that Rafe hated on sight. He looked younger than Dina, too, but he could have been one of those guys who had a young face. Just the kind of man Rafe didn’t like. “Like about music. I like Kevin’s Prophets, and she likes…” The smile vanished. “Jay & the Cincinnatians.”

  “Well, Rafe would probably agree with your opinion of them,” Dina said, teasing lights appearing in her brown eyes. “He doesn’t like Jay much.”

  Rafe had to defend himself. “I didn’t say I didn’t like your friend. I just said you put him up on a pedestal, and one of these days, he’s going to fall off.”

  “Dude!” Holden said, while the dog kept barking. “She does put Jay on a pedestal!”

  “Men!” Dina exclaimed, turning away from Holden and giving Rafe a full-on smile.

  Now why did he feel jealous of her neighbor? They’d kissed, and had exactly one date that was technically a “group date.” He was so messed up. “Come on, let’s get going,” Dina said. “I can’t wait to go back to my favorite restaurant.”

  “I thought that was McDonald’s,” Rafe teased, ignoring Holden, and his little dog, too.

  “Dude! Her favorite restaurant is my place. She loves my pizza,” Holden said.

  No doubt, Rafe thought, wondering why one of Jay Galloway’s favorite expressions had just popped into his head.

  Rafe helped Dina into his car and got her settled in. Then he let himself in, buckled his seat belt, started the engine, and drove to Roselawn. He didn’t want to ask questions about Holden, but he couldn’t help himself.

  “So you like Holden’s pizza, but not his taste in music. I’m so hurt. I thought you only had eyes for me. I’m a doctor, you know.”

  “You’re jealous,” Dina said. “That’s adorable.”

  “No, I’m not. It’s just that he seemed kind of young…and not at all your type.”

  The conversation was as light as the sparkling grape juice he’d bought her for Chanukah. He loved talking to her; flirting with her. And if he kept talking this way, she’d never guess his true feelings, which was exactly what he had in mind. “And what is my type?”

  “You want someone who likes the finer things in life like dark chocolate from Chops and Chocolate…” He named the upscale restaurant where he’d purchased the chocolate coins he’d bought her. “A guy who likes good food and good w(h)ine…”

  She laughed out loud. “You sound just like…”

  “A man who will put up with your incessant chatter about that shining star of cab drivers, Jay Galloway, without being jealous…” Rafe was pleased with himself for his witty line, especially when he saw Dina’s reaction.

  “Incessant chatter?” she sputtered. “And here I thought you liked my brilliant conversation.”

  “I do. But I know you want an Alpha male like myself to make you happy. Your neighbor is definitely a Beta male, and a young one at that.”

  “So you think he’s too young for me?”

  “It’s what you think that matters.” Rafe put on his poker face, and kept driving until they reached Nutsie Nan’s Café. As they were walking in, he almost ran right into his Aunt Marina. She was medium height, with brown hair Rafe knew she had dyed at the beauty shop every six weeks. There were angles and lines in her face that showed worry about the company, and over some of her drivers. He hugged her and suddenly missed Uncle Moe.

  “Hi, Aunt Marina,” he greeted her, when she’d hugged him back. The scent of fresh herbs wafted out of the bag his aunt carried.

  “Hi, Rafe. I’m so glad to see you. I don’t get to see you much when you’re working out in Cliff Field, but I’ll see you next month for Gracie’s unveiling.”

  Rafe tensed up, hoping Dina wouldn’t ask him about it. “Dina, this is my Aunt Marina. Jay Galloway’s boss. Aunt Marina, this is Dina Edelman, Jay Galloway’s biggest fan.”

  At the sound of her employee’s name, Rafe’s aunt groaned. “Well, aren’t you lucky?” she said. “I guess someone has to like him.”

  “Guilty,” Dina said. “He’s the best.”

  “It’s too bad you already got breakfast,” Rafe said, resisting the temptation to peek into her bag. “You could have joined us.”

  “I have to get back to work anyway,” Aunt Marina said. “Nice meeting you, Dina.”

  “Nice meeting you.”

  “Don’t hide out in Cliff Field all the time, Rafe.” His aunt gave him another hug and whispered, “I want details.”

  “There aren’t any,” Rafe whispered back. “She’s just a friend.”

  His aunt walked away, and he didn’t think she believed what he’d said for a minute.

  ***

  Dina had to admit that she enjoyed being at Nutsie Nan’s Café, and flirting with Rafe. Although his aunt didn’t like Jay either, Dina liked her anyway. She seemed like a take-charge kind of woman who didn’t take any nonsense from her nephew. She wanted to ask him about the unveiling, but he had appeared so tense when his aunt brought it up that she decided not to. If he wanted to tell her, he would. He was just like all of the big, tough little boys and teens she’d counseled at the Oakwood Center. He used his sense of humor and charm to cover up what was bothering him until he’d finally ha
ve to let it out.

  After they helped themselves to the brunch buffet, they started talking about where they’d gone to school. Then Dina looked down to see that a spoonful of the oil from the fried eggs and potatoes had dripped onto her chiffon blouse. “Darn it!”

  “What happened?” Nan Moskowitz asked, after she rushed over.

  “I got a grease spot on my blouse. And I’m on a date.” She smiled at Rafe in spite of the fact that she was mad over the spot. “Some impression I’m making.”

  “The grease spot’s all part of your appeal,” Rafe said.

  “Very funny, Jay,” Dina teased.

  Nancy disappeared, but returned with a small bottle of club soda. “Try this on your blouse.”

  Dina went to the rest room and opened the club soda, which exploded all over her blouse and the sink. The cap just missed hitting her in the eye. That was just what she needed on top of everything else she’d been through.

  “The club soda exploded,” she told Nan when she returned. “There’s a mess in the rest room and look at me. Now what?”

  “I’m really sorry about the club soda,” Nan said, hovering over her like a mother hen.

  “Me, too,” Rafe said, reaching across the table to touch her hand. Dina liked the heat of his touch against hers, but had to remind herself again that this was just a casual date.

  “I’ve got some extra clothes in the back,” Nan said. “I don’t think they’d fit you, though.”

  Dina glanced at her, but didn’t say anything. Nan was about a size 1X, and Dina was a medium so that wouldn’t work.

  “Wait,” Nan said. She returned with a Nutsie Nan’s Café T-shirt, size medium. “I forgot I had some of these left. I thought we sold out of them all.”

  “Rafe,” Dina said, as she got up to go to the rest room and change, “I wanted to wear jeans and a T-shirt for our date. I ended up doing that anyway.”

  “I’m sure it’ll look just as nice as the outfit you have on. And I like the red shoes.”

  “I’m getting ready for spring training. They’re Cincinnati Red Wolves red.” She felt her cheeks turn as red as her shoes.