by Bird, Peggy
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard ‘Hava Nagila’ accompanied by maracas before,” Kenn said, as the polka music suddenly morphed into a Jewish folk tune.
“And with good reason,” JJ added.
Then Shel and Ira burst into song.
The floor in front of the trio quickly filled with diners. Forming a circle, they began to dance the traditional steps to the popular folk song. Mario and Luigi, who had been standing on the side, applauded with delight.
“Excellent, excellent,” Mario said.
“Yes, excellent, excellent,” Luigi agreed. Mario poked his brother in the ribs with his elbow, pointing at JJ and Kenn. They toddled over as quickly as their stubby legs allowed and pulled the couple to the dance floor. With Luigi on one end and Mario on the other, they cut into the circle.
Chapter 29
A woman elegantly dressed in a tight-fitting black dress and high heels, with a black cape draped about her, entered the bistro. She carried herself regally, as if her presence were of prime importance to all. She flashed a business card at the maître d’ and introduced herself before he had a chance to read it. “Yaki. Teri Yaki. Food critic for the Bell Wyck Bugle. I don’t have a reservation, but I am confident you’ll find a splendid table for me.” She gave him a sharp look. “Quickly.”
“But — ” For the second time that evening he bit his tongue — hard. He checked his seating chart in a panic, found a good — not splendid — table, and led her to it. He assigned his best server to attend to her before darting to find the owners.
Mario and Luigi were still on the dance floor. The first round of the song had no sooner ended than the band began an encore presentation.
The maître d’ tried hard to catch Mario as the restaurant owner dashed around kicking his short legs in the air. He finally slowed long enough to pull the maître d’ into the circle. Lesley tripped over his long legs as he tried to bend low enough to talk to Mario. Out of breath by now, his speech was labored and he spoke low. “Speak up, my good man. Speak up! I can hardly hear you over the music. And darned good music it is!” Mario said.
The darned good music was coming to a close.
Ole!
At the instant the music stopped, Lesley caught his breath and yelled, “The real Teri Yaki is here!” His words reverberated throughout the restaurant. Every person in the restaurant stared at him.
Mario froze. JJ and Kenn exchanged looks.
“Oops! Maybe we should have told him,” JJ said.
“Too late now to fix that one,” Kenn noted.
“What do you mean the real Teri Yaki? She’s right here.” Mario looked at JJ.
The maître d’ showed his boss the business card.
“Who are you then?” Mario pointed his stubby finger at JJ.
The hairs on the back of JJ’s neck stood on end, goose bumps ran down her arms, and her face turned bright red. Alex mewled, on the verge of tears. Then a wide-eyed, red-faced Blake yelled, “Run! Run for your lives! Run out the restaurant!” Instinctively, Kenn took JJ’s arm and they hurriedly made their way back to the foyer, closely followed by Alex and Blake. Blake’s dark shock of hair bounced to the rhythm of his sprinting as they closed in on the door. Turning toward the dining area, as Alex pulled his arm, he said, “I’ve had better wine!”
• • •
The two couples didn’t stop running for nearly two blocks. Finally, Kenn halted, took several deep breaths and looked behind them. “I don’t think anyone is following us. They’re probably too busy fawning over the real Teri Yaki.”
“I wonder how she liked the Jewish Mariachi polka band,” JJ asked. Alex and Blake were bent over at the waist, trying to catch their breath.
“Wait! We didn’t even get our dinner. We were cheated!” Blake said.
“Blake!” everyone roared.
“Okay, so maybe we weren’t cheated, but I’m hungry.”
“Come to think of it, so am I,” said Alex.
Kenn looked at JJ. “I did promise you a dinner.”
• • •
The foursome ducked into a small diner, Happy Days. It wasn’t as elaborately furnished as the Italian restaurant, but odds were good they wouldn’t get thrown out either. The eatery, an old trolley car, was updated in a kitschy style to look like the 1950s. Though the chosen décor alluded to more of a worn-out look of the decade than a bright celebration of it.
“But you got to admit,” Blake said both hands tightly clutching a giant burger, “the food is decent.”
The others nodded. “Even the coffee isn’t bad,” JJ said, picking up her heavy white mug and taking a long sip.
Blake and Alex sat on one side of the red vinyl booth that had several tears in it. JJ and Kenn sat on the other side. Much to her surprise, JJ reveled in the intimacy of sitting close to Kenn. In some ways, the moment felt more intimate than any of the time spent at Mario and Luigi’s.
His thigh barely touched hers, but it was enough contact to send chills up her spine. She wondered if Kenn were doing it consciously. She also wondered what he was feeling at the moment. She knew one thing: she was thankful that conversation was at a premium. She was too distracted by these new feelings to participate in any form of small talk.
The diner was empty of customers except for the four of them. Watching her fictional pair, JJ knew exactly what plans they had for the rest of the evening. She watched as her heroine observed every small move of her beau. She also knew that Blake was uncharacteristically quiet as he sat close to his love, playfully running his hands through her silky hair. Alex, in turn, took her fingers to his hair in a vain attempt to get it to stay in one place. Unusually contented, JJ took another sip of her coffee. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Kenn. She whispered in his ear, “A penny for your thoughts.”
His expression went from contemplative to a slight, almost sly, smile, making him look more boyish than usual. “Oh, I really don’t think you want to know.” He gently placed his hand on her thigh. JJ involuntarily gasped in response to the warmth, tenderness, and the sensuous pleasure of the touch. He winked at her. “I promise to let you in on my thoughts the moment we leave.”
• • •
Taking a long, deliberate gulp, Kenn finished his coffee, picked up the bill, glanced at it and then casually tossed several bills on the table for the tip. He headed toward the cash register to pay for all four meals. Alex and Blake rose slowly, still gazing into each other’s eyes, and now holding hands. As JJ stood, she found herself more concerned with every move Kenn was making than what the heroine and hero of her novel were doing.
Kenn turned after paying, walked up to his date, and wrapped one arm about her waist. She felt her body slowly sink into his, and an unexpected second wave of sensuality rushed over her. She savored the intimate familiarity that comes to couples with ease after they’ve spent time together. How could this have happened so quickly?
Once outside the diner, Alex and Blake walked arm in arm, gently staring into each other’s eyes, and softly touching the other’s cheek. Blake tenderly lifted Alex’s long hair and stopped walking long enough to sensuously kiss her neck. Just watching them ignited something in JJ that had lay smoldering for years. Her characters were in love, and she was so very delighted for them. She also was finally ready to have that type of relationship with Kenn.
Kenn was also keeping an eye on the couple ahead of them. He slowed his pace. “We’ll let them get a little ahead of us,” he whispered. “I don’t think they even know we’re behind them.”
“You’re thinking again, Professor Cooper.”
“Yes, I am. But I’m hesitant to put my thoughts into words. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.” He pulled her close to him, kissing the top of her head. JJ’s senses went on red alert. Goose bumps ran down her arms, an electric shock shot through her body. All from a simple kiss on top of the head.
He stopped, turned her so they were facing each other and kissed her on the lips — hesitantly at fi
rst, but more passionately when she didn’t protest. JJ returned the ardor with a crushing desire not to let the moment end. The two of them stood there exploring each other, discovering the delights of the other, neither of them wanting to stop, hungry for more.
Chapter 30
Kenn and JJ stood outside the door of his home. She wasn’t exactly sure how they got there. It didn’t matter. Kenn held her close with one arm as his other hand unlocked his door. He pushed the door open, looked down at her, and quietly affirmed, “This feels so right.” She looked at him, wrapped in a sense of peace and sensuality and nodded. “Yes.”
He led her through the living room and hallway and into his bedroom. She paid scant attention to the darkened room. Instead, they embraced again, melting into each other with the ease and familiarity of two people who had known each other forever. JJ couldn’t even think of what her life was like before this man entered it.
Kenn’s lips gently caressed her neckline as she ran her hands through his hair. He cupped his strong hand behind her neck and looked down at her with a tenderness that JJ realized had been missing from her life. In the instant that she looked deep within his eyes, as if searching his soul, his lips gently brushed hers. Soon the easy touch pressed into a more sensuous kiss. Parts of JJ’s body responded with exotic feelings she’d forgotten were possible. He reached down to unbutton her blouse. Chills ran down her body; every vital sensual organ gasped and screamed at her. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” She closed her eyes. It had been ages since a man had touched her in this way.
The couple lost themselves in each other before they both felt the glory of the moment. They fell back against the bed, sated at last.
• • •
The morning sunlight twinkling through the window onto the bed woke Kenn. He turned toward JJ to find her leaning on one arm gazing at him. “You look very peaceful when you sleep, dear,” she said.
A smile that eventually crept over his entire face slowly emerged. “Good morning, sweetheart. Allow me to make you some breakfast this morning. I can whip up a mean omelet if I say so myself.”
“How can I resist such an offer?”
B-b-r-ring! B-b-r-ring!
The harsh sound of Kenn’s phone jerked the pair out of their serene state. Instinctively, Kenn reached for it on the nightstand.
He heard his mother’s voice when he lifted the receiver. “Mom, this is a bad time, I can’t talk right now,” he said in a low tone.
“What do you mean, it’s a ‘bad time’? It’s Sunday morning. What could you possibly be doing on a Sunday morning?”
“I’m busy right now,” he said.
“Why are you whispering? What’s wrong with you?”
Now JJ broke into full–force laughter, jumping from the bed, clearly not worried that she was naked.
“Oh my heavens, son. Do you have another person there with you?”
Kenn stumbled over his words, trying to be noncommittal, but his mother surmised the situation quickly. “You do! You had a date last night that continued into the morning,” she said.
“Please tell me you and JJ finally got together.”
“Mom, I really don’t want to talk about it now. It’s a very awkward conversation.”
“You can’t hide anything from your mom. I’m sure JJ’s there. Oh, Kenn, this is so wonderful. I’m just so happy!”
“Mom, I really have to go!”
“Oh, son please give my best to JJ. Tell her I can’t wait to meet her and — ”
Click. Kenn placed the phone back in its cradle. JJ was stationed at the door — still naked, still doubled over in laughter.
“So much for privacy,” he finally said, trying hard to contain his own amusement.
Chapter 31
911. Living room, Blake texted Alex.
Alex had just finished her psych homework. She balanced her laptop across her legs as she sat cross-legged on the bed.
“Good grief, I hope he’s not burning the house down again,” she muttered.
“Alex, come here quickly!” The voice nearly shook the foundation of the house. Apparently she hadn’t reacted quickly enough. His voice sounded urgent. She tossed her school supplies aside and shot off the bed, nearly tripping over her own tangled legs. “He is burning the house down, I just know it,” she muttered to herself as she darted into the living room.
She saw Blake’s hair flapping uncontrollably about his head as he contorted his body in what could only be called some ritualistic dancing. Or the beginnings of some major neurological problem. She prayed he was dancing — as odd as that sounded.
“Are you doing some type of rain dance?”
“No, silly it just rained yesterday. Why would I do that? But it just might be an ‘I’ve-got-our-tickets-home’ dance.”
Alex’s psych homework seemed less important now. She, too, began to dance, taking Blake by the hands as they cavorted about the living room.
Without notice, Alex stopped in mid-flounce, causing Blake to crash into her. “Tell me about our ticket home.”
He said, “Watch this.” He fumbled with the remote control. “I’ll just DVR … and you’ll see how easy this can be. Why we didn’t think of this sooner … “ His voice trailed off as he searched for the spot to replay the program. “Found it!”
“A commercial! That’s a commercial. You want me to watch a commercial!”
“Shhh! Yes I do. I’m going to start it one more time. Watch closely. Listen even more closely to what the lady says at the end of it.”
Alex tried to watch patiently. A typical harried housewife hurried through the rush of her day. Children. Husband. Those bratty children again …
“Our kids are not going to act like that,” Alex said.
Blake nearly dropped the remote control before regaining his composure. “Hadn’t thought about kids yet.”
“Well, how many — ”
“Shhh! This is the part.”
“Yeah, she’s climbing into a tub to take a bubble bath. So?”
“Listen to what she’s saying here.” He adjusted the volume. “Calgon! Take me away!”
“Yeah, so?”
“So? So? If it works for her and takes her to a different place, why can’t it work for us? Why can’t it take us home? We just go to the store, buy some bath crystals, and … ”
Alex was no longer listening; she had shot like a ball out of a cannon to the bathroom, already rummaging through the cabinet under the sink. “Come on, baby. Mama needs to get home!”
By the time Blake got to the bathroom, she was waving the box of bath crystals triumphantly over her head, doing the ‘I’ve-got-the-ticket-home’ dance.
Blake ran to the linen closet. Then she heard him in the kitchen. It sounded like he was tearing it apart. On his return, he held towels and a bottle of champagne in his left hand and two glasses and two glasses in the other. “We might as well toast to the moment,” he said, a man who had a plan, confident in its success.
Alex drew the water while Blake poured the bath crystals into the tub.
“More. We need more. We’ve got a long way to go home,” she said. “I’m not sure how far away it is in physical miles, but it sure seems like light years! More. More, wimp!” Alex took hold of Blake’s arm and turned it so the remainder of the crystals in the box fell into the tub. “That should do it, don’t you think?”
“You just dumped three-quarters of a box of bath crystals into the tub.”
“Yeah, well, I want to be sure this works — the more–is–better theory!”
“Oh.” Blake looked thoughtful. “It does go against the grain of ‘less is more’ doesn’t it?”
His girlfriend paid him scant attention. She was already stripping her clothes off.
“Blake. Take those clothes off, baby.” Impatience raised Alex’s voice to a mouse’s squeal.
He tore off his T–shirt, tossing it aside mindlessly. He fumbled with his belt, hastily unbuckling it. His fingers worked quickly to unsnap his jeans. The
n he grabbed his zipper, tore the latch down and wiggled out of his pants, his hips doing double time to help drop them down.
Next he tore off his underwear. He was about to step into the tub when he heard, “Focus, Blake, focus. Socks, baby, socks! They gotta come off, too.”
“Oops! Haste makes waste!”
Nearly naked, Alex glanced by chance at the tub. Oh, no! The spigot was still running and the water threatened to overflow at any moment. She quickly bent over to turn the water off. Bubbles covered everything, the water in the tub, and the floor beneath and surrounding the claw-foot tub.
The two stood there, stark naked, looking at the bubbles seemingly grow by the minute. Blake grabbed Alex’s hand and eased her into the tub, her weight displacing some of the water, causing it to spill out onto the floor. He then turned around to snatch the champagne and the two glasses.
He didn’t see Alex. “Love? Love? Where are you?” Her head popped up from above the expanse of bubbles. “Here! Here and ready to go!”
“A glass for my fair lady.” She held the vessel while he poured. Then Blake climbed into the tub, poured himself a glass, and placed the champagne bottle on the floor amid the soap bubbles.
“To home!” Alex squealed. “To home. And love.” They both gulped down the alcohol. Then Alex announced, “On the count of three, our new mantra — one, two, three … ‘Calgon! Take me home!’”
Both had closed their eyes. Alex felt the muscles of her body tighten in anticipation of the indescribable transformation from the chapters of JJ’s life back to the pages of their own love story.
A beat passed. They opened their eyes. Instead of the familiar setting of their own world, they were still in JJ’s tub.
“That’s okay.” Alex’s eyes filled with tears, her voice shaky, nearly cracking. But still she smiled. “Let’s try it again.”
Blake reached down, took the champagne bottle and poured two more glasses of bubbly. Again they toasted. “To home. To love.” And after they drank the champagne, they shouted, a little louder this time, “Calgon! Take me home!”
