‘Oh, I don’t know.’
‘Sure they are.’
‘That’s silly.’
‘I know it but at the same time it’s true. Hey, Rosalind, can I ask you something?’
‘I guess so.’
A waitress stood by the table. ‘There now. What can I get you two?’
‘A whiskey sour,’ Rosalind said.
‘VO and water,’ Reb said.
‘ID,’ the waitress said.
‘I’m twentyone.’
‘Got to see it, miss.’
Rosalind dug into her purse and produced a driver’s license. The waitress handed it back and dashed off.
‘Honestly.’
‘They get dumber every year.’
‘What were you going to ask me?’
‘You were embarrassed there a minute ago weren’t you?’
‘You’re awful.’
‘I’m serious though. When we sat down you sort of expected me to push right in with you. Then after a couple of drinks probably start fooling around. Am I right?’
‘Well.’
‘I knew it. And I suppose you think what they say is true. That men are only after one thing with a woman.’
‘Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes.’
‘Sometimes? Who do you go out with anyway. Boy Scouts? Come on, tell me the truth now.’
‘Well, yes ha ha. I guess they are.’
‘Good. You’re absolutely right.’
‘And you?’
A shadow of panic dulled her face.
‘Me? I never look ahead. That way I’m never disappointed.’
The waitress set their drinks on the table. Rosalind turned the stemmed glass in her fingers. ‘I don’t think I get you.’
‘Well, look.’ He paused deliberately. ‘I don’t mean to sound personal.’ A finger poked at the ice in his glass.
‘No, go ahead. That’s all right.’
‘Hey,’ he said, changing, brightening, his voice. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t be talking like this. So serious. This isn’t showing you a good time.’
‘I’m enjoying myself. I am. No, go on with what you were saying.’
‘Well. Most guys you go out with today will probably start trying to paw you right off in the back seat of some car. Probably the first time they laid eyes on you too.’
‘Oh, God. Isn’t that the truth.’
‘I know. I’ve got a sister. You ought to hear some of the stories she tells.’
‘I can imagine.’
‘I mean I can see what it’s like for a woman. What fun can it be if you have to be on your guard every minute and can’t relax?’
‘Reb, every word of what you say is true.’ Rosalind shifted her position and smiled. The shadow had melted away.
‘Well, that’s cause of my sister. You ready for another one of those yet?’
Rosalind drank up and said yes. Reb ordered another round.
‘And there’s another thing a guy’ll do too,’ he said. ‘Remember what I mentioned about squeezing up against you in a bar? He’ll force you to drink more than you want.’
‘That’s so true.’
‘You don’t have to say a word. I know I’m right. But I’ll tell you. With me you can order a Coke if you want to. And I’m not kidding. After all, what enjoyment would it be for you. Or me either when you come down to it. If I had to push you into getting high?’
‘You’re so.’
‘Now don’t get me the wrong way. To me there’s nothing bad about sex. That’s life. But if you’re gonna do it you oughta do it right. And I don’t mean on a dance floor or in a booth in some bar. Do you get my point?’ At last he waited. How would she field that one?
‘Do I understand you to?’ She hesitated as if on the verge of unraveling something. ‘Oh, yes, I do. And I agree. You’re saying there’s a time and place for everything. I think.’
‘Well, in a way. But not exactly that either. That would be like saying okay. In here we act one way and then we go out in the car all alone and act passionate.’ Reb studied her. ‘I didn’t mean anything like that.’
‘No, I didn’t mean that either.’ The pink showed in her cheeks.
‘I only meant don’t look ahead too much and try forcing things. Let come what comes. And then if it does wham. That’s when you. But I don’t know. I never want anything the woman doesn’t want.’
‘You know, I think you’re very frank. Not many boys are like that. I mean it. I suppose it’s cause you’re a lot older.’
‘Older than what?’
‘Than me.’
‘Only a little.’
‘Really? I would have taken you for twentysixish.’
‘Well, a lot of people think that.’
‘You act mature for your age.’
‘Do I? How do you mean?’
‘Well, believe me. I’ve been out with college boys and they’re no better than high school dates. It’s the same as what your sister tells you happens to her. And some of these boys were supposed to be studying for their master’s degrees too.’
‘Harvard guys?’ Reb tensed.
‘God, no. BU mostly.’
‘Oh.’ The new drinks arrived. He puzzled what she meant by the God no. Suddenly his throat went dry. ‘Hey, you’re not a college girl by any chance are you?’
‘You’re kidding. I said in the car the finance and loan, didn’t I? I’ve been working since I was eighteen.’
‘Yes. I forgot. But the way you don’t wear lipstick or anything.’
‘Ha ha. Do I look like I’ve got that kind of brains?’
‘Whatta you mean?’ He was tempted to say, like Chub, that brains weren’t everything in this world. Instead, Reb sipped his drink. ‘Besides, I think you’ve got a few points of your own.’ He looked her up and down over the rim of the glass. Rosalind smiled back her thanks.
The four musicians climbed onto their platform behind the bar in the other room. Rosalind craned her neck. Above a half partition dividing the two rooms only the players’ heads were visible. Reb would have liked to squeeze more out of what they had just been talking about. What could he say? That you hear a lot of things about these college girls? What if Rosalind said like what? Could he say they suck? He wondered where Vinnie picked up his information.
‘The man in the black suit at the end of the bar. With the white tie. That’s Mario.’
‘I see him,’ Rosalind said.
The music was soft and low. Couples moved onto the dance floor. The sax player began pumping and weaving. The bass’s rhythm reached them in waves. Rosalind moved her head to the beat, sounding a faint accompaniment through open lips.
‘I could ask Mario to find us a better spot.’ Reb supposed he should ask her to dance. Finesse was the word. He would play it cool about where he put his hands.
‘No, it’s fine here.’ Rosalind turned to him, sipping her whiskey sour. Her eyes grew narrow. She smiled and looked at him long and hard.
‘Hey, you know something?’ He felt he had to break the spell of her eyes. ‘That was a close call back there at the Windmill.’
‘You were horrified when you saw me with Bonnie and Dee, weren’t you?’
‘Disappointed.’
‘That’s one of the meanest tricks a girl can play. Have a gang of her friends along on a first date. I hoped you wouldn’t get the wrong idea. That’s why I wanted to leave right away.’
‘I could have handled the situation.’
‘It’s happened to you before then?’
‘Oh, no. I don’t let things like that happen to me. I don’t get involved with that kind of woman.’ His voice had suddenly hardened. Softly, he added, ‘I could tell you’d never pull a thing like that from the first minute I laid eyes on you.’
‘What a line.’
‘No, really. It wouldn’t have seemed like you. And wasn’t I right? They were only keeping you company.’
‘But don’t think you know me that well.’
The hard note in her voice c
ame to him like a warning gong. ‘That’s true.’ And softly again, ‘But I want to.’
She had gone cold and seemed to be slipping away. Reb was about to suggest that they dance when he saw Mario, the words of a greeting already on his lips, moving toward them. ‘Look, Rosalind. Here he comes.’
‘Wey, giovanotto.’ Mario’s hand, high and close to his chest, was extended for Reb to shake. Reb half stood to reach it. Mario opened his arms and wrapped one around Reb’s shoulder.
‘Sit down, Mario.’ Reb made room and introduced Rosalind.
‘How do you do, young lady.’ Mario bowed his head, then snapped his fingers at a waitress, telling her to bring them all drinks. ‘Something to eat? Cook’s gone home but we can fix you a sandwich. Anything like that. Young lady?’
Rosalind said no thanks. Before Reb could say the same Mario jumped up, apologized for his behavior, and made Reb sit beside Rosalind. Mario sat down again. ‘Tell me, everybody down for the weekend?’ He tapped a matchbook on the table.
‘Uh huh,’ Reb said.
‘I suppose you boys are busy as ever. Tell Teo I want to see him about some alterations I’m planning around here.’
‘Sure. I’ll let him know.’
‘Do that.’ Mario looked around. The three drinks arrived. ‘Well, excuse me. Young lady, a pleasure. You, Mister Soderini. Don’t stay away so long. How’s your father?’
He was gone, the answer still on Reb’s tongue. ‘Oh, isn’t he sweet,’ Rosalind said.
‘Yeah, nice guy.’ Reb set Rosalind’s drink before her. ‘He used to be a bootlegger a long time ago. Then he owned the Showboat in Boston. He sold it a few years ago and now he’s semiretired down here. They say he made a mint in his day.’
‘The Showboat.’ She raised her glass and sipped from it.
Reb took her other hand. ‘Dance?’
‘Well ha ha. If I can stand up after all these drinks. Whew.’
They danced until the set ended. Finesse. Supporting her hand but not holding it he let the material of his suit just touch the material of hers. He pretended it was his sister Livvy.
At the table again he sat across from Rosalind. Playing with their glasses they talked about the places in Boston that each of them knew where you could drink or dance or watch a floor show. Rosalind said her favorite thing was to stop with the girls after work every Friday at a little bar on Water Street just a block or two from their offices. They’d have a few drinks, eat supper there, and then go shopping along Tremont Street. Reb told her about the place he went to a lot lately. The Clover out on the old road to Providence. Around them the tables were empty.
‘From the look of things I guess it’s late,’ Rosalind said. ‘We’ve talked and talked.’
‘We could have one more drink if you want.’
‘They wouldn’t serve us now. It must be way after midnight.’
‘It’s after one. You think everybody’s been drinking coffee out of them cups they’ve been bringing out of the kitchen?’
Rosalind stared at a nearby table that two couples had left minutes before. A waitress there collected cups and saucers.
‘If you don’t mind drinking a whiskey sour out of a coffee cup say the word and I’ll order it for you.’
‘Cause you know Mario?’
‘Cause everybody knows Mario. Cops included.’
‘An after hours place.’ There was a thrill in her voice. ‘Oh, we should then. Just one, huh?’
‘If you want.’ He got the waitress’s attention, regretting it almost at once. On Rosalind’s face the flowers were permanent. If she got drunk it would kill everything.
The drinks stood before them in heavy cups. VO and water for him. Whiskey sour for Rosalind. Reb watched her closely.
‘God, I think if I drink this my head’ll start spinning.’ She lowered her cup, her expression changed, her eyes pleading.
‘Don’t then.’ He drew the cup away from her.
‘Oh, such a waste.’
‘Nah. I could think of a lot worse waste.’ That was Rosalind passing out and ruining all his plans.
‘Oh, Reb, you know what? How about a drive? Some air would be so nice.’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘And why don’t we get a cup of strong coffee first?’
‘Yes,’ she said.
Out in the kitchen he told the waitress, ‘Black so you can’t see the spoon.’
13
The night was alive with stars. Reb had a destination in mind but not wanting to give the impression of rushing things, not wanting Rosalind to smell a plan, he kept to narrow back roads. First they drove through tall dark woods, then among sandy hills, the car dipping down into hollows and skirting ponds where ghostly wisps of vapor rose from the water. Sometimes, unsure where they were, Reb watched for signboards at deserted forks. Five miles. Ten. Sometimes the car shot up and out over a growth of low scrub, giving a glimpse of horizon, distant and black.
Rosalind was silent. Reb assumed she had fallen asleep. Head thrown back, hair tangling in the blow, she had slipped off her pumps and stretched herself out long. After they wound through the small sand hills for several more miles, Reb consulted a marker, steered a new course, and a minute or two later crossed the main highway. From here on all the landmarks were familiar. At each junction he made the planned turn until at last they were off the paved road moving slowly down a rutted sandy track. A dip and long curve, then up. At the top the sky was a dome of stars. He was taking Rosalind to a favorite wild stretch of the shore.
‘Do you know your way?’ Rosalind said, wide-awake. ‘I haven’t seen a house in miles.’
‘I know it like my hand,’ Reb said, startled. ‘Spent a lot of time around here when I was a kid. My sister and me,’ he added.
They were nearly there. The car started down a gentle slope. Rosalind sat upright.
‘God, what a lonely place,’ she said. ‘Do you like it?’
‘I love it. What’s all that?’
‘The trees? Pitch pines. That’s all they grow. Low like that. They’re living in pure sand.’
‘Are we on the Cape?’
‘Near the Cape.’
‘I thought I noticed a few cranberry bogs back there.’
‘Sure. There were a lot of them.’
At the end of the track Reb switched off the motor and headlights.
‘There’s the ocean right ahead,’ Rosalind said, pleasantly surprised. ‘I’m all turned around. I thought we were pointing the other way.’
Scrambling, she took hold of the windshield and sat up on the back of the seat. Out over the sea a few lights twinkled. Reb let her watch for a while, then, to free himself from the steering wheel, he slid the front seat back.
‘Whoops,’ she laughed, clutching the windshield to keep her balance.
Reb looked up at her. ‘You’re feeling okay, huh?’
‘I’m feeling fine.’
‘Not high?’
‘I was before. A tiny tiny bit bombed. But now I’m fine.’
‘Come here then.’
She slid down onto the seat. ‘Here,’ he said.
She moved to him. Half a minute later, when he took his mouth off hers, she began to murmur something about his holding her so tight. He cut her off by kissing her again.
‘Oh, Reb.’
‘What?’
‘Just not so tight.’
‘How then. Like this?’ Their mouths were together for a long time. ‘Better?’
‘Yes, but.’
‘What, Rosalind?’ Their voices were low. His lips brushed her ear.
‘Oh, nothing. Only don’t. Well, we shouldn’t get ourselves too worked up.’
‘Until we know each other better?’
‘Reb, don’t be mean.’
‘Come here.’
‘I’m serious.’
‘Listen, don’t worry. It takes more than this to get me worked up.’ He let that sink in, then added, ‘What about you?’
No answer. Seconds passed. Neither o
f them stirred. At last Rosalind reached for something on the floor, drew a deep breath, and sat straight up. ‘What’ll we talk about?’ She spoke in a normal voice, a comb working at her hair.
He knew then that it was going to be a struggle. After a while, he said, ‘I don’t know. Nothing maybe. Let’s not talk at all. Maybe we should just listen to the ocean there.’ He told himself they might talk about the sky or one of the small lights that shone out on the water. Or they could talk about the sound of the wind in the acres of pines behind them. He listened. There was no sound of wind in the pines. Why had so much valuable time to be wasted saying foolish things?
‘I’ll bet if it was daylight this place would be just like a poem,’ Rosalind said.
‘Yeah, probably.’
‘Probably? Don’t you know? You’ve been here all those times.’
‘I can’t say, Rosalind,’he floundered. ‘To me with all them stars up there it’s like a poem now.’
Rosalind shifted her gaze. ‘Oh, you’re right. It is.’ A narrow escape but what was his next move? Panic. Then inspiration. ‘Hey, how about taking a walk down the beach?’
‘I don’t think I’d get far in these shoes. But let’s get out and sit on the sand. We could use my coat.’
‘Oh, but we’d spoil it,’ he said, remembering a gray blanket he kept behind his seat.
‘It’s only a raincoat.’
‘Wait a minute. I’ve got something back here.’ Reaching around, he groped for the folded blanket. ‘It’s here somewhere. A little blanket.’ Little ha ha. Like a circus tent.
Fifty or sixty feet from the car Reb flapped the thick woolen wad open and spread it on the sand. Rosalind removed her shoes, dropped down on her knees in the center of the blanket, and sat with her legs drawn up beside her.
‘Hey, if it’s chilly I’ll go back and get your coat.’
‘Don’t bother, Reb. I wore this fall suit cause the nights get so cool here.’
Rosalind faced the ocean. Reb knelt and reached out for her. In the embrace he dragged her down. They lay on their sides almost nose to nose.
‘It’s better this way, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘It’s nice.’
They talked together softly. He asked had she noticed how there was a light pulsing way out on the sea. Rosalind raised herself on one elbow and unbuttoned the single button of her jacket.
What About Reb Page 7
