‘Yeah, with our names on it,’ Chub said.
‘No, no names,’ Vinnie said. ‘We’ll just put from Wiggy’s friends.’
‘Yeah, that’s plenty,’ Lee said.
‘That okay with you, Reb?’ Sal said.
‘Yeah.’
‘Hey, Rebbie, what’s the matter,’ Sal said.
‘He’s crying,’ Chub said.
‘I ain’t. Put. To a mother.’
‘Reb,’ Alex said.
‘It’s nothing, guys. Heart too big, too full. All my friends. This swell time. Vin, help me find the john, huh.’
‘Yeah, and somebody start ordering the coffee,’ Vinnie said.
Ten minutes later they were back, Reb felt refreshed, and everyone was drinking coffee. Alex had been telling a story. Sal told a story. Vinnie elbowed Reb and said he should take a gander at what was just coming in. Reb turned, he saw, and zap. He whipped around scalded.
‘What’s that face,’ Vinnie said. ‘Off blondes now all of a sudden?’
‘Vinnie, that’s her. The one I told you about.’
‘What one?’
‘The beach, the beach.’
‘The one that called you a.’
‘Yeah, that’s the one.’ Reb found his teeth were chattering.
‘Mmm, not bad,’ Chub said.
‘Don’t stare at her like that, you guys. She might spot me.’ Reb’s face was deep in the furrow of the open winelist. ‘She looking this way?’
They gave him the all clear, he peered over the top of the list, and there was Rosalind, unmistakable, all in blue. At her side a tall thin man guided her to a table. Reb held back a sneer. Beanpole but a pretty good suit on him. Reb watched him hold the chair for her, watched him take a place opposite her. The bastard was smooth, even graceful. Rosalind faced the other way now and Reb came out of hiding.
‘Vin baby, think of something quick,’ he said. ‘I gotta see her.’
‘Sure, but what? All of us go up to the table and talk to the guy. You talk to the broad.’
‘No, too crazy. Gotta be alone.’
‘But, Rebbie, what can I do. Butt in and ask the guy for a dance for chrissake?’
‘Think, Vinnie, think.’
‘Reb, he’s getting up,’ Chub said.
And sure enough he was. Gangling, lank, Rosalind’s escort threaded his way among the far tables toward the men’s room.
‘Now’s my chance,’ Reb said. ‘If he don’t come right back.’
‘Well, that I can take care of,’ Vinnie said. ‘Come on, you guys.’
‘Hey, whatta ya gonna do? Vin, answer me.’
‘Come on, guys. Drop the coffee, I said.’ Vinnie was on his feet sizing Alex up. ‘Al, you ain’t cut out for this work. Stay here so the waiters don’t get jittery we’re walking out on the check or something. Quick now, everybody.’
‘But, Vin, whatcha gonna do?’
‘Detain him, Reb, detain him. Now stop yakking and get a move on.’
The four of them moved off to the men’s room, Reb got up, and Alex told him to tuck in his tie. His tie, yes. He smoothed it. And his hair was okay. He had combed it only minutes before and he had washed his face too. He knew there were no crumbs clinging to his lips to make him look like a jerk. Weaving, telling himself steady now I’ve had a few, he sailed across the plank floor, drawn to Rosalind like a magnet.
Reb came up behind her while she occupied herself reading the winelist. He paused before plunging, flashing a desperate look at the fingers of both her hands for signs of a gold band or a band with a diamond. Thank christ, none. Her hands were bare and beautiful. Before she saw him coming he was in the chair opposite her.
‘You,’ she said. Her face colored and Reb remembered so well the pink flowers on her cheeks.
‘Hello, Rosalind.’
‘You.’
‘Nice memory you’ve got there.’
‘Please leave this table at once. I’m not alone you know.’
‘No need for excitement. I saw you weren’t alone. Just that I couldn’t help noticing you and wanted to say hello.’
‘Well, you’ve said it. Now goodbye.’
‘But you haven’t.’
‘I don’t intend to.’
‘You could act civilized.’
‘Civilized. Look who’s talking. No one invited you to sit down.’
‘Okay, I can stand just as well.’
‘No, don’t. You’ve got enough people staring as it is.’
‘If you’d stop trying to whisper that way and talk normal.’
‘What do you want?’
‘I want to see you.’
‘See me, that’s a laugh. Not a chance.’
‘Come off that fake voice.’
‘Look, I don’t see what right you’ve got insulting me. I asked you in a nice way to leave this table.’
‘See me.’
‘No.’
‘See me.’
‘No.’
‘Well, I’m saying this to you in a nice way too then. Going to sit here all night if I have to. Until you say you’ll see me.’ He leaned back in his chair.
‘Then sit. No, don’t. Oh, please.’
‘Will you see me?’ Reb got no answer. ‘Will you?’ Her eyes searched frantically over his shoulder.
Reb turned. Oh, christ. Something must be wrong, what the hell’s Sal doing this side of the men’s room door. And that line forming up behind him. No fireworks in there I hope. To Rosalind again. ‘Will you?’
‘Do you think you have a claim on me?’
Now no answer out of him. He was getting nowhere. Should he tell Rosalind about the army, appeal to her sympathy. Maybe hint he was getting shipped out. Reb smiled. Imagine using the army like that.
‘You won’t smile like that for long when Arthur gets back.’
‘Oh, it’s Arthur is it.’
‘Yes, Arthur. And he’ll have the manager throw you out.’
‘Just look at me. Rosalind, will you look at me. There. I mean this. Twenty of your Arthurs and ten managers won’t get me out of this chair. I mean it.’
‘When do you want to see me? You’re drunk.’
‘I was drunk. I’m sober now. Want to see you tonight.’
‘Tonight. Listen to that. Impossible. What do you think I am.’
‘Tomorrow afternoon.’
‘And if I say yes just to get rid of you?’
‘Then one of these nights when you get home there’ll be a black Buick convertible in front of your door. And guess who’ll be waiting in it.’
‘Oh?’
‘That’s right. 1029 Parkview Avenue.’
‘Pretty smart, aren’t you.’
‘Say yes. And if after tomorrow you say you don’t want to see me anymore I promise I’ll never bother you again.’
‘You’re serious?’
‘I am. Yes.’
‘And if I told you to please stop bothering me starting now, would you?’
Then it was a flat no. His mouth was dry, and it was hard to swallow. Reb tasted the taste of defeat. ‘And if I’m there tonight, later on. 1029 Parkview in the car.’
‘Look, you can wait till the sun comes up if you want to but I’ll save you from catching cold. I don’t live there anymore.’ Rosalind blossomed out into her first real smile, a smile of triumph. ‘I share an apartment in town with my girlfriends.’
‘Bonnie and Dee.’
‘Yes, Bonnie and Dee. Gee, you remembered their names.’
On his feet saying he never forgot a name and steering a course halfway round the table. This was crazy and I had it coming. But I just hope Arthur in there tried something and they gave him a little of what Sal gave me that time. And now as long as it was over he would give Rosalind a last little something too. Reb leaned over her, so close that his ear was lightly in touch with her hair where it curved along her jaw, and he put his finger down on the list. ‘Want to recommend this, Rosalind. It’s the best they have.’ The champagne. He straightene
d up and brought his lips to her reddened cheek. And then away, flying out of her life forever.
Giggle out of her, creak in the floor. He did not know which. He slowed in his tracks.
‘Reb, wait one minute. 100 Symphony Road. Top floor. All our names are on the bell.’ And when he turned her face held the shyest little smile.
‘That’s the Fenway,’ he said.
‘Yes,’ she said.
Reb wheeled and hurrying past Alex he said he’d meet them all out in the parking lot. He gave a last glance over his shoulder toward the men’s room. Christ in there, please, not a hair on poor Arthur’s head or I’m a goner before I even begin. And he was through Arduino’s dashing out into the cool night air.
The wait seemed interminable. Reb was still not sure how it had happened with Rosalind at the end. At last the gang of them poured out and they all started in at once, gabbling, gobbling, hooting, howling, sending questions and answers back and forth like gunfire.
‘Jeezus, you didn’t rough him up or nothing did you?’ Reb said this to Vinnie.
‘Nah, whattaya take us for.’
‘Well, what happened?’ Reb said this to Lee. ‘Nothing happened. We go in, the guy’s there taking a leak. Me on the inside, Sal on the outside, each blocking one side of the door. Vin and Chub move up.’
‘Move up. Christ, then what?’ Reb said this to Chub.
‘Vinnie goes, that’s it buddy. Just keep drying your hands on that towel and don’t do nothing else.’
‘Did I say that? Boy, was I shaking inside.’
‘Shaking,’ Lee said. ‘You were like Humphrey Bogart.’
‘Yeah, was I?’ Vinnie said.
‘Poor bastard,’ Chub said. ‘I could see his Adam’s apple travel all the way down to his shoes and then up again. He goes, is this something?’
‘Is this something? He said it like that?’ And Reb went off into his high spiraling laugh.
They were beside the Buick. Reb handed the keys to Vinnie and climbed into the back seat between Alex and Sal. Starting the motor Vinnie turned to watch the roof leap up and fold back.
‘Where to, boss?’ he said, tugging at Reb’s tie.
‘Where to, gentlemen?’ Alex said.
Lee said how about Hampton Beach for another cup of coffee, they all agreed, and that’s where the car was headed.
‘But I still don’t understand what Sal was doing on the outside of the door,’ Reb said. ‘When I saw that I almost dropped.’
‘And a good thing he thought of that too or the plan wouldn’t of worked,’ Vinnie said. ‘Sal planted himself right there. Anyone come up he said it’s full, I’m waiting here myself. That way no interruptions. Quite a line out there by the time we got through.’
‘Gee, Sal,’ Reb said.
‘But, Reb, let me tell you how it ended,’ Chub said. ‘Sal gave Lee the sign that you and the girl were finished and Vinnie says to the skinny guy is your name Henry. The guys says no. And Vinnie steps up, puts out a hand, and brushes a speck off the guy’s lapel. I beg your pardon then he says. I and my friends here mistook you for another fellow. A certain Henry.’
‘Vinnie, how did you think up that?’
‘I don’t know. It just came to me. I hardly even knew what I was saying.’
‘That poor bugger,’ Lee said. ‘He must of thought we were the Syndicate sent around to do a little persuading on some hood that stepped out of line.’
‘Jeezus,’ Reb said. ‘What if by a fluke his name had been Henry?’
‘Yeah,’ Vinnie said. ‘He was already trembling from the suspense. He would have dropped of heart failure.’
‘All I can say is I’m thankful Arduino’s is such a high class place with no cops around,’ Sal said. ‘Was I in agony sweating outside that door.’
Reb’s head in a whirl. It was a night of pure inspiration. And what was this he felt. A slip of paper in his pocket. Oh, yes. He had it out and there and there and there, he saw how tiny it could be torn. A burst of confetti, bits of paper blowing into their faces.
‘What was it?’ someone said.
‘Paper,’ he said. ‘Nothing but paper.’
‘Hey, you gone nuts?’ Lee said.
‘No,’ Reb said. He looked out at the pure night. ‘Just gone and screwed up Sal’s books.’ And then to himself he added, good night, Rosalind, and sweet sweet dreams. Of me.
23
Over the stone bridge he turned right on the Fenway looking for Symphony Road. Everywhere along the river were lucky young men with their girls. It was the right weather to be lucky, sun and velvety air. He hoped he’d have a little luck too.
Her name was by the bell. Reb walked through the open door into the foyer, found the elevator slipping away, and took to the stairs. Rosalind came to the door in something that looked like pajamas.
‘Hi,’ she said.
‘Hi,’ he said.
‘I didn’t hear the elevator come up.’
‘Didn’t use it.’
Reb shut the door behind him and sat in the nearest chair. Rosalind went to a sofa, climbed up at one end, and settled into a pile of pillows. He took in the four walls, sniffing more than looking. What she wore was the color of grass. Definitely not pajamas. The length of the room yawned between them.
‘I guess I wasn’t really sure you were coming,’ she said.
‘I said I’d come.’
‘I know but we forgot to say what time.’
‘The afternoon. Didn’t I say that?’
‘Yes, you said the afternoon.’
Silence. Sections of the Sunday paper had spilled onto the floor around her. The sports pages lay untouched.
‘Been reading the paper?’
‘Just looking. I like to read the ads, that’s all.’
‘Oh.’
Silence. This would take forever.
‘Nice day out,’ he said. ‘Saw all these people there along the river. You know the place I mean? Digging gardens.’
‘I know the place,’ she said. ‘Along Boylston Street.’
‘Yes.’
‘What do you see? Why are you looking around the room like that?’
‘Nothing. Thought your friends would be here.’
‘They’re out. Bonnie usually spends Sunday with her family. Dee’s sort of going steady.’
‘Sort of. What’s that mean?’
‘Well, you know. No ring or anything.’
‘Oh.’
‘Say, how about a drink? A beer or something.’ He said yes, following her with his eyes as she left the room and hearing the silky sound her outfit made. When she bent to extend the can of beer her other hand went up, fingers arranged just so, to catch the hair from falling into her eyes. In a pretty girl that always melted him.
‘Aren’t you having one too?’
‘Yes, I think I will.’
‘And when you come back don’t sit so far away, Rosalind. It’s hard talking across a big room.’
What was he going to talk about? Not the army and that he was home on leave or she’d think he was only out for what he could get and goodbye. He had to make a good impression and erase the bad one. Be a little smooth like the beanpole who was with her at Arduino’s. He certainly couldn’t bring up last summer. And he’d better skip over last night too. He heard her silky sound as Rosalind sat opposite him in a stuffed chair, her legs tucked up under her. Pinned to the wall behind her head was a Mexican travel poster. Should he tell her he almost went to Mexico once courtesy of the old man?
‘You’re smiling,’ she said.
‘I know. That green of yours. It’s like the leaves in another week or two when they first come out on the trees. That always makes me want to smile.’
‘We must be the same about the springtime then. On days like this my whole heart wants to smile.’
Reb nodded and drank. And I banged this girl the first night I took her out. If they busted Ike to buck private I know how he’d feel. Love to drag her to that couch now and tear them green thin
gs off of her. Slip her down to the floor on top of the Boston Globe. Rrr. And afterward Ted connects for two in big black letters across her lovely ass. Backwards.
‘Would you like to hear a record?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
A record played. Had she said Stan Getz? Reb moved to the sofa. Piling the paper in the middle he sat at one end. Rosalind brought her beer and climbed into her nest of pillows at the other end. He was glad the Globe was there between them. It killed any temptation. What would the beanpole do?
Rosalind was looking down at the beer in her hand. ‘I know it wasn’t easy for you to come through that door just now, was it?’
It hadn’t been easy, he hadn’t known what to expect, but he should make her think he was a ballsy guy and nothing was hard for him. How would that Arthur handle this? Reb decided to play it cautious. ‘Well, look. Let’s be honest about the thing. I knocked on the door. How could I be sure you didn’t have second thoughts and wouldn’t be here. Okay, you’re here, and still. Last night was a long time ago, Rosalind.’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘I thought you might feel that way today and not come.’
‘No, that never entered my mind. But when I got to your door. Well, all of a sudden it felt like a long time since Arduino’s.’
‘Not to mention last summer.’
He drew a long breath. His hand went out and rearranged the Sunday paper. ‘Things happened and I never had the chance to get in touch with you again, not till last night, and that’s why when I saw the chance I took it.’
‘What did your friends do to Arthur?’
‘Oh, that.’ Jeezus. Reb ducked into his beer and drank. ‘What did he tell you?’
‘Nothing, but I put it together for myself. The moment you left that mad bunch came prancing out of the men’s room. Then Arthur. He looked so pale. He said he was sorry for being so long but that was all. And when our food came he barely ate a thing. It spoiled our date.’
What About Reb Page 13
