Sweeter Than W(h)ine

by Nancy Goldberg Levine

  Rafe watched as Dina savored every bite of the concoction, and then said, “Sorry.”

  “I’ll bet it’s fun to go trick or treating at your house,” Jay said.

  Rafe smiled. “I’m sure the adults would think so, but I don’t think the kids would appreciate the good stuff. Besides, I usually just turn the lights out and pretend I’m not home. ” That’s what he’d done since Gracie died. He also remembered that she had always liked the good kind of candy her uncle bought, as opposed to the candy that made the other kids sick.

  “There’s some of those guys in every neighborhood,” Jay said.

  Dina laughed again. “You mean you still go trick or treating at your age, Jay?”

  “Nope,” Jay said. “But I always took my sister when we were younger. And someday, if I meet the right person, maybe I’ll get to take my kids.”

  “I think the right person’s here tonight,” Dina said, looking at Reese Elliott, who was talking to Rosie and Cory. Rafe and Dina said their “goodbyes” and Rafe offered her a ride home. He put his arm around her and helped her to the car.

  ***

  Dina stretched and yawned when Rafe arrived at her condo. “Are we here already?”

  “Yeah,” Rafe said.

  “Do you want to come in for a while?”

  “You look pretty tired. I think you’d better get some rest.”

  Hmmm. He didn’t want to come in, but he’d shown up at the concert to see her, and he’d promised to start being more open with his feelings. She’d lost her expertise in “guy speak” since Rob was gone, and she wasn’t about to call Jay and ask him to interpret since he’d actually had a “good” date tonight.

  He held the car door open and led her to her front door. Suddenly, she was awake again, studying his eyes to see if she could read something into his expression. She didn’t expect him to hold her tight against him. She didn’t even see the kiss coming. It was warm and tender and she responded eagerly.

  “I…I thought maybe you’d changed your mind about me,” she said, when she caught her breath after the impromptu kiss.

  “What made you think that? I don’t like to hear you talk that way.”

  Dina kept quiet and enjoyed the warmth of Rafe’s lips against hers. His kisses were soft and fresh, and filled with promise.

  When he pulled away, Dina looked up at him, hoping that he might kiss her again.

  “Like I said, I might not be able to share everything about myself right away,” Rafe said. “But I figure we have a lifetime to learn everything about each other.”

  He kissed her again. This time she felt more desirable and safe in his embrace. She loved kissing him, and he smelled so good. She felt close to him, knowing that they liked a lot of the same things like chocolate and good music.

  “Mmm hmm,” Dina said, melting into another kiss.

  “Dina, I know we haven’t known each other very long…” She stood there in the cold watching as Rafe got down on one knee. “And I don’t have a ring yet, but we can pick one out together if…” He took her hand and held it tightly in his. “Dina Edelman, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  She thought about it, and of the signs she’d gotten from Rob. She took a few seconds to acknowledge that thanks to Jay, Rafe had asked her to marry him. She didn’t waste any more time thinking. “Yes,” she said, hugging him close and trying not to fall.

  “Yes?” Rafe asked, before brushing his lips against hers in a long, tender kiss.

  “Yes!”

  “I’m engaged!” Dina announced to Schmoopie, when she walked through the door. Schmoopie meowed. She put some cat treats in his bowl so they could celebrate.

  She told him all about Rafe’s house in Wyoming, and how he was a doctor, and that maybe someday, there’d be enough room for Bubbe and Poo-pa to move in, too. She talked about Uncle Jay, (and maybe Aunt Reese?) coming to visit, and how they’d all be one happy family. She was thrilled to be alive, and engaged to her doctor, who loved the finer things in life. Maybe he hadn’t yet told him everything about himself, but, like he said, she had a lifetime to learn all of that. Schmoopie protested when she lifted him into her arms, and he jumped away immediately. She started singing and the feline didn’t like that either. Well, there were a lot of things that had to be worked out, but she didn’t mind.

  Chapter Ten/Epilogue

  One Year Later

  Dina stood in the kitchen of the home she now shared with Rafe, preparing for the small New Years’ Eve party for their families and friends. She held baby Robert Jay Farber, newly adopted, in her arms as she attempted to put the finishing touches on her Spinach/Salsa/Cheese Dip. As usual, Schmoopie wound around her legs, trying to get his share.

  She’d always wanted to adopt a child because she was never able to conceive a baby. Before she and Rafe married, they’d talked about it and now little Rob was here. He had Rafe’s black hair and Dina’s hazel eyes, and he was adorable.

  “Where’s Robert Jay?” Jay asked, when he walked into the kitchen with his wife, Reese, after Rafe let them in. Dina told the baby, “Here’s Uncle Jay” when Jay came over to see him. The baby had turned semi-tough-guy Jay into a kitty cat about ten seconds after he’d seen him.

  “He’s so cool,” Jay said. Dina let him hold the baby. “I remember when Lorrie was born. I felt the same way when I saw her. There’s nothing like a new baby around the house.” He looked down at Schmoopie. “Unless it’s a new pet.”

  “I thought Schmoopie would hate Rob,” Dina said. “A lot of people I talked to who have babies after they get a pet say that the dogs or cats resent the new person. We were lucky.”

  “No doubt,” Jay said, smiling at Rob.

  Dina thought of where she was at this time last year, wondering if she’d get out of Wellstone Village, and meeting Rafe. She never expected to be married and a mother.

  “Hi!” Dina’s parents and Rafe walked into the kitchen, filling it with love and laughter. Her parents made over the baby, their first grandchild. When Rob started to cry after her dad held him, Dina decided that he was tired and needed some sleep.

  “I don’t think he’ll stay up late enough to ring in the new year,” she said, with a laugh. She remembered last year at Wellstone Village, and how most of the residents didn’t stay up late enough to shout “Happy New Year!” either.

  When she came downstairs from putting the tired Rob to sleep, she saw that their last guests had arrived, Jay’s sister and brother-in-law, Lorrie and Scotty.

  Scotty had bought some appetizers at Nutsie Nan’s Café, including some salsa made with black eyed peas. “Eating black eyed peas is supposed to bring good luck in the new year,” he said. “But I don’t like them.”

  “So everybody else will have good luck except us,” Lorrie said. She’d made chocolate truffles. Dina arranged everything on Polish stoneware platters she’d brought with her after she and Rafe got married. She also had plenty of “Happy New Year” hats, noisemakers, paper plates and napkins.

  Jay took off his Cincinnati Red Wolves baseball cap and traded it for a “Happy New Year” hat. “Look at me,” he said. “Dina, you can take a picture and show it to Robert Jay and say ‘This is Uncle Jay being silly.’”

  “You might want to keep that Red Wolves hat on,” Scotty said. “It’s only a couple more months ’til spring training.”

  “Jay was ready as soon as the World Series was over,” Lorrie said.

  “That’s because I know they’ll win again next year.”

  Dina laughed at her husband, parents and friends. Once again, she was so grateful to be here. Snow started to fall outside. She took Rafe’s hand and led him to one of the many windows in the old Victorian house.

  “Look,” she whispered.

  “I know how much you love the snow.”

  “As long as I don’t have to be out in it.” She was back at work, but Jay was driving her since her left knee was now starting to bother her. She knew she’d have to have that opera
ted on, too, but Dr. Kadir had told her he thought she’d had enough hospitals so she was trying to put that off as long as she could.

  Rafe was still working on sharing his emotions with her, but he was doing better with that. Adam and Merissa were happy they’d adopted a baby so their daughter could be close to her cousin. Dina knew that he thought about Gracie every day, and all of the other losses in his life.

  “I love you so much,” she whispered, giving him a kiss as they stood there, silently watching the snow fall.

  “I love you, too. I always have from the first day I walked into your room at Wellstone Village.”

  “I thought you hated me,” Dina said. “I know I made your life miserable, always complaining and talking about Jay.”

  “Well…”

  Dina punched him softly in the shoulder and took in his low, sexy chuckle. The watched the snow fall for a little while longer, and then went in to the family room to mingle with their guests.

  Rafe and Dina’s big screen TV was tuned to the celebration on Times Square in New York. The evening went by in a blur for her and finally Jay said, “Hey, you guys. It’s almost midnight.” Everyone sat there, noisemakers poised. Rafe had the Asti Spumonte and sparkling grape juice ready. The countdown began and finally, the ball dropped on the TV screen, and everyone sang “Auld Lang Sine,” and wished each other “Happy New Year.”

  Dina made the first toast. “To my husband, my son, my parents, and my friends. I love you all, and I’m happy to be alive.”

  Dina’s mom put her arm around her and said, “We’re all glad you’re here.”

  Rafe gave her another kiss. “I love you, Dina. I really have been in love with you from the first day we met.”

  THE END