Interrupted Romance

by Baxter, Topsy

  Dafna glanced up at him and saw the smile of enjoyment and satisfaction on his face. This was something he could do, blind or otherwise. This was something he did very well and took great pleasure in doing. As the tango came to an end and they stopped moving, there was a round of enthusiastic applause behind them. The other diners had come to watch! Adam grinned, but Dafna blushed. She wondered what she had looked like to those people while she was being held so provocatively by Adam. Her mind hadn't been exactly on the dance movements.

  The band swung into a bouncy tune and Adam, in turn, swung Dafna along with him in a fast-paced round of the floor. By now, some of the braver diners were joining in. Three other couples came onto the floor to join Adam and Dafna. The head waiter came in swiftly to call them away from the auditorium, but nobody took any notice. It was too much fun and a bonus to just dining at the table. The band didn't bother about having real live dancers to play to, and they gave a good performance.

  However, a waiter came to call the couples back to their meals, which had arrived at the tables and were rapidly cooling. Regretfully, Dafna pulled Adam off the dance floor and back into the dining room. He was laughing, mainly about the fact that he could do something without help, but also because he felt he'd broken some rules in a nice way, by dancing at lunch instead of being out at night.

  Dafna used subtle finger pressure on his hand to guide him back to the table without alerting anyone to his blindness. He felt for, and found, his knife and fork, and was able to make a good show of cutting up his meal into bite-sized mouthfuls. They talked over the wine, in voices that were low and soft, so no one else would hear them.

  Adam said, "Help me with the last bits, I can't find them, darling."

  Dafna was able to reach over and feed him some last morsels. It looked as though she was an adoring girlfriend or lover who was enjoying 'spoon-feeding' her beloved. No one took any notice, or realised that she was doing it because Adam couldn't see.

  "Open," she said as she held the fork near his mouth. Obediently, he would open and close his mouth at the right time, in the right way, so that his plate emptied in an orderly fashion, without food sliding off it. He was feeling hungry now after the short burst of activity on the dance floor.

  "My operation will be next week, Dafna," he said quietly. "Will you come to the hospital with me? I'm a bit scared. If this doesn't work I don't know what I'll do. I don't want to be like this forever. I want to be able to work, to drive my car, to look at you and see your face properly. All I saw, before this happened, was a blur with a hint of what you look like. Now I want to see all of you, all the time."

  "I'll come, of course. I'm glad that you asked me. I didn't think you were ever going to speak to me again. I was scared, too. Of not seeing you again."

  Adam had trapped one of her hands in his and was gently moving his thumb over the back of her hand. It gave her goosebumps.

  "Adam, you know it won't matter to me if this operation doesn't go quite how you want it. I want you whether you can see me or not."

  If he could have seen her expression, he would have thrown his arms around her. As it was, he murmured, leaning close to her, "I love you, Dafna. I don't want to lose you, no matter what."

  "And I love you, Adam. I think I have loved you from our first meeting after the bombing."

  "Would you like anything else to eat or drink? Could we go, do you think?" Adam was feeling restless, and wanted to take her home, away from curious faces. Besides, he knew his parents were away visiting his sister in the hospital and he had already planned to have time alone with Dafna today.

  "I've had enough to eat. Yes, let's go."

  Adam heard the waiter talking to people at the next table and called him.

  "Could we have the bill now, please?"

  "Of course, sir. Was the meal to your liking, madam?" he asked, turning to her.

  Dafna nodded and smiled at him. He seemed to be new in the job and was anxious to make a good impression. Probably wanted a good tip! He left them briefly, returning with the account on a small plate. Adam took his Visa card from his wallet and held it out towards Dafna, who dropped it on the plate for the young man.

  "Take the usual," she said to him. In Israel, it was the done thing to add a 10% tip to the payment.

  "Thank you, madam," the young man said hurrying away. He came back to the table in a few short minutes, handed the card and a voucher to Adam to be signed. Adam felt where he had to write, asking Dafna if he was in the right place and she told him 'yes'. The waiter was astonished to realise that this active, wonderful dancer couldn’t see a thing. Nevertheless, the signature was verified as OK and he wished them a lovely afternoon before leaving them to find their way to the door.

  Adam was walking with a spring in his step, that hadn't been there before. She held tightly to his hand as they headed to the elevator. The door slid closed behind them and Adam immediately used his body to shuffle Dafna back against the wall, pinning her there while his mouth found hers. She slid her arms up around his neck and held him as he kissed her warmly, hotly. He pushed his body at her and she loved it. His hands were on the wall behind her, blocking any escape - not that she even considered that! Too soon, the elevator stopped at the car park floor and the door opened. Adam stepped back from Dafna, breathing heavily. She moved towards him, gasping a little herself, her bosom rising and falling rapidly. She pressed the button to close the door again. Drawing Adam back into her arms this time, she kissed him passionately, feeling his body respond immediately.

  Suddenly, the lift started going back up. Adam lifted his head from hers. "Damn!" he said.

  "I second that!" Dafna said.

  They broke apart just as the doors opened again to allow two couples to enter the lift. The newcomers barely glanced in their direction as the elevator started going back down again.

  Everyone got out at the car park level, including Dafna and Adam, and they followed the small group of people towards the many cars parked there. They threaded their way towards Dafna's car. By the time they reached it, they were stifling giggles like a pair of schoolgirls.

  "If we'd stayed in the elevator any longer we'd nearly be 'caught in the act'," Adam said when they were in the car. Dafna threw her handbag onto the rear seat and leaned towards Adam, sliding her hand up behind his head and pulling his face down to hers. Again she was kissing him in such a way that he was immediately aroused. His arms went around her, crushing her to him. They were oblivious to anything around them until voices came very close to the car as hotel guests prepared to enter their cars. Dafna pulled back from Adam, her lips moist from his kisses, her arms trembling with passion. Adam was in no state to be seen in public and bent down, supposedly to tie his shoelaces, in case people outside the car were able to see him.

  Dafna started the car with shaking fingers, hardly able to turn the key. She drove slowly through the turns to the exit and up onto the road.

  The wind gusted against the car forcefully. While they had been inside the hotel, they'd totally forgotten what was happening outside. It surprised them both. For Dafna, it was the steadier she needed to concentrate on driving and not on Adam. Those last few minutes inside the hotel were getting out of hand before they'd left. Now, the wind was howling along the streets and she had to tear her mind back from the elevator to the road.

  Adam was silent all the way home. He realised that they'd reached, and passed, a milestone in their relationship. He also realised just how passionate Dafna could be. His composure was returning, with difficulty, as thoughts of her warm body crushed against him kept returning to taunt him. Keeping his hands off her, in future, would be no easy feat. He considered how she would react if he asked her to marry him. Surely, after today, there would be no need to fear a rejection… but he was still hesitant. After all, for her, it would mean having to take care of him if his operation didn't solve his present problem. Had she really thought long and hard about that? Should he do that to her? Could he do that to her? Wo
uld it be fair to do it to her?

  The car slowed to a crawl as Dafna manoeuvred it under the carport beside Adam's house.

  "We're home, Adam. We just have to brave the wind for a few paces and we'll be out of it," Dafna said quietly.

  He couldn't tell if her thoughtful tone was as a result of misgivings about their future, or regret at having shown so much raw passion… he cursed not being able to see her face, her expression. This uncertainty was driving him crazy, not knowing what people were thinking when they looked at him, not knowing how they truly felt. If he could only see, it would be easier to read people's thoughts! He wouldn't be putting so much pressure on himself, thinking that all they could see in him was his blindness. He felt inadequate, as a result.

  Both of them slammed the car doors and headed for the house. Dafna stood and waited for Adam to move quickly around the car, his hand running along the bonnet to guide him, and together they walked to the front door. Adam found his keys and Dafna opened the door. Normally, she would have let him fumble for, and find, the keyhole, but the elements made it necessary for her to do the honours so they could get inside faster. The wind was singing along the power lines as they closed the door behind them.

  Adam brushed grit from his clothes and face, walking towards the living room. He called out to his parents… "Ima, Aba, we're home." There was no answer.

  CHAPTER 23

  Adam turned back towards Dafna, who was standing in the corridor, watching him. He had moved swiftly through the rooms, calling his parents to make sure they weren't home. She knew that.

  He came close to her, smelling her perfume, knowing where she was, and reached out his arms for her. She moved into the warm circle of strength, leaning against him, sighing, as Adam slid his hands across her back and under her blouse. Warm hands pressed her to him, fingers moving over her skin… caressing… seducing. With eyes closed and head thrown back, she invited him to kiss her. Adam cuddled his cheek next to hers, feeling the soft skin of Dafna's face against his own. He moved around to find her lips, which parted under his own.

  For long moments, they clung together, oblivious to any outside sounds. Gradually, they were rocking and stepping towards Adam's room, stopping now and again to embrace passionately, more passionately than before. He began to unbutton her blouse, pressing her against the wall as he did it. She, in turn, pulled at his shirt, lifting it out of the confines of his trouser belt. In between undressing each other, they would stop to shower kisses on each other. Their breath came in hot gasps; Dafna moaned in pleasure.

  "Shalom, we're home," Adam's mother's voice called from the front door, as she and her husband came into the house. "Adam, where are you?"

  Adam and Dafna sprang apart in utter frustration and shock. Hurriedly, they tucked clothes back where they should be. Dafna pushed Adam through the doorway into his room and quickly and quietly pulled the door shut behind him, with a whispered, "Dress yourself."

  She rushed to do up the buttons of her blouse, hoping Adam's parents wouldn't find her before she finished. Her fingers felt like wooden pegs - they wouldn't work fast enough or well enough! However, she succeeded in doing up all but the last one, when the older couple came through from the living room. Her face was flushed with embarrassment. She knew that, but couldn’t do anything about it.

  "Shalom," she said to them, and they took turns to hug her. "Adam is in his room. He should be out in a moment. We got awfully windblown going out today." Dafna stammered slightly in her embarrassment and was talking rapidly, hoping to cover it up.

  Mr Lavan asked, "Where did you have lunch today, dear? Did you enjoy it? I hope you and Adam have been able to resolve the differences you had… "

  "We had a lovely lunch and we even had an opportunity to dance. You know how he likes to dance, don't you? There was a band there, practising for the evening show, and we got to make use of it. It was wonderful. And yes, we are on very good terms now," Dafna finished.

  "I can see that," the old man said, inclining his head towards the front of her blouse.

  Dafna looked down. She had missed a buttonhole and buttoned her blouse up crooked! Swiftly, she put a hand over the gaping blouse, as the blood rushed into her cheeks.

  Mrs Lavan glanced as her husband and they went off toward the kitchen with a knowing smile on their faces. Dafna was left to recover from the shock of their discovery. She knew, that they knew, what had been going on.

  "Oh, shit!" she murmured softly, head in hands. "I thought it was too good to be true." She redid the buttoning.

  Following the old couple to the kitchen, she started to make an explanation, but they waved it away. "Don't fret yourself. We were young once, too, you know."

  The jug was boiling on the bench, the cups and coffee were out on the table, and Adam finally came to join the rest of the household in the kitchen. He, too, looked a bit worse for wear, with lipstick (which he didn't realise was there) all over his face and neck. His parents looked astonished, then burst into loud laughter. Dafna, taken aback, joined in, seeing the funny side of it. Adam stood there with his hands turned out and an enquiring expression on his face.

  "What's so funny? What is it?" he asked.

  Dafna ran to the bathroom, wet a handtowel and came back to Adam. "Stand still. I have to clean you up. You're covered in lipstick, darling."

  While Dafna wiped the evidence from Adam's face, his father turned on the answering machine to hear the message blinking it's warning to the room in general.

  The call came from Yael, at the shop. She had been unable to reach Dafna at home, and wanted to track her down at Adam's place.

  "Dafna, this is Yael, please call me as soon as you can. There is a message from Sydney for you."

  Dafna drew in her breath suddenly, hand to mouth, immediately concerned for her mother, whom she'd been calling several times a week since coming back to Israel.

  "Use this phone, dear, if you wish," Mrs Lavan said, pulling her husband out of the room to give Dafna some privacy. Adam stepped close to Dafna, for a different reason this time to the one he had in mind half an hour earlier. He felt her trembling.

  "Come on, darling, I'm with you. It may be nothing at all. You have to find out what it is about."

  She made the call and listened to what Yael had to say.

  Dafna sobbed uncontrollably, putting the phone down without having spoken to Yael. Never again to see her mother, never again to touch her or speak to her. She had been feeling so well lately, she had told Dafna during their last conversation.

  Dafna's knees bent and she slid to the floor, lying crumpled at Adam's feet. He quickly bent to her, holding her against him, feeling the deep sobs racking her body, hearing her grief.

  "Ima, Aba, come quickly, please. Help me," he called.

  They weren't far away as they'd been listening from the hallway. Dafna hadn't spoken, but they heard her sudden sobbing and saw her fall to the floor. They were beside Adam almost as soon as he called them.

  Between them, they lifted Dafna to her feet. Adam bent and lifted her into his arms, walking through to his room, where he laid her gently on his bed, pulling a blanket over her. She was shivering savagely with shock. He waited while his mother brought a glass of water into the room and held it to Dafna's mouth, but she was unable to take any fluid into her mouth.

  "Dafna," Mrs Lavan said. "Is it your mother, sweetheart? Has she had another stroke?"

  Dafna could only nod her head. The tears rolled down her cheeks, her nose was running and she was gasping and sobbing all at once.

  Adam asked, "How bad, Dafna? How bad is it? Can you go to her? Is she alive?"

  She shook her head. They concluded that the stroke had been fatal. Mrs Lavan brought a clean handtowel into the room and softly wiped Dafna's face. Mr Lavan stood by with a box of tissues, which Adam was handing to Dafna, one after the other.