Delores acted like the breeze.
She picked up his glass and took a drink. “How’s the city?”
“Still standing. You going to buy me another drink?”
“Not hardly likely.”
Ernie came down the crowded bar with a rack of clean glasses, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. He frowned at Delores. “Who’s up?”
“Janie’s sick. Amber’s working her set. She’ll go on in a minute.”
“What’s the matter with Janie?”
“She got her visitor.”
“What are you talking about? Her period?” Ernie asked.
Delores pursed her lips. “A period comes at the end of a sentence. The girl’s bleeding like a stuck pig. She ought to go lay down. Can Stella or you run her over to my house?”
“It’s Thursday, Delores – payday. So now I’m short a dancer and you want one of us to take her home?”
Paul started to ease himself off the stool.
Delores grabbed his arm. “Wait a minute, Paul. Can you drive her back to my place?”
Paul shook his head. “No way, Dee. I don’t even know this girl. Besides it’ll take me an hour. Hell. She probably can’t even ride.”
“If you can stay on a bike, she can too. Look Paul, it’ll only take you a half an hour and I’ll buy you another damn drink when you get back.”
“I don’t suppose it matters if I don’t want to.”
Delores smiled. “Be a good boy and do what Mama tells you.”
Ernie laughed. “Might as well give up. Delores has spoken.”
Paul stood and zipped up his jacket. “Let’s get this over with. I got business to finish tonight.”
Paul waited by his bike until the girl came outside. She looked pale and young. She didn’t look like any dancer he’d ever seen. “I’m Paul,” he said. “You ever been on a bike before?”
“Not by myself, but I can stay on.”
“ What’s your name?”
“Janie. Thanks for this.”
Paul handed her a clean folded bandana from his back pocket. “You better tie your hair back or you’ll have a real mess by the time I get you to Dee’s.” He kick started the bike and she climbed on behind him. “Just hold on to me and when I lean, you lean.” She nodded and looped her arms around him as they lurched forward out of the parking lot and onto the road. She held him tight and leaned into him as they took the curves. The smell of dairy cows and sweet grass filled the air. She didn’t try to talk, but now and then he could feel her shiver with cold. The ride seemed not to take as long as he thought it would. He slowed the bike and turned into the driveway of Dee’s place. The porch light glowed yellow. He turned off the engine.
As she got off the bike, Janie fell to her hands and knees retching. Paul stooped behind her and held her shoulders, helping her to her feet when she stopped throwing up. Her eyes watered. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s get you inside. You’re pretty sick, huh?”
She nodded. “You don’t have to stay. I’m okay now.” She fumbled for a key in her pocket.
“Delores would knock my dick in the dirt if I went off and left you before you’re settled.” Paul steered her up the steps. He took the key when she missed the lock and opened the door. She ran down the hall to the bathroom, leaving Paul standing in the living room.
Paul liked Dee’s place. He’d met her after Mia and before he left California for Washington. They lived together a couple of times when he’d needed a place to crash and she wanted help with the rent. Nothing romantic, though they did get in the habit of sharing a bed. Delores had been business on his part
From the bathroom Paul heard Janie running water. He started a fire in the woodstove for something to do. Now that he was there, he wasn’t in any hurry to leave. He looked in the kitchen for teabags and bread, put the kettle on for tea, and put some bread in the toaster. Mia used to get sick with her periods. Paul always liked the feeling of taking care of her with little things like tea and toast.
By the time he carried everything in from the kitchen, Janie was sitting on the couch in a plaid bathrobe and longjohns. He put the cup and plate on the coffee table.
“You didn’t need to do all that.” Janie’s cheeks flushed.
“Now I can tell Delores you’re all tucked in.” He thought for a minute. “You mind if I hang out for awhile? The quiet is kind of nice for a change. Want to smoke a joint?”
“I better not.”
The fire crackled, filling the silence. Paul felt more relaxed than he had in a long time. This girl didn’t try to make small talk or flirt with him. He looked her over as she licked the butter off her slender fingers. He surprised himself by reaching over and picking up her thick, wet hair. “You put conditioner on it?”
“Yeah.”
“Ought to comb it out before it dries.” Her hair was wavy with flecks of red from the firelight. “You have a comb?”
Janie pulled a wide-tooth comb from the pocket of her robe and handed it to him.
He put a pillow from the couch on the floor in front of him. “Now, I’ll deny I ever did this if anybody asks.” He smiled at her.
Janie moved to the floor. “How do you know so much about hair?”
He worked the tangles with his fingers. “I had a mean big sister. She used to make me comb her hair out and roll it up in orange juice cans. Besides, I got my own hair project going on.”
Janie leaned back against the couch. “You’ve got nice hair.” She said it matter of fact, no extra message.
“There’s an old hippie saying, ‘It’s not the hair, it’s the head it grows on.’ ”
He pulled through the tangles, careful not to hurt her. They didn’t speak again. He felt her nod off. He helped her up on the couch and got a blanket from the closet. He carried the dishes to the sink, banked the fire with a big log, and put on his jacket. Her eyes were closed. She looked peaceful. For a second time Paul surprised himself. He crossed the room and bent low over her. Her hair was now almost dry in his hand. He bent down and put it to his nose, breathing her in. Her eyes blinked open, blue as freshwater, but she didn’t speak. He brushed her cheek with a calloused thumb and left before he could embarrass himself.
Simple Twist of Fate
FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS JANIE STAYED TUCKED UNDER a crocheted afghan on Dee’s couch. She slept, ate bowls of Cocoa Puffs, and watched TV with the volume off so Dee could sleep. Time slipped by. Janie was waiting for Paul.
The
