Chapter 4

My mind wandered to my life with Rose. First, it went to death, and how I had to watch her waste away. Back in those days, people did not live as long. She died at the age of 50. Looking into the diseases discovered since that time, I believe my Rose suffered from tuberculosis. I looked at Dominique and realized she had been staring at me. Her mind was turning, and I could see it written all over her face. I couldn’t have her asking questions just yet. I would explain all of it to her later. 

“I can see your mind is thinking of questions. However, I would request that you don’t ask them. Perhaps at a later date, I will be able to talk to you about it but not now. Ok?”

“Ok. I can understand. There are things I would prefer not to talk about, also. My ex is one of them.”

“Fair enough. Do you have any children, Dominique?”

I watched as she touched her necklace. She wore it all the time. I had often wondered what it symbolized. Since I had not heard the whole story about Dominique and Tim’s breakup, I was unsure what had happened between them. I had gotten enough to know that they had broken up, and she went into a depression and tried to kill herself. 

Finally, she said, “No. I don’t have any children. What about you?”

“No, I have no children. What is the necklace that you keep touching?”

“That subject is off-limits,” Dominique replied as her face became devoid of emotion.

I leaned across the table and stroked my hand down her face. I couldn’t help myself. I hadn’t meant to bring her pain, just like she hadn’t meant to bring me pain by asking about my wife, but I still felt terrible about it.

“I apologize if I brought up bad memories. I merely wish to get to know you better.”

“It’s fine. So, are you just trying to get to know me so you have ammo to use against me on Tuesday? Because I’ll be honest, it won’t help you get into the band. I’ll judge you in your playing only. Then if you suck as a person, well, I’ll probably kick you out.”

I smiled and said, “Maybe I’m interviewing you to see if I want to join the band.”

“Sure. Whatever you say. Well, I’m ready to go. It’s been nice chatting with you, but it’s time to go. I have somewhere else to be.”

I waved the waiter over and gave him a card while Dominique grabbed her purse. Looking back up, she must have seen me hand the waiter my card. She was frowning.

“Why did you do that?”

“I merely paid for your dinner. You could look at this as a first date, as we did get to know each other. May I ask where you have to run off to?”

Dominique blushed as she said, “A movie.”

“Will anyone be meeting you there?”

“No. This is time for me to rest and relax. I told you before I was treating myself.”

“Would you mind if I joined you? I could drive us there and bring you back to your car. We could continue to get to know each other.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t know you well enough to get in a car with you. You could be a serial killer for all I know.”

I laughed as I said, “Then let’s take your car, and you can bring me back to my car. You can even pat me down for weapons if you wish.”

I hoped she would take me up on that offer as the blush returned to her face. I could tell she was thinking about it. I was hoping she would at least take me up on my offer to go to the movie with her. The more time I could get her to spend with me, the more chance I had that I could get her to come to love me. 

“I don’t think I’d be comfortable with that. I barely know you. You don’t pat someone down you don’t know.”

“It was just an offer to check for anything you may be uncomfortable with. I have no weapons, but I want you to be comfortable.”

“Um, ok. I really did intend to be alone.”

“You are dressed for a date. Let me take you on one. You stated you came out to have a night off, no work. Let me take you on the rest of the date so you can relax and have company outside of the circle you are used to.”

She finally agreed, and we went out to her car, and I opened the door for her. I stood in front of it. I gave her one last chance to pat me down if she wanted. I couldn’t help but grin when I saw her looking at me.

“Aren’t you going to make sure I don’t have any weapons?”

“Umm.....no. I think I’ll be okay. I don’t see any bulges anywhere I should worry about.”

“If you’re sure,” I replied and stepped out of the way.

Once she was in the car, I closed the door. I entered the car’s passenger side, and she drove to the movie. I paid for our tickets and got our drinks. She kept protesting that she could buy her own, but I refused to let her pay for anything. We went in and sat down. I put my arm around her shoulders about fifteen minutes into the movie. She tensed up at first, but then she finally relaxed.

We laughed at the movie, and Dominique got teary-eyed at the sad parts. She let me keep my arm around her the whole time, which was nice. Once the movie was over, we got up and started to walk out. I held my arm out, and she looked at it for a second, then she put her hand on my arm. I walked her to the car and again opened and shut the door for her. 

I asked her to drive us to this place I had found. I was really taking her to my property. I didn’t want this night to end yet. I asked her to turn onto my road and stop at the open field. I got out and came over to her door. She just looked at me through the window. 

“I’m not going to hurt you, Dominique. This is the perfect place to dance under the stars. Will you please get out of the car?” 

She slowly got out, but she left the car running. I guess I couldn’t blame her. She still didn’t know what I was truly like. I knew she had her phone with her, and I would love to have her back in my arms again.