THE DINNER

THEMAD FOOL

CHAPTER4

THEDINNER

           

Ray woke to near completedarkness; the only visible light was the intermittent pulse of his cell phonescreen, which was on the table next to the bed. He made an attempt to reach for it, but his efforts brought a blindingrush of pain.  He bit the pillow and letout a low scream, glad for the darkness. He could hear rain tickling at the windows, but dared not attemptmovement again. 

“Are you awake?”  He heard a voice say.

He turned his head and couldsee the outline of the girl sitting in the chair where the man had satearlier.  Pain coursed through him againand for a moment he gave into the pain, closing his eyes. 

“Yes.”  He managed to say.   

The girl rose from the chairand approached the bed, leaning close to him; her blonde hair brushing againsthis face.  She pressed a hand against hisforehead and once more against his cheek. 

“You feel hot.”  She said. Her voice was pure sweet youth. 

“Go into the bathroom andbring me the pain pills on the sink. Bring some water.”  Ray said, theeffort once again causing the blackness to descend over him. 

A few moments later, thegirl returned to his side, holding a glass filled with cool water and a handfulof pills.  She helped him crane his neckto take the pills and lifted the glass to his lips, pouring a small amount ofwater.  The effort made him groan and heonce again bit the pillow to muffle his cries. The girl pulled the chair close to the bed and sat.

She stroked his hair,combing the knots out of his hair with her fingers.  The medicine worked through his body and thepain became more tolerable.  He relaxedunder her light touch and let sleep take him. 

Ray woke several hours laterand immediately looked to see if she remained. She sat in the chair, sleeping, her rosy cheek resting upon thearm.  He attempted to rise from the bed,which didn’t cause as much pain as before, the medicine still in him.  He lowered his feet to the floor and drankthe rest of the now warm water, which caused him some discomfort. 

He went into the bathroomand sat on the toilet, took a few more pain pills and leaned his foreheadagainst the cold ceramic sink.  After afew moments he gathered the strength to stand and began washing his face withcold water, which seemed to revive him, his mind sharp despite the medicine inhis system. 

“Are you ok?”  He heard her voice from the doorway.  He looked at her in the mirror and nodded inanswer.  He did feel ok and hungry.  He took a comb from the sink and began to runit through his hair and beard, in some feeble attempt to straighten thewildness he saw. 

“I need to eat.”  He said to her in the mirror, still combinghis beard. 

“You need to rest.”  She said to him. 

He shook his head and turnedto her, realizing he was wearing only his pants.  His top half was wrapped mummy style withbandages, but his shoulders were bare and he felt exposed.  He rushed past her into the dressing area andtook a shirt from the wardrobe against the wall.  The exertion of pulling the tee over his headcaused a spike of pain and made him sit hurriedly in the closest chair. 

“I’ll be fine; I just needto eat something and soon.  I haven’teaten a thing all day.” 

After the pain passed heretrieved his phone and pressed one of the pre-set numbers. 

“Have the car at the sideentrance.”  He said and hung up thephone, not waiting for a reply.  Hepressed another number into his phone and turned to the girl.  “Are you coming with me to dinner?”

“Yes.”  She said in haste, as if letting him knowthat she wasn’t going to leave his side on this night. 

“I need service fortwo.”  He said into the phone, againhanging up without waiting for a response. 

Ray led the girl through thehotel to a side entrance where indeed, a limousine waited.  A tall, thick built black man in a white tuxedoheld the door open for her, which made her curse the tee shirt she wore andwish for something nicer.  However, Raywore a simple, iconic I LOVE VEGAS tee shirt and she pushed the thought fromher mind. 

The limousine came to a stopnot even five minutes later in front of a single story building with brickfaçade covered with ivy bearing no sign or other indication it was arestaurant.  The driver escorted them tothe front door, which opened before they reached it, revealed an oldergentleman, also wearing a tuxedo, his hair long grayed at the temples. 

The gentleman led theminside and to a lone table, covered with a silk tablecloth and laden with asetting for two places.  The rest of theroom was empty save a bar against the far wall, the only light coming from alarge number of candles that were spaced evenly throughout the room on stands.  The bartender looked to be the twin of theman that answered the door, save the color of his tuxedo was black.  The girl took the seat opposite Ray andwaited, not sure of what to say or do, hoping to get an indication of whatindeed was going on before she made a fool of herself. 

However, no answer came andinstead, without a word the service began. Their waiter poured water and white wine and served a dizzying array offoods:  plump juicy shrimp on ice,stuffed mushrooms, lobster bisque, fried strips of zucchini and eggplant, flatbreadpizzas and warm bread all began to fill the table.  Ray began eating without a word, hurriedlyscooping food onto his plate.  He drank aglass of wine straight off and the waiter quickly poured another for him. 

“Why are you noteating?”  He asked her.  The waiter began serving her small portionsof all the dishes and pushed her wine glass closer. 

“I’m not 21.”  The girl whispered to him.  “I don’t want to get you in any trouble.”

Ray laughed and the waiterlaughed as well, which seemed to lighten the mood of the room, which was indeeda bit reserved. 

“Please, eat and drink atyour leisure.  I will be insulted if youdo not.”  Ray said to her, stillsmiling.  The girl’s face was red from embarrassment,but she did indeed eat, tasting first of the mushrooms and then the shrimp andeven taking a small, tentative sip of the wine. 

“The food isexquisite.”  She said to him, whichseemed to please Ray.  He laughed onceagain at which the waiter left the room for a moment. 

“Thank you.”  Ray said simply.  She looked at him in confusion, notunderstanding. 

“Pardon me, sir?”  She asked.

“I own this place.”  He said, looking at her once more, his darkbrown eyes even more intense in the candlelight. 

The girl lapsed intosilence, contemplating his words.  Shepicked at the food and drank more wine, but remained silent.  The waiter returned and began clearing theplates, not asking her if she was indeed finished.  He even removed her wine glass and replacedit with another.  She didn’t know what tomake of all of it and as it appeared to be the par for the course that evening,simply watched. 

The waiter set dinner on thetable, a standing rib roast, with seared red potatoes, asparagus and roastedapple slices.  He poured red wine forthem and retired, leaving a bottle close to each of them.  Ray stood and sliced the roast, serving herthe rarest center piece and piled her plate with potatoes and asparagus, alsoputting a portion of apples in a small bowl. 

“This is all so much.”  She said, feeling full already and a littlelightheaded from the wine.  She took adrink of water to settle her nerves and breathed deeply. 

“Take your time.”  Ray said as he settled into his chair.  He ate with slow deliberation, watchingher.  He took careful sips of his wineand chewed the roast, savoring each bite. The roast was flavored with coffee beans and vanilla and the aromafilled the room.   

“This is amazing.”  She said, taking a large sip of wine. 

“Thank you, again.”  He said. She put down the cutlery and looked at him, her pretty blue eyes shiningwith wine and candlelight.  She seemed togather herself for a moment, sitting straighter in the chair. 

“The story you told me.  I don’t understand all this.”  She said, her hand indicating the room aroundthem. 

Ray sighed and stoppedeating.  He placed his head upon hishands and looked at her, lost in thought for some moments. 

“First, do me the honor oftelling me your name.”  He said toher. 

She smiled at him and closedher eyes for a moment. 

“My name is EllaThomas.” 

Ray stroked his silk napkinand smiled at her.

“I’m pleased to meet you,Ella.  You have a very beautifulname.” 

“I thank you, sir.”  She said, blushing deeply.  Ray smiled once more before he spoke.  

“You want someexplanation.  I know I told you ofrunning out of the hotel that fateful night and there seem to be some thingsthat do not square with that fact.”

“No, indeed not.”  She said, as if trying to coax him onward inhis story.

He stood and began pacing toand fro, all the while pulling with nervous energy upon the napkin. 

“How long ago was thatnight?”  Ella asked him.

He stopped pacing, faced herand put the napkin on the table.

“There is a better way ofsaying it, which shall answer all of your questions it seems to me.  It has been nearly a year since I have seen Rose.”