LOVE BY ARRANGEMENT

Harper was staring at me as I put on my hose and shoes. Her chin on her paws, her eyes pleading. I felt annoyed. I wanted to sit down, take off my dress and shoes and climb into bed. I despised dating especially first dates. I took a final gulp of my glass of merlot. I’d agreed to meet Ogden down the road at the winery and I was going to meet him. I put on my denim jacket over my black dress as I glanced at the mirror. My red hair looked wild and my eyes, green like a leopard’s according to my dad, flashed back at me defiantly. I walked out into the cool clear night; the stars were shining like tiny diamonds on black bark. The roar of the ocean made me want to drive down to the beach and skip my date. The sand would feel so good between my toes, but Ogden had been asking me out for weeks. Even though I had enjoyed our phone conversations and text messages, I wanted to be done with him. I was certain he did not look like his pictures and even more convinced that he wasn’t employed. I felt that I needed to look him in the eyes and tell him that I didn’t feel we had enough in common. After all, if I didn’t, he’d ghost me after he realized I wasn’t going to jump into bed with him.

There was only Dawn’s car parked in front of Windcrest. I had talked with her earlier about asking me to bartend for her giving me the perfect out. I walked in the door to see her smiling behind the bar.

“Hey there, hon,” she said as she came around to greet me with a hug. She whispered, “My God, he is delish. Do tell.” I was so lost in my dread that for a moment I had no idea who she was talking about. Her hand stayed firm on my arm, keeping me from making my usual turn-around- to-stare move. She continued, “Who is he? He’s been here twenty minutes. The first thing he said to me was to let him know when you arrived.” My stomach flipped. “I can’t believe you haven’t mentioned him. I’m with you nearly every day and you have not even once mentioned any guy.”

“I, uh, you know how it is Dawn. They’re never who they say they are. He’s from Bumble. Nothing good ever comes from it. I was just bored one night, looking for something to pass the time….”

Her expression was a mixture of awe, envy and absolute disbelief.

“Bumble?’ I heard her mutter, “You’ve got to be kidding…. he’s walking up here.”

I turned around and nearly bumped into Ogden, “Syd? You look just like your pictures.” His voice was the exact same as on the phone, slightly timid but deep and slow. His hair was long and blonde, pulled into a pony at the base of his neck and he brushed his bangs out of his eyes as he looked at me with eyes so dark blue they appeared to be violet. My God, I thought, delish is the perfect word for him.

“You surprised me. I didn’t see any cars, so I didn’t think you’d arrived.”

“Be honest. You thought I was going to stand you up. You thought I was a catfish. You thought I was a fat, bald guy. That’s what you thought.” He laughed that slow but ready laugh that made her insides tremble a little.

“I did think that.” She admitted. “I didn’t believe that you were who you said you were. So many people aren’t.”

“Don’t apologize. I half thought you’d have a hunchback and warts.” His eyes twinkled. “I took an Uber. It’s just easier. Where’s Harper?”

“I left her at home. She was giving me the googley eyes when I left. I thought about bringing her, but she is so protective, she’d be barking her head off, nip you in the butt and try to herd you out of here.”

The next two hours were spent mostly laughing and discussing wine. I’d always had trouble looking directly into a man’s eyes but found myself nearly unable to quit staring at his. I felt that I’d never experienced that kind of intimacy before. A little shudder went through me. Was it fear or excitement?

“Syd?”

“Oh, I was just thinking.”

He laughed, “Were you now and what were you thinking, darling?”

My heart fluttered. The only person that had ever used endearments with me was my dad. “That Harper is probably worried. I’m rarely out at night without her. I should have put her in the car. She’d just be snoozing.

“We should go get her. Can you buy a bottle here? The beach is near, I know that. How far is your place?”

I had been thinking the same thing, but my mom would kill me for even thinking about taking a man I had just met anywhere near my house. I said a silent prayer that I keep my wits because at this moment nothing would be easier than doing exactly what I was determined not to do: fall into bed with this man.

Ogden went on, concern lacing his voice, "I’m sorry. I’m scaring you. I don’t blame you. You don’t know me.”

I let out my breath and realized that I’d been holding it. “Thanks. I can hear my mom. She’d be livid. I’ve told you how she is, even more protective than Harper and don’t even get me started about Marc.

She and Marc hadn’t been friends at all growing up, but they’d grown closer since their dad had passed. In fact, all three of them had come together. Grief and surprise will do that to people. She found herself telling Ogden the whole story. How her dad had been sick but hadn’t told them even though he’d known he was terminally ill, how Marc and she had discovered a key with an address attached to an amazing house in Carmel and about the cigars, whiskey, blunts and, most surprising, condoms.

Dawn walked up to them, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “Syd dear, I have to run home for a bit, could you watch the bar? I won’t be long.”

“Sure, Ogden and I were just thinking about picking up Harper and going to the beach.

“I won’t be long. You can have a bottle on me for doing it.” Her eyes twinkled. She knew this was not the guy that I’d be wanting an excuse to leave.

I stood up to move behind the bar. “Okay. I’ll be here.”

I smiled at Ogden, “I guess the decision has been made for us, at least, for the moment.”

He pulled a stool up to the corner of the bar and smiled that sweet lazy smile. He wrinkled his nose, “You know I don’t really like walking on the beach with a beautiful woman, her dog and a bottle of wine anyway.”

The bell at the door tinkled as a couple in their late 50s walked in.

“Hello, Syd, so nice to see you. It’s been much too long.”

I blushed knowing full well my secret was about to be revealed to Ogden.

“Hello,” I said.

“How’s your mother, dear? I don’t think we’ve seen her since Christmas.”

“She’s doing very well. Finely settled in her new place.”

“Good, good, so nice to hear. We miss her but she has left us with you and that is a fine consolation prize. Can you open a bottle of that merlot from two years ago? It’s our favorite. Such a prize for your first try on your own with those grapes.”

Dawn returned and nearly shoved us out of the tasting room with the bottle as promised. “Generous of her to give you a bottle of your wine.” Ogden chuckled as they stood beside her car. “I have a secret as well. I did drive.”

Now it was her turn to be surprised. “Oh.” My voice sounded flat in my ears. Here it comes I thought. He’s going to let me down easy.

“The car’s over here. Dawn told me no one would mind if I parked a ways into the vineyard. I hope you don’t mind.”

I followed him, concentrating on not tripping and then he took my hand and wound it around his arm planting his hand over mine. I was struck by how natural it felt to be walking beside him so closely. I looked up to see the car, a classic Bentley, sitting in front of the gardener’s shed.

“Oh my! This is yours? It’s a 1963, isn’t it? Oh, I love this car. They just don’t make cool gangster cars like this anymore." Her voice softened, "my dad and I used to go to car shows together.”

“I knew your dad, Syd.” he said as he kicked a pebble into the darkness. “I met him shortly after he found out he was very sick. He put an ad on Bumble with your picture. He met me after we'd exchanged a few text messages and told me about you. He was so proud of you and very worried about you. We became close friends quickly. He had secretly purchased the house at Carmel shortly before. We’d meet there, drink whiskey and smoke cigars looking out at that amazing view. He loved telling me about you and was sure that you would be perfect for me. In the beginning, I was humoring him......." his voice trailed off. He looked into her eyes, "I brought him some blunts when he complained about the pain. And he gave me condoms.” He looked down embarrassed and continued quietly. “He was a remarkable man. He knew so much about so many things."

Tears were streaming down my cheeks.

“I feel like I’ve known you for years.” He continued. “I promised him I'd wait two years after he passed before I contacted you. The Bentley is yours. I’ve been keeping it for you.

“What?”

“He didn’t want your mom to know how sick he was. He wanted to give you something just from him.”

My head was spinning.

“So Love,” he continued quietly, “this is your car from your dad.” He smiled at her and I saw that he was holding back tears as well. “I miss him. I never knew my dad. My mom and I are close, but my father has never been in my life. I was at your dad’s funeral, but he didn’t want us to meet until you had made decisions about the winery and vineyard. He was sure you’d step into his shoes, but he wanted you to make the choice.”

I took a deep breath. “Now what?”

“Whatever you want,” looking into her eyes. “As crazy as it probably sounds to you, I know that I’m in love with you.”

“I, uh…..”

“Don’t Syd. Take your time. This is so much for you to digest. I’ve rehearsed this moment and these words for two years. I don’t think you should answer yet. I don’t want you to feel pressured. I want things to go slow. I want this to last. I’ve never been married…” His voice trailed off and I realized he was talking fast because he was afraid of my answer.

“You still up for a walk on the beach?”

He smiled that dazzling smile, “yes, Love, for sure.”

I looked up at the stars knowing that my dad was smiling.