It’s because it’s such a pleasant night, Rose said. It’s finally springtime.
Yes ma’am. But I still didn’t think we’d have so much competition.
A middle-aged couple stopped to speak with Rose, and she said: Do you know Raymond McPheron?
How do you do, the man said.
I’m doing pretty good. If I could get us something to eat, I’d be doing even better.
How long have you been waiting?
We just got here. But the woman said it’d be about twenty minutes.
It better be worth the wait, hadn’t it.
I have nice company to wait with anyhow, Raymond said.
HALF AN HOUR LATER THE HOSTESS STEPPED OUTSIDE THE door and called Raymond’s name and they followed her to a table in the second room, and Raymond held Rose’s chair out, then sat down across from her. The hostess left their menus on the table. The waiter will be with you in a minute, she said.
Raymond looked around the crowded rooms. I was in here with Victoria about a year ago, he said. With her and Katie. But not since. I just thought of this place because this is where she and Del come last week. It’s no telling how soon we’ll get waited on.
Is there any rush? Rose said.
He looked across the table at her and she was smiling at him. Her hair was shining under the light and she had taken her sweater off. You’re right. I better quit talking about it.
Aren’t you having a good time?
I wouldn’t be no other place right now, Raymond said. It’s just kind of late to be eating supper, that’s all I mean. He looked at his watch. It’s getting awful close to seven-thirty.
You wouldn’t do well in New York or Paris, would you.
I wouldn’t even do very good in Fort Morgan, he said.
She laughed. Let’s relax and enjoy ourselves.
Yes ma’am. That’s the right idea.
IN FACT, THE WAITRESS CAME RIGHT THEN, A YOUNG woman whose face was flushed from hurrying back and forth in the crowded rooms. She and Rose knew each other. You’re really busy tonight, Rose said.
Isn’t this crazy, for a Wednesday, she said. I’m about to lose my mind. Can I get you something to drink?
Rose ordered a glass of the house wine and Raymond ordered a bottle of beer, then the young woman rushed away.
It looks like you about know everybody here, Raymond said.
Oh no, not everyone. But quite a few.
While they waited, another couple paused to speak with Rose, then the waitress brought their drinks and they each ordered a steak and a baked potato and salad, and then Rose held up her glass and said: Cheers.
Happy days to you, Raymond said, and they clinked glasses and drank, and Rose smiled at him.
Happy days to you too, Raymond.
Later, after their steaks had been served, an old man on his way out of the café came over wearing his black hat, and Raymond was able to introduce Rose to someone she didn’t know. This here’s Bob Schramm, Raymond said. I want you to meet my friend Rose Tyler. Bob here has a nice place out north of town.
Schramm took his hat off. Not like the McPherons’ place, he said. How you been, Raymond?
Well, I’m doing all right.
You take care then. Ma’am, it was a pleasure meeting you.
Schramm put his hat back on his head and left, and they talked and ordered another round of drinks. Rose explained to Raymond that she had a grown son who lived on the western slope. Her husband had died twenty years ago of a heart attack at the age of thirty. No one expected it, she said. There had been no warning and no one on his side of the family had had heart trouble before. Afterward she had raised their son by herself, and he’d gone on to study at the university in Boulder and now was an architect in Glenwood Springs, and married, with two little boys. I see them as often as I can, she said.
So you’re a grandmother, he said.
Yes. Aren’t I lucky.
Yes ma’am. I’m pretty lucky myself, he said. Having Victoria and Katie in my life.
I knew Victoria’s mother, Rose said. She came in to Social Services one time, but she wasn’t eligible.
Well, she come out to the house one time too, Raymond said, not long after Katie was born. Showed up at the house one afternoon kind of unexpected. I think she had in mind to get close to Victoria again, but her and Victoria didn’t get along. Victoria didn’t want anything to do with her. I didn’t say nothing about it myself, it was up to her to decide. Anyway, I think her mother went off to Pueblo where she come from originally. I ain’t saying anything against the woman. But it was kind of miserable for a while there.
THEY FINISHED THEIR DINNER AND RAYMOND GOT THE check from the waitress and paid it.
Let me leave the tip, Rose said.
You don’t need to.
I know. But I want to.
They went outside to his pickup. The parking lot was half empty now and a soft breeze was blowing. Raymond opened the door for her and she got in.
Would you care to drive out in the country a little ways? she said. It’s such a nice night.
If you’d care to.
Rose rolled the window down and Raymond drove them out east on the highway in the dark night, the fresh air blowing in on them through the opened windows. They drove about ten miles and then he stopped, backed up and turned around and came back. In town the lights of Main Street seemed very bright after the dark on the highway in the flat country. He pulled up to her house and stopped.
Will you come in? she said.
Ma’am, I don’t know. I’m not much good in other people’s houses.
Come in. Let me make you some coffee.
He shut off the engine and came around and opened her door and they walked up to her house. While she went back to the kitchen, he sat down in a large upholstered chair in the front room and looked around at her pictures, everything so clean and carefully arranged and put in order. Rose stepped into the room and said: Do you want sugar and milk with your coffee?
No thank you, ma’am. Just black.
She brought the cups in and handed him one. She took a seat on the couch across from him.
You have a beautiful place here, he said.
Thank you.
They drank their coffee and talked a little more. Finally Raymond had a last sip and stood up. I think it’s time for me to get on home, he said.
You don’t have to go yet.
I better, he said.
She put her cup down and walked over to him. She took his hand. I would like to kiss you, she said. Would you allow me to do that?
Now ma’am, I —
You’ll have to bend down. I’m not very tall.
He bent his head and she took his face in her hands and kissed him thoroughly on the mouth. He held his arms straight at his sides. After she’d kissed him he reached up and touched at his mouth with his fingers.
Wouldn’t you like to come back to the bedroom? she said.
He looked at her in surprise. Ma’am, he said. I’m a old man.
I know how old you are.
I doubt if I could do you any good.
Let’s just see.
She led him back to her bedroom and turned on a low lamp beside the bed. Then she stood in front of him and unbuttoned his blue wool shirt and drew it off his shoulders. He was lean and stringy, with a growth of white hair spread over his chest.
Now will you unbutton me? she said. She turned around.
I don’t know about this.
Yes, you do. I know you know how to undo buttons.
Not on a woman’s dress.
Try.
Well, he said. I suppose it’s kind of like counting out the steps in a waltz dance, ain’t it.
She laughed. You see. It’s not so bad. You’ve made a joke.
A awful little one, he said.
He began awkwardly to unbutton her peach dress. She waited. It took him a long time. But she didn’t say anything, and when he was finished she slipped out of the dress and laid it over the back of a chair and turned to face him. Her slip was peach-colored too, and she looked very pretty in the slip. Her round shoulders were freckled and she had full breasts and wide hips. What would you think of getting out of your pants and boots now? she said.