This is the continuing story of the relationship of David and Elaine who are mother and son, trying to live a life of normalcy. If incest is not your brand of scotch, move on. Everyone is an adult. This chapter came out a bit longer than the others. After reading it, you'll understand why! All characters are products of my imagination. Thanks to everyone for reading all the encouraging comments!
Late that evening,
the dream
woke me up. I wish the hell I could figure out the
message
, if any, and stop it! I guess I don't respond well to messages from beyond! I finally got up around 5. Elaine followed around an hour later and we had coffee. Rob and Paige were coming for dinner tonight. I cleaned the house and prepped dinner. We went out for a short walk. We returned and readied ourselves for company. Elle put on a white skirt with a big floral pattern, and a yellow blouse. She looked great!
Rob and Paige arrived around 3 o'clock. The way Rob moved reminded me of Ed. Erect in posture, all movement is purposeful and fluid. He and Paige didn't look much alike. His features were more angular and chiseled, in a manner of speaking. His sandy blonde hair was cut in a Marine-style, in a parted comb-over. His eyes were a blueish bronze that seemed to be continually evaluating everything. We did the normal 'chit-chat' and I finally asked about something to drink. Rob reached into his knapsack. He handed me what was obviously a bottle wrapped in tissue.
"Why don't we have a
wee dram
of this." Said Rob with a bit of a brogue.
I tore off the tissue. Elaine saw the label.
"Oh my God, this is 15-year-old Laphroaig! Nectar of the Gods!" She said a bit overwhelmed, looking at the bottle. I got up and went into the kitchen. Paige followed me and appeared at the entry way. She was wearing one of those long, tightly pleated skirts and a loose blouse in a green that set off her eyes. The skirt moved like fluid. I was getting the glasses down and putting them on a small tray.
"You look nice today," I said casually.
"Oh don't start with me this early!" She snapped.
I took her arm. "Seriously, you look pretty and happier than I have seen you in a while. Good to see Rob?"
"Yeah. Didn't realize how much I missed him." She said staring in thought.
We returned to the living room. I took the bottle and used my knife to cut off the shrink-wrap seal.
"Can I see that?" Asked Rob. I handed him the knife.
"Damascus, very nice!"
Elaine poured a couple of fingers into each glass. Rob held his glass up and said "Slainte!". I took a small sip. I savored and swallowed.
"Wow! Serious smoke, leather, and maybe some spices! There's a lot here!"
Rob went on to explain the major districts of Scotland that produce whiskey. He said that Islay is the longest-smoked, single malt. I took another sip. I could get very used to this! I listened to the conversation wax and wane. I brought out some cheese, deli meats, and bread to get us through to dinner. Rob paused and looked over at me. I guess I looked a bit melted!
"It looks like you're hearing the pipes play, laddie! Happens often with single malt. Magical stuff!" Rob said with a very authentic brogue and a smile.
"Yeah, I think so. I'm getting quite used to this!" I reflected. After a few more minutes, I realized how hungry I was.
"Anyone hungry?"
Moving out to the balcony, I lit off the barbecue and Elaine brought out the steaks. Rob was out on the deck with a beer.
"These are free-range, dry-aged, buffalo rib-eyes. They come from a ranch up near Napa."
"Damn fine looking cuts of meat!" He observed with satisfaction.
Elaine came out on the balcony with plates and set the table. It so turned out that everyone wanted their meat medium rare. The steaks came out perfectly! Good grill marks and the temperature was dead on due to my thermometer fork. The butcher set me up with it.
"Steak, baked potato, and tossed salad. The bare American basics!" I said as Elaine poured the wine.
"This is an Aussie Shiraz from a winery in Western Australia. I've grown very fond of it." She said.
"Well then, to new friends!" Rob toasted.
We dug in. Conversation faded to the light clank of silverware, the occasional 'this is so good..', etc. The steaks were around 5 ounces. Rob and I ate every scrap!
"That was wonderful! It's the simple stuff that you sometimes miss." He said thoughtfully, wiping his mouth.
With the dishes cleared we sat down out in the afternoon sun. It was a
rare
nice spring day.
"We are going to have cigars and brandy. Would you care to join us?"
"Actually, that sounds like a capital idea!" He said. Elaine went for the brandy and snifters and I brought out the tabletop humidor. Elaine poured the brandy and we three chose a cigar. Elaine deftly cut the end and handed the cutter to Rob.
"So Elaine, did cigars start as an
empowerment
something or other?" He asked as he snipped the end of the cigar.
"Paaa!
Empowerment
? I came home on spring break and my dad and I were sitting out on the patio. He was having a cigar. He smoked cigars as long as I could remember. I asked him
I want to try a cigar. What's a good first cigar to try?
. He gave me a Romeo & Juliet Corona. He taught me all the how's and I smoked it. I do admit that I get 'looks' when I join my peers from work for cigars after dinner instead of joining the wives."
"I think it's great! J-Lo makes a cigar work!" Rob interjected.
"So does Demi Moore." I offered.
"How do you get along with female officers Rob?" Elaine inquired.
"In the Marines, we're
Marines
first, everything else is secondary! There's a job to be done, so we put aside our problems, gender, and racial issues, and get it done! That's the basic version." He said sipping some brandy.
That piqued Elaine's interest. She and Rob ended up talking about women in the military. She was pressing him to see what his actual position was or if was mouthing the
party line
. While they were engaged, Paige and I were conducting some sort of 'probe' of each other. I was looking for micro expressions. There is something between them! I can smell it!
Elaine seemed pleased with her conversation with Rob.