Chapter Four
Dan hung up the call and gripped his phone so hard his knuckles turned white. What had he done? He didn’t know if he was ready to date, or how it would affect Tess—he needed to make a pro and con list—and already he’d made plans to see her again.
The oven timer beeped and he spun around without thought. A shooting pain ran up and down his leg. “Tess,” he called, fighting the urge to curse out loud. “Dinner’s ready.”
He held onto the counter, waited for the throbbing to stop, and counted in silence to keep his mind off of the pain. What he wouldn’t give for a shot of something. Anything. The oven timer continued its incessant beep, adding a beat for his counting to keep up with until the pain subsided.
“Aren’t you going to…oh…” Tess walked into the kitchen. Tossing a glance over her shoulder, she turned off the timer, grabbed an oven mitt, and took the baked chicken out. “Are you okay?”
“Just turned wrong. I’ll be okay in a minute.”
“Want me to get you some ibuprofen?” He shook his head and she continued. “It was worth a try. You look awful.”
“I love you too.” He cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound normal. “How’s the homework?”
“It’s getting there. I still have Spanish to study for.”
“Want me to test you?”
“I have flash cards on my phone.”
The table was set, and dinner was ready; he hobbled over to join Tess.
“The Abramsons want me to babysit again this Saturday night. I told them I’d check with you but I thought it was okay.”
“Saturday? Uh, yeah, that’s good, in fact.” He served Tess chicken and asparagus.
“You sound weird.”
He laughed. “You’re tactful, you know that?”
She looked away and a blush crept across her cheek. “You sounded weird when you talked about Saturday. Do you not want me to go?”
“No, it’s fine. I, uh, might not be home.”
She dropped her fork. “You’re always home Saturday nights.”
“Well, this one I might not be.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the planetarium.”
“By yourself?” She made it sound like a museum trip alone was stranger than a trip to Mars. Which, he guessed, for a teenager, was the equivalent.
“No, with a friend.”
She eyed him and it took all of his willpower not to look away. “Who?”
“Hannah. You met her at the JCC concert last week.”
Tess’s mouth dropped open; she closed it after a second or two. “So, you’re going on a date? With her? You don’t know her.”
Dan resisted the urge to squirm. There was one teenager in the room. He wasn’t it. “Well, we had lunch together today.” For the second time.
“And now you’re going out on a date?”
“Probably.” What was his problem? Hannah was great. He’d enjoyed their lunch. He’d called to tell her that and asked her to the museum. She’d wanted to go with him. So why was he uncertain? How many young women wanted to saddle themselves with a grey-haired dad of a teenager who, from the sound of things, wasn’t too keen on the idea?
“What does ‘probably’ mean?” She leaned forward and rested her chin in her hand.
It appeared his discomfort piqued her interest. Terrific. “I asked her to join me, but I may cancel.” Because you haven’t dated in twenty years, which is almost before Hannah was born, a little voice whispered. Well, not quite before she was born, but for sure before she hit puberty. He massaged his leg and frowned. And he expected her to want to go out with a guy with a bum leg?
“Why? Don’t you like her?”
“Do you?”
Tess thought about the question for a few moments. Dan’s stomach tightened the longer she took to answer the question. Why did her answer matter so much? It wasn’t like he and Hannah were serious or anything. He wasn’t sure he would see her again. But he waited for Tess’s answer like he’d wait for a doctor’s analysis of potentially troubling test results.
“I guess. I mean, I think it’s weird you’re going out with someone you don’t know well, though. Do you guys even text?”
Well there’s a ringing endorsement.He exhaled. He’d swear his breath came from the ends of his toes. “We talk.” She makes me laugh. “But I might have rushed into things. I’m not sure this is the right time. What do you think?”
“I’m not the one who asked her out. You can’t ask her out and then cancel. That’s mean. Why’d you ask her if you don’t like her?”
“I didn’t say I don’t like her. And I’m not mean.” He took a deep breath. He could do this. The key was to remain in control and plan everything. Which he’d done for seven years since the disaster six months after Beth died. He’d cleaned up his act, put taking care of Tess above everything else, and done nothing but remain in control. Maybe it was time for a little fun. He deserved some, didn’t he? Tess was out for the evening; it wasn’t like he would be abandoning her or anything.
“Well if you’re going to cancel on her, it’s obvious you don’t.”
“I’m not going to cancel!”
His raised voice startled him and Tess’s smile told him she’d baited him. With great success. Dammit. He lowered his voice. “I’m not going to cancel…I don’t think.”
By now, they’d finished dinner and Tess rose to clear the table. “I don’t get it. You can’t make up your mind whether or not you like her, whether or not you’re going to see her, but I’m the teenager who doesn’t know her own mind. Parents are so confusing.”
Hannah plated the last of the snacks as her grandmother answered the door for the book club women. This month was their turn to host. Hannah said hello as the five women walked in. Of various ages, they all had a common interest in reading and started this club a year ago. Since Hannah and Sylvia were the hosts, they’d chosen this month’s book, a biography of Sonia Sotomayor. As hosts, they were also supposed to lead the discussion. After everyone had been greeted, Hannah pulled Sylvia aside.
“You’ll lead the discussion, okay, Bubbe? I didn’t finish the book.”
“Of course, Hannahla, but I thought you wanted to read this one.”
“I did, but I’ve been busy.”
Her grandmother patted her cheek, which heated under her piercing gaze. “I’ve noticed you’ve been distracted. Anyone I’d be interested in?”
Hannah’s face heated and she recalled her conversation about blushing with Tess. “Bubbe, please don’t do this now.”
Sylvia winked. “Don’t worry, I’ll cover for you.” Turning, she headed into the living room.
With the wine flowing and plates filled with appetizers and desserts, the women made themselves comfortable around the room.
“So,” Sylvia said, “thoughts about the book?”
Karen was the first to respond, of course. She was excellent at leading conversations, even when she wasn’t supposed to. “I love reading about strong women and I found her journey interesting.”
“I thought it was wonderful how she came from a tough background and has had such success in life,” Sarah said. Sarah was a middle-aged recent member of the JCC. Hannah had gotten to know her in the last few months. Her comment reminded Hannah of Tess. When Sonia Sotomayor was growing up, a single-parent household wasn’t as common, and made things more difficult. Now, it mattered less. Would it have any bearing on Tess’s future? She shook her head. Tess’s future wasn’t her concern, although she wondered what Dan would think about the subject.
“The writing bothered me,” Rachel said, her whiny voice setting Hannah’s teeth on edge. Rachel complained about everything, even the books she, herself, chose.
“I don’t know; the writing didn’t bother me. Although the ending was a bit, eh,” said Sylvia.
This was the part Hannah couldn’t discuss, as she hadn’t gotten there yet. As the women dissected the book, Hannah’s thoughts wandered back to Dan. Back, hah. They hadn’t strayed far from him all day.
“What do you think, Hannah?” With a start, Hannah turned toward Karen.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat the question?”
“Earth to Hannah,” Jodi chanted. Jodi and Hannah teased each other often. “Where were you?”
“Oh, maybe she’s thinking about the man she talked to at the concert the other night,” Rachel said with a smirk.
Hannah’s heart pounded in her chest. The last people she wanted to talk to about this were her book group. Not now, at least, when everything was new.
“Man? What man?” Karen asked. Oh geez, Karen was such a gossip.
Before she could respond, Rachel piped up. “She talked to Dan Rothberg and his daughter. You know the one I mean, he has a cane?”
Karen turned to her and Hannah sent a “help me” look to her grandmother. But Sylvia only shrugged.
“Oh right, I remember. He has the most gorgeous eyes. I’ve felt sorry for him after his wife died and all.” Karen’s gaze softened as she held Hannah’s hand.
“Do you know what happened to him?” Hannah asked. “Or to his wife?” Maybe having a yenta here would help her get some information.
Karen shook her head. “Ladies, let’s get back to the book.”
Hannah gritted her teeth to keep her jaw from falling onto the floor. Karen, the gossip maven, silenced the rest of them, including her. Shame and curiosity battled in her brain. What in the world was going on?
Later, after they’d finished the book discussion, Karen pulled her aside. “I think it’s wonderful you and Dan are friends. I have a soft spot for him, always have, and I wouldn’t want to tell tales about him here. He’s looked like he needed a friend. I think you and he are perfect together. It’s his story to tell, and I hope he’ll tell it to you sometime. Good luck.”
He needed a friend? She thought they would be more than friends. At least she hoped so.
Saturday evening, Dan double-checked the address in his phone with the one on the building in front of him. 300 Newark Street, on the other side of Hoboken from where he lived. He walked into the lobby and gave his name to the doorman, who called up to the apartment. Thank God it wasn’t some fourth-floor walkup.
“She’ll be right down.”
He waited in the navy and gold lobby, surrounded by large windows overlooking Hoboken’s back streets. The elevator dinged. The double doors opened and Hannah stepped out. His breathing hitched and his heart beat like a snare drum. Trying not to stare, he admired the way her skinny jeans showed off her calves, the way her floral top hugged her breasts, and how her short black blazer accentuated her waist. When she approached, he realized her heels brought her almost to his nose. Her vanilla scent enveloped him.
“Hi,” he said. Wow, great opening. “You look beautiful.”
Her face took on a pink glow. He thought he might not have seen anything as appealing in a long time.
“Thank you,” she said. “Your sweater does amazing things for your eyes.”
All the air left him and he didn’t know how to respond, what to do or how to breathe. It took every ounce of restraint not to leave his mouth hanging open. She reached a hand out to caress his arm. The pressure from her touch left a heated trail from his shoulder to his wrist. Was she admiring his arm or the wool?
“It’s soft too.”
That would be the wool. “Th-thank you.”
Hannah patted his shoulder. “I guess as the father of a teenager, you don’t get many compliments.”
Just like that, he could breathe again. He chuckled, as much to relieve his tension as in reaction to her comment. “You’d be correct.”
He placed his hand on the small of her back, ushered her out the door and into his car. He focused on maneuvering through the traffic on its way into the Lincoln Tunnel and hoped she didn’t mind his lack of conversation.
“I imagine parenting a teen is tough,” she said as they entered the tunnel. The artificial light gave off a sick yellow glow.
“It’s not any tougher than any other age, just different. You get a glimpse of what they’ll be like as adults, plus there’s more adult interaction, when I’m lucky. Although usually her comments about my clothes consist of, ‘Dad, you’re not wearing that, are you?’”
Hannah laughed. “Gotta be great on the ego.”
“Oh, I lost my ego a long time ago.”
“Well, that’s probably good for me.”
He reached for her hand and squeezed. The contact was for a brief moment, but his hand retained the imprint of hers after he let go.
They parked his car and entered The Rose Center for Earth Space.
“We need to start at the bottom.” He pushed the LL button.
When the doors opened, they exited into the Cullman Hall of the Universe and Hannah turned in a slow circle. Between the initial sight of the glass cube and now the view of the Earth suspended from the ceiling bathed in blue lights, she was spellbound.
He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, though. Her face glowed. Her mouth, a little open, made him want to kiss her. He wanted more. But it was too soon, too public, and he refocused his attention on giving her a proper experience at the planetarium.
“Never been here before?” Dan asked.
“No.”
“Then let’s take our time. Do you want to see the stars, planets, galaxies, or the universe?”
“Everything?”
Her enthusiasm warmed him. He placed his hand against the small of her back as he guided her toward each of the four zones. Dan started to think of the small of her back as “his” spot. His hand found its way there often. It kept them connected as he walked, somewhat awkwardly next to her. What would she do if he pulled her toward him and kissed her? Would she lean in or away?
After exploring for a half hour, and listening to her sighs of wonder, he ushered her into the elevator to the 1st floor and explored the Hall of Planet Earth.
“You know, if science had been this interesting in school, I might have developed a love of the subject,” Hannah commented, as she investigated the various geological specimens.
Dan blinked, trying to scrub his mind of the image of her in a white lab coat, glasses, and nothing else. He cleared his throat. “I agree. I never much liked science in school, but I loved coming here.” I love it even more with you. Dan pointed out some of his favorite rocks and minerals, as Hannah admired others. He preferred the ones with bright colors, while the history they revealed awed her. Her questions fascinated him and her observations illustrated things he hadn’t considered in a long time. Her lips, as she spoke, entranced him.
Twenty minutes later, they made their way toward the Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway. As they walked along the spiral path, Dan pointed out facts of interest. Her grip on his arm warmed him and he wanted to pull her against him and revel in her closeness. When they got to the third floor and the Hayden Big Bang Theater, Hannah gasped.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know where to look first.”
They watched the Big Bang presentation. Or rather, Hannah watched the presentation; Dan watched Hannah. He loved listening to her questions, seeing the surprise and wonder on her face. Dan had come here on a regular basis since he was a kid. Each time, he learned something new, each time he couldn’t wait to return. This time, he learned about Hannah.
And forgot, for a short amount of time, about the pain in his leg. In fact, in all the time they’d been there, he hadn’t thought about the pain once. However, by the time they finished exploring the planetarium, Dan was hungry and his leg hurt. He’d miscalculated the amount of walking he’d have to do. Or maybe his leg muscles reacted to the tension of being on a date. Either way, he didn’t want to miss out on enjoying his time with Hannah. He turned to her and eased his weight onto his other leg.
“I made reservations at Isabella’s. We should be on time if we leave now.”
He ignored the frown on her face and the way she seemed to glance with some frequency at his leg. He didn’t need her worrying about him, although the pucker between her eyebrows made him want to smooth it out with a fingertip. Maybe it was good she was worried—it gave him something else to think about. As they headed toward the restaurant, Dan focused on walking. One he got there, he could sit and everything would be fine.
“Do you go to the rest of the museum as often?” Hannah asked.
Thank God she didn’t ask about his leg. “Not really. I used to take Tess when she was young…” Dan paused and gritted his teeth as an uneven sidewalk jolted his leg. Dammit.
She sidestepped away and faced him head-on, grabbing his arms and keeping him steady, although he’d never admit to the purpose of her action, not even under oath.
“What are you doing, Hannah?”
She stared at him. He wanted to tear his gaze away, but he couldn’t. Her eyes darkened until they were navy with concern. He wanted them to be dark with desire, though. “I know maybe I shouldn’t bring this up, but you look like you’re in pain. Is everything okay?”
He swallowed. So much for her desiring him. “It’s fine.” She arched an eyebrow and he relented. “My leg hurts. It always hurts. If I stopped doing things I enjoy just because it hurt, I’d never get out of bed.” I enjoy being with you. He wanted to say it, but he wasn’t sure he could risk it.
She squeezed his arm. “Carry on.”
He blinked. When she returned to his side and hooked her arm through his free one, he blinked again. She’d accepted his explanation. Was it that easy? Maybe he should tell her how much he was attracted to her. Maybe it wouldn’t sound crazy.
“What are we looking at?” she whispered out of the side of her mouth, pursing her lips together and giving him an insane urge to kiss them.
“What?”
“I assumed since we’re standing here you must be looking at something, and I wanted to join in the fun. Or did you not realize we weren’t moving?”
Her nostrils flared and she bit her lip. Dan realized she was trying not to laugh. Now he really wanted to kiss her, to capture her mouth with his, to make her his own. Before he could act on it, his stomach growled.
“Was that yours or mine?” She looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
His lips twitched. His breath hitched. He couldn’t keep his amusement to himself any longer. It bubbled in his chest and he let it out as he shook his head.
“Okay, while I am older than you, I’m not old enough to be senile. Yet. So yes, I did know we weren’t moving. But thanks for that. And yes, my stomach growled, because I’m hungry. Except I think I need to put eating on hold for a moment, because what I need, more than anything else right now, what I’ve needed all night long in fact, is to kiss you.”
He reached his hand behind her neck and drew her close to him. This was what he’d waited for, her body close to his, the warmth of her nape against his palm. Tilting his head, he angled his mouth and brushed his lips against hers. A groan started in the back of his throat. Her lips were more delicious than he’d imagined. They were sweet and soft and for the moment, his. He deepened the kiss as her arms wrapped themselves around his waist. Good, because he didn’t intend to stop anytime soon. Her body fit against his as if it was meant to—soft breasts against hard chest—he pulled her closer, wishing they could blend into one. When she sighed, he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. It was like honey, and he couldn’t breathe from the sweetness.
Her fingers swirled against his back, leaving trails of fire. Shaking, he pulled away, though he wanted to keep her close. He rested his forehead against hers. Her pupils were huge, like his he suspected, her breathing quick. Her hands hadn’t stopped moving and well, he wanted her to move them lower. But they were in the middle of the street and he wasn’t an exhibitionist. He pulled farther away, took her hand, and led her toward the restaurant.
“Wait,” she cried as he limped as fast as he could to Isabella’s.
“What?”
“What about what I need?”
Before he could ask what she meant, she grabbed his head and pulled it down to her. She kissed him, hard, and pulled away.
“I wasn’t finished,” she said.