Chapter 12: Hotel Dinner

Maryanne tapped her foot incessantly, very nervous about this evening. Ricky was coming to have dinner tonight at the hotel. Ruth was ecstatic to finally meet the boy Maryanne would not stop talking about. Ruth helped her pick up just the right outfit for the occasion and wore her favorite flapper style gold sheathed dress. Maryanne finally opted for a cream angora tank top with a matching cardigan and a soft, hunter green a-line skirt that was patterned with many ruffles. She wore a string of pearls and a slim headband to match the skirt. When Ruth finally dug herself out of the mountain of scattered clothing she asked,

"Why are you wearing green today? It's not Saint Paddy's day, is it?"

Maryanne had laughed and explained that green was Ricky's favorite color. Maryanne currently paced near the entrance. Ricky was expected at six-thirty and it was six-forty five. Her grandmother was holding a table in the main dining area. As usual her father couldn't come, he had a 'serious' business meeting to attend to. Maryanne was used to getting this rejection from him and rarely fazed her, but she had hoped tonight would be a little different. Grant's own mother called him a 'stick in the mud' sometimes.

She scanned the lobby area again and a tall young man caught her eye, he was examining the murals. Maryanne sucked in her breath. It was unusually crowded tonight and she was five minutes late coming down, but how could she miss him?

"Because he doesn't look like the Ricky I know, right now he looks like a dreamboat." She sighed.

His dark hair was combed back in a side part, slight curls flipped at the ends and behind his ears. He wore a brown pullover sweater with a pale yellow dress shirt underneath. Tan corduroy slacks hugged his long legs and the black steel-toed boots were replaced with brown loafers. He turned his head and caught her eye as she maneuvered toward him. He greeted her with a hug.

"I almost thought you forgot, but then again, I forgot about our project, we would have been even."

Ricky loved the feel of her; her clothing was soft and warm. She was slightly made up with pearly eye shadow and tinted gloss. She smelled wonderfully sweet and he remembered it was her favorite perfume, Magnolia blossom. She looked so pure and beautiful. He realized he extended the hug and pulled away pointing around the room.

"The art's not bad here, if you like abstraction and dots I guess."

"Ughh, my dad is still working out a new decor, I told him he should go for the more romantic look, flowers, candles, sconces, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do. That would work well, because this shade of orange doesn't match this shade of pink. I think a more brownish-tone pink or beige would work…Umm, not that I know colors or anything. So, what are we going to eat tonight?"

Ricky's stomach growled loudly and Maryanne rubbed it in sympathy giggling.

"I'm sorry, let's go right now, you can have the whole menu if you want! And don't get so coy, I think it's great that you know colors, many of the best artists are males."

She led the way to the dining hall. A soft jazzy-funk mix played as patrons streamed in to dance and mingle at the bar. Ricky looked to the center and saw a tiny old woman waving them down. There was a passing resemblance between her and Maryanne.

"Ricky, this is my grandma Ruth. Grandma, this is Ricky Linderman." Maryanne introduced proudly.

Ruth took his arm and smiled sweetly.

"So this is the fellow I've heard about everyday, my is he looker! If I were...ten years younger."

She squeezed his forearm. "Look at these muscles! And his stature, how's the air up there, sonny?"

Ricky was getting over his initial shyness. He had never really been complimented so much before. He looked down on them, cupping his mouth.

"Yo ho ho! It's clean and fresh!"

They all laughed, Ricky remembered to pull out their chairs. The women exchanged glances and Ruth commented.

"He's not just handsome, he's well mannered! Now let's get to eating. It's all on the house. Of course I expect you to order anything you want! You're a big man; you need your strength! And don't let little Mary fool you, she can take on any man in chowing down."

When Ricky laughed at her, Maryanne covered her face. She loved Ruth to death, but her charm was always seasoned with tactlessness. Ricky rubbed her back.

"I believe you, Ruth! But…I know it's all put in the right places" He quipped. "Hey, I don't even know what half this stuff is, I'll eat what you all eat."

Maryanne and Ruth ordered Italian dishes all around. They had Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, eggplant rollatini and fresh garlic bread with salads. Ricky cleaned every plate; meals like this were few and far between. Ruth ordered them chocolate and vanilla cheesecake topped with vanilla and chocolate ice cream and had the waiter bring over a few baby canolis to dress the plates. Both Ricky and Maryanne wanted to pop. Ruth sat back idly pleased at the interaction of the young people. They made a darling couple, though Maryanne never admitted that they were. On a whim she told Ricky,

"Hold out your hand."

Ricky reluctantly moved it toward her but kept his fist tight. His sleeve rode up and large scar was clearly visible on his right wrist. Maryanne had never actually seen it for what it was and she gasped quietly. Ruth gave her a warning glance not to ask. She continued to smile at Ricky, paying no mind to it. She calmly unclenched his fingers.

"Drop the boon kid. It's okay, Ricky, you're among friends, you're among friends."

Having this assurance Ricky relaxed his hand. Ruth began to inspect it. Ricky glanced at Maryanne and she shrugged.

"When I was young, and this is way before televisions were ever invented, my favorite character was Sherlock Holmes. I used to love the books, and then later on the movies too. I always wanted to be like him. At the time, women weren't allowed to be coppers or detectives. Sherlock was amazing; he could just look at a person and tell everything about them."

"Yeah, I've read those stories, they are pretty good." Ricky said.

"You know you can tell a lot about a person by their hands."

"What do you mean grandma? Like palm reading?"

"Oh, none of that hocus-pocus. I mean real signs." Ruth turned Ricky's hand over.

"This side is a little rough, and callused. As scrubbed as they are, I see dark spots in the nails. I know Maryanne told me what you do, but if I didn't know, I could easily say you work with your hands, either in carpentry, but then those spots are oil, mechanics is more your speed."

"That's right, I'm always in the shop. Darn it, I thought I got all the oil out."

"Don't worry Ricky, a real man works hard for a living and is not ashamed to have rough hands."

She felt his fingers, and noticed the smooth callous on the edge of his middle finger.

"I say you're a Hemingway also, and that's something Maryanne didn't tell me. You're a man of many talents I see! You've got a bright future ahead of you."

Ricky lowered his eyes; he enjoyed writing poetry and short stories.

"I wouldn't say that ma'am."

Now Maryanne nudged him. "I've been trying to get him to show me some of his writing for a while."

"It's nothing, really." His face got hot again.

"Tell me, you got many girlfriends?" She asked coyly.

"No ma'am."

"I can't believe it, a strapping, handsome boy like yourself! You're polite, intelligent, and sensitive and a great set of choppers, I'd take you in a minute. We had a saying when I was young, just between the girls. 'That man could put his boots under my bed any day!'

Maryanne nearly choked and Ricky started laughing more. She couldn't believe what a flirt Ruth was sometimes. No man escaped this hotel without grandma Peache making a move. However, she was harmless and the men were usually amused.

"You know Ricky, I've been around forever and in my young days I had many suitors. I was a knockout, like my Maryanne. She's a darling."

Ricky peeked at Maryanne and grinned at her.

"Youth is a wonderful time for love and romance, but you know what? There's nothing that compares to finding your one and only, your true love. Most people can spend their entire lives searching and they get heartache after heartache."

She held Ricky's hand and took Maryanne's.

"If you find it and feel it in your heart and your head, that's the one worth fighting for. Life is full of turns and bumps, but if you love each other, you'll never steer each other wrong."

She patted their hands and snapped.

"Grandma, it's not always so easy..." Maryanne said finally.

"Oh poop! Who say's? You just both have to be willing to make it work, and remember, give a little and live a little!"

Ricky's leg shook underneath the table. He felt like Ruth was talking in behalf of both of them. He gave Maryanne a sidelong glance, but she pretended to be preoccupied with her dessert. Their faces flushed as they reflected on her words. Ruth finally broke the ice.

"Boy am I full! Eating like this makes me tired. I'm going to bed, Ricky it's been more than a pleasure!"

"Yeah, it has! G'night, Ruth." He replied.

Ruth kissed his cheek and hugged and kissed Maryanne.

"You kids behave yourselves. Ricky, one day I'll show you my photo album. I was a dancer in the twenties, a flapper! Maryanne's making me so proud, following in my footsteps. Next time we'll trip the light fantastic!"

Ruth sashayed to the elevator and went up singing. Maryanne headed toward the lobby with Ricky. He had survived her grandmother and she was on her best behavior. She would thank her in the morning.

"So...um, you want to see the roof? There's a great view of the City."

"Sure, sounds cool."

"Great, I just have to get the key from my dad."

As they approached the front desk, Maryanne's expression went from happy to disturbed. Her father was slouched over the counter; a wily smile across his face. An attractive blonde stewardess was standing in front of him. Mary recognized her from frequent stays. Her shapely body lounged all over the desk. Her high-heeled leg was bent up flirtatiously as she toyed with Grant's tie. Inside, Maryanne knotted with anger. Was her father behaving like this the whole time her mother was dying? Was he gallivanting around all the times she had to stay alert at night to feed her, clean her and comfort her to sleep? She wanted to really hate him at the moment but knew she couldn't. He was just a weak man.

Ricky recognized the anger in her face. He felt it himself for his own father whom he suspected of cheating, and those few times shortly after Chris' death when his mother brought home boyfriends. There was one he had to physically throw out himself when he became too aggressive with her. That night he and his mom actually had a long talk and she decided to forgo bringing home the guys. She still loved his father. It pained Ricky to see her cry and he had long since cursed his dad for leaving her to deal with everything on her own.

Ricky took Maryanne's hand. She clasped it gratefully and gave it a small squeeze. Mr. Peache spotted them and straightened up, clearing his throat and imaginary paperwork.

"Thank you Ms. Rogers, I hope you had a delightful stay?"

"Oh yes, it was." She purred.

"And the service was...adequate?"

"More than adequate, I'll be sure and stay here again. See you around, Peachy."

She sauntered past the teens eying Ricky up and down with a smile of approval. Ricky tried to ignore her and squeezed Maryanne's hand again, making sure her father saw it. It was a symbolic gesture on his part. He wanted to convey to Mr. Peache that his daughter was in his hands now. He was the one that would take care of her, respect her and love her. Yes, he loved Maryanne. For a long time that word had lost all meaning in his vocabulary.

Maryanne practically had to do a song and dance to get her father's attention.

"Dad, dad? Hi...this is Ricky Linderman. The friend I told you about. We just had dinner with Grandma..."

"Oh, good, good, did she get to bed?"

"Well, she went upstairs, I'm pretty sure she did. Can we have the keys to the roof? I'd like to show Ricky the view."

Ricky extended his hand to the man. He was unassuming with straight dirty-blond hair and mustache. His dark blue eyes darted all over the lobby. He manner was very high strung.

"Good to meet you son. I'm glad Maryanne is making friends. And I'm proud that she's taken her family into consideration and allowed us to meet you. I'm sorry I missed dinner. I had important matters to attend to. I hope she invites you over more often."

He absentmindedly handed the key to Maryanne and went back to shuffling papers.

"Don't lose it honey; remember to put it back when you're done."

Maryanne sighed as the headed to the elevator. Ricky shook his head. Her life didn't seem as easy as he once assumed.

"No hello's, No good-byes, No I love you's" He said softly.

"Wow Ricky, you just quoted the story of my life lately, except for Grandma." She added wryly.

"It's good that you have someone. I guess our lives aren't as different as they seem."