* Candles burning * Glasses are chilled and soon shell be by * Hope and pray she’ll say that she’s willing to give us another try * and if all those plans I’ve made don’t melt the lady’s heart * I’ll put on the old 45’s*

Johnny sat on his couch and looked around the room.  It had been three weeks since Dixie McCall had walked out of his house and seemingly out of his life.  He was trying to make amends.  First, he’d sent her flowers everyday they spent apart, then, he had a candy gram delivered to her at work.  Finally, just yesterday, he’d called and invited her over for dinner.  She said yes.  So here he was making sure everything was in order.

“Wine, check.  Firewood, check.  Dinner, check.  Music got the ol’ record player warmin’ up.”  He stood and walked into the kitchen to check on the dinner he’d slaved over.  He had a boneless pork roast in the oven, he’d stuffed it with a special stuffing that contained bits of apples and raisins. He also had twice baked potatoes, fresh broccoli with a smooth cheese sauce and a salad chilling.  Of course, what pork dinner would be complete without apple sauce.  Johnny looked at the clock and walked up stairs.  He had forty minutes to shower and get dressed. 

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -

Dixie looked at herself in the mirror.  She had changed into a powder blue pant suit with a dark blue blouse.  She slipped into her white flats and gave herself the once over.  “Not bad.”  She applied a small amount of makeup before checking her watch. “Better leave now, don’t want to be late.”

Dixie had been regretting her words and actions the past few weeks.  She so wanted to run back to Johnny and apologize for yelling at him, but had been too upset to do it.  She’d talked to several of her friends, who all said the same thing: “Leave well enough alone.  That John Gage is nothing but trouble.  You’ll only end up hurting in the end.”  Of course, Dixie didn’t take to heart anything they said.  After all, they weren’t in love with the man.  She picked up her purse and headed out the door of her apartment.  “Just take it one step at a time, Dixie old girl.”  She told herself as she waited for the elevator.

The drive out to Johnny’s place took over thirty minutes.  She cursed the traffic hoping Johnny wouldn’t be too upset about her being late.

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -

Johnny smiled when he saw Dixie’s Mustang come up the drive.  He stepped out onto the porch and watched as the lady he loved with all his heart parked.  “Hi.”  He said shyly when she walked up to him.

“Hi.”  Dixie felt just as shy.

They went into the house with Johnny taking her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack by the door.  “How was your day?”

Since Johnny was still off work due to the broken arm, he hadn’t even seen Dixie during the last three weeks.

“Busy.  Kel’s been acting like a grade A ass lately too.”  Dixie had decided to be up front and honest this go ‘round.

“Really?” Johnny sighed.  “Guess he’s still mad at me, huh?”

“Why do you say that?”  Dixie sat on the couch.

“I was in the other day to have my cast checked and an x-ray…” Johnny plopped down in his recliner.  He saw Dixie try to hide a smile at his ‘teenage sprawl’. “Well, Morton wasn’t there, so Kel looked at my arm and gave me the once over.  Man, if looks coulda killed, you’d be burying me right now.”

“It couldn’t have been that bad.” Dixie sat up straighter.

“Oh, it was bad all right.  He cussed me out because my cast had gotten wet the other day and was fraying at the fingers.  I thought he was gonna pop a blood vessel his veins were stickin’ out so far.  I have never seen the good doctor Brackett that pissed at anyone before and to have it aimed at me was worse.”  Johnny sighed.  “Hey, you want some wine?”

“Sure, Johnny,” Dixie smiled.

Johnny went into the kitchen to get the glasses.  He felt her enter the room.  He took a deep breath.  He loved the way she smelled.  Lilacs were his favorite flowers. “I hope you like this.”  He handed her the chilled glass of red wine.

“It’s perfect,” She said after taking a sip.  “Something smells wonderful.”

“I, uh, I made stuffed pork chops.”  Johnny blushed.  He felt the heat building in his body.  He so wanted to take Dixie into his arms and kiss her.  “It’ll be ready in about fifteen minutes.  Hope you’re hungry.”

“For you, always,” Dixie’s voice was deep and sultry.  Like butter, it was so smooth.  She walked up to Johnny and took the glass out of his hand.  “We have time to talk.”

Johnny gulped.  He had been hoping to wait until after he ate.  Now he didn’t think he’d have an appetite.  “Okay.”

“Relax, Johnny.”  Dixie pulled him by the hand into the great room.  She sat him down on the couch and sat beside him.  “I just wanted to talk to you.”

Johnny felt his chest tighten.  “Look, maybe this was a mistake.”  He stood and wrapped his arms around his chest.

“Why?”

“I know what you’re going to say.  You’re going to say that there’s no way you’d want to get back together.  Not that I blame ya.  I mean, I was an asshole that night.  I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”  Johnny felt the tears forming.

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -

* And maybe the old songs will bring back the old times * Maybe the old lines will sound new * Maybe she’ll lay her head on my shoulder; maybe old feelings will come through.  * Maybe we’ll start to cry and wonder why we ever walked away * Maybe the old songs will bring back the old times and make her want to stay

Dixie walked up to the man and sighed.  “I’m sorry.”

Johnny turned and looked at her.  “What? Why are you apologizing?”

“Because I shouldn’t have read your notebook, I shouldn’t have confronted you about what you wrote.  It was none of my business, yet I made it that way.  For that and for walking out on you that night, I apologize.  Forgive me?”  Dixie stood a few feet away from Johnny.

Johnny looked from the floor to Dixie then back to the floor.  He shrugged his shoulders. No woman had ever apologized before or asked for his forgiveness. He didn’t know what to do or how to react. So, he did the first thing that came to mind.  He left the room and went into the kitchen.  He pulled the pan with the pork chops out of the oven then pulled the potatoes out.  He busied himself with putting the food into serving dishes and setting them on the dining room table.  He lit the candles and poured more wine.

Dixie watched him. He looked so lost and alone to the woman.  She sat down at the table and sighed.

The food not only looked good, but smelled good as well. The table was beautifully set with the dishes Johnny’s mother had given him when he had turned 21.  He cherished the dishes, silverware, and glasses she’d given him.  He had never before used them. In all the years he’d had them, he’d never had a reason to.  Now he was wondering if maybe he shouldn’t have used all his finery.

“This table is beautiful, Johnny.  This china pattern is unusual.”  Dixie looked at the plates.

“Thanks.  My mom bought those for me when I was a kid.  She bought them here and there eventually buying the complete set including the silver and the serving dishes.”  Johnny brought two bowls to the table.  “I hope you like this.”

“I’m sure I will.”  Dixie looked at the steamed broccoli and the cheese sauce.  Then she saw Johnny carrying a platter.  “Ah the piece de resistance.”

“Stuffed pork roast the stuffing has apples and raisins in it.  That makes it sweet.  The potatoes are twice baked with parmesan cheese mixed in.  The salad’s a simple tossed one with your choice of Italian or Russian.”  He set the remaining dishes on the table, “If you’ll permit?” 

“Dixie smiled as she handed him her plate.  “It looks as wonderful as it smells.  This is the perfect wine too.”  She sipped at the tart wine.

“Thank you.”  Johnny blushed.  He hadn’t cooked like this in a long time opting for the tried and true of hamburgers and hot dogs at the station and any frozen dinner he could get his hands on at home.  But this night had called for all his culinary skills. 

They ate mostly in silence.  Once Johnny had cleared the table and put away the food did Dixie dare to broach the subject of their last night together.

“I meant what I said, Johnny.  I am sorry.”  Dixie picked up the wine glasses and took them into the kitchen.  “Here, you cooked, I’ll clean.”

“That’s okay.”  Johnny started filling the sink with hot soapy water.

“Nonsense,” Dixie put some dish towels on the kitchen table.  “At least let me dry.”

“All right,” Johnny sighed. “I guess it’ll go faster.”

Dixie helped Johnny with the dishes making short work of the task.  Once finished they returned to the great room. Johnny poured more wine then sat down on the couch.

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -

* It’s been too long since I’ve * seen her face light up * when I come home * It’s been too many * hours I’ve wasted staring * at the phone * Sweet old songs I’m counting on you * to bring her back to me * I’m tired of listening alone*

The two people looked at each other for a long time.  Dixie finally broke the silence.

“I meant what I said earlier, Johnny,” Dixie reached over and took Johnny’s hand.  “I’m sorry.”

“I….” Johnny gulped.  He felt Dixie’s hand squeeze his. 

“Shh.” Dixie put her finger to his lips. “I know.”

Johnny gulped again then moved his head closer to hers.  “I love you Dixie McCall.”

“I love you too, John Gage.” Dixie leaned in and let Johnny take the lead with the kiss.

Several hours later:

“I wrote those lyrics down a long time ago.  Back when I was feeling down and alone.  I haven’t felt that way in a while now.  Then you left. I…uh, I began to feel lonely again.”  Johnny spoke softly into Dixie’s hair as he held her tightly in his arms.

“I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” Dixie kissed Johnny’s chest.

“There’s gonna be times I feel the need to write stuff down, Dix.  I’ve been that way all my life.  I started writing when I was a kid.  It was a way to work through my thoughts, my fears.”

“I understand. And if you don’t want me to read what you’ve written, just tell me and I won’t.”

“Okay.”  Johnny yawned.  “Love you, Dix.  Good night.

“Love you too, Johnny.  Good night.”  Dixie closed her eyes and listened to Johnny’s heart beat as she slowly slipped off to sleep.

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -

The End

The Old Songs

(D. Pomeranz, B. Kaye)

* Candles burning * Glasses are chilled and soon * she’ll be by * Hope and pray * she’ll say that she’s willing to give us * another try * and if all those plans I’ve made * don’t melt the lady’s heart * I’ll put on the old 45’s * And maybe the old songs * will bring back the old times * Maybe the old lines * will sound new * Maybe she’ll lay her * head on my shoulder * maybe old feelings * will come through * Maybe we’ll start to cry * and wonder why * we ever walked away * Maybe the old songs * will bring back the old times * and make her want to stay * It’s been too long since I’ve * seen her face light up * when I come home * It’s been too many * hours I’ve wasted staring * at the phone *  Sweet old songs I’m counting on you * to bring her back to me * I’m tired of listening alone * Maybe the old songs * will bring back the old times * maybe the old lines * will sound new * Maybe she’ll lay her * head on my shoulder * maybe old feelings * will come through * Maybe we’ll start to cry * and wonder why * we ever walked away *  Maybe the old songs * will bring back the old times * and make her want to stay *