Blueberry Season (July) Part 3

I saw her earlier, poor thing. She always looks so bad after one of her headaches! I don't blame her for not staying for the fireworks.

 Lisa told Amy and Annie to go ahead to the concert at the band shell. She could still feel pressure behind her eyes from the headache and wasn't sure what she wanted to do. The heat, noise and smoke didn't feel like something to look forward to on her first day out of bed. Annie suggested that she get a drink or a sno-cone; maybe it was the heat that was bothering her and perhaps she'd feel better with some cool liquid.

 She was in line to buy a sno-cone when she heard it. Over and above all of the carnival noise: a solo violin, obviously played by a master. Annie was good, but didn't even approach this level -- this was virtuoso. Suddenly she understood the draw of the Pied Piper -- if he'd played violin like this, it would have worked, too. Sno-cone forgotten, she wandered in the direction of the sound. The violin wept copiously for whoever played it.

 She followed a neat path to a brightly painted Gypsy vardo and sat on a fallen tree trunk, unsure what surprised her more. The intensity of the raw pain coming from the violin or that the virtuoso violinist was Fabian. He was sitting on the ladder-like steps of the vardo, eyes closed, pouring his soul into the instrument. There was much, much more to this man than irresponsible playboy. It impressed her even more that he was playing like this from memory.

 Lisa had been so entranced by the music that she'd missed Bruiser, who was lying at Fabian's feet. Bruiser noticed Lisa, though, and bounced to his feet with a happy bark. He romped over to her, wagging so hard he staggered.

 Fabian stopped playing and took the violin from under his chin, ready to reprimand the dog. Then he saw Lisa and his face seemed to crumple.

 "Hi," he said. He put the violin in its case on the vardo's little porch and walked over to her.

 "Hi. That was really impressive." She gave Bruiser scratches and pats; the bulldog kept trying to lick her hands. It was easier to deal with Fabian with the dog as distraction.

 "Thank you," Fabian said. "I miss you."

 "I'm around."

 "Actually, you haven't been. I heard you've been sick -- are you okay?" The concern in his voice finally made her look up at him. Guilt stabbed through her. Steve was right -- she had hurt him severely. The pain was all over his face. Pain, and longing.

 "I get headaches sometimes," she said. "I'm all right. You weren't in the parade. Are you all right?"

 "I was out of town yesterday and just got back. I was too late to be in the parade. I'm glad you're better. Could you do me a favor, please?

 "It depends. What do you need?"

 "Please tell me why you broke up with me."

 Lisa sighed. Steve was right about that, too. She owed him that.

 "I should ask you if it's true."

 "If what is true?" Fabian felt cold dread in his stomach.

 "Are you having an affair with a married woman?"

 He sat down on the log, almost relieved. Dante was right. He sat close enough to be within touching range, but far enough away not to be intimidating.

 "I will not lie to you, Lisa. Not ever. I was involved with a married woman up until last fall. I am not seeing her any more. I'm not proud of the fact that I ever did. It started when I was sixteen, and it ended when I went back to school last September. She's here this summer, but I haven't been interested in anyone but ... you. She tried to threaten me a few weeks ago, but she doesn't have anything to scare me any more. Did she tell you?"

 "No. Franco did."

 "I'm so sorry. I was honestly going to tell you when we knew each other better. Franco did that on purpose for spite. I'm surprised he stopped there -- sometimes he tells people I have illegitimate kids. He's used rumor for his own gain more times than I can count. The kids rumor is not true. I may not have been a saint, but I'm nobody's father."

 "I should have figured it was spite when he made a pass at me." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Fabian. I should have just asked you instead of getting upset. Is this where you live?" She gestured to the vardo, and he nodded. 

 "It's the real thing," he told her. "We have two. This one, and my mom's that she uses for her fortune telling. They both belonged to a caravan before World War II. Fortunately, my mom's family got themselves and their vardos out of Europe before the Nazis could get them. Most of the others in that caravan were not so fortunate. My mother's family thought that it would be criminal for these to be lost and we agree and keep them in good condition.

 "Lisa, I'm sorry I hurt you -- or Marlene and Franco hurt you." He reached over and took one of her hands. Just as she'd known two weeks before, that was it. The instant she let him touch her hand it felt like a jolt of electricity went through her. She knew she couldn't stay hurt or angry.

 "The first show I did here," he said, "I was really impressed by how many pretty girls lived here. Then I went backstage and you were there with Bruiser and ... attention from a lot of pretty girls didn't matter to me any more. There was only one I wanted attention from. Something happened to me when I saw you."

 She smiled.

 "This had been very different for me, too," she said.

 "Are you going out with the mechanic? Or the Rabbi? I've seen you with them lately."

 "No -- I don't date Bernie. He's engaged. He's Anne and George's son and I don't see him very often. He has a schul -- synagogue -- in Oxbow. As for Rodney, he's going through something very complicated and I'm someone to talk to. He has a girlfriend and she's a friend of mine."

 "Can we ... would you consider ...."

 "We can," she smiled, "and I would."

 "Want to go for a walk?" he asked. He stood, still holding her hand. He gave her an assist to her feet, then Lisa remembered what day it was and that it was getting awfully dark.

 "Fab, is Bruiser going to be okay?"

 "Fine. Why?"

 "Is he afraid of fireworks?"

 Fabian laughed and gave an indulgent look to Bruiser that melted Lisa's heart. Especially the goofy doggy grin Bruiser gave him in return.

 "He's not afraid of anything. He's a carnival dog. Let me put the violin inside and grab his leash."

 "Have you ever played professionally?" she asked as they walked to the vardo.

 "I've entered a few contests and I've won, but I don't like the stress and it's not my favorite way to make money. I played in the orchestra in college. It was a little embarrassing for the music majors that I took first chair over them -- but I play for fun and to relax and unwind."