Mad Woman✓

15. Cars and downtown bars

"To kiss in cars and downtown bars was all we needed" 

   POV JOE:

It's been almost a week and finally, a few days ago, we got in contact with the people selling the car. They're selling the truck because they are old and don't use it anymore.

They have been out of town with a few friends for the last few days, so we couldn't pick up the truck until today.

I ring the bell and a few moments later, an old man opens the door. He has trouble standing and his face is grey.

"Good afternoon", Taylor says, making sure to articulate so he will know what we're saying. His English isn't all that good.. "We called for the truck and you asked us to come by today."

"Ah, já", he smiles, "I am putting a coat on." He closes the door and I lift my eyebrows. "Loves his privacy", Taylor whispers and I laugh, shoving her shoulder carefully.

She has been walking around without crutches for two days now, but I see she is tired right now. Her fingers dig in my arm as she uses me to lean on. I told her she should bring a crutch, it's a 40-minute walk.. But she insisted on going without.

She even called John and he told her that if it doesn't hurt, it should be good.

I can't argue with her doctor about her health, that I know. But I don't believe she isn't hurting right now.

The man walks out again, gesturing for us to follow him to the truck. He walks slowly and his back is curved. It's a good thing he walks slowly because Taylor isn't very fast either.

"Are you alright?" I ask when she squeezes me arm even tighter.

She nods, "Yes, I only think that my calf will cramp from walking weirdly and I am just bracing myself for the pain.." I look at her, worried, "You want me to carry you?" "No, you don't have to. My thigh is fine, I promise", she says, her fingers relaxing a bit.

"Car is from 1970s", the man says, "Old, but good. Just like me!"

We laugh at his joke and he opens the car door, "I cleaned it out a little bit." "It looks great", Taylor smiles. "My wife", the man says, "Put old cassettes in the glove compartment. You can have those too. She just very happy the car is going away."

"Really?" Taylor asks, surprised. She lets go of my arm and opens the other door. She opens the glove compartment. "Yes, yes, we don't listen cassettes anymore", the man smiles.

"Look, Jo- James! The Beatles, The Dorsey Brothers... Oh, Paul Anka and The Rolling Stones! Wow, sir, thank you so very much!" she exclaims, still looking through them. There's at least a dozen.

The man just smiles, probably thinking of the times his wife got this excited about these cassettes, or when he first heard them.

"So here is key", he says, giving it to me. I take it and grab my wallet. I take out the cash for the car and he takes it, grinning, "Real money, right?" he winks. "Very real", Taylor smiles, "We got it at the bank yesterday."

"Okay, good, good." He puts it in his pocket and waves at us, "Have a good life." "Thank you", Taylor smiles again and he just nods before walking off.

"Look", Taylor says, turning to me, "The Beach Boys!" I take them from her hands and put all of them on the passenger seat.

"Close your eyes", I say, "And grab one. We'll listen to it on the ride back." "Okay", she says, biting her lip to keep herself from smiling.

She's cute when she is happy.

She closes her eyes and I look at her face as she picks one.

"Sounds of Silence", she says, "By Simon and Garfunkel." She looks at me and presses a kiss on my mouth, "Don't stare."

"You're happier about the music than about the car", I say, "It's endearing."

"Shut up." She carefully puts the other cassettes back and I walk to the driver's seat.

We drive back and I am surprised when Taylor sings along to all the songs that come up. I know she likes music, but I didn't realise she.. that she adores it.

Especially the old stuff, so it seems.

"How's your leg?" I ask. "Good." "No cramping?" "No", she smiles at me and I grab her hand, holding it on my lap.

She entwines our fingers and I caress my thumb over the back of her hand.

I park the car on the hotel's terrain and we get out. "We could eat at the restaurant downstairs", Taylor suggests.

"Yeah", I say excitedly, "That'd be fun." I asked her that the first day, but she had anxiously shaken her head. So we had been ordered room service every night.

I'm glad she feels safe enough to eat out now.

"It's six and I'm hungry", she says, "We could go right now, right?" "Sure", I chuckle. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and as we walk inside, she places her hand beneath my coat on my back.

The restaurant's not too busy, so we can choose where we want to sit. We sit down on one of the tables by the windows.

I look around and my eye falls on the piano in the middle of the room.

"Do you play?" Taylor asks when she sees me looking at it.

"Yeah.. Not as often as I like to though.. I don't have one at my apartment, the piano's too large and the apartment is too small.. It's at my mom's house." "I'd love to hear you play sometime." "Okay", I smirk. I get up and she shakes her head, "No, Joe! Not now!"

I smirk at her and walk backwards to the piano. I sit down on the piano bench. She mouths, No, Joe, please! But I look at the instrument in front of me.

It's dusty and probably out of tune.. But my fingers find the keys and I close my eyes, playing the last melody I wrote..

It is out of tune indeed, but not as bad as I suspected.

When I have finished the song, practically everyone in the restaurant is looking at me. As they applaud, I awkwardly smile and curtsy. That wasn't very necessary..

When I sit back in front of Taylor she just stares at me.

"What?" I ask.

"Joe, you play the piano beautifully", she says, "I loved that melody! What song is it?" "Thanks, I- I kinda wrote it." "You- Really?" "Yes", I laugh.

"When we're back home, you have to write me a song."

"I will", I say, I promise.

We order chicken en champagne and we laugh and finally, after ice cream, we go back to our room. Taylor is holding our second, half-finished, bottle of champagne and I stumble after her.

When we're back in our room, I sit down on the chair and kick my shoes off. "I am drunk", Taylor giggles and I laugh, taking the bottle from her and taking a big gulp.

I set it down on the small table and grab Taylor's hips, pulling her toward me. She sits down on my lap, her back pressing against my chest and I close my eyes.

My arms tighten around her waist and she rests her head on my shoulder, "I had so much fun with you today." "Me too", I smile, kissing her neck.