Free Sweeter Than W(h)ine by Nancy Goldberg Levine Page B

bad. I don’t know how I’ll get home. And you two probably won’t be able to get a cab. My aunt will probably close the office because she won’t want her drivers getting into accidents.”
    “You can all stay here tonight,” Dina said.
    Rafe didn’t know if that was a good idea. Staying overnight with Dina, and her parents? There’d be plenty of time for them all to grill him, and he wasn’t ready to share. He didn’t see much choice, though. “I don’t want to put you out.”
    “It’s no trouble,” Dina said. “My living room couch is a sofa bed, and there’s another sofa bed in the den. It’ll be fun. My mom and I can play the piano and sing and make popcorn. Maybe we’ll watch a movie.”
    ***
     
    Dina had to admit, she looked forward to the unexpected evening. She’d learn about Rafe fast if he stayed overnight. When her phone rang, she answered, “Frosty the Snowman’s Bar.”
    She heard Jay laugh. “Hi, honey,” he said.
    “Hey, Jay.”
    “The weather’s terrible. Did your mom and dad and Rafe show up.”
    “ Yeah. They’re staying overnight.”
    “Is that right? Well, at least you and Rafe will have chaperones.”
                  “Very funny.” They didn’t need her mom and dad as chaperones, for crying out loud. She barely knew Rafe. Of course, there was the kiss…
    Dina heard a huge gust of wind outside, and suddenly, her conversation with her friend ended. The lights and TV went off in the house, giving the place an eerie air.
    “I was going to make us all some hot chocolate, Dina said. “So much for that idea.”
    She walked through the house, but her knee started to hurt. Fortunately, she located ome flashlights and flameless candles. “Looks like we’ll be singing after all.”
    “That sounds good,” her mom said.
    “After that, I could read you all some of the book I’m reading,” Rafe said.
    Dina’s mom gave him an approving smile. “Sounds like a plan.”
    Dina played her battery-operated radio, and they listened to details about the blizzard.
    The flashlight illuminated Dina’s piano and sheet music. Rafe sat next to her on the piano bench, and her mom and dad sat on the couch. She felt comfortable having him there; safe.
    It was a magical night with the snow falling and swirling around outside and the four of them snuggled inside next to the piano. She played “Beyond the Sea” and “On the Sunny Side of the Street.” Rafe joked about there not being any sunny side of the street with all the snow.
    Dina took a break when she got tired and her mom took over the piano playing. She wandered into the kitchen to see if there were any brownies left from dinner, and Rafe followed her in there.
    “Hi,” she said, looking into his eyes, then taking a big bite of the brownie. “I really shouldn’t be eating these but…”
    “Are there any left?”
    “Nope.”
    When she finished the brownie, Rafe leaned closer and Dina took a breath. As he held her close, he started to kiss her. She felt her knees go weak, and not because of the still-lingering pain. His kisses took the chill off the cold and snow outside. She felt warm all over, like she’d just had a cup of hot chocolate. She heard the wind howling outside, but she wasn’t afraid. She felt secure and comfortable.
    “We’d better get back,” Rafe said in a husky voice.  “Your mom and dad are probably wondering where we are.”
    “You’re right. And they’ll come looking for us any second.”
    Rafe’s hand was warm as he helped her negotiate through the house with her cane. Though she was used to not asking for help, it felt good to have his assistance. She’d never forget about Rob, but it was wonderful just having him nearby.
    The piano playing went on, with Dina and her mom taking turns playing. Dina’s mom and dad danced to a few of the songs she played and Schmoopie stopped in to watch.
    As the evening went on, she wished Rafe would talk about how things were when he’d grown