Dinner with Edward

by RC DeWinter

Title

Dinner with Edward

Artist

RC DeWinter

Medium

Painting - Digital Oils-paintography-photopainting

Description

Copyright 2014 RC deWinter ~ All Rights Reserved

It was a sunny Saturday and I'd heard there was a street fair happening in Middletown. I decided to go check out the food and artisanal wares I knew would be on offer, even though I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to buy anything other than a couple of snacks. I waited until 2 o'clock to leave, when the main heat of the day would be abating and I wouldn't bake in the noonday sun.
Main Street, one of those old-fashioned wide boulevards, had been blocked off in the middle of downtown by police cars parked sideways with lights flashing. There were throngs of chattering people milling about, moving from table to table and shouting hellos to friends and acquaintances in the crowd.
I plunged into the fray and wandered along, stopping at tables and displays that caught my interest and wondering if I should have fried dough or Italian ice. As I stood admiring some hand-thrown pottery I felt a nudge and turned to find Edward standing next to me.
"I'm sure you never expected to run into me here," he said.
"You're right about that," I answered. "Again I find you away from the seashore in a hot city in the middle of the summer. What brought you to Middletown, of all places?"
"Oh, I was dragooned into lecturing at the university tomorrow. I came down last night late to avoid weekend traffic. I'm trying to avoid the usual press of academia so here I am inspecting the arts and crafts of the local talent."
"You mean you have no plans for the rest of the day?" I asked.
"Not unless some stuffy instructor or eager TA finds me and drags me off to some dreary gathering," Edward smiled.
"Excellent!" I replied. "I have the perfect rescue. Come and have dinner with me. I can cook, you know."
"I accept with pleasure," he said.
I hadn't expected Edward to agree with such alacrity, but I was extremely pleased, even though I knew my place was a tip and he would probably be horrified by the disorder.
"Wonderful," I answered. "I'm going home right now to get things ready. Let me give you directions."
I scrabbled in my bag for a scrap of paper and a pen and scribbled directions and my phone number for Edward.
"Come about six," I said.""Everything should be ready by then. Around the corner in the back at the end of the driveway."
"I look forward to it," he answered. "Until six."
I raced back to my car and made a quick trip to the grocery store. I decided to keep it simple: steak, homemade red-skin pommes frites, haricots vert and a fresh summer fruit melange for dessert. I also stopped by the local package store for a bottle of Shiraz.
I drove home and lugged in the groceries. As soon as I had put them on the counter and swept all the debris out of the kitchen, piling books and magazines on the bed and closing the bedroom door,
I scrubbed the old-fashioned porcelain-topped table and put a clear glass lantern with a candle in it in the middle. I knew there was nothing I could do to make the living room look much better, so I tidied it a bit and then forgot about it.
By 5:45 everything was just about ready. I was frying the last of the potatoes when I heard Edward's knock. Taking the skillet off the heat, I ran to the back door and welcomed him in.
"I'm glad you found your way," I said. "Follow me into the kitchen, and don't look too closely as we go through the living room."
"Here," Edward said, handing me what was obviously a bottle in a brown paper bag.
Peeking inside, I saw it was another bottle of some kind of red wine. "How nice of you," I said, "but unnecessary. I too have bought a bottle of wine."
"Then we shall drink well tonight. Something smells good," he remarked as we entered the kitchen.
"I didn't fuss," I replied. "It's a very simple meal."
"That's fine," he said, and turning, spied the antique table with the glass lantern sitting on it.
"Oh, now this is charming," Edward murmured, almost to himself. He seated himself at the table, asked for pencil and paper, and upon receiving them began to draw.
"Don't tell me you're going to paint my kitchen," I laughed."
"Not literally," Edward smiled. "But yes, it's an intriguing tableau, so different from the kinds of scenes I usually depict."
We had a wonderful evening, Edward and I. The food disappeared rapidly as we talked of this and that. We killed off all the Shiraz and half the bottle of Merlot he had brought. Around ten he pushed back his chair, arose and said,
"I must go. I have that damnable lecture tomorrow and I have a few notes yet to go over before I can get to bed."
"I'm so glad you joined me for dinner. You won't have any trouble finding your way back, will you?" I asked.
"I'll be fine, he answered, "and when I've painted your kitchen, I'll send you a photo."
Echoing what Edward had said to me earlier in the day, I replied, "I look forward to it," as I walked him to the door. "Safe journey. My best to Jo."
"Thank you for the food and the company," he said. "Until next time, good night." He waved as he walked toward his car.
Three weeks later the mailman left an envelope that had been stiffened with cardboard and the words "Do not bend" scrawled front and back in Edward's bold hand. Quickly but carefully I ripped it open and found the picture that Edward had promised to send. And now you too can see how he painted my kitchen.
~ copyright 2014 RC deWinter

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kitchen, table, chairs, candle, decor, furniture, vintage, porcelain, still life, furnishings, cozy, comfortable, antiques, rc dewinter, dewinter

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August 5th, 2014

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