Alternate: Nickel Plate Romance
Part One
Jeff got into his new car and headed to the Purl Roadhouse, bound and determined to get soused. He deserved it. It had been almost two weeks since Ginger had chosen her career over him.
He never should have gave her an ultimatum, but at least now he knew being a star was more important to her than being Mrs. Jeff Metcalf.
He had made certain that he steered clear of her since that night. Their fight still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"I offered to quit baseball for you," he had said.
"And I didn't take you up on it," she responded.
"Even so I made the offer." He had sat down on a stool. "And I'm waiting to hear the same from you."
Silence filled the studio for what seemed like forever. Every detail emblazoned in his mind. The dress she wore, the up sweep of her hair. The way she looked at him like a puppy backed into a corner. She had crossed her arms and shook her head in disbelief.
"All right. I don't agree any more. I want you to quit this job tonight. Now! I want to get married right away. It doesn't have to be the stunt. We can tell Mr. Veenk we can't do it on a on account of religious reasons or something. I want to go home now and I want to get married as soon as Father Dreyer can do it."
She had walked up to him and put her face close to his. A pleading look on her face. She looked him right in the eyes and said,
"This is my shot at the big leagues."
He couldn't bear the look in her eyes and had looked down.
"This is my at bat, in the 9th inning, with 2 outs and the winning run on base."
God, he loved it when she talked baseball. Even though he was filled with anger and fear it still got to him. He looked her in the eyes. She smiled.
"How can I pass that up?" She had asked.
"No!" he cried out in his head and heart. She can't do this.
"You're gonna have to pass it up if you want to marry me, Ginger."
"That's not fair," she cried out as she threw her hands in the air and turned away.
"Blame the Lemo Tomato juice man," he yelled.
"You knew.... You knew I wanted to be an actress," she yelled back at him.
He pointed his finger at her. "But I never thought..."
"One minute Miss Szabo." She was warned.
"You never thought I'd make it. Well, thank you very much, " she stated flatly.
"Oh no. I never thought it through I admit. Because if you made your big leagues you'd end up in , in Chicago or Philadelphia, or New York, or Hollywood where I'd never see you again. "
Jeff had never opened up to her like this before. To this day he didn't know why he had bared his soul to her like he did that night.
"When I come home, I want you to be home. I don't wanna sit across the dining room table from a , from a radio Ginger. I don't want, You can't kiss a radio goodnight. Gin, you.."
She had kissed him. Lord, he could still feel that kiss. He knew then, she had made her choice. This had not been a kiss of lust or even love. It was goodbye. He held onto her. His hand behind her neck. Not wanting to let go.
"Time, Miss Szabo. Time." She was warned again.
She slowly pulled away from him. He rested his forehead against hers. Afraid to look into her eyes. When she tried to pull away he moved his hands to her waist and held her there. She turned her head away from him and he put his mouth to her ear.
"Um, you remember how to wish an actress good luck? I know you remember," she said softly.
She had pulled back and looked at him. There it was. She spoke her choice out loud.
"Break a leg." She looked at him. Pleading, begging him to wish her well. "Just tell me to break a leg, so. Break a leg Ginger." Her voice cracked.
He couldn't do it. He turned away from her, unable to look at her any longer.
"Please," he heard her say.
He had to do something. Say something to convince her to come with him.
"Will you come home with me, Mrs. Metcalf?" he asked turning to look at her.
"Please tell me to break a leg."
He didn't respond. She turned and walked out the door.
He still couldn't believe she had walked away.
He had last laid eyes on her as she sang, "I'll be seeing you." She had tears in her eyes and had looked right at him. He hated that song. He never wanted to hear it again as long as he lived.
He pulled into the parking lot of the Roadhouse, turned off the engine and rested his head on the steering wheel. He had heard rumors that Ginger had started dating that swarmy Arthur Schillib.
Her heart had really been broken. He raised his head and slapped the steering wheel. If she could find somebody new. He would too.
The roadhouse was busy as usual. He looked around. Good. No sign of Ginger.
He sat down at the bar and ordered a drink.
"Ginger working at the station tonight?" Judy asked.
"I wouldn't know. We parted company," Jeff answered.
"Well, that's a crying shame," she offered
"In my book it's a blessing. I'm not ready for a ball and chain," he stated.
"You're the one who'd know."
"What I am ready for is to have some fun." He looked around the bar. Then he suddenly realized that going out with Judy would be enough to put a runner in Ginger's stocking.
"And since you're the most fun loving woman I know. I was hoping we could, uh have some fun together. I bought a convertible today. How about a moonlight spin after work?"
"Jeff that's a mighty tempting invitation considering you once turned me down."
"I'm trying to correct that mistake," he uttered.
"But as much as I would like to clear my record. The truth is I make it a rule never to date a man on the rebound," she explained.
"I'm not on the rebound," he protested.
"How long have you been broken up?"
"Long enough."
"Seen any other women?"
"Well, I'm trying aren't I?"
"Well, don't waste your time on me. Cause I have a rule......."
"About seeing men on the rebound. Look I'm not on the rebound. I'm flat over Ginger," he said.
"time will tell," Judy said as she raised an eyebrow and picked up a tray of drinks.
He got up and headed towards the jukebox. Damn! Every song reminded him of Ginger.
"Committing it to memory, Love?" he heard someone behind him say.
"Well, be my guest," he said sarcastically as he turned around.
"I didn't realize it was you," Caroline stated.
Jeff looked at her selection.. "Oh no. Not Spike Jones!"
"It's my money isn't it?"
Jeff started to reply.
"Can I buy you a beer?" Al asked from behind
him.
"It's a crying shame about what's happened between you and Ginger," Al said as he handed Jeff a mug of beer.
"I wish everyone would quit saying that," Jeff stated.
"But having had some experience in the broken heart department...." Al continued
"Oh, who said I was broken hearted?"
"No one. But I'm older than you and I found out that it's best not to ah, rush into anything on the rebound," Al explained.
"This beer isn't free. It comes with a truck load of advice," Jeff complained.
"Friendly advice."
"# 1. You're not my father and #2 uh,, whatever I do is none of your business. #3 It's a crying shame that ah, there wasn't a wise bartender around to give my mother advice when she started dating you."
Jeff felt bad the moment the words passed his lips. But what should he care. Everyone should feel as bad as he did.
He got up to leave. This night was no fun at all.
That was when he saw Ginger at the door with Arthur. He felt as if he had been punched in the gut. He hid behind a pillar. He didn't want her to see him here by himself. He peeked around he pillar. Nope. They were still there. As they walked by, he moved to the other side of the pillar.
He walked over to the bar.
"Judy. I need you to do me a really big, favor," he said with this most adorable pleading look on his face.
"What is it slugger?"
"Ginger just came in. I don't want her to know I am here by myself. If you won't go out with me, will you just let me set here at the bar and , and you act like....." He hung his head. Then he raised it and gave her a look of sheer determination.
"Would it kill you to act like you thought I hung the moon? Just for tonight."
She looked over at Ginger and Arthur. Then back at Jeff.
"I'm sorry, I can't," she told him.
Part Two
"I'm sorry, I can't," Judy told Jeff.
"I thought you were my friend," Jeff said through gritted teeth.
"I am your friend. And as a friend I want you to listen closely to what I'm about to tell you. Ginger doesn't care anything about Arthur."
"She's out with him, isn't she?" Jeff interrupted.
"Yes. Not because she wants to be, but because the man she wants is over here being stubborn."
"She doesn't want me. She made her choice," Jeff explained.
"I don't know what happened between you two, but I saw the way Ginger looked at you. And no woman gets over a love like that in just a few weeks. She's doing exactly what you're doing. Trying to find something, someone to make her forget. But that something or someone isn't out there." She raised an eyebrow. "I know where of I speak. If you want her. Go get her. Sweep her off her feet. If you have to smooth talk her like Arthur is. Go smooth talk her slugger."
Jeff looked over to the table where Ginger sat with Arthur. Evidently he had asked her to dance. They headed to the dance floor.
He swallowed hard. He and Ginger used to dance to this song. His lip curled in disgust as he saw Ginger lay her head on Arthur's shoulder.
As Ginger danced she spotted Jeff at the bar. Was that a look of longing he had seen in her eye?
Jeff looked back at Judy. She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "You're up to bat slugger. Are you going to choke or hit a home run?"
Jeff pushed himself away from the bar and headed to the jukebox. He dropped his nickel in and selected a song. He waited for it to start playing.
The first few chords of the new song began. Jeff headed towards them on the dance floor. They continued to dance. He tapped Arthur on the shoulder.
"You don't mind if I cut in here, do you buddy? This is Ginger's and my song."
Ginger had a puzzled look on her face. "There I said it again' was playing.
"This isn't our song," she stated.
"Sure it is honey. Don't tell me you've forgotten already," he said.
"I haven't forgotten anything!"
"Jeff, I think you need to leave. It's obvious Ginger doesn't want to dance with you," Arthur said.
"Hmm. Ginger used to be able to speak for herself. Do you have to do her talking for her now?" He turned to Ginger. "Come on honey. One dance for old times sake?"
He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Dance with me or I will make the biggest scene you have ever been privileged to witness."
"Arthur, sweetie. It's just one dance. Then he'll go away. Won't you Jeff?"
"Of course," Jeff responded as he put his hand on the small of her back.
Arthur stepped away and Jeff quickly replaced him.
"What are you up to?" Ginger asked.
"What makes you think I am up to something?" Jeff asked innocently.
She looked up at him. My word he was handsome.
He looked at her solemnly. He squinted his eyes and looked her face up and down as if he were committing it to memory. He started to smile.
"You've missed me, haven't ya?"
She snapped out of her reverie. "No, I haven't."
"Ah, come on Ginny. You can honestly tell me you haven't missed this?" He whispered in her ear as his hand moved up between her shoulder blades to pull her closer to him.
Her breathing became labored. "No." Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat. "I haven't missed this."
"No?' His breath warmed her neck and his lips tickled her ear as they moved. She closed her eyes. "How about this?" he said as his lips softly moved from her ear, across her cheek to touch her lips for just a second before he pulled away.
Her eyes snapped open.
His eyes twinkled with the knowledge of what he was doing to her.
"Oh my word!" she sighed.
Jeff leaned in to kiss her. But before he could, he was grabbed by the shoulder and spun around.
"What the hell are you doing?" Arthur demanded.
"Well, Arthur. If you couldn't tell, boy do I feel sorry for you," Jeff teased.
"Why you..." Arthur said as he took a swing at Jeff who ducked in time for Arthur's swing to go right over his head.
Stunned that his punch missed it's mark he failed to see Jeff swing in return, catching Arthur right across the nose. Snapping his head back and landing him in a heap on the dance floor.
"Jeff!" Ginger cried out. "How could you?"
"Me? He's the one who threw the first punch," he defended himself.
Ginger didn't even stop to check if Arthur was okay. She turned on her heel, grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
Jeff caught up with her. "Ginger." he said as he took her elbow.
She jerked it away.
"Get your hands off me," she hissed and started for the door again.
Jeff grabbed her elbow more firmly this time and as she spun around he bent over and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Jeffrey Metcalf! Put me down this minute!" Ginger demanded.
The entire bar had come to a halt the minute Arthur took a swing at Jeff. Now the bar erupted in applause from the men and giggles from the women who thought it was so romantic.
As Jeff got to the door he opened it and turned back to the crowd. "Good night, all." He called out and waved.
Ginger pounded his back with her fists. "Put me down! You over grown ape. Put me down this instant."
Jeff whacked her on her rear. "Stop hitting me, Ginger. I'm not putting you down till I get you where I want you."
She was so shocked that he had smacked her, she stopped hitting him. It hadn't hurt her. just her pride. He opened his car door and gently sat her down on his side of the car.
"Scoot over." He ordered. She stuck out her bottom lip and huffed as she slid over. She crossed her arms.
"You can take me home now."
He laughed softly. "What?" She glared at him.
"So it's all right for me to give you a lift home?" he asked.
She looked out her window. "It's too late to walk home and I'm not going back in there to call for a taxi." She turned on him. "How could you do that? I have never been so embarrassed in my life. I wanted to curl up in a ball and just die right there. I'll never live this down," she yelled at him.
Jeff pulled out of the parking lot and headed for their favorite spot on Kirkland Hill.
"Well? Do you have anything to say for yourself?" she demanded.
He put one arm on the back of the seat. "I think what just happened back there would pale in significance if you ended up divorced from Arthur."
"Who said anything about marrying Arthur. I never want to get married. To anyone!" she said vehemently.
"Hmm, " Jeff murmured.
Ginger suddenly realized where she was. "You have a new car?" she asked.
"Mmm hmm. You like it?"
"It's a little flashy if you ask me," she snapped.
They drove in silence for a while. He looked over at her and took a curl of her hair in his fingers and played with it.
"Stop that!"
"Why?"
"Because I said to."
"Because you want me to?"
"That's what I just said."
Jeff stopped the car and turned off the engine.
"No, you told me to stop because you said to. Why did you want me to stop. Is it because It makes goose bumps up your arms when I do this?" he asked as he twirled her hair again.
"It does not give me goose bumps."
"Liar," he whispered as his hand left her hair and he ran the back of his hand down her arm over the multitude of goose bumps on her arm.
"Jeff?"
"What?"
She bit her lip.
He moved his hand up to the side of her face. She turned to look at him. He moved his hand around to cradle her neck.
They looked at each other, both wanting to say something. But not able to find the words.
He leaned in and kissed her. Then pulled back. He rested his forehead against hers.
"You sounded beautiful," he whispered.
"What?
"When you sang on the radio. It was beautiful."
"Oh Jeff."
"I love you Ginger. I, I can. I can. Ginger. Would you marry me?"
She pulled away to look at him.
"Jeff?"
"Not now. When the time is right. Oh, Ginger. I just want to be with you. I can wait to get married as long as I know we will get married." He looked at her begging her with his eyes to say yes.
She looked at him hopefully. "You can wait the three months?"
"Yes. I can wait the three months."
She flung herself across the seat of the car into his arms. "Oh Jeff. I love you so," she said as she peppered his face with kisses.
"Yes, I will marry you!"
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