my tear before turning around to see Isaac, leaning up against the wide trimmed frame of the room. He’s wearing a plain dark grey shirt that seems molded to the muscles in his arms. The array of color and design that cascades down them always throws me off since I usually only see him in his uniform, which is long sleeved.
“I’m sorry. It’s been years since I played. I couldn’t help myself.”
“No way, years?” he asks in disbelief.
I shake my head solemnly. “How old were you when you learned to play?”
Isaac lets go of the frame while blowing out a sigh and walks over to sit down beside me on the piano bench. “Would you believe me if I told you that I can’t play at all?”
“Why would you buy a beautiful piano like this if you couldn’t play?”
“It’s really the only thing that I remember about my mom. She played at church. I always told myself that I would learn to play one day, so it’s kind of a motivational piece as well.” He laughs as if he is embarrassed.
“I could teach you to play.” The words slip right out of my mouth, surprising me.
A cheeky grin splays across his face as he stares into my eyes. “Really?”
“I mean, I may be a little rusty since I took lessons from when I was eight until I was thirteen, but I’m sure I could teach you a little bit.”
“Can we go get ice cream now?” Benny announces as he makes his way into the sun room. He has lost his patience on waiting it seems.
Isaac is still staring at me. “I’ll take you up on that offer,” he says quietly before standing up and heading toward Benny. “Of course, Benny, let’s go!”
~
“How can you eat that much chocolate and not get sick?” Isaac asks me as we walk toward the park with our ice cream. I ordered a chocolate dipped waffle cone with double chocolate chip ice cream.
“Shut your mouth! There’s no such a thing as too much chocolate.”
“I love banilla,” Benny states with ice cream smeared across his cheeks. Vanilla was Dominic’s favorite as well.
“Where are we heading now?” I ask Isaac when we walk past where his convertible is parked on the side of the street.
“It’s Saturday afternoon, so I thought I would introduce you to Domino Park. It should be pretty busy right now.”
“Domino Park? I take it that is what the dominos stand for?” I ask pointing down at the painted pictures of dominos on the brink paved sidewalk we are on.
“Well, it’s really called Gomez Park, but it’s nicknamed Domino because of the little open buildings over there. It’s where all of the Cuban elders come to play dominos. Don’t let them fool you either, the games can get pretty competitive and intense.” He laughs. “Some also play chess or a game of cards.”
“Oh, I know how to play chess!”
“Well, you won’t be able to play it here. There is a fifty five and over rule.”
“Seriously?” I ask annoyed. I look ahead at the open structure as we get closer to it. The clatter of clanking domino tiles is unmistakable.
“So I can’t play either?” Benny asks looking up at Isaac. Melted ice cream is running down his forearm from his cone.
“Nope, I’m afraid not.”
“Bummer.” Benny pouts as I whip out a package of wipes from my purse to clean him up.
We don’t stay long at Domino Park as a group of men were getting a little too into their game of dominos. Even though what they were saying was in Spanish, which Benny nor I could understand, they were getting pretty heated. Isaac and I decided it would be best to not have Benny there.
After walking around admiring all of the pink marble stars on the Walk of Fame, we head back toward Isaac’s car.
“Can we stop in the Fruiteria before we leave? I need to pick up a few things.”
“Of course, it’s right around the corner.” Isaac motions to his right with his head while holding onto Benny’s legs as he carries him up on his shoulders. Benny got tired of walking and sweet talked his way into a piggy back ride.
I’m amazed at the amount of produce once inside. Everything looks and smells so fresh that it’s hard for me to decide what I want to buy now that I’m here. As I’m examining a mango, Isaac walks over to me and hands me a small cup. “I bought you an iced guarapo