by Diana Currie
“Anytime,” he replies smoothly, a sensual new tone to his voice I haven’t noticed before.
We walk another fifty yards or so in silence and come to the clearing visible all the way back at the car. Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty that appears before my eyes as I step out into the sunlight. Adam and I are standing at the edge of a barren field, nestled here in the middle of nowhere, completely hidden from the residents of Swainsboro. There are tall grasses and purple deadnettle flowers just everywhere and an old dilapidated red barn off in the distance that looks like it could fall over with the next strong breeze. I look around in awe at one of the most brilliant examples of nature’s perfection.
“This is amazing,” I say. “I had no idea this was here. The high school kids come out here once in a while to hang out, smoke and drink and stuff, but I don’t think anyone has ventured out this far from the road.”
“I wonder who owns the land.” Adam says. “Are there any other houses around here?”
“I have no idea. Why?”
Adam runs his hands through his hair as if he’s deep in thought and replies, “I was thinking about half a mile off the highway would be a great place for a house. Andrew could build it facing west, and then this clearing would only be a ten minute walk from the back yard. A perfect little paradise hidden among the trees.”
“Wait, you’re thinking of building a house? All the way out here?”
“Will the local teenagers hate me, you think?” he asks jokingly.
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “But Pastor Sommerer will love you for it.”
“Did you come out here a lot?” he asks quirking an eyebrow up at me. “Tell me the truth.”
I chuckle nervously. “Not too much; with Tommy and our other friends a few times. You really do want to be on the outskirts of town, don’t you?”
“Is that bad?” he asks. “I just like the idea of the privacy and serenity the woods brings.”
“No, it’s not a bad idea, Adam. I’m shocked you’d consider building a house from scratch is all,” I admit.
“It would make my brother’s day if I told him I needed his help on a project this large. And I’d end up getting exactly the house I want,” he reasons.
Jeez, if he decides to do this how long will he be living at the B&B? Could I handle seeing him every day for months and months? Maybe he’d finally decide to stay with his parents while the house is being built…
“Amanda? Ready to go back?” he asks.
I nod my head and smile. Our afternoon together has passed so quickly I find myself not wanting it to be over. Being alone with Adam like this the past few hours has been very eye opening for me. I’ve felt surprisingly comfortable in Adam’s company and the more time I spend with him the more I like him as a person. A beautiful soul to match the beautiful exterior.
Reluctantly, I take a final look around and when I turn to glance at Adam again he’s hunched over picking flowers from the field. He bunches together a handful of purple and white wildflowers and masterfully binds them together with a long thick blade of grass.
"For you," he says pushing the delicate bouquet into my hands. "For driving me around this afternoon," he clarifies.
I take the wildflowers carefully and hold them close to my face, inspecting the soft delicate petals. “Thank you. It's been a pleasure spending the afternoon with you, Adam," I say biting my lower lip.
His cheeks blush lightly and the sight makes my insides tingle. I love seeing him flustered.
“Is you ex dropping the kids off here or at your house?” Adam asks as we walk up the front steps of the B&B together.
“At home, why?”
He shrugs casually. “Just wondering what I’ll do alone all evening. It feels strange being the only one here.”
“It’s just until Monday,” I remind him. “I’d love to hang out here with the kids but I promised Tommy he could eat with us. You know, like a family dinner.”
Adam’s face shows his surprise but he smiles politely, holding the door open to let me inside first. He thanks me again for going with him today before awkwardly excusing himself to his room. I wonder idly if it was a bad idea to tell him I was going to be spending the evening with my ex? It’s the truth, though, and I have no reason to worry about what Adam thinks of my screwed up family situation.
While he’s upstairs I finish the laundry he started and make him a quick early dinner. Adam surprises me by choosing to take his dinner into the dining room for the first time since he arrived, leaving me to do dishes alone in the kitchen. Again I wonder if it's because I mentioned that I'd invited my husband to dinner. Adam had been lively and talkative all day until that moment. Now I feel like something is off between us. Choosing not to dwell on it, I ask Adam about his plans for the remainder of the weekend. He doesn't completely shut down on me, but the enthusiasm behind his words has noticeably lessened.
“Tomorrow is my scheduled day off, but if there’s anything you need don’t be afraid to call,” I say.
“I’ll be fine, Amanda. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll probably walk around for a bit, familiarize myself with the town.”
“Alright, don’t get too lonely in this big old house,” I joke but he doesn’t even crack s smile. I don’t think he likes the idea of being the only person in the house until Monday. He brightens up a bit when I tell him I'll be back bright and early on Monday to make breakfast. I'm not sure if it's seeing me or my promise of western omelets that has his spirits up but I try not to think about it.
He excuses himself upstairs to take a shower and we say our final goodnights. I’m about to leave, still hating the way we’ve left things, when I hear the water turn on in the second floor bathroom. It gives me inspiration for another note. I just want to leave him something about our day together to make him smile. I grab another piece of hummingbird stationary and write out a few short sentences.
Adam, thank you for a lovely day. I think I need to add ‘soaking tub’ and ‘back yard wildflowers’ to my list of demands for my dream house. See you Monday. –Amanda
My phone suddenly buzzes with a text from Tommy that says he's running a few minutes late but they will be at the house soon. I quickly dart into Adam’s room while he’s showering to deposit the note on his pillow. I see the clothes he’d been wearing today on the floor by the bed, a pair of blue boxer briefs on top of the pile. I force the very bad thoughts of Adam in the shower out of my head and escape back downstairs undetected.
When I get home I check to see that dinner is ready and waiting in the crock pot and then take advantage of the quiet house to run up to my bedroom and lay on the bed for a few minutes just to rest my eyes. It has been a long day.
When I hear Tommy’s car pull up in the driveway I get off the bed and mentally prepare myself for this dinner. Before leaving my room I pull an old worn copy of Cold Sassy Tree off my bookshelf, opening it up to a random page, and press two of the wildflowers Adam picked for me in between the pages.
Chapter Five: Fireside Chats
Monday afternoon is proving to be very hectic. The assistant manager at Tommy’s store called out with a family emergency which means Tommy’s stuck at the store all afternoon and evening and couldn’t pick up the kids after daycare like we’d planned. I knew I had John Lambert and his fishing buddies checking in today so I ran over to get Tyler and Gabby early, of which they had no complaints. Gabby loves being at the B&B when new guests arrive. I think she’s always hoping they will have a little girl with them for her to play with; or even a dog would suffice. John, Larry, and Dave checked in together at two o’clock and have been in their rooms ever since. They did not happen to bring any dogs. I told them that dinner was at six and they all seemed eager to eat a home cooked meal. Adam has been in the living room reading a book since I got back from picking up the kids. They immediately ran in there to turn on the television, essentially taking over the space.
Now I’m in the kitchen cooking for my four gu
ests, myself, and the kids. I’ve been spoiled lately having to only cook for Adam so I’m a little flustered with the task of impressing new first-time guests as well as Mr. Beautiful with my cooking expertise. Speaking of the Adonis in the next room, I expected him to discreetly sneak back upstairs after my noisy rambunctious kids turned on the cartoons and made reading quietly to one self nearly impossible. Instead, Adam surprises me yet again.
“What are you watching?” I hear him ask Tyler.
“Team Umizoomi. Have you ever seen it?” my son replies.
“Are you kidding? Of course I have. Bot is cool.”
“Yeah,” Gabby agrees.
“What other shows do you guys like?” Adam asks.
“Cailou.” “The Wiggles.” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
“The turtles? You may not believe this but I used to watch the ninja turtles when I was a kid too,” Adam tells Tyler. I poke my head around the corner of the living room in time to see Tyler fish an action figure out of his book bag and show it to Adam.
“You have Leonardo, he’s my favorite.”
“Mine too! What’s your name?” Tyler asks.
“I’m Adam. What’s your name?”
“Tyler Miller, and this is my little sister, Gabby Miller. How long are you staying here at my mommy’s work?”
I’ve tip toed back into the kitchen but keep my ears perked in order to hear their conversation.
“For a while, I think. I came here to live near my mom and dad and be the new doctor.”
I hear Gabby gasp. “You’re a doctor?”
Uh oh. Gabby hates visiting Dr. Brickman’s office. Last time she was there she got two shots. Kids don’t forget. She gave the nurse who administered the vaccine the stink eye two weeks ago when we ran into her at the grocery store.
“Well, yeah,” Adam responds picking up on her agitation. “I’m gonna be taking care of kids like you.”
“I don’t like the doctor,” Gabby admits in a whisper.
“You’re going to like coming to see me, I promise. Wait here.”
I hear Adam get up and walk towards the stairs. He looks over his shoulder to catch me watching him and winks. The floorboards creak over my head as Adam walks around his room. He’s back in a flash with a big grin on his face.
“Every time you guys come to see me I’ll give you one of these,” Adam says as he reenters the living room. The kids both say wow prompting me to walk across the hall into the living room to see what Adam gave them. “Does that mean you’ll come visit me sometime, Gabby?”
“Okay,” she agrees tearing the plastic wrap off the pink lollipop Adam gave her. Tyler is doing the same with a green one.
Adam looks up to see me leaning against the wall with my arms crossed, smirking at him. He shrugs. “Worked every time during my residency,” he explains.
“It’s fairly obvious you’re not here to be the town’s new dentist,” I tease.
He rubs the back of his neck and laughs nervously. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask mom’s permission before giving the kids sweets before dinner. Maybe I should invest in sugar free suckers, huh?”
I laugh and nod my head. “It’s alright. One lollipop won’t spoil their appetites. They aren’t bothering you in here, are they? I need to get back in the kitchen before dinner burns.”
“Don’t worry about us, Amanda. We’re going to play Turtles, right Ty?” Adam replies.
“Cool!”
“No, Dr. Adam. Play Barbie with me,” Gabby whines.
“Good luck,” I chuckle. “Let me know when you need saving.”
Adam smiles and waves me away. I don’t know how I feel about him playing with my children. He seems willing enough to keep them entertained, sitting happily on the floor while Tyler and Gabby argue over which action figure he’ll hold. They eventually settle on a GI Joe doll; which to Tyler is an action figure and to Gabby is a boy Barbie. I have to admit it’s a relief to know they’re being kept occupied by something other than the television while I work, but I don’t want to take advantage of Adam’s kindness. He’s already been more helpful than any guest the B&B’s ever had. He’s like the anti-Mrs. Coleman.
I turn my attention back to the pork roasting in the oven and prepping the Yorkshire pudding. I also have fresh green beans steaming and baked potatoes. I continue to listen to the conversation in the next room while setting the table and laying out the food. My inquisitive young son is firing off questions at Adam like only a five year old can.
“Do you watch the Turtles Saturday mornings?” Tyler asks.
“Hmm, I haven’t seen it yet. Maybe if you’re here one Saturday we can watch together.”
“You’re gonna live here now, Adam?”
“I’m going to stay here until I buy a house to live in, so probably a month or more.”
“Do you have brothers and sisters?”
“I have two brothers and two sisters in law.”
“What’s a sister in law?”
“A sister in law is a girl who’s married to my brother. Their names are Paige and Bianca.”
I fumble the plate of Yorkshire puddings, nearly dropping them. Bianca! The woman in town the other day who wanted to see Adam turns out to be his brother’s wife. I’m much too relieved to hear she isn’t an ex girlfriend or a potential love interest, but I can’t help it. Leave it to my nosy kid to uncover one of the mysteries about Adam before I do. I take a few steps towards the hall to hear better and possibly interrupt any potentially embarrassing questions Adam might not want to answer.
“Are you married too?” Tyler continues.
Adam chuckles. “Nope, I don’t even have a girlfriend.”
“I’ll be your girlfriend,” Gabby pipes in.
“Aw, thank you Gabby, but I bet your daddy doesn’t want you to date for a few more years,” Adam replies. I can’t help but smile. I should have known that if I ever thought about pursuing Adam romantically I’d have competition. I just didn’t expect it to come from my three year old daughter! Now that I think of it, the single ladies in this town will be falling all over him as soon as they get their first glimpse. Oh God, Nikki will probably throw herself at his feet.
“Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” Tyler asks.
“Okay, dinner’s ready,” I call to save Adam from answering that, though I’m dying to know too how a man as gorgeous as he hasn’t found someone yet. Adam looks up at me from his spot on the floor next to Gabby, GI Joe still in hand, and smiles. I raise my eyebrows at him and return the smile, then go knock on the other guests’ doors to let them know the food is ready.
We all make plates up at the kitchen table and carry them into the dining room to eat. I cut the kids’ meat while Dave and John discuss their plans for tomorrow. Adam and Larry are engaging in casual dinner conversation about the town. After everyone’s eaten and the men have all politely complimented the meal I begin taking plates and dishes over to the sink. Tyler and Gabby are back in front of the TV, eager for their mom to finish up her responsibilities so they can go home. I wash the dishes and wipe down all the counters. Adam offers to take the garbage out to the curb and I let him; telling myself I’ve really got to stop allowing him to help out with my chores. He’s just so damn eager to make himself useful while he’s here.
I notice the kids are getting quiet in the other room, definitely getting tired, when John comes downstairs to ask me something. “Can you recommend a bar or restaurant where the fellas and I can get a few drinks?”
“Sure, John. Let me grab a map and I’ll give you directions. Sarah’s is just a few blocks away. They have a bar and serve appetizers too,” I suggest.
“Sounds perfect.”
I’m just drawing a black line down Main Street when the phone rings. Adam walks in from handling the trash to find me looking back and forth between John and the ringing phone unable to decide which to give my attention to first.
“Now which street is this?” John asks, completely oblivious to the incoming call
.
Adam takes three quick paces towards me to whisper in my ear. “I’ll answer it,” he says quietly.
He smells so good and the feel of his breath on my skin sends a delicious tremble down my spine. I have to focus very hard not to turn my face the few inches necessary for our lips to connect. I discretely mouth a thank you to him, hoping neither of the men noticed my physical reaction to Adam’s proximity.
“We’re on Main Street,” I say to John, “and then you walk down to Spruce Street and make a left on Crescent Avenue. Sarah’s will be right here on the left.”
John is nodding his head like he understands my directions and holds his hand out to take the map from me. Just as the paper exchanges hands Larry emerges from his room and I hear Dave’s footsteps as he descends the staircase. My attention is divided in two as the fishermen surround me to ask what suggestions I’ve made for their outing and I can see out of the corner of my eye Adam picking up the telephone and answering it.
“Thatcher Bed and Breakfast, this is Adam speaking,” he says fluidly.
I’m trying to hear Adam’s next words but Larry has a deep baritone voice and drowns out what he says. “So this restaurant has a bar in it, because I could really go for knocking a few back,” he states.
“It’s more a bar than a restaurant. The bartender is an old friend of mine. Just tell Rachel I sent you and the first drink will be on the house.”
Brett’s sister and I make a point to recommend each other businesses whenever possible. She opened the restaurant a few years ago with their father’s help and it has become a local treasure. Named for Brett’s late mother it has a special place in all our hearts.
“She’s assisting other guests at the moment…” I hear Adam say.
“Well then!” Dave comments, “Is this Rachel a looker?”
My nose scrunches up and I turn my attention back to the three men in front of me. “Yes, she is actually but her brother is 6’3” and made of muscle so watch yourself,” I say teasingly, wagging my index finger at them. They better treat her with respect I say to myself, or Brett won’t be the only one they have to answer to.