by Curry, Edna
“Yeah, Sis?”
“If she’s not back tomorrow when you get home, remember, it was your turn to wash these dishes.” She waved her hand to the messy kitchen counters, visible off the hall.
Bob stopped with one foot on the stairs, made a face at her and groaned. “Sure. Night, Sis.” Then he went up the stairs, three steps at a time, to his room.
***
Back in her kitchen, Lisa put new batteries in the radio. Resuming her work on the cupboards and dishes, she washed them to the lively beat of polka music, the specialty of a local station.
As she rinsed and dried, she wondered what Bob and Jodi had thought when they found her note. Or would they even have noticed? Perhaps they’d left the kitchen in a mess and gone out to eat with their friends, figuring she’d be back and would have to clean it up before she could cook the next meal. She grimaced, remembering that she had, on more than one occasion, done just that. It had just been easier to do it herself.
Suddenly she knew what she was going to buy with the money she would get for that house. Freedom! She was going to buy freedom for herself.
A knock at the door interrupted Lisa’s reverie. She looked out to see the electric company’s orange truck and breathed a sigh of relief as she opened the door. Assuring the chubby young man of her name and that he had the correct address, she watched him head for the electric pole at the end of her drive.
She was about to close the door when Trace’s small blue Buick pulled up next door. Trace got out, saw her and waved. Dropping his briefcase back in his car, he strode toward her across the lawn.
Lisa groaned. She was a mess. She hadn’t minded that the repairman saw her in her oldest cleaning clothes, covered with dust, but seeing Trace in a suit, white shirt and tie made her feel more than a little tacky. So her smile was a bit thin and her hello a little hollow. She couldn’t help noting that he looked every bit as attractive dressed up as he had last night wearing casual slacks and a sweater.
Trace enjoyed the confused, half-embarrassed pleasure on her face. He suddenly realized it had been a while since he’d been greeted with a look of welcome on the face of any woman except his daughter. Not that he was short of female companions, but most of them were not as interested in seeing him, as in the prestige of being seen with a university professor. Lisa seemed more interested in not being seen.
“You’re just getting power now?” Trace frowned as he followed her glance at the truck.
“Yes, there was a problem with power outages on the hill after the storm last night. But the gas and water were turned on before noon, which was faster service than I expected.” Hugging herself she added, “Come inside. It’s too cold to stand out here.”
“I suppose.” As he stepped inside, Trace’s glance slid down her slim, but well-curved form, noticing her dusty blue jeans and sweatshirt. “You’ve been cleaning? I thought you were going to stay at my house until you had heat over here.”
The light flicked on and a motor hummed behind her. Lisa gave the electric company employee the all-okay in answer to his called question, and closed the door. Frowning at Trace, she said, “I had the fireplace, Trace. Besides, it really warmed up with the sun out today, and I wanted to open the windows and air out the house anyway.”
“Well, it’s really cooled down now. Why don’t we go out for dinner? By the time we get back, the furnace will have your house warmed up properly.”
A thrill of anticipation shot through her at the thought of spending more time with him. She smiled ruefully, and waved him to a seat. “All right. I’ll just take a quick shower and be right with you.”
“A shower? Here? It’s too cold for that. Just bring your clothes and shower at my place.”
Lisa bit her tongue to keep from telling him how bossy he was. But the temptation of using that warm, pretty bathroom again was too much. “Thanks. That sounds great,” she said instead, and went to find some clean clothes. As she walked upstairs, she thought about all the times when, as teenagers, they’d gone out to a drive-in or movie on the spur of the moment. It had been so much fun.
Stop it, she scolded herself. You’re not a teenager any more. Trace is only being nice. It doesn’t mean anything.
She rummaged through what little she’d brought for the weekend, settling on her brown slacks and a soft yellow sweater. She hoped he wouldn’t choose a place too fancy.
Lisa returned to find him standing at the thermostat. He was holding Baby in one arm, her fuzzy black tail waving contentedly.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “I forgot to tell you Baby slipped outside when I left your house this morning, then followed me inside when I came home after lunch this afternoon.”
Trace stroked the sleek cat and nodded as he met her glance. “I figured that’s what happened. She seems to like you. Usually she runs and hides when a stranger comes to our house.”
Lisa shrugged. “There’s no mystery about it. I took her in and fed her when she was cold, wet, and hungry last night. Any animal would like whoever did that for her.”
“She would, would she?” Trace grinned, and added in a teasing voice, “Does that go for human females, too? Will you like me for keeping you warm and feeding you?”
“You always were a nut!” Lisa laughed, picking up her jacket and overnight case. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. I checked your furnace and refrigerator. They seem to be working okay.”
“Thanks. How thoughtful!” She turned away to lock her door, trying to hide the sudden rush of tears. His caring gesture was so much like the things that Bill had done for her. But, after all, Trace had been a husband, too, hadn’t he? He was probably used to doing things such as checking on appliances. She must not take it personally.
Taking his arm, she walked with him side by side across the lawn to his house. She tried to ignore the warm surge of electricity that seemed to spring to her from his arm, following her fingers and spreading throughout her body. It was only the magic of spring in the air, she told herself, and the pleasure of being with a friendly male companion. It was a welcome change after spending months alone at home grieving and playing servant to two demanding kids.
The earthy smell of thawing soil filled the cool evening air. Off to the west, variegated shades of red streaking through the clouds showed the sun was about to set. The red sky promised nice weather for tomorrow.
He seemed to be aware of the growing attraction between them, too. He stepped away with a nervous smile after helping her inside. “Make yourself at home. You know the way. I’ll get my briefcase from the car.”
“I won’t be long,” Lisa promised, heading upstairs.
As Trace waited, he found the note Jenny had left for him. In it, Jenny congratulated him for bringing a woman home and starting to come out of his shell.
He shook his head. Honestly, the way that woman mothered him was really something. He stuffed the note in his pocket, and feasted his eyes on Lisa as she came back down the stairs.
She looked beautiful. Her soft rust-brown hair sparkled with lustrous highlights set off by the golden hue of her sweater. Her lips had a fresh glow of color making him remember what it had been like to kiss them. Would she still allow it? Or did she want to totally forget the past? She’d said nothing about their high school romance. She’d resented his good fortune in being accepted at his father’s alma mater, and he’d been embarrassed that his circumstances were so much better than hers. He’d gone off to college and they’d lost contact. He’d regretted that, but felt it was what she wanted.
Now fate had thrown them together again. Did she still care for him even a little? She’d been so angry when he’d left, he was afraid to even mention the past now.
She smiled, uncertainly, as though she wasn’t sure what his stare meant. “Do I look all right?”
“You look great!” he assured her, pushing away his doubts. Let the past stay in the past. He picked up her brown suede jacket from a chair, and held it for her.
“Th
anks.” She slipped her arms through the sleeves and preceded him out the door.
A sudden wave of anticipation warmed Lisa. Trace seemed in a happy mood and she looked forward to a pleasant evening. Forget the past. Enjoy the present. Her lips curved in a happy smile as he helped her into his car.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked, starting the motor.
She shrugged. “You know this town. Wherever you like, as long as it’s not fancy. I’m not exactly dressed for a nightclub.”
The restaurant he chose turned out to be very attractive and homey. The salad and steaks they ordered were superb.
As they ate, she found herself telling Trace about her life with Bill. She even told Trace about the pain of caring for Bill through the long illness before his death, that she hadn’t talked about to anyone. Trace was so easy to talk to, so warm and sympathetic. She felt she’d known him all her life, when in reality, she’d known him only as a teen, many years ago. It shouldn’t even count, but it did. The pain of that first crush made the present bittersweet. She’d gotten over Trace then and married Bill. They’d each gone on to separate lives. Now fate had brought them together again.
“I guess I haven’t talked about this very much.” She smiled ruefully, and tried to swallow the lump in her throat.
His gaze captured hers and held it. He reached across the table and took her hand, caressing it with his thumb. “Maybe you should have, Lisa. Talking about pain is a good way to release it.”
Was it? She certainly felt relaxed sitting here eating this delicious steak dinner and talking to him. However, her problems couldn’t be very interesting conversation for him, and his thumb was sending shivers of need through her veins.
She retrieved her hand, picked up her coffee and sipped it. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant,” she said, forcing a smile. “Tell me about your daughter.”
“That’s not a happier subject, I’m afraid,” he said wryly. He described Renee’s change of plans for Easter, and her upcoming trip to Paris with her mother and grandparents.
Lisa swallowed her dismay. Renee’s selfish attitude was so much like her own children’s; she was beginning to wonder if it was an integral part of that generation’s makeup. “Perhaps our generation gives our children too much too easily. We haven’t made our kids work hard for what they’ve gotten. You can’t blame Renee for wanting to take advantage of a chance to take a trip like that. It sounds like every young girl’s dream.”
“I know. I don’t really blame her.” Trace’s voice was wistful. “It’s just that I was counting on spending Easter break with her. We don’t get much time together anymore. She’s grown up so fast. One of these days she’ll get married or take a job far away, and I’ll see even less of her.”
He sounds lonely, Lisa thought. How could he be lonely when women always fell over themselves to get his attention? He looks so handsome, he still must have his choice of them. She thought of her own two adult children who'd managed to see so much of her, she could only think of getting away from them for a little time to herself. Life was so strange!
She couldn’t tell him about that. It would sound as though she were bragging that her children wanted to stay with her when his own daughter didn’t.
“Really, Trace, you should be pleased Renee is becoming so independent. Some children don’t succeed as easily.”
Trace took a sip of coffee and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think Renee’s choice has anything to do with becoming independent, Lisa.” His voice was quiet but held a sad note which tore at her insides. “It has more to do with Sandra and her parents’ power play. Renee is the pawn and Paris is the bait.”
Lisa stared at him. “You can’t really believe that!”
“I’m afraid I do. Money is all important to Sandra, and she’s teaching Renee the same values. I try to counteract her influence as much as possible, by encouraging Renee to work for her own spending money. But Sandra and her parents tell her I do that only because I’m cheap.”
Lisa looked away and sipped her coffee. She couldn’t think of anything to say. Oh, God! What a mess. Is he still in love with Sandra? Are they playing games using their daughter’s love as a prize? I’ve seen it happen before with other couples. Sooner or later they always go back to each other, because they love fighting with each other, no matter who gets hurt in the process. Poor Renee!
How could she ask something like that? She took the easy way out by changing the subject. “I’m going back to St. Cloud in the morning.”
Trace’s head snapped up, his hazel eyes flashing as he stared at her. “You are? But why? You just got here.”
She glanced at him in surprise. He sounded as though he cared that she was leaving. “I’ve sold my house there. I have to close the deal and sort out what I want to move here. Then I’ll have to sell whatever I or my kids don’t want. It’s a big house, and I’m afraid we’ve accumulated a lot of stuff over the years.”
A relieved grin lit up his face. “I see. Then you are coming back?”
Pleasure surged through her at his reaction. “Yes, in a couple of weeks. I plan to live here for a while.”
“Only for a while?”
“Well,” she hedged, wondering how much she dared reveal without sounding neurotic, “I’m between jobs, and I really want a change of scene. My kids are driving me crazy, so I need to put a little distance between us. I haven’t quite decided what I want to do next.”
After what he’d said about Sandra’s giving money so much importance, she didn’t dare admit her own recent windfall from selling the house. She couldn’t reveal how happy she was to be able to buy her freedom. His contempt for Sandra was obvious, and she didn’t want him to feel that way about her as well.
Trace placed his hand over hers and held it for a long moment. She knew he meant it only as a sympathetic gesture, but the warmth of his fingers sent shivers of awareness along the length of her body.
The expression in his hazel eyes was comforting and intimate. “Too many unpleasant memories back home?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” she agreed. Which was the truth, although she knew he thought her memories focused only on Bill’s illness and death. Considering how Trace felt about Renee, Lisa felt sure he would never understand her frustrations with dealing with her own children. Right now her feelings were too sensitive to bare to him.
“I’m glad you’re coming back. Shall I keep an eye on your house until then?”
She looked up and smiled at his kind offer. “Would you?”
“It would be my pleasure.” He glanced around and picked up the check. “Shall we go? I believe this place is trying to close.”
Lisa followed him, looking around at the empty dining room. She had been so absorbed in their conversation that she hadn’t noticed the other diners leave.
He drove her home. The air was still warm and the breeze gentle, heralding spring as they walked up her sidewalk.
At her door, he took her key, and unlocked it for her.
Lisa said, “I’ll have a duplicate key made in the morning and leave it in your mailbox since you’re going to watch the house for me.”
“Good idea. Any special instructions?”
“Yes. Keep an eye on Baby until I get back.” She grinned. “I wouldn’t want to find her locked inside. I didn’t buy a litter box for her.”
He laughed as their eyes met in mutual appreciation of that cat’s foibles. Then the laughter faded. They leaned toward each other for the kiss each had been waiting for all evening.
She couldn’t believe how wonderful it felt to be held in a man’s loving embrace again.
Trace felt the attraction that had been building within him each time their eyes had met since the night before. She was still the lively, sassy girl of his high school days, but now she was more. She met him more than halfway, with a hungry kiss that spoke of a passion every bit as strong as his own.
Her arms went around his neck to draw him closer as his hand
s moved inside her coat, then slid to her back to draw her as close to him as possible.
The kiss deepened as they tasted and explored each other. Yes, the attraction between them was still there, sizzling and sparking, just as it had years ago. And he immediately grew hard wanting her, just as he had then, too. But there was no longer any reason to stay apart. Now they were adults and only required to answer to themselves.
He slid his tongue inside her mouth, tasting and wanting oh, so much more. She melted against him, responding with kisses of her own. He closed a hand over her breast. She’d definitely filled out, too.
He kissed her throat and opened the button on her blouse, pushing it aside to expose the soft skin, leaning down to taste her there, and then moving to her lips again.
The scents of her perfume and his cologne filled Lisa’s nostrils. She loved the way his lips met hers with a firm, yet gentle strength. She wanted it to last forever.
When his lips moved to her breast she thought she would burst into flames.
Dare she ask him in? He seemed to want the same things she did, but she couldn’t be sure.
No, it was too soon. She had no idea how he’d changed, what his life was like now.
It had to end. She drew an uneven breath, dropped her arms and stepped back.
He released her and opened the door. His voice was ragged with pent-up emotion. “Call me when you get back.”
“I will,” she promised.
She walked inside on shaky legs. It was only after she crawled into bed, and relived the scene three times before she remembered the phone hadn’t been hooked up yet.
She must remember to call the telephone company and delay the start of service until after she returned from St. Cloud.
Yes, and she’d forgotten to thank Trace for a very special evening. She smiled. Yes. Oh, yes. It certainly had been!
Chapter 5
The next morning on the long drive back to St. Cloud she thought of those kisses, letting the evening churn over in her mind. The next three weeks were going to be hectic, she knew. But the possibility that she might once again have a life of her own, apart from her children and former responsibilities, sustained her through the emotional upheaval she felt at leaving it all behind.