The front mounted side mirrors flashed blue and green as they drove beneath the canopy of hardwoods that broke open every now and then to reveal a cloudless summer sky. The air smelled of grass and growing things.
“Have you owned the car for a long time?” Iris wondered if it was a family auto, passed down.
“I’ve had it for about four years. Ward discovered it under a tarp in an old boarded up barn during an estate sale. There were maps and a purse on top of the passenger seat and a mummified mouse beneath it.” Finn scrunched up her nose as she told the story. “Yeah, we couldn’t save the carpet, but we found a close match.”
Finn downshifted as they headed into a curve, and Iris couldn’t help noticing the lean, cut muscles of her forearm…and her hands. Finn had strong hands. Finn worked the clutch as she shifted again, and the roadster gained speed as it climbed out of the curve. Iris didn’t care much for cars, but she decided it would be easy to fall in love with this one. The cockpit was small, intimate, and the passenger experience made her feel as if she were close to the world outside. Finn waved at a passing car. She was a local and no doubt a bit of a celebrity in this car.
They slowed and turned into a small grocery at a three-way stop. The sign on the storefront was large and looked hand-painted: Turner’s Corner. A stream ran along the border of the wraparound porch. It gurgled pleasantly and light bounced off the water as it wound around several large rocks.
“I thought we’d get a few things for a picnic before we drive to the lake.” Finn killed the engine.
Iris lived in Southern California now, but she’d grown up in the Northeast. In this remote outpost of the Deep South she suddenly felt a wee bit apprehensive. She was a Yankee in rural Georgia, and she worried that she stood out. But it wasn’t as if she could sit in the car. That would seem even odder.
The screen door banged behind her as she followed Finn inside. The first thing Iris noticed about the store’s interior was the pot-bellied stove in the center of the space. And the floorboards were traveled to the point that no varnish remained. The rest of the interior seemed to be from a later era, maybe the sixties. There was a deli counter at the back. They walked through several rows of shelves lined with general inventory: paper plates, paper towels, potato chips, syrup, cereal, all the basics.
“Hey, Finn, what are you up to today?” A full-figured woman, with medium length brown hair, probably in her forties, spoke to Finn from behind the deli counter.
“Headed to the lake.” Finn studied the food behind the glass with her hands in her pockets. “This is Iris. She’s visiting from California. This is Shondra.”
“Hi.” Iris gave a small wave. She wasn’t used to being introduced to the deli personnel, but maybe in a community this small it would be rude not to be.
“California, huh?” Shondra leaned on the top of the glass case. “I’ve never been there but always sorta wanted to go.”
“It’s nice.” She wasn’t sure what else to say.
“What’s good today?” Finn was focused on food.
“Everything.” Shondra scowled.
Finn grinned. This seemed like a thing they did.
“I’ll take two pulled pork sandwiches, with slaw, on Dutch crunch rolls, with…Oh, wait, I didn’t even think to ask if you were vegetarian or…” Finn stopped the order midstream and turned to Iris.
“I’m okay with anything.” She figured it was best to just go with whatever the locals liked.
“Great.” Finn returned her attention to the case. “Can you give us a small container of that potato salad too?”
Iris was checking the drink case when two men entered the store. She gave them a quick sideways glance. They were wearing T-shirts and jeans; one of them had on a cap emblazoned with the Confederate flag. Iris mentally flinched at the sight of it and turned to check on Finn, who was chatting with Shondra.
“’Scuse me.” The guy with the hat motioned toward the beer cooler. Iris hadn’t realized she was standing in front of it. “Hey, Shondra, will you make me a ham and cheese on a soft roll?” he shouted while he stood in the open cooler door.
It was probably only ten. Kind of early for beer. That’s what Iris was thinking. And then she noticed that he actually grabbed two bottled Cokes. She’d made an assumption about beer-drinking rednecks, probably due to the hat. For some reason, these two good ol’ boys made her a little uneasy, especially since Finn looked like the poster girl for butch lesbians. Was Georgia one of the states that tried to pass one of those bathroom bills? Or was that North Carolina? Now she couldn’t remember. Iris wondered how gay-friendly a place like Watts Mountain might be for a woman who looked like Finn, someone who couldn’t so easily blend in.
She walked back over to stand near Finn, feeling protective. She’d only just met Finn, but Finn had saved her from a bear, and offered to host her for a birthday outing. She figured she owed Finn whatever femme protection spell she could conjure.
Being in Atlanta one could almost forget that they were in the Deep South. Atlanta felt like an urban safe zone for outsiders. The city was a melting pot of people from elsewhere. Only a few residents she’d encountered even seemed to have a southern accent, Finn being one of them. Finn’s easy, soft drawl smoothed off the corners of whatever she was saying. Finn’s accent was like a gentle caress.
When she’d considered taking the role in the show she’d only really thought about the city. She hadn’t considered the rest of the South or what it might be like outside the city limits. She hadn’t even thought of it when she’d driven out to the cabin the previous evening. That was probably naïve.
“Hey, Finn, can you come out to the shop later?”
As she approached she realized Finn was already talking to one of the men, the one without the hat. He had a medium build. His jeans fit loose and they gathered a little over his boots. He was wearing a faded red T-shirt marred with what looked like grease or oil stains. His sandy hair fell across his forehead, and he swept it back as he faced Finn. He was only an inch or so taller than she was. He looked at Iris with wide eyes as she neared the counter, as if she were an alien, or her hair was on fire. Or possibly he recognized her from the recent Super Bowl ad, where she’d been cast as a buxom barmaid for a Doritos commercial.
“Ward, this is Iris. Iris, this is my pal, Ward.”
His mouth was open, but he didn’t speak.
“Nice to meet you.” Iris smiled.
Still, he didn’t speak.
“Earth to Ward. Snap out of it, you’re staring.” Finn waved her hand in front of his face.
“Sorry.” He blushed and averted his eyes.
“I can come by tomorrow. I’m kinda booked today.” Finn reached for the two sandwiches and the container of potato salad that Shondra placed on the deli case. “We’re going out to the lake for a little while.”
“Okay.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. He seemed self-conscious. “I’ll give you a buzz when we’re ready for you.”
“It was nice to meet you, Ward.” Iris was glad she’d been wrong about the men, or at least one of them.
Finn never introduced the other guy. It was possible she was still on edge from her encounter with the director. Iris was definitely tuned in more than usual. She found herself paying attention to small nuances of behavior from the men she’d encountered since the incident with Eric.
Finn paid for their food. They’d grabbed chips and drinks to go with their meal. A matronly older woman ran the register at the front.
“Take a bag of ice for that potato salad and your drinks.” The older woman handed Finn the change and a small plastic bag.
“Right, good thinking. Can you hold this?” Finn handed the food to Iris while she went to the drink counter at the back of the store and filled the bag with ice cubes from the fountain drink dispenser. She twisted the top of the bag into a knot as they exited.
Iris felt a little unhelpful. So far, Finn was taking care of everything and she was only tagging along. She stood by as Fin
n popped the trunk and tucked the bag of ice inside a small cooler with the drinks. It was the sort of tiny cooler that only held three or four drinks. The car was so small that a normal sized cooler would never have fit inside the trunk.
“Ready?” Finn held the door for Iris again.
“You really know how to spoil a birthday girl.” Iris sank into the seat.
“That was my plan. I’m glad it’s working.”
Chapter Ten
Finn backed out and turned right at the intersection. The air was very warm now and humid; no doubt the lake was a perfect place to spend the day.
“Did you know the other guy that came in with your friend, Ward?” Iris was still puzzled about meeting Ward, whom Finn seemed to be friends with, but not the other guy.
“That’s Jake Jensen. Local redneck, asshole.”
“Oh.” Iris’s intuition about him had been on point.
“Yeah, he and I don’t see eye to eye on much, or anything, actually.” Finn glanced over. “Why, did you think he was cute or something?”
“Oh, God no. I just noticed his hat, that was all. I was surprised that someone his age would wear…um…”
“The Confederate flag?”
“Yes.” She’d let the words trail off because she worried suddenly that making a derogatory comment about that bit of southern history might be offensive to a local.
“The Deep South is a complex place. Don’t believe everything you read in the New Yorker. And yes, it is possible to have southern pride while acknowledging where our ancestors got it horribly wrong.” Finn took a breath. “But only assholes fly that flag as some way to defend their whiteness. And southerners aren’t the only ones who do it…as if whiteness needs defending. From whom? Other white rednecks? Stupid, ignorant, and insensitive.”
Obviously, this was a topic Finn had strong feelings about.
“Ward was probably working on Jake’s truck in the shop. They aren’t really friends either, but sometimes a job is a job.” Finn downshifted as they turned past the sign for Watts Mountain Lake.
They circled the parking lot and found a shady spot near the dock. Several overturned red canoes rested in the grass nearby.
“Want to take a spin in one of the canoes and eat after?” Finn stood beside the car waiting for her. “I don’t think the food will get too warm here in the shade for only an hour or so.”
“Sure. I should warn you though, it’s been a long time since I canoed.”
“How long?”
“Maybe since Girl Scout camp. I think I was twelve.”
“You’ll be fine. It’ll come right back to you. Plus, the lake is so small you can’t get lost. Or, if you tip over, it’s easy to swim to shore.”
“Good to know.”
She followed Finn toward the dock. They selected a canoe and flipped it over in the grass. The paddles were tucked under the seats along with two ancient orange life preservers. They dragged the boat across the lush grass toward the water. When the aft end of the boat reached the lake, Finn climbed in with a paddle in one hand.
“Push me out. I’ll paddle next to the dock. That way you can step in without getting your shoes wet.”
Iris followed Finn’s direction, appreciating the fact that she’d be able to keep her sandals mostly dry. She had only packed two pairs of shoes for the trip. Finn stabilized by holding on to the weathered dock while Iris gingerly stepped in. The boat rocked a little, despite Finn’s focused efforts to hold it still.
“Who do these boats belong to?” Iris wondered if they were swiping someone’s personal canoe. It seemed odd not to need to pay someone a rental fee. In California, nothing was free.
“They belong to the local Baptist church. Bible school starts on Monday. They won’t mind if we borrow one.” Finn grinned as she paddled backward to move them away from the dock.
Iris wondered if that grin allowed Finn to get away with anything she wanted. She assumed it probably did. It would be hard to resist Taylor Finn if she set her mind on something.
Finn couldn’t help smiling as Iris realized she was facing the wrong direction. She tried not to laugh and make Iris feel bad about the error. She’d gotten in the canoe facing Finn, and it wasn’t until she’d started to put her paddle in the water that she realized her mistake. Finn hadn’t corrected her when she sat down because she was happy to look at Iris as much as possible in the short time she had. Iris was a much better view than a lake she’d visited a million times.
There was something special about Iris, and it wasn’t just the way she looked. Yes, she was undeniably, distractingly gorgeous, but that wasn’t it. There was something that took her breath away when she smiled at Finn. She made her feel as if she were the sole resident of planet Earth. When she smiled it was like the sun breaking through the clouds after days of rain. There was warmth there and Finn wanted to bask in it. She had plans to keep Iris in her orbit for as long as possible. And now, in the canoe, she was at Finn’s mercy, a captive audience.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve gotten this all wrong.” Iris frowned.
Even when she frowned she was beautiful.
“Just stay put. You’re fine.” Finn paddled at a relaxed pace toward the center of the lake. “This will be better for conversation anyway. It’s not like we’re in a race where we need two paddlers or anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely. Just relax and enjoy the ride.” That sounded more flirtatious than she’d meant for it to, but Iris didn’t seem to mind.
Finn was happy to have Iris all to herself for a little while. She was curious about her and had a bunch of questions queued up from the previous night. It wasn’t that she was that great at small talk or conversation in general, but she’d put forth her best effort if it meant getting a glimpse into the life of Iris Fleming.
“This is a beautiful place.” Iris leaned back a little, bracing her hands on either side of the canoe. The paddle lay near her legs, propped against the seat. “Although, I wish I’d brought my sunglasses. I have no idea why I left them in my bag in the car.” She turned back toward Finn, shielding her eyes with her hand.
“Here, take my hat.” Finn offered her Braves cap.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ve got sunglasses.”
“Thank you.” Iris adjusted the back strap of the cap for a better fit. She trailed her fingertips in the water as the boat glided slowly across the lake. “The water is chilly.”
“It’s a natural, spring-fed lake, so the water temp stays pretty cool even in summer. That’s why I suggested a picnic instead of swimming after our boat ride. I mean, it’s refreshing, but definitely a shock at first. Plus, the swimming area is small and usually swarming with kids.” Finn motioned with her thumb over her shoulder to the shoreline behind her. The bright sounds of children’s voices echoed across the lake.
“Oh, yeah, I see what you mean.”
“So, how long are you staying in Georgia?” Not the subtle line of questioning Finn had imagined in her head. But, too late, it was already out there.
“I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Oh, really? That soon?”
“Yes, I was only supposed to be here for a couple of days, you know, unless I get the part. In which case I’ll be back for longer.”
Finn’s mood brightened. But then she remembered what Iris had said the night before about her bad day.
“But you mentioned something about not liking the director.”
“Points for paying attention.”
“I’m a good listener, remember?”
“Well, most people don’t actually mean it.”
“I always try to mean what I say.”
“Good to know.” Iris smiled. “What’s next for you?”
“Besides finding a job?” Iris obviously didn’t want to talk about whatever had happened.
“Yeah, besides that.”
“I’m thinking on it. Obviously, I’m declaring today a personal holiday, in honor o
f your birthday, and plan to avoid making any adult type decisions…you know, about life, or the future, or…whatever.” Finn realized she was in complete denial about the fact that she’d just gotten fired. She really was going to have to figure some things out, but not today.
“I think your thirtieth birthday is supposed to be some big milestone. At least that’s what Maggie thinks.”
“Who’s Maggie?”
“My roommate.” Iris looked out over the water. “But I really don’t like to make a big deal out of birthdays. Feels like too much pressure. I like to keep my expectations in check, then I’m usually not disappointed.”
“I guess that’s why you didn’t really have plans today.”
“Frankly, my birthday sort of snuck up on me.”
“My birthdays never sneak up on me, or anyone else.” Finn back-paddled to turn the canoe so they could make their way toward the dock. “I make sure everyone knows my birthday is coming, and I pretty much celebrate it the entire month.”
“Sounds like too much pressure.”
“Only if you think of presents and cake as pressure. I think we need to work on your fun meter.” Finn intentionally splashed Iris with a few drops of water as she shifted the paddle from one side to the other. Not too much water, just enough to test Iris’s threshold for playfulness.
“Hey!”
“Sorry.”
“I doubt that.”
Finn smiled. Iris was right, she wasn’t really sorry.
“It actually felt good. My legs are getting hot in the sun.” Iris swept the droplets down her smooth, tanned legs.
Finn took that as an invitation to raise the stakes. As she moved the paddle she splashed Iris again. Iris responded by splashing Finn with her hand. Finn splashed her back.
“Hey! Careful! Unless you’re working toward a wet T-shirt contest.” Iris laughed and splashed Finn with more gusto. The canoe rocked a little from their movements.
“Is that an option?” Finn raised her sunglasses for a better look.
“Ha! You wish.”
Finn laughed, dropped her glasses back to her nose, and paddled them toward the shore.
Chasing Sunset Page 7