by Bonnie Leon
Paul reached beneath a pea vine, grabbed hold of a clump of fescue, and tugged it free. He shook off excess dirt and dropped the weed into a bucket. It felt good to work with the earth.
Sitting back on his heels, he looked down the row. Small green pods, just beginning to sprout, promised a late July feast of creamed peas and baby potatoes.
“Hey Paul,” Patrick called, stepping into the garden and trudging down the row.
Paul stood and wiped the dirt from his hands onto his blue jeans. “Thought you and the boys went fishing.”
“Wish I had. But Sassa won’t wait on that broken window frame another day.”
Paul grinned. “Well, it doesn’t look like you’re working on a window anyway.”
“I need some help. Could you lend me a hand?”
“Sure. No problem.”
The two headed toward Patrick’s. They hadn’t gone far when Patrick said, “Heard you and Kate split up.”
“Yeah.” Paul didn’t want to talk about it.
“Sorry to hear it. She’s a fine lady.”
“She is.”
“Don’t mean to pry, but you never said anything all these weeks. What happened between the two of you?”
Paul knew he needed to talk to someone about what was going on inside his heart, but he couldn’t bring himself to reveal his fears. “Just wouldn’t have worked out.”
Patrick cocked an eyebrow, but didn’t probe. “Can’t say Sassa’s unhappy about it. She likes Kate, but you know . . .” He stopped. “I thought you and Kate were well suited to each other.”
Paul could see he wasn’t going to get away without an explanation. “We are . . . kind of. But it comes down to her job. It’s risky, too risky. I don’t want to live every day wondering if this is the one when she dies.”
Patrick nodded slightly. “I can see how that would be hard on you, but any one of us can die today, maybe tonight, anytime. When we fall in love and commit to someone, there’s no guarantee our lives will be long. Seems to me that while you’re still living, you ought to love all you can. No one’s going to get out of this world still breathing.”
“I know all that’s true, but Kate pushes it. Her job’s going to take her sooner, not later.”
Patrick shrugged and pushed his hands into his pockets. “Makes no sense to me, but it’s your life.”
Paul knew he was being a coward and that he’d broken Kate’s heart. But she’d get over him, and given time, he’d get over her . . . in time. He just hoped that when her final day came, he’d be over her.
Paul held the window frame in place while Patrick hammered in a nail. Taking another from between his teeth, Patrick pounded it in, then climbed down from a ladder and stepped back to look at his work. “Is it straight?”
Paul studied the frame. “It’s slightly higher on the right than the left.”
Patrick grimaced. “Yeah. I thought so too. But I figure if Sassa’s not happy with it, she’ll let me know.”
“Let you know what?” Sassa asked as she stepped around the corner of the house. She looked at the window. “It’s crooked.”
Patrick half grinned. “Yep.”
Sassa stared at the window. “Ah, it’s good enough. You can barely tell.” She turned to Paul. “How you set for canned carrots?”
“Running low. But I’ll make do until the new crop is ready.”
“I don’t know if we ate less or if I canned more, but I’ve got a bunch of extra jars. Could you use some?”
“Sure. I’ll take a few off your hands.”
“Come on out to the shed, then. I’ll put some in a box for you.” She ambled around the house and down the short trail leading to the storage room.
“See you later,” Patrick said. “I’ve got some cabinets to paint. Better get to it.”
“Don’t wear yourself out.” Paul followed Sassa.
Lily nearly collided with him as he rounded the house. She had a clothes basket piled with wet towels propped against one hip.
“Sorry.” Paul reached out to steady her.
“It’s my fault. I was in a hurry.”
Sassa opened the shed door. “Lily, can you give us a hand?”
“Sure.” Lily set the basket on the ground beneath the clothesline, then headed for the storage room.
Sassa grabbed two wooden boxes and set them on a workbench before she started clearing shelves of carrots. Dust mingled with the musty smell hanging in the air. “I’ve got a bunch of peas too,” she said, handing a jar to Lily.
“Thanks.” Paul didn’t need more peas but didn’t want to offend Sassa, so he accepted the gift without argument.
When the two boxes were full, Sassa stood back and looked over the half-empty shelves. “I guess that’s it.” She turned to Lily. “Can you carry one of them over?”
Lily glanced at Paul. He could see humor in her eyes. They both knew Sassa was back to her matchmaking now that Kate was out of the picture. It would have been funny if he didn’t feel so miserable about Kate.
He picked up the box of carrots. “Thanks, Sassa. This will help get me through. But Lily doesn’t have to haul that over for me. I can come back for it.”
“She doesn’t mind, do you, Lily.” Sassa smiled at her daughter.
“No. Glad to help. But I left a basket of wet laundry sitting out.”
“I’ll hang the clothes.”
Lily picked up the jars of peas and led the way out, then headed toward the trail. She and Paul walked side by side. Neither spoke.
When they reached Paul’s place he strode into the shed and set his box on a workbench. “Just put yours here beside these.”
Lily placed the box on the worktable. “Do you actually need all of these?”
“Some of it.” He smiled. “Your mother’s a generous woman.”
“She is, but I think she wanted to make sure you had enough to carry so you’d need help.”
Paul chuckled. “You’re probably right.”
Silence sifted between them, and then Lily said, “Me and the boys are going fishing tomorrow. Would you like to come? They’d get a kick out of showing you up.” She grinned.
“I haven’t had much time for fishing. Sounds like fun.”
“Good. I’ll bring lunch,” Lily said.
“And I’ll bring the gear and bait.”
“Seven o’clock sound okay?”
“I’ll be ready.” Paul felt almost lighthearted. “We can take my boat up the creek. I know just the place.”
Lily’s brothers loaded bait and untied the line tethering the dory to the dock while Paul started his Johnson outboard. Lily settled in the bow and the boys found seats on the benches. Paul steered toward the center of the creek, the small engine making a puttering sound.
“This ought to be fun,” Douglas said. “I know just the place.”
“No. Today Paul chooses where we fish,” Lily said.
“I know a good fishing hole,” Paul said with a smile.
Lily sat quietly, gazing at the surroundings. She looked older than she had before moving to Seattle. She’d put on a little weight. Maybe that was it. But she acted more grown up too. Odd, how a few months could make such a difference. Paul thought he detected melancholy in the young woman and wondered if something was bothering her.
“It’s strange how different everything looks from the middle of the creek.” Lily leaned over and dipped her hand in the water.
The boys did the same, making the boat teeter.
“All right. Settle down,” Paul said. “The last thing we need is to get dunked. It may be June, but that water is ice cold.”
The boys sat down and stared ahead. Lily lifted her face to the sun and closed her eyes.
Paul couldn’t keep from staring. Her tanned skin was flawless and her black hair shimmered in the sunlight. When she turned to look at him, he quickly averted his eyes.
Acting as if she hadn’t noticed, she said, “So, are you giving away the location of your favorite fishing hole?”
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Paul smiled. “I’ve got more than one.”
“I’ve got at least six,” Ethan bragged. “And I’m not telling no one where they are.” He grinned.
“Well, there are plenty of good places on this creek,” Paul said.
They motored past Klaus’s cabin and spotted him in the garden.
“Hi, Klaus,” the boys hollered.
He waved. “Gut day for fishing.”
“Hope you’re right,” Paul called back.
Klaus folded his arms over his rounded stomach and watched them move past.
“We’ll bring you back a big one,” Lily said.
“Danke.” He returned to work.
“Sometimes I wonder if he’s lonely,” Lily said.
Robert dipped a hand in the water. “I go and see him all the time. He’s really good at whittling and always likes to teach me.”
Paul smiled, but figured Klaus must be lonely some of the time.
“I worry about him living out here all by himself,” Lily said. “His health isn’t so good.”
“Has he ever mentioned moving into town?” Paul steered the boat into the deep water in the middle of the creek.
“No. He’d never do that.” She stared at the old man’s cabin until it melded into the lush greenery at the river’s edge. Her voice thick, she asked, “Do you think he’ll live much longer?”
“Hard to say. He won’t let me check him over.” When he noticed that all three boys were staring at him, waiting for his answer, Paul added, “He’s a tough old guy. If I were a betting man, I’d say he’ll be around a good while.”
“I sure hope so,” Douglas said. “He’s grouchy some of the time, but I like him and I think he likes all of us.” He turned his gaze upriver, seeming content.
The stream split into two channels and Paul followed the branch leading to the right. Lily remained in the bow, her back straight as she stared ahead. She was small and slender, but Paul could see the strength in her. She brushed her hair off her face and smiled back at him. Paul’s throat tightened. He couldn’t keep from comparing her sultry beauty with Kate’s healthy good looks. She’s stunning, he thought, surprised that he’d even noticed. He’d never paid much attention to Lily’s appearance.
Dragging his mind back to the task at hand, he steered toward a sandbar. “Let’s give this spot a try.”
The boys jumped out and splashed through the water, dragging the dory onto the pebbled beach. Lily climbed out while Paul shut down the engine. He leaped over the side and helped the boys haul the boat onto shore, where he tied it to the base of a tree.
Lily lifted out the bait bucket and tackle box and Paul grabbed the poles and a canteen. The boys quickly picked out their poles and set to work baiting them. Paul handed a fishing rod to Lily. She set up the jig, and Paul did the same. By the time Lily finished, the boys were already heading up the creek.
“Stay within eyesight,” Paul cautioned.
Lily made her way over the rocky beach until she found a spot alongside the creek, where she sat on a large rock and cast out her line.
Using a new, brightly colored lure Paul had seen advertised in the Sears catalog, he waded into the water. The current was stronger than he’d expected and he had to fight to keep his balance. The boys had found their spots in the stream and already had their lines in the water.
“I don’t know why men have to stand in the water. The line is just as happy if you’re sitting. And the fish don’t care,” Lily said.
“I like to stand. That way I’m ready if I get a big one on.”
Lily reeled in her line and cast out again. With a glance over her shoulder at the trees, she said, “Hope we don’t meet up with the bear that tore up Klaus’s place.”
Paul rested his hand on the pistol he had holstered at his waist. “No need to worry.”
“A bear can be on you before you can even fire that thing.” Lily’s pole bent and she yanked it up. “I’ve got one!” She scrambled off her rock, keeping tension on the line. Pointing the tip of the pole toward the water, she hauled it up and toward her. “It’s a big one.” She let the fish run, then worked it toward the shallows. “Get the net! Get the net!”
Paul grabbed it and hurried to the water’s edge. He searched the stream, trying to catch a glimpse of the fish. Lily continued to fight and finally a flash of silver glistened in the clear water.
“Looks like a nice one.” Paul stepped deeper into the water, net ready. “Get him a little closer.”
Lily reeled hard, maneuvering the fish toward Paul. All of a sudden, the line went slack and the rod straightened. “Crum-bum!” She stared dismally at the lifeless pole. “I nearly had it.” She looked at Paul. “What pound test did you use?” Her tone was accusatory.
“Twenty. Plenty strong for salmon.” Irritated, he tossed the net up on the bank and headed back to his spot. He didn’t need a native girl telling him what pound test to use.
Lily sat and went to work repairing her line. She glanced at Paul. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get snippy. You know what you’re doing . . . even if you did grow up in San Francisco.”
He looked at her, and when he caught sight of her smirk and teasing eyes, he couldn’t stay mad. “I grew up in San Francisco, but I’ve been fishing lakes and rivers since before you were born.”
“I know.” Lily tied off her line. “What’s San Francisco like? Is it as big as Seattle?”
“Bigger. There’s not as much rain, but there’s a lot of fog. Both cities are built into hillsides, but the ones in San Francisco are steeper.”
“Really? I wouldn’t like that much.” She rested her arms on her thighs. “When I was in Seattle, I got sick of walking up and down hills every time I wanted to go somewhere.”
“You get used to them.” Paul reeled in.
“I didn’t mind the rain, though.” Lily let out a sigh. “When the sun came out, the city and mountains looked bright, like they’d been scrubbed clean. And Mount Rainier reminded me of a grand dame, standing regally above all the other mountains. It was beautiful, all white and glistening in the sun.”
She straightened. “I could see it from my apartment. And Puget Sound too. I liked watching the ships come and go.” Her tone was melancholy.
“I thought you didn’t like Seattle.”
“Some things I liked.” She dug into the bait bucket, pulled out a fingerling, and snagged it on the hook.
“You glad to be back?”
She shrugged and then cast out her line. Her jaw looked tight, like she’d clamped her teeth tightly together.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. It’s fun to have fishing partners.” He glanced at the boys, who looked like they were expecting to have a fish on at any moment. They took fishing seriously.
Paul was alone most of the time, except when he worked with patients. He’d enjoyed flying with Kate, but that was different now . . . Since ending their relationship he’d flown with other pilots—it wasn’t the same.
Melancholy grazed the edge of his heart. He didn’t want to spend his life alone, growing old like Klaus with no one to share his days. His gaze moved to Lily. She’d make a good companion. But he didn’t love her and wasn’t about to marry someone just for companionship. He might as well get used to the idea of facing life on his own.
“Hey, when’s lunch?” Ethan hollered. “We’re hungry.”
“If you’re hungry, come and get it. I made plenty. It’s in the picnic basket.” Lily reeled in, rinsed her hands in the stream, and then took the basket out of the boat. She leaned her pole against a downed tree and picked up the canteen. Taking a long drink, she watched Paul as he strolled toward her. She offered him the canteen.
“Thanks.” He chugged down several mouthfuls, then wiped his mouth with his shirtsleeve.
The boys scrambled over the rocks, laid their poles on the rocky beach, and grabbed sandwiches out of the basket.
“I brought along some cookies.” Paul took a container out of the boat and opened
it. “Oatmeal. You want one?”
“Sure.” The boys each snatched two, then settled in the shade to eat.
Lily took a cookie and bit into it, chewing thoughtfully. “Good. But they could use a little more cinnamon.”
Paul chose one. “Think so?” He took a bite. She was right, but he wasn’t about to let her know. “More cinnamon would be too much.”
Lily leaned against a willow tree. “Suit yourself, but I think—”
“I know what you think, and yes, I know your mother’s the best cook in the territory.”
Lily laughed, her eyes narrowing into crescents. All of a sudden, she turned pale and grabbed hold of the willow. She sank to her knees.
“Lily? You all right?”
She closed her eyes and nodded slowly.
Paul hurried to her side. “What is it?”
“I feel kind of faint and sick.”
“Put your head down and breathe slowly.”
Lily did as he said.
“You feeling better?”
“A little.”
“Has this happened before?”
“Just lately.” She sat on a log. Her color was slowly returning.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
Sorrow and resignation touched Lily’s eyes. “Yeah. I’ve seen one.” She took in a deep breath and looked at him. “I’m perfectly healthy . . . for someone who’s going to have a baby.”
— 11 —
Paul held an axe blade against a whetstone and rotated it in a circular motion, his thoughts on Lily. Ever since their fishing trip the week before, he’d pondered her situation. He knew it wasn’t any of his business, but he couldn’t help but care. What was she going to do? She might be a tough gal, but life was hard on single mothers. Why had she let something like this happen? As much as he hated to admit it, he was disappointed in her.