“Yup,” he said with a smile.
“Can I ask you for a huge favor?” I asked.
“Sure.”
“Is it ok if after dinner we just go to your place? Just have a quiet night?”
“Of course. Anything you want.”
“Sorry plans got all screwed up.”
“I’m not. As long as I get to hang out with you.”
He kissed the top of my head and mumbled something about sunshine and honey. The waitress came back over with our two beers and a bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup and whip cream.
“On the house,” she said. “For a belated birthday.”
“Thanks, Carrie,” said Saul. I liked how he called her by her name. I thought it was pretty classy.
“Anytime. Just let me know if I can get you anything else,” she said as she set two napkins and spoons down.
“That was sweet,” I said.
Saul held a small spoonful of ice cream smothered in chocolate up for me to taste. I did so, my eyes never leaving his.
“Good?” he asked.
I nodded. “Very. You should try it.”
He leaned forward and softly placed his lips on mine, opening my mouth gently. His tongue was warm in my frozen mouth, and he groaned as he tasted both me and the ice cream. The feel of his hand running through my hair as he deepened the kiss made me feel warm inside, and left me near breathless. He ended the kiss as suddenly as he had begun.
“Yup, it’s delicious,” he said. His voice was deep and husky, and filled with desire.
“You’re kinda driving me crazy,” I whispered.
“I hope so. I told you I’ll make sure you have fun tonight.”
“Let’s skip dinner,” I answered.
“No way.”
I sighed.
***
We finished our beers and most of the ice cream before Saul paid and we headed back to his truck. I had offered to pay for my own, but he just rolled his eyes at me.
The drive from the bar to the steak house was short. We arrived a few minutes early, so sat in the truck to talk.
“Promise me we can leave if Helen starts talking about her garden gnome collection?”
Saul laughed. “We’ll just show up, eat, and leave. Does she really collect garden gnomes?”
“Uh huh.”
“You ready?”
I took a deep breath and looked at him. “I guess so.”
“Okay, let’s go eat steak.”
We both stepped out of the truck, and Saul met me on the passenger side. He offered me his arm like a gentleman, and I wrapped my hand around his elbow. We walked together and it felt safe. It felt right.
He held the restaurant door open for me and I stepped into the dimly lit interior. I hadn’t been to Myrtle’s in years and it looked just the same as I recalled; cowboy hats and boot spurs on the walls, tall booth backs for privacy, and battery-operated flickering “candles” placed strategically for mood lighting. The walls were wood paneled and the ceiling was made from timbers and smaller logs. In the center of the restaurant hung a chandelier made from an old wagon wheel. It was cheesy overall, but they had good food and the service was well known for being fast and friendly. We walked up to the reception podium and a young clean-cut man with dark skin and light green eyes greeted us.
“Welcome to Myrtle’s. Two of you tonight?”
I shook my head. “We’re meeting six others.”
“Name?” asked the young man.
“Leonardo.”
“Ah, yes. We have your table ready, but you’re the first here. Would you like to be seated?”
“Please,” answered Saul.
“Right this way.”
We followed the greeter to a large table in a back room. The table was circular, which I knew meant that no matter where I sat I’d be forced to look at my annoying stepmother. Saul and I walked around to the back of the table and sat beside one another.
“Can I start you with something to drink?” asked the greeter.
“Hattie, what would you like?”
“Lemonade if you have it?”
“We sure do. And you, sir?”
“Coffee, black. And a glass of water, no ice.”
“I’ll have those right out.”
As the man left us, I looked at Saul and smiled.
“That ice cream was good,” I said, smirking.
“Best I’ve ever had,” he winked.
“I’m starving,” I said.
I looked at my new phone to check the time. Watches had always bothered me, so I was used to relying on my cell.
“Hattie,” I heard my father’s voice.
Saul stood and extended a hand to my father. I stayed seated as Helen took her jacket off and hung it on the back of her chair.
“Good to see you again, Mr. Leonardo,” said Saul.
“Please, just Jim.”
“Alright. Jim.”
My father and his wife both sat across from us, leaving two open seats between them and us on either side.
“Manda and Everett are right behind us. Joe called and he and Justine are running ten minutes late.”
Helen began inspecting her silverware as if it were diseased. A waitress walked up and introduced herself as Ellie, and delivered our beverages. Helen pointed out what was likely an invisible speck of dust on her spoon and asked for a new place setting. She and my fathered both ordered wine and once Ellie left Everett and Miranda joined us. It was a bit awkward when Everett sat beside me, sandwiching me between him and Saul.
“So, Saul and Hattie,” said my father with a fake smile. “How did you two meet?”
Saul finished a sip of his coffee and smiled back. “We met over in Fidalgo by the flower shop. Hattie was having a bit of a bad day, so I helped her out and gave her a ride home.”
“A ride home?” said Helen, sounding exasperated. “When you didn’t know him? That doesn’t seem like very bright thinking, Hattie.”
“Well, Helen, I guess I had a lot on my mind at the time.” I imagined myself throwing my glass of lemonade at her. Saul’s hand on my thigh under the table helped calm me.
“It was the day of the explosion,” explained Saul. “I couldn’t very well leave a pretty lady alone down there amongst the rubble.”
“Saul?” asked Miranda. “You were there?”
“Yes, ma’am, I was.”
“He actually saved me,” I said, locking eyes with him and blocking out the rest of the world for a brief moment.
“So you’ve known each other what, two days?” asked Everett.
I ignored him. “Saul saved a baby too.”
“Oh God, I heard about that on the news. That poor baby died yesterday,” blurted out step-bitch.
I looked at Helen and blinked, not quite understanding what she had said.
“What? No, Saul got it out.”
I felt Saul tense beside me and heard him sigh.
“Smoke inhalation did it in. The poor thing never stood a chance,” continued Helen.
I found Saul’s hand with my own and took it, feeling myself tremble. He leaned over and whispered. “I’m sorry, Hattie. I was going to tell you later tonight.”
I felt my eyes fill with tears and focused on just breathing.
“Her mother died too, from a head wound. Probably best that they’re together now,” said Helen.
“You are such a clueless bitch.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Pardon me, missy, you best watch that lippy mouth of yours,” she hissed at me.
“Ladies, please. Hattie’s been through a lot the past couple of days. Let’s all try to just calm down,” said Miranda.
As usual, my father sat there unspeaking, letting Helen wear the proverbial pants. He used to dote over me and Joe, once upon a time. I stood, intent on going to the restroom to compose myself. Saul kept hold of my hand, standing with me.
“Excuse us,” he said.
I walked back through the rest
aurant until I found the ladies room. I could feel Saul right behind me.
“You gonna be ok?” he asked softly.
“I’ll have to be. I just don’t want to be here right now.”
“Sorry your step is so rotten. I can see what you meant about her.”
He wrapped his arms around me and I nestled into his chest, loving the feel of his muscles beneath his tight white t-shirt.
“Take my truck keys, okay? I’ll go settle our drink bill and let them know we’re leaving. I’ll meet you at the truck.” He kissed my forehead and gave me a last little squeeze.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
He slipped his keys into my hand and I felt instant relief.
CHAPTER 11 ~ AFTERMATH
As I sat in Saul’s truck, the engine on and CD playing softly, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. I was exhausted, likely from the stress of the past hours and days. It was hard to keep the images of the explosion out of my head. The reality of how many people had died began to sink in and knowing that the baby Saul had saved was now gone from the world was nearly too much to bear. I was unable to fathom why a life had been taken so young. I willed my breathing to slow.
I was startled when the truck door finally opened.
“Hey, easy, it’s just me,” said Saul with a worried look.
I nodded. He stepped into the cab and sat beside me. Just after shutting his door he turned to face me and enveloped my hand in his.
“You father wants me to take you home so he can talk to you.”
“Saul, no…”
“Shhh. Just listen. I told him I’d leave it up to you.”
“I can’t deal with him right now.”
I looked him in the eyes.
“I understand, Hattie. I do. You have enough to deal with as it is.”
“None of them were there. They don’t understand. Please, can I come home with you tonight?”
“Of course you can,” he said as he leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips. His smell was intoxicating. “We’ll grab some take-out on the way. Is Chinese okay?”
“Sure,” I breathed against his cheek. “Anything’s fine as long as I’m with you tonight.”
***
We drove for several minutes not talking. It was an unusually comfortable silence. After a while Saul slowed the truck and pulled into a small parking lot. It was a red building with bright yellow trim that looked like at one time it had been a fast food joint, complete with an old drive-up window. The sign out front read The Peking Duck.
“Best Chinese in town, I hear,” said Saul with a little smile.
I looked at him sideways and he chuckled. “What’s funny?”
He kissed my cheek. “Just a bad joke. It’s the only Chinese place in town.” He winked at me and his smile grew.
“Oh God,” I moaned, exaggerating despair. “Don’t tell me you’re a dork.”
“Without a doubt, I am,” he laughed again.
“I like your laugh,” I said, more seriously.
“And I like you,” he returned. “Do you want to wait here or come in with me?” he asked.
“I’ll come with.”
“Alrighty then. Let’s go get ‘er done.”
“Dork,” I said under my breath, teasing him.
“You know it,” he whispered back, into my ear. His breath sent shivers up my arms.
We both climbed out of the truck and stretched before going into the restaurant. As we met at the rear of his truck, he took my hand in his. We walked hand-in-hand to the door, which he held open for me.
“You don’t have to hold it open,” I said.
“I know, but if I didn’t I’d feel like a louse.”
We walked to the counter together.
“Two for dinner today?” asked a young host.
“We’re actually picking up an order for Meyers,” said my companion.
I looked at him slyly. “When did you call it in?”
“Oh, back at the steakhouse just before I left.”
“Clever man.”
“Nah, just a dork,” he said, flashing his smile at me again.
The host walked to the kitchen and returned with two plastic sacks. “That’ll be $26.12.”
Saul pulled out his wallet and counted through some cash.
“Saul, let me pay for half?” I asked.
He stopped leafing through the bills and looked at me for a moment as if he were deep in thought. He shook his head side to side just twice and continued. Pulling out two bills, he handed them to the host.
“Keep the change, man.”
“Thank you, and enjoy your meal,” said the man.
I brushed a couple of loose hairs behind my ear and took one of the two bags when Saul handed it to me.
Once we were through the doors and back outside, Saul spoke. “Thanks for offering to pay, but not on this date, okay?”
I looked over to him and nodded. “Okay.”
“Let’s get this home before it gets cold.”
I smiled and walked with him to the truck. We set the two sacks between us and started on the road again.
“Smells good,” I said. “What did you order?”
“Wonton soup, fried rice, and Mongolian chicken.”
“Yum.”
“I should have asked if you like it spicy.”
“I’m sure I can handle it.”
He glanced sideways at me and grinned.
***
The rest of the drive went by quickly. I carried my purse to the door while he took both sacks of Chinese food. The smell in the truck had driven my stomach wild, and it was now growling with hunger. Sitting beside Saul had made me hunger in other ways. I waited patiently as he unlocked the front door, and followed him inside. The house was much brighter than the last time I had been there. Curtains were open and it felt welcoming.
“Do you want to eat in the kitchen or living room?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I answered. “Either one.”
“It’s chilly in here. How about I light a quick fire and we can have a picnic in the living room?”
“Sounds great.”
“Mind throwing a blanket on the floor and setting the food out?” he asked me.
“Sure.”
He closed the front door and walked over to me, standing close. He leaned down and rubbed the tip of his nose against my cheek. My entire body began to relax from the simple gesture. As I began to close my eyes, he slid the plastic bags of food into my hands.
“Let’s hurry. I’m starving,” he whispered. I wondered if his words held a secret meaning.
Soon the fire was lit and the blanket spread. We sat across from each other with our legs crossed, eating straight from the containers, using chop sticks. I hadn’t had much of an appetite since the explosion and it felt good to indulge.
“How is it?” Saul asked me.
“Good,” I said after swallowing a bite of Mongolian chicken. “But it’s gonna leave behind some serious onion breath.”
“I suppose it’s a good thing I like onions then,” he said with a chuckle.
“I like you, Saul. You’re funny.”
“I try my best,” he said as he set his chopsticks down on a napkin. “And I like you too.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Was it wrong of me? To leave dinner?”
He leaned back, resting on his arms, and uncrossed his legs. “I think right now, whatever you need to do for yourself is the right thing. Within reason, of course. You’ve been through a really horrific experience, and it’s just gonna take time.”
The fire was warming the room finally. I set my own chopsticks down and closed the container of chicken, setting it aside.
“Looks like there’s leftovers,” I said.
“We can have them tomorrow. I’ll go toss ’em in the fridge.”
“Want me to do that?” I asked.
“Nah, I need to change my shirt anyway.
Dropped Mongolian on it.”
He stood and gathered the food containers and left the room. I stood and walked to a wall that housed a bank of bookshelves. Some held books, all hard bound, and others held framed photos and a few odds-n-ends. The room had begun to grow darker with evening approaching and shadows were creeping into the corners. The firelight was soothing. I turned when I heard Saul returning from the kitchen.
“Hey,” I whispered.
“Hey yourself. I brought some wine in if you want some?”
He held out two cobalt blue wine glasses and a bottle of red wine. I wasn't a big wine drinker, but after the surprise appearance of my father and his wife, I nodded my head. He walked to the coffee table, where he poured each glass about half full.
“Nice shirt,” I said.
He had come back wearing a button-up in vertical yellow and gray stripes. I turned back to the photos on his shelves. One of them in particular was of an older man and a young boy holding fishing poles. The boy held a fishing string with five trout, all of them on the small side. The older man had an arm around him and both were grinning.
I could sense Saul standing behind me.
“Is that you?” I asked.
“Uh-huh. I was oh…maybe nine years old there? And that was my Pops: my grandpa. He used to take me fishing every summer. Just me and him.”
“He loved you,” I said absently.
“The feeling was mutual.”
“This was his place?”
“Yup. He died last year. My sister and I were probably the only ones who ever went to visit him once he went senile. His own kids put him in a group home, but the staff said no one else ever came to visit except me and Lina. I would have come to live with him here instead of putting him in that home, but my aunt and uncle refused.” He sighed heavily. “They trumped me in ‘next of kin’ order.”
“And in the end he willed the place to you?”
“Yeah. He left it all to me and my sister. The house, the land, and what money was left. Oh man, the looks on their faces when the attorney read the will.”
“Sounds like you were good to him, Saul.”
“I’d give it all back to have him here again. Grandpa Perry was the greatest guy. Kind, gentle, and funny as heck. When my own folks passed away I was only twenty. He was the only one who helped me out. I was an adult according to the rest of the family, so should be able to fend for myself. The truth is I was a mess. My sister was just sixteen, but they had the same opinion there. Pops left her enough money for college, so she headed to the East Coast as soon as she was able to access her part of the trust when she turned twenty this year.”
This Side of the Sun (The Sun Trilogy) Page 8