A Crowe's Song

by Leddy Harper

  Her footfalls were soft and silent, thanks to her brand-new pair of saddle oxfords. However, she could only make it up three steps when the man cleared his throat, startling her. A gasp hitched in her throat, the sharp sound ringing out past her lips. It wasn’t too loud, though it was enough to catch his attention.

  Being warned of someone’s presence when he thought he was alone, he cautiously leaned forward and settled his forearms on his thighs. With his back bent and shoulders hunched, he stared in the direction of the sound and held his breath, hoping to hear it again. There was something out there; only he didn’t know what. Chalking it up as a raccoon or some other wooded creature, he began to settle, his posture relaxing a few degrees.

  Emily, convinced that he’d spotted her, resumed her exit. Feigning confidence she didn’t have at the moment, she moved up one more step. Her goal was to be casual. She believed that if this man was, in fact, dangerous, then smelling fear in the air would only incite him more, so she concentrated with all her might to put one foot in front of the other without tripping.

  Now that she was out of the shadow that had protected her from sight, he noticed the silhouette of a young woman climbing the stairs one at a time, chin down, long hair covering her face. “Hello?” Curiosity laced his booming voice as it reverberated off the back of the church.

  As if the thrashing of her heart had called to the stranger, he scooted off the step, dragging his bottom along the rough stone before pulling himself to his feet. Neither spoke. Nor did either one make a move. They both stood there, statuesque-like, and stared at each other.

  “Hello?” he called out again, this time with slightly less curiosity and more apprehension. When she still didn’t respond—or move—his voice deepened into a rolling, rumbling grumble, filled with trepidation and panic. “Are you all right?”

  That was all Emily needed to break free from the fear that had held her captive since the moment he appeared alongside the church. To her ears, he didn’t sound threatening—more concerned than anything else. And that had allowed her enough relief to speak.

  “Oh, I’m sorry…yes, I’m fine. I was just leaving.” Her voice shook just as much as her hands, which seemed to match the leaves rustling along the grass in the breeze. “I’m sorry,” she repeated and then lowered her chin, chastising herself for appearing weak and timid.

  Hearing the fear in her tone, he crossed the back of the building until he stood in front of her, blocking her exit. His concerned demeanor surprised her—nothing at all like the aggressor she’d assumed him to be. It was enough to settle her nerves somewhat, though not enough to make her completely comfortable.

  Emily tilted her head back to look up at him, realizing how tall he was. Granted, he was on the next step up from her, but even taking that into consideration, his height was impressive. Lowering her sight to regard the rest of him, she noticed that he wasn’t a very big guy, tall but lanky. Aside from that, though, there wasn’t much else she could discern without proper lighting.

  “Are you okay?”

  Snapping out of the daze his presence had put her in, she hugged herself and nodded.

  “Where did you even come from?”

  Emily briefly glanced over her shoulder and said, “I was right there, waiting at the end of the steps for my friends to show up. We’re meeting here and then going to Main Street together.”

  He knew as well as she did that the mention of her friends coming was on purpose, to let it be known that she wouldn’t be alone for long. It wasn’t that he made Emily feel threatened; it was more of a precautionary move than anything.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his words barely audible past the grit in his voice. “I didn’t know there was anyone else out here. I couldn’t see you, and you were quiet. If I scared you, I apologize; I didn’t mean to.” His genuine concern did not go unnoticed.

  Suddenly, this dark, lean, tall figure no longer seemed frightening.

  He glanced around and asked, “Are your friends here?”

  “No, not yet, but they will be any minute.”

  “Well then, stay and wait for them. Don’t leave on my account. I can either stay and wait with you, or I can sit all the way over there”—he pointed to the far end of the church—“to make sure you set off safely. I won’t bother you, though.”

  Emily nibbled on her lower lip while contemplating his offer. He seemed nice enough, and she assumed that if he were to do anything to her, he would’ve done it by now. Considering that he hadn’t been aware of her presence prior to her making it known, it was safe to say he didn’t go there prowling for her. However, she still wasn’t sure what his intention was for being at the church in the first place.

  “I’m here to meet friends; what’s your excuse?” she asked, hoping to sound bold and unafraid. “Do you like to hang around dark and empty buildings all alone at night?”

  Roaring laughter, so deep it resembled boulders tumbling down the side of a mountain, echoed around them. Shadows danced across his body, jumping along with his shoulders as humor seemed to pour out of him. Meanwhile, Emily stood still, quietly wondering what he found so funny.

  “No, I don’t. While I get how you might’ve come to that conclusion, I promise, that’s not why I’m here.” His voice settled as the laughter dissolved. “I came because I needed a minute to myself. I haven’t had one of those in a while, so when I saw the church, I decided it’d probably be a good place to stop. Think. Maybe say a prayer. Wish upon a star.”

  “Why? What happened?” The second those words fell from her tongue, she took a step back and waved her hands between them, shaking her head vigorously. “I’m sorry, that was rude. You don’t even know me, so don’t answer that question. Pretend I never asked.”

  He laughed again, the same deep rumble that vibrated his entire chest as he let it out. “I’m Andy. And you are…?”

  His reaction, as well as his introduction, stunned her for a moment. Even his outstretched hand left her speechless, her mouth opening and closing before she could finally rein it in. “Nice to meet you. I’m Emily.”

  The second her palm slid against his, heat pooled in her stomach. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Her fingertips tingled as though she’d stuck a fork in an electrical socket instead of shaking his hand.

  Andy had felt it, too, although he refrained from showing it. Instead, he twisted his body at his hips, appearing to glance around, and then gestured to the ground with his free hand, offering her a seat.

  Needing to gather herself without the worry of her wobbling knees gaining his attention, she agreed and lowered herself until the chill of the stone met her bottom through the thin fabric of her skirt. He followed, taking the space next to her.

  “How old are you?”

  His question caught her by surprise, though she answered anyway. “Seventeen. You?”

  “Twenty.” The sound of tiny whiskers being dragged beneath fingernails chafed the quiet air around them as he casually scratched his jawline. “Are you done with school, or do you have one more year to go?”

  “About to start my senior year.” That was something Emily had been excited about ever since the beginning of summer break. However, admitting to Andy that she was still in high school had left her unenthusiastic about it.

  The sorrow that flooded her system was as unfamiliar to her as the man who’d elicited it. Confused by the entire exchange, she wrapped her arms around herself tighter than before. It was an inconspicuous move, but nevertheless, Andy noticed.

  He immediately pulled his arms behind him and tugged off his button-up flannel shirt, leaving him in nothing but a thin, white tee. Emily was confused and a little taken aback by it until he held it out for her to take. “You’re cold. Put this on until your friends come.”

  In the couple of minutes that they had been near each other, Emily had caught his scent in the breeze a few times. She didn’t know what it was, but she found it intoxicating, so the thought of being surrounded by it
filled her with a childish giddiness. Except, she didn’t want to appear too eager to accept his shirt. Lucky for her, though, Andy didn’t give her a chance to refuse or accept it before wrapping it around her shoulders.

  A contented sigh floated past her lips as she basked in the warmth left from his body.

  “The fireworks should be starting soon. If your friends don’t show up, would you like to watch them with me?” There was a level of hopefulness to his question that made it impossible For Emily to turn him down.

  His smile covered his entire face when she nodded, making her desperate to see him in the light. She wanted to know if his features matched the ones painted in shadows. And suddenly, the prospect of spending more time with him had her admitting the truth. “They probably aren’t going to show up. I’m sure they’d be here by now if they were coming.”

  “Maybe they’re just running late.”

  She smiled, warmed by his optimism. “Doubtful.”

  “You don’t think they ditched you, do you?”

  “No. If anything, it was a communication error. I didn’t even want to come out at all, but they convinced me to join them, and they must not have heard me agree. Either that or they came by the church, didn’t see me, I didn’t see them, so they left without me. Regardless, though, they would’ve been here by now.”

  An onslaught of emotions consumed Emily, each one conflicting with the next. She hadn’t wanted to leave her house, yet she did, and until a few minutes ago, she was eager to return to the comfort of her own bedroom. She’d also been annoyed with Holly and Jan for not showing up. Except now that she could potentially spend a little longer with Andy, she was no longer bothered by their absence.

  “So, does this mean you’ll stay and watch the show with me?” Had there been more light where he sat, she would’ve seen the excitement brighten his eyes and linger on his lips as he nearly held his breath for her response.

  “What do you mean stay? Aren’t you going to Main Street with everyone else?”

  As if weightless, Andy stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet. “We could if you want, but before you make up your mind, you should know that I have the best seat in town to watch the Fourth of July show.”

  “Where’s that?” The curiosity in her voice sounded flirtatious to his ears.

  He couldn’t hide the smile dancing in his words when he said, “You’ll see.” Then he dragged her behind him with ease, up the stone steps, around the side of the building, and through a small door hidden in the corner.

  Emily followed without hesitation as they weaved through the dark church like he’d done this a million times blindfolded. Even though she’d gathered here every Sunday for her entire life, she wouldn’t have been able to navigate the floorplan like he did. It was enough to fill her mind with question upon question, though she didn’t dare speak aloud for fear they’d get caught.

  Coming to a stop in front of a door in the back, Andy carefully and quietly turned the knob before pulling it open. Not one sound resonated other than the subtle flick of a switch when he flooded the space with dim yellow lights that lined the walls as high as she could see.

  “We can’t go up there,” Emily whispered, staring at the winding staircase that seemed never-ending, as though it reached the heavens.

  “Yeah, we can. I do it all the time. Trust me.”

  “I just met you five minutes ago.”

  His laugh rolled through the air, filled the stairwell, and surrounded her in a cocoon of solace. It was enough to make her stop and listen. Stop and watch. Stop and wait. For him. For Andy. For what he wanted to show her.

  “I work here—well, on the grounds. I handle the maintenance, which means I have keys to every door in this entire building. So if you don’t trust me, then at least trust Pastor Furlong, who trusts me. I think it’s safe to say they wouldn’t have given me one key, let alone all of them, if I wasn’t an honest person.”

  With the fear of getting in trouble waning considerably, Emily focused on the man in front of her. The bulbs lining the small space may have been dim, but they were a hundred times better than the muted moonlight outside, making it easier to take in the sight of him.

  Immediately, she was in awe.

  His dark hair sat messily on his head, disheveled and wavy, full of body. His eyes were dark, so dark that she couldn’t discern the color beneath the shadow his eyebrows created. He was tall, thin, and unbelievably handsome. His sharp jawline, decorated in inky stubble, stole her breath as she fought the urge to stroke his cheek, just to see what it felt like beneath her nails.

  As Emily stood in front of him, head tilted back, staring into his eyes, completely and utterly speechless, she couldn’t deny the air of comfortableness about him. Even though she’d only just met him—no opportunity to prove his trustworthiness yet—she conceded and stepped into the stairwell with him.

  “My God, you’re so beautiful.” Andy’s words fell against her lips in a wave of heat, providing instant warmth. They were raw and honest, almost like a secret he hadn’t wanted to share, but it had escaped his lips anyway. And as if realizing he’d spoken out loud, he shook his head and turned to lead Emily up the winding stairs, her hand clutched securely in his.

  The climb to the top didn’t take long at all. To Emily, it seemed to have taken less than a minute. Then again, that might have had something to do with the handsome distraction in front of her. She’d fully regarded his face in the light, and now that she stood behind him, the heat of his palm embedded into hers, she took advantage of the view—which was wrapped nicely in a pair of denim Levis.

  By the time they made it to the door at the top, she didn’t have a single intelligent thought left in her head. So rather than speak, she waited patiently while he grabbed a set of keys from his pocket, flipping through them all until he found the one he needed. Then, taking her hand again, he led her through the small opening to the iron gangway that wrapped around the stone column.

  “I gave in on the stairs, but I’m pretty sure we aren’t allowed out here,” she muttered as she contemplated going back inside where she knew it was safe. The only thing keeping her from falling off the three-foot-wide metal walkway was a handrail, which she held onto until her knuckles glowed white.

  “Just relax,” Andy cooed, hoping to calm Emily enough to at least enjoy her night with him. “I’m out here all the time; I promise, it’s okay. We won’t get in trouble, and you won’t fall. I know it’s hard to tell right now, but this is beyond sturdy.”

  “What in the world do you do out here all the time,” she questioned, mimicking him.

  “How else do you think the windows get cleaned? And the steeple.”

  She turned to regard the building, taking in the stained glass that lined all four sides of the belltower. The windows stood ten feet tall, the brass steeple above that, which extended another twenty-plus feet into the sky. “You do all that?”

  “It’s one of the many things I do here at the church in my free time.”

  She swung her wide eyes toward him. “In your free time?”

  Andy’s shoulders shook with the laughter that slipped out beneath his breath. “Yes. This isn’t my full-time job.”

  Emily wanted to ask what his real job was, but she decided against it in favor of settling in for the fireworks. She figured that she had at least an hour to bring it up, and if things went well, she hoped to have more time with him in the future.

  “Here, just sit on your bottom and lean against the building,” he instructed in a calming voice, wanting to convince her that she had nothing to worry about. “I climb up a ladder from these gangways twice a year to clean and polish the brass. If they weren’t stable, I’d be the first to know about it.”

  She did as he said and sat with her back pressed against the cold stone and pulled her knees to her chest. Andy took the space next to her, shoulder to shoulder, and sat with his legs crossed beneath him to keep from dangling his feet over the edge of the iron platf
orm. And within a minute, the sky lit up with the first blasts of color.

  “You’re right, Andy…this is the best seat in town.”

  He turned his head to the side to regard her and, once again, grew lost in her beauty. He hadn’t noticed the dimple in her chin before now—it was subtle yet perfectly suited. Her pin-straight blond hair had been evident upon their first meeting, but what hadn’t been obvious to him on the back steps of the church had taken him by surprise in the light. And now, beneath the spray of color in the sky, Andy was able to admire even more about her.

  The bursts of blue across her face caused her cerulean eyes to glow right before the splashes of red painted her cheeks pink. It made him wonder what she would look like flushed, quickly deciding that it could only make her even more beautiful. The intermittent pops of bright white added to the brilliance of her perfect teeth peeking through her faint smile as she fought to keep the grin off her lips.

  Andy recognized that there wasn’t anything extraordinary about her looks; regardless, he thought her to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  And that was what had him so stunned.

  He smiled, but it didn’t fill his face. “Well, I’m glad you were able to come up here with me. I’ve never had the pleasure of watching the fireworks with anyone, so thank you for making this special. It’s a night I won’t soon forget.”

  And neither would Emily.

  July 8th, 1974

  Dear Diary,

  Well, it took Bobby less than a week to reach out to me. He probably thought I’d chase after him, begging him to reconsider. And maybe I would have…if it hadn’t been for my unforgettable night with AC. Now Bobby wants to talk, and I don’t want to, but I feel like I owe it to him, but if he thinks I’m going to jump back into his arms and pretend like nothing happened, then he can think again. If that’s what he’s expecting, he’s a few days late. I guess I should go see what he wants to talk about.