by Jillian Dagg
No. She had to think positively. Luke would come home, call her, and everything would be fine. Until he left again. There would be another parting. Maybe she had been a fool to contact him, to make herself believe something could come of this relationship with him.
The snow came making life more difficult. Driving to work each day became a challenge. Cally watched planes in the sky wondering which one would carry Luke home.
She told Essie.
"We'll have a party,” Essie said.
"That's all you think about: parties.” Cally laughed. “When he gets here, he might change his mind."
"Don't be negative."
"It's not negative. It's practical. I should never have called him. He'll look at me and think this isn't the same Carolyn Creighton of this summer. That Carolyn Creighton had a great tan. This one is as a white as the new fallen snow."
Essie screamed with laughter. “C.C. you're crazy. You look wonderful. Besides, he didn't have to call you back. He could have ignored you and made his point that way. But he called and told you he was coming home for a while, so that's a positive sign."
Positive. That was the way she had to be.
* * * *
She was going to have to splurge on a new car, Cally decided, kicking the front right tire of her old Pontiac. The snow was coming down like cold sleet outside Essie's garage, and the battery was completely dead on her car. Essie was away on a business trip. This would be the second call she would put through to her brother to come and fetch her for work so far and she knew Kev would again suggest she get a better vehicle.
A loud knock on the garage door startled her. She thought it might be a gust of wind rattling the door but then heard the knock again. Definitely someone wanting in. She went and opened it.
He was tanned and fit and he wore a parka over jeans and sweater. And she said, “I didn't hear your plane come in."
"Last night late,” Luke said and his eyes creased as he smiled. “So what's the problem?"
She glanced at her car. “The battery is dead among other things. It's ready for the wrecker's heap."
"Do you want a lift to work?"
"I was supposed to be there an hour ago."
"I know. I went to your office first and Kev's pretty worried, so I came searching for you."
"I'd better phone him first. Come into the house through the garage."
Luke carefully closed the garage door and followed her through the back entrance into the kitchen. Cally phoned her brother while Luke leaned on the counter, hands supporting him behind his back. He looked so familiar there she smiled brightly at him. He returned her smile.
Kev said, “Get a new car, C.C. And don't bother coming in. The road's are a mess and well, I think Luke wants some time with you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Take a mental health day."
"Thanks Kev,” she said and hung up. She turned to Luke. “He's given me a mental health day."
Luke laughed and strode forward and took her into his arms and the kiss they shared was like no other they had experienced together. Cally wrapped her arms around him. “I've missed you. I've missed you."
He kissed her hair, her cheek, her mouth and said softly, “It was like a long slow journey without you."
"But you have to go back?"
"Yeah. The contract is for two years, by the way."
"No. Luke."
"Yes. But I have a solution.” He kept his arms around her. “I can stay here until Christmas. Marry me and come back with me as my wife."
The look he was giving her was anxious, as if he were afraid of her answer.
"I love you,” he said to reinforce his proposal. “I didn't really know how much until I left you. But I knew something was happening between us this summer that was pretty profound. I thought I could back out from it but I couldn't. You caught up with me in my dreams."
His eyes were pure warm silver. His arms were hard as a rock. Cally leaned against his chest and thought about warm sun, sand, Luke, the house he'd built at the end of the rainbow. She glanced up at him. “I love you."
"Then will you come with me? There are jobs. They need more engineers. It won't be just as my wife."
"I'd like that."
"Then you've got it.” He kissed her nose and her mouth again.
"Certainly was Lucky 13,” Cally murmured.
"What was that?” Luke frowned.
"Nothing. Kiss me again."
And he did.