We let go of one another. My head was still wondering about that question. Was I falling in love? Would I know it if I was?
Suddenly I realized Leigh Ann was talking to me.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re very deep in thought. Do you want to share or is this one of those things that need to be saved for later?”
I looked her in the eyes. “I want to say it but I don’t think this is the time. Is that okay?”
“Sure,” she said. “It’s pretty serious in here. Do you want to jump on the bed and fool around?”
I stepped backwards.
She burst into laughter. “Oh Don, I’m sorry. I was kidding. I guess. I just wanted to lighten the mood. Let’s get out of this room before I get into trouble.”
I followed her through the living room into the den. There was a huge flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Across the room was a set of sliding glass doors that led out to a deck and a big back yard surrounded by a privacy fence. By the door we had come through was what looked like an antique chair next to a small antique looking table with a very old fashioned phone. I think they called them candlestick phones. I wondered if it worked.
And there, against the wall opposite the TV was a loveseat recliner exactly like the one Miranda and I had. Same color too. When I had moved back to the County I had decided I couldn’t sit in it anymore and donated it to a thrift shop not far from the condo.
I turned to Leigh Ann. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Where did you get the loveseat?”
“Do you like it? I got it at a thrift store. In Grafton I think. Yes, it was! I got it at the Bargain Box! Do you know it?”
I sighed and looked at her. “You are not going to believe this but that used to belong to me. Miranda picked it out and we used to sit in it all the time and watch TV.”
She laughed. “You’re kidding me now!”
“No. No, I’m not I can prove it. I had to fix it one time and I used different screws on the bottom than the rest of them.”
Her eyes grew big. “Oh, Don! I’m not doubting you but that’d be too much of a coincidence wouldn’t it? Are you okay with me owning it? I can get rid of it if you want.”
I looked at the loveseat and thought I’d see Miranda sitting there. But it was empty.
“You know what I think, Leigh Ann? I think it may be a sign. What do you think?”
She shrugged her shoulders and asked, “What kind of sign?”
“I think you know as well as I do. It’s a sign we should be together.”
She slowly nodded her head and then said, “Let me put this meat in the fridge. Do you want something to drink?”
And she was out of the room before I could answer. Well, that was weird. Was she mad? Hurt? What could have hurt her though? Something I did? If so I don’t know what it could have been.
Maybe the fact that it had belonged to Miranda and I was too much. It was a very strange thing. I think I was okay with it and I hoped she’d be too.
Was this really a sign? If so from whom? God? Miranda? Or was it just a weird, crazy coincidence? I had a hard time believing that.
After a few minutes she back into the room.
“Can we sit?”
I nodded and looked around; there was that single chair and the loveseat. I sat on the left side just like I always had. She looked at me and smiled then sat down.
“Is that where you always sat?”
“Yep.”
She nodded her head. “I have always sat on this side. I sit here when I make my calls for work and when I read and watch TV. From here I can see the front door. I admit I get spooked living here alone. It just felt right to me to sit here.”
“Are you okay with this?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think I am. But it is kind of weird isn’t it?” She sighed. “When I was in the kitchen I thought to myself that it’s almost like you have been here the whole time. Not in presence but in spirit. Do you believe in things like that?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I spent months trying to feel Miranda’s spirit but I never did. We used to talk about if one of us died we’d try our best to get back to each other. I have a huge picture of her over my fireplace and I used to talk to it a lot. I don’t so much anymore. I would tell her I loved her the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. Her ashes were supposed to go on the mantle but they’re packed in a box in one of the bedrooms. With the door closed. Have I pushed her out of my life? Is it time for me to move on?”
She reached out and took my hands in hers. “Only you can know that. I can’t make that decision for you. That’s something you’re going to have to do on your own.”
I nodded my head.
“But let me say this, Don, I’m here for you. Whatever you decide, whatever you need I am here for you. However long it takes. I told you before I think I know what I want and I think you can guess what that is. I hate to dump all of this on you but all of the decisions from here on out are up to you.”
“That’s a hell of a burden isn’t it? I don’t know how long I can shoulder that. I guess I’d better decide pretty quickly. You’re going to give me the time I need?”
She cupped my face in her hands and ran her fingernails through my beard.
“I told you, I’ll be here until you decide.”
She leaned in and kissed me.
“Now, how about something to drink and let’s see if we can find a western on TV?”
She went back to the kitchen and came back with a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses of ice. She handed me the TV controls and I flipped through the channels until we found a western. It was a black and white from the sixties.
She snuggled close to me and I wrapped my arm around her and thought about what I wanted. I watched the sun ebb across the floor until it was dark outside.
The next thing I knew was that it was morning. We had spent the night together. It felt right.
Chapter 17
Leigh Ann and I fixed breakfast together. Neither of us mentioned what had happened last night. It was like it was supposed to happen and it did.
As we ate she said, “What would you like to do today?”
“Well, I need to get a shower and change clothes. I’d also like to check on my dad.”
“Do you want to go home and do those things and then come back?”
I thought a moment and then said, “Why don’t you go with me? When I’m done we can go find something to get into. Have you ever been to the Yorktown Battlefields?”
“No, I can’t say I have. What’s there?”
“There’s a visitor center and a driving tour through the battlefields and woods. Are you familiar with the Revolutionary War?”
“A little bit. I’d like to go. I’m surprised that I have never heard of it. It sounds like a good thing for a realtor to know. What’s it called?”
“The official name is The Historical Tour but when we were kids we called it the hysterical tour.”
She laughed. “I like that! So we’re going to be alone in the woods?”
“Well, if you don’t count other people driving by and the ghosts of George Washington and all of the soldiers that fought out there then yes we’ll be alone.”
She raised her eyebrows and said, “You will protect me won’t you? I don’t want to be haunted or be taken captive by some lonely soldier. I’m too pretty for that.”
“Me too,” I said and we laughed.
I took care of the dishes while she took a shower and dressed. She came out wearing tight jeans, a white blouse with lace around the collar and high heels. I was ready to say something about her shoes when she turned around and went down the hall. She came back with a pair of sneakers.
She cut the dishwasher on after thanking me for taking care of the dishes and we went outside.
“What kind of car do you drive?” I asked.
“You’d be bored with it.”
“Really?
Why?”
“I actually have two cars. One is for work and that’s what I drive day to day. The other one I got in the divorce settlement. It hurt my ex to have to give it up.”
“So what are they?” I asked.
“Hold on, let me go back inside and come through the garage so you can see.”
The door started rolling up. Inside was a silver Volvo station wagon. Beside it sat an older model bright red Corvette!
“What year is it?” I asked excitedly?
“The Volvo?”
“No! The Corvette!”
She thought for a moment the said, “It’s a 1976.”
I walked into the garage and looked the car over. It was in pristine condition. Obviously she kept it in the garage most of the time.
“I’m very impressed!” I said turning towards her.
“Would you like to drive it?” She asked.
“I’d like to do that someday.”
She walked over to me and held up a set of keys. “No, I mean today. Let’s take it.”
“You know what? I’d love to but if we’re going to go on those back roads in Yorktown we’d better take my truck. I’ll drive it another time. Okay?”
She nodded. “Thank you for thinking about that. But anytime you want to drive it just let me know.”
“Are you sure you trust me driving it?” I asked.
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Don, I trust you with my life. And after all it’s just a car. A heavily insured car but still just a car.”
Traffic was pretty light and we made it to my place in pretty good time. I was hoping my condo wasn’t a mess. I usually kept it pretty clean though. When we pulled up I hit the remote for the garage door opener. It slowly rose and I drove in.
I opened my door after I shut the truck off, went around to the passenger’s side and opened the door.
“Well, here we are. Come on in” I said as I opened the back door.
She walked through the laundry room into the kitchen and then stopped. I flipped on the kitchen light, slipped past her and went into the living room and turned on those lights. She followed me and looked around. My computer was sitting on a table in the sunroom.
“Is that the computer you’ve been emailing me from?”
“Yes.”
“I should thank it.”
I gave her a puzzled look.
“You should thank it? The laptop? You want to thank my laptop? Why would you want to do that?”
Had she lost her mind? Was this where I would be killed by some crazy stalker woman I met on Craigslist?
She smiled so sweetly, “For bringing us together of course.”
Whew!
“Do you want to watch TV while I get a shower?”
“Oh, I thought I was going to go in there with you. You know, sit on the toilet while you took a shower and talk. You don’t mind do you?”
I didn’t know what to say. Was she kidding? I hoped so. I was brought up to be modest and respectful. Premarital sex was a definite no-no according to my parents.
I opened my mouth. All that came out was, “Well, um, ah, I, um.”
She started laughing.
“Don. I’m kidding! I know you’re not ready for anything like that. It’s okay.”
I sat down on the sofa and motioned for her to sit too. She chose my recliner.
“Leigh Ann, let me explain something to you. I told you earlier that it had only been a year since I lost Miranda. That plus the way I was brought up have me confused and unsure of myself. I’ll be honest; you’re a beautiful woman who I find very sexy. Incredibly sexy in fact. You are so open and like a sweet breeze blowing into my life. I already have very strong feelings for you. In all reality there’s nothing that I’d like better than to take you into my bedroom and make slow passionate love to you. And this may sound stupid and old fashioned to you but I want to wait. You asked me if I was romantic. Well, I feel like I am very romantic but I want to know this is real and the time is right before we do anything. Does that make sense to you?”
She stared at me for a moment. I wondered what she was thinking. Was she going to ask me to take her home and just end this? Or was she going to be understanding and gentle with me?
I said, “I must sound like a fool. Do I sound weak? I bet I do.”
She shook her head. “No, Don, you sound like a sensitive man just the kind of man I have hoped for all of my life. What I hear you saying to me is that while you feel like you have to follow your heart and beliefs and you also want to protect me. I too have feelings for you. Deep and intimate feelings. And yes I could act on them right now but I know the right thing is for us to wait. I was kidding about following you into the shower. But I see now that saying things like that really isn’t funny to you and it distresses you. Do you know why I say things like that?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
“I do it because I am nervous. Really nervous. It has been a very long since I have been with a man. I’m not the kind of woman that sleeps around. What you said made my feelings even stronger for you. I hope that is okay to say. I don’t want to pressure you. I want you to be complete sure of what you want. I’ve already made up my mind. I know what I want to say but I’m not going to because I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in any way. Okay? Now, go get your shower and get dressed. No, wait, call your father first.”
I nodded my head and grabbed my phone off of the kitchen counter where I had put it when we came in. I looked at it and saw the battery was down to 35%. I needed to charge it. I’d put it on the quick charger while I took a shower. If it didn’t fully charge I’d plug it in when we got back in the truck. I dialed Dad’s number. It went straight to voicemail so I decided to leave a message.
“Hey Dad, it’s Don. I’m just calling to check on you. Um, believe it or not I have been on a date! We’re going to go to Yorktown and do the hysterical tour. I’ll give you a call later.”
I turned to Leigh Ann.
“There call made. Anything else you want to nag me about?”
She threw a throw pillow (How aptly named!) at me.
“You do have a sense of humor after all!” She laughed.
“Okay, make yourself at home. Just to let you know I take long showers. I get the water as hot as possible and let it run on my neck. Ever since Miranda was killed my neck is stiff and tight and the water helps ease it some. I’ll leave the door open a crack so if you need anything give a shout.”
“I’ll be okay. Get your shower and take your time.”
I went into the bedroom and started pulling my clothes out and putting them on the bed; jeans, a maroon polo shirt, red and black plaid boxers, grey sweat socks and my white New Balance trainers.
I was getting ready to walk into the bathroom when I heard Leigh Ann talking. At first I thought she was on the phone but then I realized she was talking to someone in the room.
Someone in the room? How could that be? We were alone. I moved closer to the door so I could hear.
“… so my name is Leigh Ann. Don and I have been on a date this weekend, it started yesterday. Oh don’t get the wrong idea! We slept on your old loveseat recliner. It’s a funny story but I bought it at a thrift shop after he decided he just couldn’t have it in his house anymore. Too many bad or maybe too many good memories. But all we did was sleep. Anyway, I want you to know I really like him. In fact I think I am falling in love with him. I hope that’s okay. I’m not trying to replace you in his life but rather to become a part of his new life. I’m sure you’ll always be in his heart. I promise you I’ll take good care of him if he’ll have me. I just wanted you to know that.”
I heard her sit down on my recliner and then heard the TV come on. I slipped into the bathroom, undressed and got into the shower. I washed my hair and my body and then stood under the hot water and thought about what I had just heard. She said she thought she was falling in love with me.
I think I was falling in
love with her too.
Chapter 18
We were on our way down Route 17 to Yorktown and the battlefields. The official name was the George Washington Memorial Highway but just about everyone in the county just called it 17. I turned off at Cook Road and we went behind the high school and followed the road past the Yorktown National Cemetery. I always found it interesting that the cemetery did not hold the dead of the Revolutionary War but of the Civil War.
Of the 1,596 marked graves only ten are Confederate soldiers along with three wives. There are officers, sailors, and “colored” soldiers. There were 2,204 burials with most of the people unknown.
At the end of Cook Road we made a left and then an immediate right that took us to the Visitor Center run by the National Park Service. I was surprised to learn there was an entrance fee of almost $10.00. It was free when I was younger.
I paid the fee and we began walking around and looking at the displays. Leigh Ann really liked the ship display inside the building. It’s kind of like being inside a wooden ship from the 1700s. She was completely taken by George Washington's Campaign tents display.
“Did those tents actually stand at Washington’s headquarters?” She asked.
“Yes.” I replied. “They’ve been restored but those were the tents.”
“How exciting!” She exclaimed.
We finished touring the building and got back into the truck to begin the driving tour. We had decided to forego the accompanying recording of the tour that was for sale and just take our time driving and stopping and reading the signs along the way.
We drove past Redoubts 9 and 10. She asked me what redoubt meant. I didn’t remember exactly but thought that it was meant to be a temporary fortification. I found that ironic since they were still standing two hundred and thirty-five years later.
That was followed by a quick tour of the Moore House where officers from both sides met to negotiate surrender terms. We again crossed Cook Road and stopped at Surrender Field where on October 19, 1781 Cornwallis’ army marched onto the field and laid down their guns to surrender. This was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. I always felt a chill and a sense of pride at this spot.
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