by T. I. Lowe
The rest of the day passed quietly between them as they sunbathed in uncomfortable silence. As the sun set, they packed up and headed back home, with Leah in near tears over his imminent departure. She had grown quite attached to him in the past few months.
Crowley walked her in and stopped at the foot of the stairs as he always did. He pulled out a small piece of paper and a remote with a key hooked to it and placed them in Leah’s hand. “I wrote my cellphone number down in case you need me for anything while I’m gone, and here’s the remote to the gate. You’re welcome to jog the property or go swimming if you’d like. I also wrote the alarm code down for the house.” He pointed to the key. “And that’s the house key.”
Leah clutched the small gifts in her hand. “Thank you,” she whispered before turning to head upstairs. She felt herself slapping up a wall between them, and she wanted to rip it back down and blurt out a confession to him. Instead, she took a few steps away from him.
Crowley pulled her back to him for a long hug, making her ache all over, already missing him.
He whispered in her ear, “This isn’t goodbye.” He pulled back and waited for her to meet his gaze. He gave her a flirty grin. “You and Lulu and Ana are gonna be so busy planning the Summer Welcome Festival that you won’t even miss the likes of this ole boy.”
Leah knew he was trying to leave on a pleasant note, so she held the tears back and gave him the only gift she could. She tickled his side and teased him right back. “I see what you are doing, Crow. You’re getting out of all the work.” Lulu had already informed her that she would be helping organize the BBQ Cook Off and the Strawberry Recipe Contest.
“You caught me,” he said with a weak smile. He heard the catch in Leah’s voice. He knew she was forcing herself to lighten the mood. “I’m really going to miss you, you know.” He pulled her in for another bittersweet hug.
“Me too,” she whispered. She forced herself to let go and head into her apartment, leaving him standing on the stairs. She didn’t wait as she normally did to hear him lock up the back door. Instead, she rushed to the bathroom and turned on the shower on as the tears spilled.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The first week of Crowley’s absence seemed to drag on at a miserable rate for Leah. Each day she had to talk herself out of calling him. He said to call with an emergency, not to just hear his voice. Maybe he was right. Maybe the time apart would help her to see how important he had become to her— maybe enough to risk opening up to him…
Leah fought agitation when Lulu or Ana would report about hearing from Crowley. She had hoped he would miss her too much to not call. She worried he wasn’t missing her or that he squeezed in some investigation on her and knew the truth. Ana reported that the law conference was boring, but he got to catch up with some colleagues he hadn’t seen in quite some time. Lulu mentioned that the case in Columbia had turned out to be more complicated than expected, and Crowley would be tied up until the weekend of the Summer Festival, to Leah’s disappointment.
In the weeks since Crowley left, Leah had taken up jogging on the plantation property. Most days she would strip to her bra and panties afterwards for a swim and then sunbathe until she dried out so she could jog back home. A few times, she skipped the pool and opted for sitting on the welcoming porch, either in the swing or rocking chair. She never ventured inside, not feeling right about being in the house without Crowley.
The three-day Summer Festival kept Leah’s mind off of Crowley’s absence, almost. Lulu kept her busy with organizing the BBQ Cook Off and the Strawberry Recipe Contest. She was tasked with organizing the booth location and set-up, phoning all of the contestants to confirm their participation and what their entry would be, picking the judges for the contest, and ordering the winner ribbons and trophies. It was a lot of work.
Ana sponsored a Southern Belle night at her boutique the evening before the festivities kicked off. She roped Leah in to take care of the food preparations, which included light hors d'oeuvres of tomato tartlets, vegetable and fruit platters, mini strawberry shortcakes with fresh whipped cream, and strawberry punch. Leah even helped her friend host the evening.
They laughed through a silly purse game where the girls had to pull items out that started with the drawn letter. The well-dressed young debutants had no problem pulling out a tampon for the letter T, causing giggles to break out through the group. One young lady actually pulled out a bra for the letter B. This made Leah keel over in laughter.
After the games and food, Ana had a cosmetic representative demonstrate makeup application. Each young lady was presented a goody bag full of cosmetics. They were also delighted to receive a brightly-colored beaded bracelet to wear during the festival, declaring them members of the Southern Belle League, as proclaimed by Ana.
After cleaning up from the party, Leah said her goodbyes and headed to the door.
“Not so fast, young lady. I have two sundresses you’ve forgotten all about. You are going to need one for Saturday’s dance,” Ana said in her prissy tone.
The highlight of the three-day festival was the Dancing in the Streets event that fell on the last night of the celebration. It was all Ana and the teenage girls could talk about. Ana had sold out of all of her sundresses to the excited women in town, both young and old.
“I assumed you ended up having to sell them.” Leah shrugged. She followed Ana to the dressing room where her petite friend helped her try them on. She slipped the black halter dress on first and loved how it cascaded softly down to her ankles. Next, Leah tried on the shorter one-shoulder dress, with its vivid shades of blue and teal reminding her of a tropical ocean.
“This one will be better for dancing,” Ana said. She fetched a pair of gold wedge sandals and a gold cuffed bracelet for Leah to try on with the dress. Once Leah strapped the shoes on and stood straight, Ana stepped back to get a good look at her. “Twirl around.” Leah did as instructed, and the flowing skirt danced out like a soft umbrella.
Ana placed her hands on her hips. “Humph!”
“What?” Leah asked, looking down at her outfit to see what was wrong.
“I can’t go to the dance.”
“Why not?” Leah now stood with her hands on her hips.
“Because I won’t be the hottest girl there this year.” Ana playfully popped Leah on her butt. “Bend your tall-self down.” Ana pulled Leah’s hair up and studied the result in the mirror. “I think Crowley will like this one.”
“You think I should wear my hair up?” Leah asked as Ana released her curls.
“Yep. I think Crowley would like it,” she said, trying to provoke Leah.
Leah ignored her. “Is Jake going to be able to make it?” She slipped the sandals off her feet and began to redress.
“Yeah. He’s driving up on Saturday morning. He said Crowley should be arriving some time behind him.” Ana eyed Leah. “Crowley told Jake he sure was missing you.” Ana smiled when she finally got a reaction of relief from her friend.
Leah gathered her purchases and headed to the register to settle her bill. “How do you really feel about me and Crowley being friends?” The two women had danced around the conversation long enough. Leah knew they needed to clear the air.
“Friends?” Ana laughed. “Leah, the way that man looks at you was what I had desperately wanted from him for so long. I was selfish. I know that now. I love him and always will.” She bagged Leah’s purchases and grabbed a pair of gold chandelier earrings with teal stones to add to the bag.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Leah said softly as she handed Ana the money.
“Then don’t hurt him,” Ana said. “He will always be a brother to me.”
“I know.” Leah turned to leave.
“Don’t forget your goody bag, Miss Allen. You be sure to wear your bracelet during the festival.” Ana smiled.
Leah loved how everyone in this town always seemed to end a conversation on a good note. It was very charming.
“I wouldn’t think o
f not wearing my exclusive Southern Belle bracelet, Ana, dear.” Leah blew her friend a farewell kiss as she scooped up her goody bag and headed next door.
The festival seemed to solidify Leah’s town membership. Thursday and Friday afternoons were spent helping with the festival. To her amusement, Leah continuously had a shadow of teenage girls. People even asked for her recommendations as to what shows to attend or what booths to visit, making her feel accepted.
Lulu and Leah closed the café on Saturday for the festival, but offered premade sandwiches and baked goods for sale at a booth near the contest tents. Lulu had a few part-time girls manning the booth, while Leah and she occasionally popped in to help out.
Leah spent the morning setting up the Strawberry Recipe Contest tent. A table was set up for preserves and jellies. Another was set up for pies and one for cakes. Baskets of lush berries dressed tables with red tablecloths. Leah had grabbed white tablecloths earlier, but Lulu advised against it—strawberry stains were a pain to get out.
Lulu, dressed in a white peasant blouse, denim capris, and her signature white Keds, swept in about midmorning to check on Leah. “How’s it going, dear?” she asked as she tied a red bandana in her silver locks.
“You might as well have an alcoholic in a bar to help judge a cocktail recipe contest,” Leah said as she inhaled the delectable berry aromas perfuming the air.
Lulu chuckled. “You’re a tough cookie. You can handle it.” She scooted back out to check on the café’s food booth. Leah pulled identification cards from her strawberry-patterned apron pocket and placed them by each submission.
The contest concluded late in the afternoon. Leah managed to only eat one slice of strawberry sour cream cake. She grabbed up a strawberry cream pie to present to Crowley, if she got to see him. She spent the day looking around, hoping to see the gentle giant hovering over the crowd. To her disappointment, he had not made an appearance.
After wrapping up her festival duties, Leah headed to her apartment. She placed the pie in the fridge and headed to the shower to wash away her newly-acquired strawberry perfume. She took her time washing, taking extra care to shave her legs smooth and to scrub her face in preparation for the new makeup she was given at the Southern Belle party.
Once she dried off, Leah slathered her body with a perfumed lotion and spritzed the matching perfume, with notes of rose and crisp, clean citrus, all over. She wrapped the towel around her midsection and moved over to the mirror. After wiping the steam away, she inspected her eyebrows and plucked a few strays. Content with that, Leah stepped into her bedroom and admired the beautiful dress draped across her bed. She was determined to show her new outfit off with or without Crowley.
Leah spent the next hour applying her make-up and placing her hair in a romantic updo. She finished off the look with a light dusting of bronzing powder on her exposed shoulder and arms to highlight her newly-acquired tan.
As she inspected herself one last time in the full-length mirror, Leah heard the town come to life outside with an explosion of festive music. The sound was followed shortly by a knock at her door. Relief and excitement flooded through her as she headed to answer it. The longing to reunite with Crowley made Leah antsy. She swung the door open to find a devastatingly handsome man leaning on her door frame.
“Ana said for me to come up here and sweet-talk you into joining us at the dance.” Jake smiled.
Leah’s heart stung with disappointment at finding the wrong tall, dark, and handsome man outside her door. She tried to recover before Jake could pick up on it.
“You talked me right into it with that handsome smile.” She smiled back at him as she wrapped her arm in his waiting one and allowed him escort her outside into the crowded streets.
The music filled the air with loud vibrations full of excitement and spirit. Leah smiled as she took in the crowd. Sundresses twirled in every direction, heads bobbed to the timing of the music, and raised hands clapped to the beats of the song. The rhythm of the dance music had cast its spell over the filled streets, causing the crowd to let loose and let the fun take over them.
She dropped her hold on Jake and started swaying to the vibrant melody. She gazed up to the clear evening sky, filled with glowing stars twinkling their approval down on the festival. Colorful paper lanterns, strung precariously over the streets, seemed to be dancing along to the music as well. The moonlight filtered through the trees and was tickling the top of the joyful river. The energy in the air pricked at her skin and took over. With her eyes closed, Leah spun around, engulfed in the whimsy of it all.
When she opened her eyes, Crowley stood before her, only a few feet away. The sight of him, so handsome in his white linen shirt and jeans, took her breath away. His stare was hypnotic, and she was instantly caught in his trance. Her body continued to sway to the rhythm as he moved towards her. He radiated a free spirit fitting with the night’s atmosphere.
Without a word, Crowley pulled Leah to him and began to move to the music. The song crooned jubilantly about rocking in the dance hall. Crowley danced with grace and ease to the vivacious tones with Leah in his arms. He twirled her out and tucked her into him as the song sent them flying away.
A quick pause in the music froze the crowded street for a split second. When the song continued, Crowley spun Leah back out as if choreographed, causing her to giggle. He spun her back in and tucked her back into his chest as he serenaded her with words about needing to go away but coming back for his love.
Leah wrapped her arm around Crowley’s neck and twined her fingers in his hair as the pair danced in sync to the punctuated beat of the music. The song came to a close and was quickly replaced by the next lively selection. Leah noticed no slow songs were included. Time sped by unannounced as she danced an unending dance with Crowley. Two hours passed as song after vivacious song played.
Crowley whispered in her ear, “Let’s go,” causing the unspoken emotional trance to end. He held firmly onto her hand as they made their way through the congested street. They entered the back door of the silent café with their ears ringing.
The cool air felt invigorating on Leah’s overheated body. She strode into the kitchen and poured a glass of water. She took a long pull from the glass then offered it to Crowley. He drained the glass and set it on the counter.
He gathered Leah in his arms and gently swayed to the melody of their heartbeats. As they slow danced, Crowley worked the pins out of Leah’s hair, causing the curls to cascade down her back. He ran his hands through her hair as they circled slowly around the kitchen until he gradually pulled her to the hallway. He danced her back up against the wall and stopped to admire her. “You look lovely tonight,” he murmured, his eyes lingering on her bare shoulder. He ran his fingertips along her collarbone, sending shivers down her back.
Leah was unable to respond. She stood in his embrace, watching him watch her.
He placed his hand on her cheek and asked in a hoarse voice, “Leah, may I please kiss you?”
“Yes,” she answered breathlessly, barely able to get the one word out.
Crowley ran his thumb along her bottom lip as he leaned down slightly and placed a soft kiss there. He looked back up at Leah for permission. Her eyes returned the emotions he felt. She leaned closer to him, closing the space. They held each other’s gaze until Crowley could no longer bear it. He kissed Leah delicately, without rush, making her melt into the sweetness of it.
He knew this was the only first kiss he would ever have with her, and he was determined to make it count. Life served up only a small portion of firsts in a lifetime, and it was up to the person to not take it for granted. There were no do-overs with firsts. Crowley’s lingering kiss grew more intense as he remembered this and his mouth watered for more. They kissed until Leah had to pull away.
“What’s wrong?” Crowley whispered.
She quietly chuckled and rubbed her neck. He sat on one of the steps of the staircase and pulled her to his lap.
“Better?” Crowle
y asked as he rubbed her neck. Leah nodded. “Good,” he replied. “I’m not finished kissing you yet.” With that, their lips met indulgently once again—soft and slow, then gradually building.
Crowley’s lips were so tender and attentive, making Leah feel as though this was her first real kiss in her entire life. Each touch of his mouth sent an overwhelming longing through Leah that she had never experienced. Feelings of hope, wanting, and compassion filtered all over her body.
The kiss lasted until both had to break away to catch their breath. Leah’s pulse was racing and her lips felt swollen, giving her the overwhelming satisfaction of being thoroughly kissed. That was amazing. Why on earth didn’t people spend more time kissing?
Crowley took in the smirk on Leah’s face. “What?” His voice cracked as he spoke.
Too embarrassed to repeat her thoughts, Leah offered up another confession instead. “I’ve missed you terribly.” She tried to stand, but Crowley clamped his hands firmly around her waist.
“Please don’t go yet.”
Leah heard the strain in his husky voice. “Okay.”
Crowley cradled her into his chest. She could feel his heart hammering away inside.
Leah lay there as Crowley gently rubbed her back until his heart rate settled into a more normal pace. She snuggled into the crook of his warm neck, breathing in the alluring scent of him, until she dozed off.
****
He was in no rush to leave her, so they sat for over an hour as he soothingly rocked her. He felt like he could spend the rest of his life perched right there on that stairwell with her in his arms.
As life demanded, Crowley picked up a sleeping Leah and carried her into her apartment. He pulled the covers back and placed his sleeping beauty in her bed. He slid her gold sandals off and pulled the blanket over her. She woke to find him staring down at her.