Since it was cold outside, they remained basking in the warmth of the sweet-smelling bakery for a while longer. Sam pulled his chair beside hers and Petra was now enmeshed in his arms, her head leaning on his shoulder, her hand resting on his thigh. “Sam,” she started in a tiny voice, “I have to ask you something, and I hope you’re not going to get mad.” Uh-oh, that guilty voice again. Sam stole a glance at her. What now?
“What did you do, Petra?” he asked, uncomfortably aware that he was dishing out judgment before even hearing her case.
She looked at him with a slightly outraged expression on her face and waved her head at him. “Never mind then,” she said, obviously upset.
“I’m sorry,” he exclaimed with a big sigh. “You just have this penchant for trouble and I am so afraid that—never mind, honey. Ignore me,” he pleaded, offering her a big reconciliatory smile. “Tell me, what do you need?”
Appeased by his apology, she relaxed back into his shoulder. “I have asked Liam to take me to Jonas’ place so I can try to find what I’m looking for.” Of course, she had yet to tell him what that was, but he wasn’t going to ask her. He wondered jealously whether she had confided in her British friend. “Jonas is at a conference in Tacoma today, so Liam offered to take me there. He has the keys. So, I’m going there in a couple hours.”
“Not alone, you’re not,” he exclaimed a little louder than he had planned.
“I won’t be alone,” she protested. “Liam will be with me.” Like that really made him feel better about all of this. Besides, he felt a bit possessive about that place since it was there they had first met.
“I’m coming too.” His voice didn’t allow for discussion, so she gave up and accepted he would be coming along. Sam almost let out a laugh when she, obviously trying to make a point, crossed her arms in defiance and frowned at him.
The decision to brave the cold air was triggered by the dirty looks they were getting from the bakery staff. They had been sitting there for almost two hours and they had apparently overstayed their welcome. Giggling, they bundled up and left. A blast of arctic air hit them with the force of a hammer as soon as they were out the door. “Holy crap,” Sam exclaimed, pulling her closer in an attempt at keeping her warm. “Where do we go? It’s too early to go to Linden’s.”
“Aquarium,” she exclaimed excitedly.
“Excuse me?” Not sure he had heard correctly, Sam stared at her lips. “Aquarium?”
“Yes, let’s go to the aquarium down at the Waterfront,” she said enthusiastically. “It’s just a few minutes’ walk from here and it’s warm and beautiful. I used to spend a lot of time there when I wanted some peace of mind. Let’s go there. I want to introduce you to my favorite animal.”
Sam was already walking in the direction of the Waterfront, gently coaxed by the small woman beside him. “Oh yeah?” he exclaimed, skepticism in his tone. “You’re on a first name basis with a fish? Why am I not surprised?”
“She’s not a fish,” Petra protested. “Come on, walk faster.”
The walk to the aquarium was brief and soon they were within the walls of the marine world. Petra’s eyes sparkled as they walked the dark hallways of the building and she bounced from foot to foot like a little girl about to get her favorite candy. “I always loved the feeling I get in here,” she said with a giggle. “When I was a kid I often asked my parents to visit the sea animals, either here or by the ferry station where the harbor seals swim and play. Now, as a woman, the aquarium gives me the peace I often long for. Beneath the Underwater Dome, during low-traffic hours, I can replicate the peace and quiet I get when swimming.” Her face was flushed and her eyes wide as she spoke. “Being under water, with no need to breathe or talk, a temple of silence surrounding me, I can quiet the troubled voices of my soul. Here, I can let go of the pain and anger and just…be. There’s something about the ocean waters that, like some magic chamber, soothes my soul and slows time itself.” She glanced at him, blushing crimson. “I wanted to share this haven with you. Is that crazy?”
Even though he probably didn’t fully understand it, this felt like an act of intimacy to him. He felt ridiculously happy she was sharing it with him.
As she held his hand firmly in hers, she pulled him through the hallways and rooms of the aquarium without stopping. Sam could tell she had a certain place in mind. At one point she stopped to talk soothingly—and yes, she actually talked—to a funny looking puffer fish that apparently felt threatened by something, swollen as it was. Sam had to restrain a chuckle. How wonderfully kooky of her, he thought, amused. Then, she kept going until they were standing in the big, curved space of the Underwater Dome. The Puget Sound was all around them; it faced them, it surrounded them from the back, and it hovered over them. It was an amazing sight. Sam couldn’t remember the last time he had been there, and he had certainly forgotten about this amazing room. Fish of all sizes and shapes swam around in their unhurried pace, friend and foe in the same tank and somehow getting along. There were sharks and rockfish, salmon and rakes, small fish and big fish, and even a giant octopus that crawled around in its fluid way, strangely graceful for such an odd-looking creature.
“There she is,” Petra yelled suddenly, pointing above their heads. Like a mermaid, a harbor seal waved herself across the water toward the glass. Her speckled skin gave her a youthful look while her whiskers, full and bristly, made her look older and wiser. “There’s my girl.” Petra waved at the seal as if she could see them. Much to his surprise, the seal made a full turn and headed toward them. Could the seal actually see them?
Petra got closer to the glass and placed one hand on it, waiting for the seal to approach. “We have known each other for many years,” she said, as if talking about a human being. “She always comes and says hi when I visit. I call her Pippi because of her freckles.” She laughed as the seal, obviously recognizing her, came to nuzzle at the glass behind Petra’s hand. “She has several pups,” Petra continued. “When they were small, she used to bring them with her. She is a lovely creature, aren’t you, Pippi?” The seal seemed to agree, waving her head back and forth.
“I’ll be damned,” Sam exclaimed, floored by the seal’s reaction to Petra. “She actually knows you.”
“Seals are extremely intelligent and loving,” she said, patting Pippi’s nose through the glass. “Sometimes she comes out into the harbor. I’ve seen her by the pier several times.”
The seal got tired of rubbing herself on the glass and swam away with a great flap of her tail. Petra backed away from the glass as well and went to sit down on one of the benches that punctuated the space. Sam sat with her, holding her hand in his, a little lost for words. He wasn’t sure why, but he had the feeling this was a big moment for them as a couple. Whatever meaning this aquarium had for Petra, she was willing to share it with him. That meant a lot.
Time flew while they walked around the aquarium, laughing at the odd creatures it contained, talking about nothing and everything. Soon, it was time to meet up with Liam at Linden’s house. Sam felt a pressure of apprehension on his chest, still convinced this was a terrible idea. They walked back to his car and drove the few miles to the wealthy neighborhood where Jonas lived.
The trees bordering the streets were bare in great contrast with the evergreens that lined the surrounding mountains, and Sam couldn’t help but think that if he had that kind of money he would buy a house in the nearby forests, not in a manmade—albeit beautiful—environment. Liam was waiting at the door, and after the initial greetings he took them to the house, a two-story Victorian-looking place that Sam felt strangely attached to.
“I must confess, Petra,” Liam was saying as they climbed the steps to the front door. “I feel a little weird doing this. Jonas is my friend and I feel I’m betraying his trust.”
Petra laid an assuring hand on the Brit’s arm. “I know, Liam,” she said in her sweetest voice. “I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t for the fact that this item is of immense sentimental value fo
r me.”
“Why don’t you just ask him for it?” Liam asked, mirroring Sam’s own thoughts. “He would give it to you. It’s not like you asked for much in the divorce. Why didn’t you? Jonas is loaded.”
“I’m not sure I know where it is.” Petra changed the subject as they entered the house. “You look in the living room, Liam. Sam and I will look in the bedroom.” Had she actually told Liam what this so-wanted object was?
The British Adonis obliged and left in the direction of the living room while Sam and Petra headed to the bedroom. Once there, Sam looked around, lost. “What are we looking for?” he asked, but got only silence as a reply.
***
Petra
Petra was looking under objects, opening drawers, fluffing pillows, fingers thirsting for the texture of all those beautiful, artful things. Embroiled in her task, she didn’t notice that Sam had opened the door to the closet where they had first met. Suddenly, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her inside with him.
“What?” she exclaimed as he closed the door behind them. The closet had not improved in size since the last time. In fact, it felt even smaller. Jonas must have stored something else in there. Something was poking her in the back and she tried to adjust her position by squeezing herself closer to him. Her throat went dry and the simple act of breathing became very hard. Sam’s body lined along hers left very little to the imagination as to how much he wanted her right then. She felt his hand curve around the back of her neck, his warm breath on her face immediately followed by his mouth on hers. Dizzy with yearning, she closed her eyes as her body bent slightly backward, supported by one of his arms around the waist. “What are we doing?” she murmured, her cheek on his. “I should be out there looking for—”
As if on cue, Liam yelled from the living room. “Petra, what exactly am I looking for? You never told me.” Sam burst out laughing, sending a big whoosh of air into her neck.
“You are amazing, girl,” he said as he opened the closet door. “Go help the poor devil.”
Winded and weak in the legs, Petra turned in the direction of the living room only to stop frozen by the sight of Jonas coming in through the front door. “What the hell are you doing in my house?” he shouted. Then, seeing Liam on the other side, “And you? What the hell is going on?” The sight of Sam, coming in from behind Petra didn’t help the mood. For a few minutes, they were all paralyzed by surprise and dismay, listening to Linden shout out insults and expletives.
“God, man,” It was Liam, taking steps forward to try and explain a very unexplainable situation to his friend. Petra felt sorry for him. He was very loyal and this must really sting. “I’m so sorry, Jonas. Petra forgot something here and I offered to help her find it. I should have asked.”
“You think?” Jonas’ strident voice rang in their ears with the loudness of a church bell. “You always believe that chick. Will you ever snap out of love with her? She’s not worthy.”
Sam had started toward him, fist raised, ready to physically show Linden how much he disagreed with his words, but Petra stopped him. “Don’t blame him,” she said in a surprisingly firm voice that belied her quivering hands. “He did it as a favor. You’ll be glad to know that I have not found it. Nothing’s lost.” For you, at least. Anger rose in her chest as a balloon ready to burst.
With a glare that could kill, Linden’s handsome face contorted into something almost grotesque in his anger. “You! How dare you come into my house? And bringing your boyfriend,” he added, noticing the way Sam held her trembling hand.
Sam growled. “You son of a bitch,” he said in a dangerously low voice. “How hard would it be to be civil to the woman you called your wife not that long ago?”
Jonas took a threatening step toward him. “That’s between me and her,” he said. “And I have no reason to treat her any differently. After all, the bitch left me.” Surprising everybody, and especially Jonas himself, Liam was the one who, in a swift move, jumped and punched his friend right in the nose. Linden stumbled back a few steps with the force of the punch, and when his hand came away from his face, there was blood in it. “Bloody hell, what was that for, Liam? You broke my nose.”
Liam came closer and checked his friend’s nose. “It’s not broken,” he said. “Just bloody. Why do you have to be like that with her? Can’t you be decent for once? You know the reason why she left you, and who can blame her?”
“When she married me, she vowed to stay for the good and the bad times,” her ex-husband said while wiping his nose on his shirt.
“You did too,” Petra’s voice erupted. “And look how well you honored that vow. I, at least, held the fort for a while. You never even bothered to try.” Sam was beside her, biting his lip and tightening his fists. His hand lightly touched her arm as a reminder he was there offering support when and if needed. “And don’t you ever call me a bitch.”
“Listen, Jonas, don’t be a dick,” Liam said, handing him a wad of clean tissues. “I love you like a brother, but you can be such an ass sometimes. Petra wasn’t doing anything wrong. She hasn’t touched or taken anything of yours, even when she could have. What makes you think she’s here now to steal from you?”
“Because she’s a conniving little bitch that has been waiting to take her revenge on me,” Linden said cruelly as if she wasn’t even there. “If she hadn’t been so washy-washy I wouldn’t have had to look for love elsewhere, would I?”
Sam couldn’t hold it anymore. Before Petra could stop him, he ran across the space between them and grabbed Jonas by the collar of his jacket. Jonas was a tall man, well built and muscular, but he was no match for Sam’s height and strength. “You better watch out, Linden,” Sam whispered, his face so close to the other man’s some of the blood dripping from his nose fell on his hand. “I’m on to you. Your pretty face and buckets of money will be your undoing one of these days. And when that happens, I’ll be there to take you in cuffs and lock you up for a very long time. I know of your illegal deals, and I’ll find proof of it very soon, I promise you.” Letting go of the collar, Sam took a couple steps backward and Jonas almost fell. “Let’s go, Petra. He has nothing you want or need.”
Petra took the hand he was offering her and started toward the exit. “Sorry, Liam,” she said as she passed her artist friend.
Liam smiled sadly. “I’ll be fine,” he said, waving his goodbyes. “He’ll be fine. I’ll see you soon.” Petra heard him inquiring about Jonas’ nose as they left the house. She would never understand how such a nice guy like Liam could ever be friends with someone like her ex-husband.
Out in the cold again, Sam held her in his arms. “Are you all right?” he asked, his chin resting on the top of her head. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t have reacted, but he’s such an asshole.”
Petra giggled quietly into his chest. “You think?” she said. “Your hand is bleeding,” she noticed, surveying his knuckles for the injury.
“It’s Jonas’. I guess even his blood tries to run away from him,” he joked, wiping his hand on his shirt. With a finger tracing an invisible line along the side of her face, he added, “He deserved it.”
As they walked down the street to where the car was parked, silence fell between them. It was a companionable silence, the kind only lovers or friends can share. It was a quiet full of meaning, for in an unexpected moment, Petra had discovered how far Sam’s devotion for her went, and he had confirmed what she already knew in her heart—that he was completely and irrevocably in love with her.
Chapter Eight
THUGS, GUNS, AND AUTOMOBILES
Sam
Life in the Northwest had great advantages, but also some disadvantages. If you lived in the Seattle area, you couldn’t miss the breathtaking majestic scenery even if you lived downtown. No matter where you turned, summer or winter, there they were—the Olympic Mountains on one side, Mount Rainier on the other, peaks always covered in snow making everything else seem small and insignificant. Then there were the forests of beauti
ful evergreens and giant redwoods with leaves that defied Mother Nature herself. They grew everywhere, and Washingtonians had long ago learned how to build their homes around them instead of fighting them. Edging all of this natural beauty was the Puget Sound with its million islands and inlets, and of course the Pacific Ocean, rich in marine life—harboring whales and dolphins, puffins and seagulls, giant octopuses, and the stubborn, courageous salmon. It was hard not to love your surroundings, even though Sam was sure there were those who lived their whole lives here never once noticing the treasure around them.
Like everything else, beauty and peace had its price. The beautiful Mount Rainier was one of many volcanoes that could erupt at any time and possibly destroy all this gorgeous land like its sister Mount St. Helens had done years ago. Once in a while the land was shaken by earthquakes, reminding all of the fickle nature of the earth’s plates and bad-tempered magma just beneath it. The forests, so beautiful and life-giving, existed that way thanks to an enormous amount of rainfall throughout the year, which, in turn, translated to more than a few gloomy days. In the end, all these things balanced each other out, and as much as Sam often complained about the rain, he wouldn’t live anywhere else. He had moved into Seattle permanently in his late twenties when, fresh out of the military, he had received a job offer in the city. He had never left. This was home.
In spite of Washington’s bad climate reputation, this December day had woken up glorious. The sun, blindingly bright, had taken its rightful position in the crystal blue skies, and even though the air was cold and frosty, people were all outdoors enjoying this life-affirming day. Sam had to run some errands for work today, including interviewing a few people about Linden’s case. He had left Petra at home still in her pajamas, loitering in the living room with a cup of coffee and a book. His birthday was in a couple days and she had been stressing about what to cook for his “special day.” No matter how many times he told her he would be perfectly happy to just be at home with her or take a long walk by the water, she insisted on doing something special to mark his birthday. He was not going to fight her on this. It obviously meant something to her, the whole birthday thing, even if it meant very little to him.
We Will Always Have the Closet Page 14