“Thanks, Becky,” Maddy answered. “Help yourself to anything that looks good.”
“Oh, you know I will,” Becky waved them off.
John put his hand on Maddy’s back as they walked out the front door and down the steps. He looked at her spikey black heels.
“How do you walk in those?”
“I used to do it all the time. It’s a little weird now.”
“Is the dress new?”
“Oh no, it’s just something… from the old days. Is it okay? Is it too much?” She had so wanted to look nice for him, to show him a more glamorous side than the paint or mud-stained Maddy to which he was accustomed. Mostly it was Becky’s fault.
“No, you look wonderful,” John assured her as he opened his truck door. “You don’t look like you belong in this vehicle,” he observed, helping her in and trying not to focus on her legs as she sat down.
Maddy laughed and waited for him to come around the other side. “If you want me to go change, I will.”
“No, of course not. It’s just very…”
“Ugly,” she supplied with a serious nod.
“No way, no,” John laughed. “I just don’t know if I want anyone else seeing you in it. Maybe we can order in?”
Maddy smiled at his protective tone. “I want to go out with you,” she replied, turning toward him and crossing her legs.
John glanced at her legs and back up into her eyes.
“You’d better behave. If anyone messes with you, I’ll probably end up in jail.”
A half-hour drive brought them to their destination near a small town up the coast. The trip passed quickly as they forgot their discomfort and talked about John’s vacation. Maddy enjoyed the stories about Parker and Blake, and John marveled that anyone who looked the way she did could take such obvious pleasure in his boys and their adventures.
The restaurant was in a large, federal-style house right on the ocean. Maddy was enthralled with the elegant lobby, delighting in the prospect of a quiet, romantic dinner. The setting for that dinner changed, however, when they were told they’d have to wait an hour and a half for a table.
“I tried to make a reservation, but they don’t take them anymore,” John said as they backed out of the parking lot. “I didn’t think it would be that long of a wait.”
Maddy settled into her seat, her momentary disappointment re-placed by the adventure of being anywhere with John. “We’ll find something,” she replied. “Do you know what else is around here?”
John began driving slowly toward the little town just north of the restaurant. “I’m not sure,” he said, watching for billboards or signs of any kind. “I’ve only been up here a couple of times.”
A ten-minute drive through the little village and most of its side streets revealed very little, except a quaint little drive-in, which didn’t really appeal under the circumstances. They began the drive back toward Clairmont.
“There’s a lobster place somewhere along here,” John offered, and Maddy perked up. “The food is good, but the setting is pretty casual. I’m not sure it’s what we’re looking for tonight.”
While Maddy didn’t feel strongly about lobster, she was getting hungry. “How casual?”
They pulled into a crowded parking lot a few minutes later, and she had her answer. People in blue jeans and shorts and even an occasional bathing suit poured in and out of their cars on their way to and from the restaurant. John pulled into the lot, but didn’t turn off his engine. They watched the extremely casual commotion for a moment.
“Do you like lobster?” he asked.
“I’ve had it before,” Maddy replied, trying to mask her ambivalence. It seemed ungracious not to be more enthusiastic about this Maine food staple. “I’m not sure I remember how to eat it.”
“I can help you with that,” John assured her, warming to the idea of a nice fresh lobster, even if they had to eat al fresco with the mosquitoes.
Maddy couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “Okay, if you’ll coach me.”
They got out of the truck and walked toward the building, receiving their share of double-takes from other customers, who clearly thought they’d overdressed for the occasion. John took Maddy’s hand and guided her to the large tanks where they could select their dinner.
Maddy wrinkled her nose. “We pick one while it’s swimming around?”
John nodded. “I know, it’s brutal. Which one do you want?”
She looked at the mass of clambering crustaceans. “I’ll let you pick for me.”
John did, and they continued up to the counter to order the rest of their meal. Assured that their number would be called when their food was ready, they walked out and claimed a picnic table with a remarkable view of the driving range next door. They toasted each other with a local brew served in red plastic cups.
“To the most beautiful woman at this lobster stand,” John tapped her drink.
Maddy grinned and sipped gingerly from her cup. She wasn’t really big on beer, either. “You are so charming.”
John grinned back and reached for her hands across the table. They looked happily at each other, oblivious to the noisy crowd around them.
“John,” Maddy said in a soft, seductive voice.
“Yeah?” John looked into her eyes. He liked that voice.
“My elbows are stuck to the table.”
He laughed and reached for the napkin holder and the bowl of wet naps. “I’m sorry for the rustic setting,” he said.
Maddy smiled and wiped down the table in front of her. “I’m just happy to be here with you.”
John touched her cheek, and then looked up as their number was called. “My steamers are ready!”
He jumped up, leaving Maddy marveling at his transformation from romantic date to hungry man. He returned a few minutes later with a tray in his hands and a big smile on his face.
“Have you ever had these before?” he asked, setting the platter on the table between them.
“I’ve had oysters. Is that what those are?”
“These are clams,” he corrected her, proceeding to pull one out of its shell.
Maddy was not about to tell him what she thought it looked like. She watched as he dipped the delicacy in the rinse water, and then in the little bowl of liquid butter. She bit her lip as he held it out to her. Apart from how unappetizing it looked, she usually tried to avoid eating anything dipped in straight butter. John grinned, waved it in front of her, and then popped it into his mouth. Apparently, he didn’t share her reservation.
Maddy tried to look happy for him. “Yummy, huh?”
John smiled his agreement. “The next one’s for you.” He began preparing another clam.
Maddy reached for her beer. She took a healthy swallow and then gritted her teeth. “I’m ready.”
John held the dripping clam close to her lips. “It would help if you opened your mouth.”
Maddy did so, keeping her teeth together.
John laughed. “Maddy…”
She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. She felt the clam touch her tongue, and then felt John’s finger on her lips. She forgot about the clam as she opened and locked eyes with John.
“Well? Do you like it?”
After a moment she replied, “I didn’t think I would, but I do.” She bravely rested her arms on the table again and leaned toward him. “How about another?”
John grinned and slowly prepared the next clam as Maddy watched. When it was ready, he held it between them and she leaned forward. John did too, looking into Maddy’s eyes, then at her lips. She sighed and waited. John slowly, deliberately, dropped the clam into his own mouth.
“Greedy,” she said, affronted.
“You could get your own.”
“No way, I’m not touching them.”
“Then you’ll just have to wait.”
The next few minutes passed in delicious slow motion as Maddy and John shared their plate of steamers. The mood wa
s decidedly broken when their number was called again, and John went to pick up their lobsters. Maddy watched him walk to the ramshackle building, drawing the stares of almost every female he passed.
He came back a few minutes later with two plates piled high with lobsters, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. Maddy considered the food with some trepidation. She could hardly imagine how she’d keep the messy meal off her expensive dress.
John showed her how. He pulled out two plastic bibs with bright red smiling lobsters printed on them. He walked around the table, and ceremoniously tied one around Maddy’s neck. She felt impossibly glamorous.
John returned to his side of the table, fastening his own bib as he did so. “You look good,” he assured her, sitting down. “I knew I’d find a way to keep the guys from staring at you.”
An hour later, it was time to walk off their interesting meal. They drove to a beach nearby, where they parked and found their way over a small sand dune. The moonlit ocean spread out before them, the sparkling waves quietly lapping the shore. John held Maddy’s hand tightly as they walked through the sand. He looked down at her feet.
“Seriously, how do you walk in those?”
Maddy smiled, lifting her heel so she could loosen the strap of her sandal. “I don’t intend to,” she said, sliding her shoe off and putting her bare foot down in the sand. “That feels so good.” She leaned against him to lift her other foot, and repeated the process.
“There,” she said, satisfied. She held her purse and both sandals with one hand, and took his hand with the other. She smiled up at him. “Ready?”
“I think I just got taller.”
Maddy laughed as they walked to the water’s edge.
“Are you warm enough?” John asked, dropping Maddy’s hand and putting his arm around her.
“Well, my shawl is surprisingly warm,” Maddy assured him, “especially since you managed to wind it several times around me.”
John patted her shoulder. “Might as well make good use of it.”
“It’s supposed to be more like a drape, and less like a tourniquet.”
John chuckled and Maddy pulled away to walk closer to the water. She seemed determined to walk in the waves, not really behaving like someone in a sleek cocktail dress. Silhouetted against the sparkling water, she walked gingerly around the shells, turning to him with a grin he felt sure was there, but couldn’t see clearly in the darkness.
He reached out his hand, which she took again, coming back to his side. There’s the smile. He pulled her in and took the smile right from her lips onto his own.
John tuned the radio in to a quiet jazz station and they listened for a while in companionable silence, reflecting on a thoroughly wonderful evening, despite the unexpected change in venues.
“I can honestly say that I never thought I’d see you in a bib,” Maddy declared.
“Few people are so lucky.”
Maddy laughed. “Well, it’s a good thing my phone takes great pictures.”
“I’ve long since divested you of that device.”
“You didn’t!” Maddy replied, checking her purse. “Ha! I still have the evidence.”
“Maybe,” John replied mysteriously.
“Well, the bib was the least of the show. It was a little terrifying how you cleaned out your poor lobster.”
“I was taught not to waste food.”
“Obviously. You didn’t waste mine, either.”
“You looked like you were losing interest.”
“I was afraid, John. I didn’t want to get in your way.”
It was John’s turn to laugh. “I’ll try to let you eat your own meal next time.” He pulled into her driveway. “Should we try again tomorrow?”
“I’m still hungry now. Are there any diners open?”
John parked his truck, and reached out and played with one of her earrings.
“Sorry, Clairmont’s closed. How about if I make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”
“What? With my food? You’re a thrifty date.”
John smiled, stroked her cheek. “I make a great sandwich.”
Maddy sighed and forgot about food.
A few minutes later, they thought it might be a good idea to walk on the beach again. The moonlight still sparkled, and they strolled slowly, their fingers intertwined.
“Do you want to come in for a few minutes?” Maddy asked.
“Yeah.” John looked down at her in the darkness. “But I should probably leave.”
Maddy slowly let out her breath. She really didn’t want him to go. “A few minutes on the swing?”
John smiled. “Sure.”
They walked up to her porch and sat down. Maddy snuggled in next to him and he put his arm around her.
“This isn’t going to get any easier.” John rested his chin on her head.
Maddy played with his tie. “So, what do we do?”
John was quiet for a while. “I’ve got some ideas about what we could do, but I’m not sure you’re ready to hear them.”
Maddy sat back and looked up at him, confused and a little alarmed. “What do you mean?”
John pushed and the swing gently swayed. Maddy would have been amused at the oversized version of Parker if the mood hadn’t become somewhat tense. The breeze was cool and she pulled her wrap around her shoulders, waiting for him to elaborate. For a moment, she entertained the sickening notion that he was wrestling with whether or not they should see each other anymore. If he thought that their relationship had gotten too complicated…
She watched as he got up and began pacing like a caged cat. He looked larger than life in the darkness, his form silhouetted against the moonlit beach. He turned to her and she held her breath.
“Maddy, please tell me that you see us sharing our lives together, at some point.” He sat down next to her, putting the swing into motion again. Maddy grabbed his arm and the armrest to catch her balance.
Relief swept over her. She let John’s arm go, smoothing the sleeve where she’d gripped it. Smiling up at him, she said, “I see us sharing our lives together, at some point.”
John grimaced briefly, but her answer very quickly brought a smile to his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tell you what to say.”
“Yeah, well, we both know you’re bossy.”
John took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes, then leaned down and kissed her. Maddy finally pulled back and looked at him with a decidedly happy and slightly glazed smile.
“So, about that whole ‘sharing our lives together’ thing…” John reminded her.
Maddy ran her hands over his tie and held it, absently playing with his tie clip.
“There’s really no question that I want to be with you,” she looked up at him. “And I love your boys.”
“You love my boys?”
“Of course I do. I think I do,” she said, considering. “Well, I must. I love being with them, and that night of the storm – I’ve never felt so worried about anyone,” she realized aloud. “Yes, I de-finitely love them.” She looked up at John with a smile.
“That’s really great.” Of course, he wanted to hear that. Of course, he wanted to hear more.
“Yeah, it is,” Maddy agreed. She snuggled in happily next to him, pulling his arm around her. It was a little chilly.
“Maddy?”
“Yes?”
“What about me?”
“What about you?” Maddy asked, her grin audible.
“Maddy,” John said, shifting her back so that she faced him. “I’m not going to give you the answer for this one.”
“Oh, well,” she thought for a moment. “I am awfully fond of you,” she decided, tilting her head with an innocent smile.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said, indicating just how glad he was. Then, remaining very close, he whispered, “I love you, Maddy Jacobs.”
She felt a delightful, happy warmth spread through
her body. “I love you, too, John.”
Their ensuing expressions of contentment at this mutual revelation were interrupted by the bang! of the screen door.
“I thought I heard someone out here,” Becky yawned, walking over to the swing and ignoring their scramble to separate. “Don’t worry about me,” she waved at them, dropping down into one of the chairs by the table. “How was your dinner?”
Burt had followed her and was helping to make room between John and Maddy as he thrust his head between them and demanded their attention.
“It was great,” Maddy answered, trying to switch gears so she could have a lucid conversation with her sister and try to keep Burt from drooling on her dress. She pushed his face over to John, who intercepted Burt’s big head with a laugh.
“I’m glad,” Becky said, rather abruptly.
Her tone had changed, and Maddy was immediately concerned. “What’s wrong?”
Becky regarded her sister. “I’ll just tell you later,” she decided, pushing her chair back and getting up. “Don’t stay up too late,” she added, heading back toward the door.
“You can’t do this to me,” Maddy insisted. “Are Mom and Dad okay? Did something happen?”
“Nothing like that,” Becky said.
“What is it?” Maddy got up from the swing.
Becky hesitated and turned. Maddy looked at her expectantly.
“Phil called.”
Maddy sat down abruptly and John put his arm around her.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “What did he want?”
“I think he wants to talk to you.”
“Oh,” Maddy paused again. “Does he want me to call him back?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s coming here.”
twenty
“When?” Maddy’s voice sounded distant and lifeless to her ears.
“I think he has business in Boston this week. He mentioned something about driving up, but I’m not sure when. I figured you’d want to know right away.”
“Yeah,” Maddy sat, immobile, on the swing.
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