by Diana Tobin
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise, now, will it?”
She just grinned at him. Hopefully, she was on a roll of good surprises. The last one she’d had was Web.
He put on his shirt and got a quilt from the cupboards near the basement door. “Let’s go out to the porch.” He opened the French doors, but placed his hand over her eyes before she could step out.
“Web,” she protested.
“Just a minute. Step carefully. Turn this way.”
When he removed his hand, Gus blinked, and then raised a hand to her trembling lips. “Web?”
Placing his hands on her shoulders he guided her toward the end of the porch where a wooden swing hung by chains from the ceiling. It was painted white, matching the house, with bright red, blue, and green pillows.
“You remembered,” she whispered.
“Come try it out.” He urged her over to take a seat and sat beside her, gently moving the swing back and forth with his foot. “I figure if we bundle up we can use it till the weather gets real bad. It will be here for us next spring. You said this would be a good place for one.” He was watching her. “What do you think?”
Gus had been running her fingers over the wooden slats and the pillows, but now she turned to throw her arms around him. “I think it’s wonderful. No, it’s wicked good!” She kissed him. “You’re wicked good!”
“Wanna see if we can be wicked bad?” He hugged her to him. “We can cover up with the quilt so no one can see. Not that there’s anyone around to see, but I know how you are. Besides, I don’t want to share you with anyone.”
His words sent a chill down her spine. Web wasn’t like Steve, she knew that. But, still… “Are you saying you don’t want me to have friends of my own?”
Web frowned at her. “Where would you get a damn fool idea like that? You can have all the friends you want. Invite them over, go out with them. But, when I have you naked, I don’t want anyone else seeing this luscious body of yours. Only me.”
“Same goes, buddy.” She leaned up to kiss him. “Now, about that quilt.”
♥•♥•♥
It was a while before the swing stopped rocking. Pillows behind his back, Gus nestled between his legs, her head resting on his chest, and the quilt wrapped snugly around them. Web had one foot on the porch floor holding them steady, then letting them sway a bit.
“I can’t believe you have condoms in a cooler out here.”
“Part of the supplies, honey,” he said, lazily rubbing his hand over her tummy and breasts. “I figured a cooler was the best way to protect them. Gotta admit, it was handy having them here.”
“Very handy.” She wiggled a bit, loving the feel of his naked body along her back. She sighed as they watched twilight approach. “I wish Emma were here.”
“Um…Gusta?” Web shifted a bit.
She patted his hard thighs before sliding her hands underneath to hug them to her hips. “Not at this minute. I meant I wish I could thank her for making it possible for me to be here with you.”
Web pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “I’m eternally grateful she had John Gates hire an investigator to find you.” He drew a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her as if he thought she was going somewhere. “I have to tell you something.”
Dread filled her. It was never good news when someone said that. “All right.” She placed her arms over his, needing to hold on to him.
“Gran’s death is my fault.”
“I thought she broke her hip,” Gus said quietly, chills breaking out over her skin despite the heat from Web’s body.
“She did. Do you know how she broke her hip?” Gus shook her head. “She was skating.” He hugged her tighter. “I’m so sorry, honey. You never got to meet your grandmother because of me.”
Gus remained still, trying to make sense of his words. Something wet landed on her shoulder and she realized Web was crying.
“How is it your fault?”
His breath sounded ragged in her ear. “We—she’d gotten the news that your parents were dead. Gran claimed she’d made her peace with losing Julia a long time ago, but I think the news that she was truly gone hit her hard. She was thrilled to know about you, although we didn’t yet know just where you were.” He was silent for a few moments and Gus let him gather his thoughts.
“Gran was always so upbeat. She didn’t let things get her down for long, always looking for the good rather than concentrating on the bad. Julia’s death hit her hard. The last chance for bridging the gap between them was gone.” He straightened a bit, but kept his arms around Gus.
“I teased her into skating with me. Gran wasn’t exactly a daredevil, but she liked trying new things. I got her a pair of skates, a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and told her she could only go out with me.
“We went up the road. She was laughing, enjoying herself. She was having fun and I was so happy for her.
“We were coming back, and I thought I heard a car. I looked behind to check. I took my eyes off her for just a second, and next I knew she was sprawled on the road.” He pressed his wet face to her shoulder.
Gus gripped his arm. “Was she dead?” she whispered.
“No, but in a lot of pain. Gran could swear worse than a sailor at times. The EMTs couldn’t believe some of the words coming out of her mouth.”
“Her hip was broken, right?”
“Yes.” He drew another shuddering breath. “She had surgery to replace it and came home to heal. She wouldn’t let me take her upstairs to her room, insisting she use the guest room. Your room,” he amended. “We had a nurse come in, but I wanted to be here with her.”
“What happened?” Gus asked softly. She was rubbing his arm, trying to offer comfort, but wasn’t sure Web was aware of it.
“Gran was improving. Starting to complain a bit about not being able to do her normal things. We got the news about you and Hope, and that perked her up. She was so looking forward to seeing the two of you.” He scooted back on the seat a bit, putting a smidge of distance between their bodies, and loosened his hold around her.
“Suddenly, she developed a fever. The nurse said it was an infection, and we got her back to the hospital, but…It’s my fault, Gusta. If I hadn’t taken my eyes off her, I could’ve caught her, kept her from falling. She’d be here, with us.”
Gus sat, letting his words sink in, soaking in the pain he felt.
“Let me make sure I have this right. Emma was a grown woman used to making her own decisions. Right?”
“Yes,” Web admitted.
“Did you skate very often?”
“Every day. It was part of my workout. But–”
“Is that the first time you asked Emma to skate with you?”
He was silent for a bit, before finally admitting, “No. I’d told her many times she should go with me. But, that was the first time I pushed the skates and equipment at her.”
“And, did you go right out to the road once she had on the skates?”
“I had her skate here on the porch, to get the feel of them, make sure she could balance. She was zipping up and down the boards in no time.”
“Bet she looked pretty cute,” Gus said. “I can’t imagine an eighty-two-year-old woman ready for the roller derby.”
A choked laugh escaped Web. “She was something, all right. I took pictures of her, but I haven’t printed them.”
“I’d like to see those. So, if you hadn’t checked behind you, a car could’ve come along and hit her, or both of you, possibly? And, you swept the road to be sure there were no rocks or pebbles or any other debris that could possibly trip either of you. Right?”
“Well, I–”
“And, you have x-ray vision, so you could see inside Emma’s body and know an infection was starting and get her started on antibiotics.”
“No, I–”
“You still feel responsible.”
“Yes. I loved her. Not that my folks aren’t great, but Gran was special. You would’ve loved her. I know she
loved you, just knowing you were Julia’s child and had a child of your own made you special to her. But, it’s my fault she’s gone. I knew I had to tell you, and I understand this changes your feelings for me, but you needed the truth. No matter what, there always needs to be the truth between us.”
“You think I’ll hate you now that I know?” She didn’t give him a chance to answer. “Foolish, foolish man. I could never hate you. I–” Oh, God! She’d nearly said she was in love with him.
She couldn’t be, but she’d deal with her feelings later. Web was the important one and he needed to stop blaming himself. She turned in his arms, not caring if the quilt fell from around them. Not caring if the cool evening air chilled her skin. She only cared about Web.
Gus cradled his face in her hands. “You need to listen to me. What happened to Emma was not your fault.” He opened his mouth to protest, but she stopped him. “No. Is it my fault Hope had cancer?”
“Oh, God, no.” Web pulled her closer to him. “You’re not to blame for that.”
“No more than you’re to blame for Emma’s death. She’s the one who made the choice. No woman her age had any business being out on the road in skates. Her choice.” Gus stared into Web’s hazel eyes. “She could’ve just as easily fallen down those basement stairs. Would that have been your fault?”
He opened and closed his mouth. He drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Do you really blame yourself for Hope’s illness?”
Gus drew in her own deep breath. “No. There are times I wonder if I could have done something different to prevent it. More often, I wish I could have been the one to suffer. I would have taken on her pain if I could. Instead, I’m grateful for each day I had that precious girl in my life. I wanted to give up when I lost her. You’ve helped me realize I can’t.”
“Good.” He gave her a small grin. “Does this mean you don’t hate me?”
She wanted to tell him she cared more for him than she’d ever cared for anyone else, save her daughter. “Let me show you what I think of you.” She slid to her knees, pulling him around to face her. She kissed one knee, then the other, sliding her hands up his outer thighs to his hips. “If you don’t think it’s dark enough you might want to wrap that quilt around us.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Are you done with the surprises?” Gus asked. She and Web had eaten a late breakfast and, despite the rain, were back out on the porch swing wrapped in a quilt.
“Does bringing our coffee out here count?”
“No.” She snuggled deeper into the fluffy pink robe he’d gotten for her.
“Then, I’m done. For now.” He nuzzled her ear before trailing kisses down the side of her neck. “I like what you’re wearing under this robe.” He was lightly caressing her breasts, making ever smaller circles around the nipples.
“You’re going to make me spill my coffee.”
“We can’t have that.” He set his cup down on the floor, then plucked hers from her hand to set it beside his own. “I need to thank Nettie for giving you these two days off.”
“I think after your goodbye kiss yesterday she thought you might need to get it out of your system.” She gasped when both his hands completed the circles and tugged gently on the tips.
“I’m never going to get you out of my system. Thank God!”
Gus turned her head so her mouth could meet his. “Good. Thank you for my robe.” She kissed him. “And the shower gel and lotion.” She kissed him again. “Most of all, thank you for this lovely swing.”
Web sniffed at her hair and neck. “I do like the lotion.” One hand drifted from her breast down her belly. “I’m glad you suggested the swing, but I can see it was more a gift to me. Let me move your leg, honey.” He lifted her leg to rest on his thigh, opening her up to his questing fingers.
“Don’t you need the cooler?” Her voice was almost slurring from the sensual haze Web created in her.
Sex had never rated high on her to-do list. Her honeymoon had barely begun and she’d wondered what all the fuss was about. By the end of her honeymoon, she was viewing sex as a wifely duty, like doing the laundry. Soon, she was dreading it and avoided it whenever possible.
When had she become such a wanton woman? The answer was simple; since Web. She’d felt a sizzle between them at first sight, but convinced herself it wasn’t possible. That possibility became more likely as the days passed until it had become a reality. Web never made her feel tarnished and dirty. With him she felt clean, alive, alluring, and joyous. Special.
“No,” he murmured in her ear. “I just want to play a little. You warm enough?”
“Toasty, and getting hotter every second.” She gasped as he rubbed a finger over her sweet spot, then leaned back into him. She gripped the fabric of the sweatpants he wore. “I can’t get to your skin.”
Web nipped her earlobe. “’S’okay. We’ll go in soon and you can do whatever you want.”
“Where else did you put condoms?”
“Everywhere. I didn’t want to have to worry about getting up the stairs in time again.” He brought both hands to her thighs, massaging, then moved them up to her waist, her breasts, and back again as if he couldn’t keep his hands from touching all of her.
“Now that I’ve admitted my deep dark secret to you, will you share something with me?” he asked.
She squirmed and decided if she couldn’t touch him yet, she’d make sure he touched her where she wanted. She brought one hand back between her legs. “What do you want to know?”
“Will you show me what you have in Hope’s box?”
She froze and caught her breath. When she let it out, she tried to remove his hands, but he just wrapped them around her waist, holding her close to him.
“You can say no, honey. I had to ask,” he said softly. “I want to share all parts of your life.”
She took one of his hands and brought it to her mouth to press a kiss into the palm. She turned part way so her shoulder was against his chest and pressed his hand to her heart. “You mean the ornate one I keep on the nightstand, don’t you?” She felt his nod. “There’s nothing to see, Web. That box holds Hope’s ashes.”
“Oh, baby.” He rocked them slightly. “I thought she was buried in Oregon.”
“I thought about having her buried with my parents in Spokane, but I couldn’t leave her behind.” She looked up at him. “I know it sounds foolish, but…”
Web placed her legs over his thigh and pulled her into his lap. “No, it doesn’t. Not at all.” After a moment he said, “She did make it to Maine.”
Gus choked on a sob as she slipped her arm around his waist. “You are the dearest, sweetest man.”
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he protested. She shook her head and wiped her eyes on the quilt. “Will you bring her upstairs with your things?”
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
“Gusta, I want you upstairs in my room. In our room. That’s why I moved into the bigger room, so we could share it. The other dresser is for your things.” He cupped the side of her face so she was staring into his gorgeous eyes. “Please, share my bed, share my room.”
Her heart was so full for this man it had to be overflowing. She could only nod her agreement, afraid she’d start crying again, this time in joy.
“Thank you.” He sealed her mouth with his.
They sat, holding each other close, ignoring the cold coffee and dripping rain.
♥•♥•♥
Together, they moved Gusta’s clothes upstairs. Web had placed the box with Hope’s ashes on the nightstand, but Gusta moved it to the middle of her dresser. “She’s close enough there,” Gusta said softly.
Being naturally optimistic, Web took it as a sign that Gusta was adjusting to life without her little girl, not that she was afraid he’d knock it off the stand by the bed.
He watched as she put her clothes in the drawers. “I didn’t realize how little you have.”
“Don’t need much to work at
home or sit in a hospital room.” She finished putting away tee shirts. “Do you have plans for tomorrow?”
Web looked from her to the bed and back again with a raised brow.
Gusta laughed. “Besides that.”
He walked over to stand behind her, putting his arms around her waist so they could look at the two of them in the mirror over the dresser. “What do you want to do?”
“There’s a yarn store in New Hampshire I’d like to visit. Do you want to go with me?” Before he could answer, she went on, “You don’t have to. I can go one day after work.”
“Why wouldn’t I want to go with you? We can join the hordes of leaf peepers.”
“What is a leaf peeper, and,” she wrinkled her nose, “do I want to be one?”
“People who come to New England for the fall foliage,” Web said. “How do you know about this yarn store? Do you have a website or something?”
“No computer, remember?”
“Why aren’t you using mine?”
She wouldn’t meet his gaze in the mirror. “I don’t want to intrude.” Using a finger he lifted her chin so she’d meet his reflected gaze. “I don’t have any new designs to send, yet, and I’m saving to get a laptop.”
“I don’t know whether to tell you I don’t mind, or intrude all you want. Doesn’t much matter as long as you’re part of my life.” Was it too soon to tell her he loved her? He wanted to announce it to the world, but he’d try to be patient. He’d just gotten her to agree to share the master bedroom with him. He’d keep moving forward step by step.
“There were two ladies in the coffee shop the other day talking about knitting. I asked for their advice on where to get yarn and one of the places they recommended was the shop in New Hampshire.” She planted a kiss on his jaw. “I’m sure I can find it myself.”
“No way. We’ll make a day of it.” Web straightened, letting his hands slide to her waist. “Have you ever given lessons?”
“I helped a few of the nurses. Are you wanting to learn?” she asked with a grin.
“No. I was thinking you could use the shop, your studio, for lessons.” He moved so he could face her rather than using the mirror. “We could move in a work table, get more chairs. Whatever you’d need. You wouldn’t have to work at the coffee shop. You could work from home. What do you think?”