"I'll be out of here by the time you get back."
"No." She still didn't get it. "Please. Your house isn't ready and I'm not finished with mine." He held Lily's hand tightly. "I don't want you to go."
"What did she say about your plans to spend the summer here?"
"I haven't told her yet. Once she gets to Boston and settled in, she won't care what I do." Sam found himself moving his face toward Lily's inviting mouth.
"No." She raised two fingers to touch his lips.
Sam felt regret tug his heartstrings. He kissed her fingertips. "Lily?"
"Yes?" she whispered, without moving her hand.
"I'm coming back." He kissed her fingers again while touching his fingers to her lips. She kissed them as he'd hoped she would. "I promise."
"You don't owe me any promises, Sam."
He tipped her chin, his lips aching to kiss hers. Everyone comes back to Browning. His mother's words rang in Sam's ears. He was coming back a second time, and then what?
* * *
When Lily got up in the morning, Sam was dressed and ready to leave. Listening to her new rainforest CD sent her to the bathroom several times during the night instead of helping her sleep. She might have been able to cope with him going, if he'd ever backed up his displays of affection for her with words. Even when he said he was coming back, he'd let her assume it was because of the house.
He'd set an overnight bag by the door and jotted down a couple of things he'd like done. "If there's anything I've set out for trash pickup that you want, it's yours." Browning offered heavy trash pickup monthly, and she'd told him tomorrow was the day. He tipped her chin. "Smile. I'll come back tomorrow evening if I can get a flight."
'Tomorrow' meant he was spending the night, tonight, with Elizabeth.
"I'll be back before you've had time to miss me."
She missed him already, and he was making all kinds of promises, except the one she wanted most to hear.
"I have to go. Elizabeth will be through with her tea and crumpets and waiting impatiently at Teeny's." He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. "Keep the home fires burning."
Lily laughed to hold back the tears.
Chapter Twelve
Sam arrived at the Boston airport for his flight home with plenty of time to spare, and while waiting, went to the gift shop, looking for something to take Lily. She'd been so excited over giving him a welcome basket, she'd be thrilled with a gift of her own. Spotting a gold chain with a pair of interlocked hearts, Sam held it in his hand, pondering. The fact it was overpriced didn't bother him, but he'd learned from her, there were nuances of meaning, and he wasn't clear on the message this necklace delivered. Shrugging, he handed over his charge card, and when his flight was called, boarded with a slender blue velvet box in his pocket and a gift bag in his hand. She'd like it, and that was what mattered.
Driving his van back from Indiana Airport, in Evansville, he grew more and more eager to see Lily. He'd hoped to only be gone one night but here it was Friday, and entering Browning, he was surprised to see the town had taken on a festive appearance.
Red, white, and blue pennants flew from every light pole. The window of the mayor's office sported new flower boxes with red and white geraniums and purple petunias. American flags flew in front of businesses. A bold banner spanned the main drag announcing the Fireman's Carnival.
The rockers and geraniums on his front porch looked homey. The grass was greening up. Morning glories and roses bloomed profusely.
Attending Browning's carnival might be fun, with Lily, but he'd better not let her swing one of those hammers that rang a gong, for fear she'd hit him on the backswing. He'd been in Browning three weeks and hadn't been able to think straight since she dropped a jar on his head. Chuckling, he patted the jewelry box that lay on the seat beside him.
The house was quiet and seeing Lily's yellow bomber in Jenny's driveway, he knew she must have walked to Radiance. He was as eager to give her what he bought as she had been to give him his welcome gifts.
When he entered his kitchen, he gasped. While he was gone, she'd painted the walls pale yellow and put up a pansy border. She'd put those colorful rag rugs she liked in front of the stove and sink where the floor was worn, and though he still didn't like them, they served a purpose. The room looked cheerier and with the light streaming through the…prism. Lily had hung a prism in the kitchen window the way his mother did to make a house a home. The light cast a rainbow on the table and Sam's heart swelled.
Lily had made his house a home.
He took all the cabinet handles off and headed for Schube's hardware department to buy some new ones. On his way through the store, he spotted a new book on the shelf about feng shui and bought it. He'd planned to look it up when he borrowed remodeling books from the library, until he learned Browning didn't have a library. Maybe the long-legged, red-haired mayor should do something about that. She had ambitious plans for the town.
For the first time since he'd arrived, he ate lunch at Schube's. The sandwich didn't compare to Jodie's, but he used the time to scan his book, recognizing some of the principles of feng shui evidenced in Lily's life. There were many aspects she'd never mentioned, and he skimmed over them. Her philosophy seemed to be a combination of new age principles mixed with traditional. She was unique. One of a kind. Special.
When he and Elizabeth first met, they'd debated everything from economics and algorithms to music and books over restaurant meals, often followed by trips to theaters for concerts or plays. She liked "events" that merited corsages. He preferred casual dress and quiet fun. He'd made the effort for a while but gotten tired of the pace. She blamed his apathy on his kidney donation, which she considered an irresponsible, dangerous act.
It was the organ donation campaign he'd initiated afterward that sapped him of time and energy and alerted him to how insignificant social events were. When he'd told Elizabeth his thoughts, she reminded him if he wanted to become head of the department, he'd better change his attitude, fast.
Once when his father told Mom what to do, Sam asked why she didn't rebel. She said it was too late, and anyway, she enjoyed spoiling Duke. Later, Sam realized his father wouldn't have married a woman who didn't give him his own way. Sam would enjoy spoiling a woman who didn't expect it. His father and Elizabeth took it as their due.
A department head's job did involve a certain amount of hobnobbing. And politics. He wouldn't enjoy either of those, but they came with the territory. Elizabeth would have made sure he kept up the pace, and he'd have resented the hell out of her for pushing. He wanted a partnership in marriage. He'd broken up with her but was still pursuing the office. Was he trying to fit into the wrong niche? He wished he knew.
* * *
Sam put a handle on the last kitchen cabinet and stood back to admire them. Schube's didn't have fruit or anything of that sort but he'd found some clear handles with multicolor stripes running through them. He thought they looked great and hoped Lily would too. He'd liked the dark, somber tone of his grandparents' homestead, but the splashes of color reflected Lily's presence in his life.
He took the steps two at a time. He should have time to shower and change clothes before she came home. Home. He liked having her come home to him.
If he got the position, his career would be secure, but he'd have no reason to continue making improvements here. He was surprised to find he enjoyed fixing up the place. Thinking about the continuity of family, walking the same halls and tending the same yard as his ancestors, was new to him. But his work was nowhere near here, and when he stopped to think of putting time into it for someone else to enjoy, he felt depressed. Lily kept making the Thornbury house homier, and harder to give up.
Hard to give her up.
He'd donned his new red shirt she bought him, had a gift for her, and an invitation he wanted to extend. So why hadn't she come home yet? She wasn't driving so she hadn't been in an automobile accident.
He looked out the window for
what must have been the dozenth time when he realized something was wrong. Brandy hadn't greeted him at the door. Fear gripped Sam like icy fingers. He raced up the stairs hoping to find she'd come home early. Hoping to find her in the shower again.
* * *
Lily had seen Sam arrive and half an hour had passed with no word. Would he come looking for her? Would he realize she couldn't stay after he'd gone running when Elizabeth crooked her little finger? She'd stayed the first night he was gone and painted the kitchen the next day but suddenly realized she was acting like a fool and moved home. She'd set everything in order in her little house in no time, just like it was before, but she'd loved it then.
"Lily." Sam rushed through the door without knocking. "Why did you leave? I thought you understood."
She shrugged. "My house was finished."
His blue eyes were luminous as he tipped her chin. "I stayed in a hotel. I didn't stay with her."
Lily listened with her heart as Sam explained. He'd hoped to only spend one night in Boston, but it was late when they arrived Wednesday, and after almost falling asleep over dinner, he went directly to his room. Elizabeth was annoyed, and he was ashamed of himself for being such poor company, so he'd consented to sightseeing on Thursday with the intentions of leaving early Friday morning. But she coaxed him into meeting her new colleagues at the cocktail party. Afterward, she'd gone to dinner and partying with the others and he'd gone back to the hotel. She'd told him last night he wasn't "that old," but maybe he was. All he knew was that he wanted to come home.
"Elizabeth and I were friends, and I felt I owed her, but considering the price of my round trip plane ticket, my debt is paid. You don't fly to Boston last minute without paying through the nose. I left while she was still out. So she'll be angrier than before, but she's pushed my buttons once too often."
Sam was a kind man and Lily could understand him going, even though she didn't want to. "It doesn't seem she ever gives up."
"She will this time. I love my kitchen," he said, pulling her to her feet and holding tightly to both hands.
She smiled. "I was bored while you were gone."
"I was hoping you were lonely."
"That too."
He drew her close. "I've missed you so much. I couldn't wait to get back. Come home with me."
His embrace and kiss were extremely convincing. She longed to. She shook her head. She didn't like getting her heart stomped on. "Let's try it this way, with me next door."
"I don't want that but… What do you say, you and I go to the Fireman's Carnival this evening?"
"I'd love too, but if you're doing this to make up for going, you don't need to. And if you're asking because you think I want to go, we can do something else. I realize it's a small town thing."
"I'm beginning to like small town things. I want to go."
He gave her a hug, and she followed her crazy heart and leaned into him.
"Other than being alone with you, behind closed doors, I can't think of anything I'd like better," he added.
His kiss was even more delicious than she remembered. She'd made a wise decision to sleep at her place.
* * *
The Fireman's Carnival was held in a field at the edge of town. It was a glorious night with a star-studded sky and the sweet smell of alfalfa in the air. A gentle breeze tempered the summer heat, making it warm but pleasant.
"I smell caramel corn," Lily said, sniffing as they reached the midway.
Sam bought a bag to share while riding the Ferris wheel. Looking down on the crowd from above, savoring the syrup-covered corn, he slipped an arm around Lily. Laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed, and he thought she sounded happy.
After their ride, they circled the midway again and stopped for lemon shakeups. "I'm not going to have room in my stomach for dinner," Sam said, eyeing an elephant ear, "but those look good." Lily said the platter-sized pastry was food for the gods, and Sam ordered two.
"One's plenty," she said, shaking her head at the vendor. "Remember," she whispered to Sam. "I can't stand the sight of vomit."
"Does that mean you don't want to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl?"
"I don't even want to watch it," she said, laughing.
"If you want to declare this junk food night, we can wait until tomorrow evening to eat our fish dinners."
"Tomorrow's the Fourth and there will be a huge crowd." Lily's eyes shone and he could tell she loved the thought of it. "Are you sure you want to come again?"
"Do they have fireworks?"
"Marvelous ones."
"Will you attend the celebration with me?"
"Absolutely."
"Then we'll buck the crowds. Come early, stay late."
They rode the merry-go-round, with him on a laughable ostrich and Lily on a fine white horse. After that, he tried the basketball throw and was delighted when he won her a choice of stuffed animals. She chose a unicorn and kissed Sam on the cheek. "Thank you."
"Let's ride the Ferris wheel," he said impulsively.
"We already did," she protested, laughing, but he tugged her along by the hand.
The wheel stopped when they were on top. Perfect. "I have something else for you." He took the unicorn from between them and tucking it on the other side of her, pulled out the oblong velvet box and laid it in her lap.
She opened it and her voice trembled. "Oh, Sam." She traced the delicate chain, letting her finger come to rest on the interlocked hearts.
He took the necklace from the box. "May I?" he asked, and when she nodded, he fastened it around her neck.
"Thank you," she whispered, and as he kissed her, the Ferris wheel began to move again.
Walking home hand-in-hand, Sam felt exhilarated. "Did you have fun?" he asked. Lily looked up to nod, and he captured her lips, tasting their sweetness.
Walking into the house together, he took both her hands and looked into her shining eyes. In the multiple, reflected lights of the living room, he saw happiness in her face and felt it travel straight to his heart.
"I can't stay long," she said.
"You won't reconsider?" He'd already forgotten she wasn't staying there anymore. "You belong here."
She shook her head, and he looked around the house she'd transformed. "You've done so much."
"Are you saying I went overboard?"
"Why would I think that?" He tipped her chin with his finger. "Because you painted the kitchen? Brought three lamps over from your house, plus mirrors to set under them to reflect the light? Or are you referring to the dozen candles you arranged on the mantle in the library and the vase of peacock feathers beside the hearth?"
"The house is more inviting now that it's brighter; don't you think?" She caressed the back of his neck. "And by the way, you didn't notice the peace lily by the front door." She chuckled softly. "Guess the meaning behind that."
"Peace? I'm at peace with all you've done. Everything's lovely." He took her hand. "Now, come with me. I want to show you something."
He turned on the kitchen light and she took one look at the handles and tears ran down her cheeks while a smile lit her face. "You did this for me?"
"Who else?" He drew her into his arms and kissed her until they both grew breathless, and he knew he had to stop. She was going to her own bed in her own house, leaving him here to his loneliness.
* * *
The whole town was turning out for the Fourth of July Parade. Lily was keyed up, but Sam wasn't in the mood for a crowd with kids waving sparklers and politicians throwing candy. He took a slug of coffee and tap-danced his fingers on the kitchen table. He'd promised her he'd audit Country Care's books, and he had but felt he was missing something.
"Still drinking coffee?" Lily let herself in the door. "You'll be first in line at every portable potty." She planted her hands on the table in front of him and narrowed her eyes. "Aren't you coming? The parade begins at ten, and I have to start it off with a welcome speech from the judges' stand."
The parade consisted,
she'd told him yesterday, of a marching band, mounted police brigade, volunteer fire department, six floats, and several politicians riding on the backs of convertibles. She'd be one of them and invited him to drive her car. He'd declined.
"You can watch the parade without being in it, if you insist on being shy."
The merriment in her voice told him she was teasing, and he made a face at her. "I am not shy, merely reserved. I'm going with you tonight. Not now. You said you could get Oliver to drive."
"I did. He came by for the car early this morning to line up for the parade. Sam?" Her expression became as serious as her tone. "Is something worrying you again?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine and I'm looking forward to our date this evening."
"In case you need this… " She took his worry stone off the windowsill. "It's been there for a while."
Sam stood, smiled, and stuck it in his pocket. "How about you--finding things I misplaced?"
"You always laid it the same place when you weren't carrying it. Even your subconscious is organized."
"You're a very smart lady, discovering things about me I never knew." He played with the hearts he'd hung around her kissable neck.
"I wore my necklace to bed, but I have a question. Does it mean we're going steady?"
Her eyes twinkled, but he knew in her typical way of going straight to the point, she wanted to know the significance of the gift. Smiling, he kissed her cheek. "It means whatever you want it to mean." He kissed her lips.
"You're beating around the bush again," she said, as she opened the front door, and gave him a mock salute.
Sam watched from the window as Lily swung down the front sidewalk, red heels clicking. It was only a few blocks, and she'd told him last night, traffic would be congested; it would be better to walk downtown. Her white skirt flared out and a playful breeze lifted it, showing off her fantastic long legs. The trim navy blue sweater she wore stopped at the waist. She carried a small flag in one hand, a white straw purse with red and blue streamers in the other. The sides of her hair were pulled back to form a braid in the middle of cascading waves. Lily Madison was as all-American as apple pie and motherhood.
Love in a Small Town Page 14