by Dee Ernst
“Really? Good, cause it sounds like something changed your mind, and the only reason I could think of for your doing that was because you’d slept with her.”
“No. God, no.” He was trying to hold me again, but I kept pushing his hands away.
“How could you do this to those two sweet old women, Mike? They trusted you, and you’re going to take everything that they wanted away from them. What possible reason could there be for that?”
“You,” he said simply.
“Me? What on earth are you talking about?”
“Amy called me this morning. It seems she is planning on buying lot right next door to your house.”
I took a step back and sank down into the couch.
“The lot next door? Dr. Wilson’s house?”
He shook his head. “No. The vacant lot.” He sat across from me on the coffee table and took both my hands in his. “She called me first thing. Said she found the owner up in Vermont somewhere and has made an offer, and he’s accepted. She was going to send him some sort of contract today. By Monday, she’ll probably have it back.”
I rocked back, pulling my hands with me. “Why would she do that?”
“She said that if the deal didn’t go through with Celeste, she’d build a four-story commercial building right next door to you.”
I shook my head. “She wouldn’t be able to do that, would she?”
He took a breath. “All of Main Street is zoned commercial, Chris. About twenty years ago, the hotel on Main Street burned to the ground, and since it was four stories tall, she can make the case for another four-story hotel.”
“She said she wanted a hotel?”
He nodded again. “In fact, she said she figured she could get twelve, maybe fourteen units in.”
“That’s a lot of people.”
“Yes, Chris, it is.”
“And lot of noise.”
“A lot of noise.”
“If she built something that tall, my house would be in a shadow all morning.”
He tightened his lips. “I know.” He took my hands again. “Chris, I love those two old women, I really do. And I wanted them to have their little bit of a dream come true. But I talked to Celeste this morning and told her what was going on. It was her decision. She didn’t want your new home to be sitting right next to something like that. So, the deal is, when Amy buys the Coop, she’s selling the lot to Celeste. And Celeste said she’d give it to you.”
I felt the tears start, bitter and angry. How dare she? How dare she? I wanted to cry. I wanted to yell. I wanted to find Amy McCann and scream in her face.
“Well, can’t we find the owner and buy that lot? I could make him an offer, you know. I have money from my mom’s house.”
“I don’t know how she found him. We tried, remember? And she’s not going to give me his name and address, I can guarantee that. “
“No, you tried. I can find him. Just give me a few days.”
“We don’t have a few days,” he said softly. “And besides Chris, Amy is a commercial developer. Which means her pockets go deep. And whatever you offered, she’d top, and in the end, I don’t see you winning.” He reached up and wiped the tears that were running down my cheeks. “Celeste understands. She’s okay with it. She told me that your future here is more important than her past.”
“But she and Connie wanted to live there,” I said, my voice breaking.
He moved next to me on the couch and put both arms around me. “They’ll find a great place to live, Chris, you know they will. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” I cried, and my whole body shook, my breath coming in deep, gulping sobs. I was so angry that one woman could come in and so easily topple everything I had carefully planned. I was also relieved that Mike had not, in fact, betrayed my trust. In fact, he did what he had to for me…
He held me, his lips pressed against my hair until the crying finally stopped and I was still, sniffling in the circle of his arms.
His thumb grazed my cheek as he wiped the tears again, and then he kissed me, little, tender kisses that grew, and my arms went around him.
I still wanted to cry. I still wanted to yell.
But more than all that, I wanted Mike.
In the beginning, we were gentle with each other.
His bed was huge and faced the marsh, and the sunlight filtered through the trees, so we didn’t need to turn on a light. There was just enough light for me to scar that ran along the back of his thigh, and the small heart-shaped tattoo on his hip.
His beard was soft and his hands were gentle for all their strength. We talked to each other: How does this feel? Is this good? How about now?
At one point he raised himself of his elbows, his face suddenly still. “I’m afraid I’m going to crush you,” he whispered. I just tightened my legs around him and drew him even closer. We began in a slow and tender dance but ended with the both of us breathless and drained, curled together, his arms around me and his mouth against the back of my neck.
“I knew it,” he said at last. “ ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’ ”
I rolled over to face him, our noses almost touching. “I didn’t think you’d be so…”
He cracked a smile. “So…what?” His grin broadened. “Godlike?”
“Tender.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “I was seriously afraid I’d break something somewhere.”
I shook my head. “I’m pretty tough.”
“I know.” His hand trailed down my back. “I believe the original invitation was for dinner?”
I nodded. “Yes, it was. But I think we both knew what we really wanted.” I smiled. “However…”
He grinned and gave me a loud, sloppy kiss. “I have two beautiful steaks. And I’m in sore need of nourishment, woman. You practically wore me out.”
He rolled out of bed and I watched him as he pulled on his jeans.
“Can I shower? I came over here right from being on the road.”
“Ah, that’s why you were salty as well as sweet. Sure, right through there.”
I showered and rummaged through one of his drawers until I found a faded t-shirt. I pulled it on and padded out, through the living room and out to the deck.
He glanced at me and grinned. “I knew there’d be a good use for that ratty old shirt. You’re gorgeous when you’re all dripping like that.”
“Well, it’s a look. Can I help?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Just sit and have some wine and tell me the story of your life.”
So I sat and I told him, and we ate juicy steaks with fresh sliced tomatoes and drank some more wine.
“That was delicious,” I said when I finally pushed my plate away. “How did you manage to stay single for so long again?”
He laughed and poured me a bit more wine. “I was gun-shy after Amy. Didn’t even date. I’m not whatchacall a social animal anyway. Never did the Friday night thing on Main Street. Just as soon take the boat out into the bay and fish. Or come home and look at the marsh and watch the birds. In the fall, lots of migratory birds come through here. Some days the sky is practically black with them. You’ll have to come out and see them.”
“I will,” I said. I had pretty much decided that I was willing to do just about anything he suggested. After what we’d just gone through, I knew that all his ideas were pretty spot on.
“So, I hate to bring up a prickly subject,” I began.
He threw his head back and laughed. “We’ve just made love six ways to Sunday. What on earth can you possibly be embarrassed about?”
“Steve,” I said, taking a quick sip of wine.
He settled back in his chair. “Funny thing about Steve. He had dinner with your friend Terri last night, and that’s kind of all he talked about today.”
“Really?” I said. I gave Terri a mental high five for obviously sticking to the plan.
“Really. I wasn’t paying too much attention, understand. I did have a thing or two
on my mind, but it seemed to me he thought she was not at all what he expected.” It was dark now, and the only light was from the solar lights around the deck, but I could see his face in the shadows. “I don’t even think he knows what he wants from a woman. Or from life in general. He sees things he likes, and points and smiles and says, yes, please, but he’s never really happy once he’s got it.” He shook his head. “I told him about us. Right away. He said he knew I was interested, he just couldn’t understand why he was the one getting the short end of the stick. My brother is a terrific guy, but his ego tends to get a bit out of hand.”
“Well, that’s good. I didn’t want there to be any broken bro-code thing to get in the way.”
He was looking at me through half-shut eyes, smiling. “After that first kiss, nothing in this world could have gotten in my way. I just can’t believe we wasted so much time dancing around each other.”
“It was a good dance,” I said. “It gave me a chance to know you better. And to decide if you were really what I wanted.” I flashed a smile. “You are, by the way.”
“Why, thank you, ma’am.”
“Tomorrow call Amy and tell her that I’ve decided that she can buy the lot. I don’t care what she builds there. I may have a way to stop her. Or I can fight her during a zoning board meeting. If I lose, I lose. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let have her way.”
He froze, the wine glass halfway to his lips. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“You’re taking an awful chance there, Chris. She’s a vindictive woman. She might very well go out of her way to put up the biggest, ugliest building Cape Edwards has ever seen.”
“Maybe.”
He leaned forward. “We’re talking about your house.”
I shook my head. “We’re talking about my home, Mike, and a home is more than a building, and where it is and what it looks like. And my home is here, with Terri and Judd and Stella, with maybe a new job, and you.” I smiled. “And Joe.” At the sound of his name, Joe lifted his head and wagged his tail. “She can’t ruin that for me. No one can. And anyway, all my risks have paid off so far. My derelict house is beautiful, my aw, shucks contractor is a tiger…” I stretched out my legs and wiggled my toes. Every inch of my body felt stroked and satisfied. “I hope you don’t mind my saying, but for an old guy you’re pretty hot.”
“Old guy? Old guy? Chris, you cut me to the quick.”
I grinned at him. “Yes, well, I’ve heard that some men, as they get a little older, tend to slow down a bit.”
“Welp, I’m in construction. Spend a lot of time with those young bucks. All that testosterone rubs off, you know?” He held up his arm and showed me his muscle, Popeye style. His eyes twinkled. “You’re pretty hot yourself, you know. For practically senior citizens, we’re a pretty good team.”
I felt my cheeks get hot. “Well, on my part, it was weeks of pent-up frustration.”
He cocked his head to one side. “Really?”
“Yes sir. All that strutting around you did at the job site…”
“Strutting? That was my natural swagger.”
I laughed. “Whatever. It certainly worked.”
He sighed and stretched out his arms. “Yep. I still got it.”
I reached over with my foot and kicked him, and he caught my eye and laughed.
The rest of the evening was like that. Patter. Jokes. Laughter and a little more wine. He didn’t suggest I go home, and in the morning, the sunrise through his bedroom window woke me, and I walked out to the deck to the sound of birds calling as the marsh came alive, and then he came up behind me, and wrapped his arms around me, and we watched as the new day began.
Terri was laying pavers in my back patio when I finally arrived that morning. She was carefully leveling the sand, and gently placing the paver in place, tapping it with a rubber mallet. I watched her for a few minutes.
“You’re good at that,” I said, a little surprised.
She jumped, glared at me, and stood up.
“And where were you last night?”
“With Mike. We had a few things to work out.”
“I bet. Daniel came down last night in an absolute twist. You’d better talk to him right away before he says something vile to Mike.”
I hadn’t thought about that.
Mike had dropped me at Terri’s so I could change, and I’d walked up. I hadn’t seen Daniel at the site across the street, but then, I hadn’t been looking for him. I hurried around to the front of the house, scampered across the street, and rounded the corner just in time to see Daniel nose-to-nose with Mike, as the crew all stood, watching the morning’s entertainment.
“Daniel, a word?” I called.
He turned to me, glared back at Mike, and stalked—there was no other way to describe it—across the lot to where I stood.
“I was just giving him a piece of my mind,” Daniel muttered. “What he’s doing to those two wonderful women is bad enough, but if he thinks he can treat you—”
“Daniel, we’re fine.”
“Obviously, you care for him. And stupid me, I thought he actually cared for you as well. But then,” he waved his hand. “What do I know?”
“Daniel, Mike and I are fine.”
“And Marie filled me in on some of the things Amy McCann has done in the past, including being just a little sketchy with EPA—“
“Daniel. Stop.”
He took a breath. “All right. I’ll stop.”
“Good. Now, go ahead with your funding. A deal is a deal.”
He opened his mouth to say something, closed it, frowned, and tried again. “What?”
“You’re buying from Celeste and Connie, just as planned.” I told him briefly what Amy had told Mike and watched as his expression went from confusion to anger.
“She’d do that?” he asked. “To punish you?”
I blew out some air. “Apparently. But I might be able to stop her. So I have a favor to ask.”
He shrugged. “Ask away.”
“Remember that conservation group that gave you such a hard time a few years back? Over…”
“Yes. Over a red-beaked something. They stopped construction, dragged me into court…what about them?”
“Well, let’s say someone bought that empty lot, and wanted to build a four-story hotel on it. If a Delmarva fox squirrel had built a nest on one of those big old trees, and that squirrel was on the endangered list…”
“Then that same crackpot environmental group could very easily stampede into town and stop construction.”
I grinned. “Exactly.”
“Who owns that lot?”
“Doesn’t matter. But Amy is planning on buying it.”
He rolled his eyes. “Ever since I got here, I’ve found myself directly in her crosshairs. And it’s been mostly your doing. Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because I know that you’re not afraid of a fight.”
“But must you push me into the ring?”
“Daniel, I got you Celeste. I’m going to make sure that you get your medical park, Celeste gets her assisted living, and hopefully, I’ll get nice little house with a big empty lot next door. Please?”
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Yes, of course. Delmarva fox squirrel? Good Lord. Okay, I’ll let you know when I find out anything.” He straightened, rolled his shoulders and walked back to Mike. A few words were exchanged, and Mike clapped him on the back. The crew looked disappointed, and they all began to get back to work.
Mike came up to me, his eyes dancing. “So, Daniel won’t challenge me to pistols at fifty paces tomorrow morning?”
I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close, standing on my toes to reach his mouth. “I just saved you, big time. Isn’t my kitchen coming today?”
“Yes, I believe around noon. And then next week the marathon starts. The floor goes in, the rest of the lighting, painting, and the countertop is supposed to be in by Friday. I’ll try to get over there and help as much a
s I can. You need to all your appliances delivered. We have your final inspection week after next.”
“When can I deliver my bed?”
“I’d wait at least until the floor goes in. Why? Do you feel a pressing need for a new bed?”
“Maybe. See you later.”
I was floating. I was flying. I was happy and I can’t remember a time that I’d felt so hopeful about the future.
But I knew that my happiness all depended on the super-squirrel, Bella.
I watched them install my kitchen cabinets, then I finished putting in all the shelving I’d ordered for my new hall closet armoire. I had a few screws left over, but Steve looked at it, said everything seemed good and sturdy, so I tossed the leftovers in the dumpster.
Later in the afternoon, Mike brought Joe over, and he and I and Terri and Steve sat on the porch and talked paint color. I must have had twenty or thirty samples, representing everything from the outside trim to the inside of the guest room closet.
Mike and Steve exchanged a look, and Steve cleared his throat. “We only have painters scheduled one day for the inside, and one day for the outside. You might want to pare down your choices.”
“But Chris and I can also paint,” Terri said.
Steve grinned at her. “Yes, you can, and I’m sure the two of you would do a great job. But don’t you have to go back to work? Or do you have another week or two of vacation left?”
She made a face. “No, I don’t. I spent two weeks in Antigua back in February.”
I’d been watching her with Steve and was impressed with how she acted around him. Considering how eager she’d been to be finally spending time with him, she was rather reserved with him, friendly but not fawning, interested in what he had to say without drooling all over him. And it seemed to be having an effect. He was attentive to her, much more than he’d been earlier in the summer.
“You’ve got all sorts of corners and angles,” Mike pointed out. “You might want to just go basic.” He spread out the samples, finally drawing one out. “How about the whole thing just a simple cream.”
I looked at Vanilla Bean #4, got up and stood in the front doorway and looked into my house. I imagined all the drywall painted over, the few hanging wires tucked away, and saw everything as a clean, calm whole. My couch was blue-gray, and the floors were going to be a pale maple. I’d found the perfect rug: cream with shades of blue and touches of beige and faded red, the same red as the legs of my kitchen worktable. Everything clicked: my house would be the colors of the sand and the shells, with the gray of the sky and the cool blue of the bay.