Bed and Breakfast (5 page)

“It’s me.”

“Honestly, you look so different,” I said. “Now I’m not dressed up enough. Should I put something else on?” I wore a casual summer dress and sandals.

“No, you look perfect,” he said. He took my hand. “Come on.”

“Are we going to the Old Church Restaurant?” I asked.

“You went there last night, with
him”

“Then where are you taking me? Where’s your truck?”

“No need for the truck,” he said. He led me down to the beach.

Steve had set up a table and two chairs right near the water. The table was covered with a tablecloth and set with plates and cutlery. A candle was lit inside a jar, so the wind wouldn’t blow it out. A picnic basket sat beside it. Next to the table, Steve had set up his big telescope for looking at the stars.

“This is wonderful,” I said.

Steve took both my hands. “Now, before dinner begins, I want to get something out of the way.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“This.” He took me in his arms and kissed me. His kiss made me tingle right down to my toes. We both stood back after that kiss, shocked at how it made us feel.

“Why didn’t we do that before?” I asked him.

“My thought exactly,” he said. “Annie, you already know we’re good for each other. Just think how much you’d save on repair bills if we got together.”

I laughed. “You’ve got a point,” I said. “But don’t you think we’re moving too quickly? We haven’t even had dinner.”

“We’ve known each other for years,” he said.

“I’ve only known you like
this
for a few minutes.” I waved a hand at the new Steve in front of me. This Steve was handsome and confident. He was so handsome that I felt as nervous with him as I had with Brent.

“I want my old Steve back,” I said. “Grubby, messy Steve. I felt comfortable with him.”

“Give me a day and grubby Steve will be back,” he said, running a hand over his chin.

We ate our picnic as the sun set. Then Steve showed me the rings of Saturn through his telescope. The planet and its rings looked like a diamond in the black sky. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” I said.

“I have,” said Steve. He looked at me with such affection that I knew he meant me.

We gazed through the telescope at the stars and the moon until well after midnight. When it was time to go home, I helped Steve carry everything to his truck. He had parked in the beach parking lot.

Then Steve took my hand and walked me back to my bed and breakfast. As we drew close to home, both of us fell silent. I sensed the tension rise between us. When we reached the front steps of my house, I said, “Here we are.”

“Here we are,” Steve repeated. He tucked his hands in his pockets as he waited for me to ask him inside. When I hesitated a little too long, Steve said, “Well, goodnight.” Disappointed and confused, he started to walk away.

“Steve, wait,” I said.

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’d like to offer you,” I said. “I wouldn’t, usually, after a first date. But as you said, we’ve known each other a long time.”

“What’s that?” Steve asked. He was already grinning. “What are you offering me?”

“A bed,” I said. I grinned back at him. “And breakfast.”

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by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

Sara used to be a back-up singer in a band. She left her singing career to raise a family. She is content with being a stay-at-home mom. Then, one Saturday, Sara’s world changes.

Sara and her family go to an outdoor music festival. There, on stage, Sara sees Jim, the lead singer from her old band. He invites her to sing with him. Being on stage brings back forgotten feelings for Sara—and for Jim. And Sara’s husband Rob sure doesn’t like what he sees.

Sara also sees something else: a coyote. Learn how Coyote, the trickster spirit, turns Sara’s life upside down.

By the age of eighteen, Gail Anderson-Dargatz knew that she wanted to write about Canadian women in rural settings. Today, Gail is a bestselling author.
A Recipe for Bees
and
The Cure for Death by Lightning
were finalists for the Giller prize. She currently teaches fiction in the creative writing program at the University of British Columbia. Gail lives in the Shuswap region of BC, the landscape found in so much of her writing.

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The Cure for Death by Lightning

A Recipe for Bees

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Turtle Valley

The Stalker

Coyotes Song