Blue Heaven (Blue Lake) (14 page)

Daniel reached over and put his hand over hers, squeezing it. “You’re worth it.” He parked in front of the bike rental place down a side street Eva had never noticed before. He started to get out of the car, and then stopped and turned to her.

“I really like you, Eva.”

“I really like you too.”

“I’m not into casual sex. I would never do that. Well, I did some of that, but a long time ago. I’m like you, ready to settle down when I meet the right woman. Just—we aren’t there yet. At least give us a chance.”

“That’s what I’m doing.”

“Oh.”

Only Daniel would have missed such a large clue. She’d agreed to a bike ride and a picnic. She’d said yes to dinner. What could be clearer? But something in the way he took nothing for granted wrapped her even tighter in the bonds of love.

Jumping on the bikes and riding out of town on a pretty path with the beach on one side and town on the other released her pent-up energy. They couldn’t talk much because lots of the time they had to go single file for walkers with their dogs. But when they stopped at a cute little white-washed shanty and ordered their picnic, Daniel led her to a particular table. She was glad she’d brought a hoodie, because it was close to the water, and she wasn’t riding anymore. She thrust her arms into the sleeves. She was starving.

“This table was the one we always sat at when our family went on bike rides. Annual spring tradition. This is the first time I’ve done this in—well—since they’ve been gone.”

Eva had bitten into her sandwich while he talked and now the lump in her throat made it hard to swallow. She used his gesture from the car and put her hand over his atop the picnic table and squeezed. She kept chewing. After a few minutes of silent munching, she said “So, you’ve got to be getting excited about Georgia.”

“I am. I think. It hasn’t been much on my mind since you came to town.”

She felt a sweet hit of happy.

“But I’ve been planning it for years. Got my plane ticket last month.”

What was that old song? Something
about saying goodbye to love, to happiness
.
She’d think about all that later. “Well, if you’re really serious about seeing how we work out as a couple, I guess next few months will show us both. And let’s take it slow. Please.” She popped the last bite of her sandwich into her mouth.

“I would never rush you or hurt you, Eva. I feel like the summer won’t be enough. Like we’ll somehow cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Okay. I’ll take a page from your book and stop thinking about your leaving.”

“Seize the day.” Daniel took his own advice and kissed her. There were other people around, but nothing like the summer crowds. Still, he kept the kiss short and sweet and that was okay with her. Public displays of affection were fine, as long as they didn’t cross a specific line drawn in her head. Another plus for Daniel. She kept falling deeper and deeper.

“How long a bike ride can you handle? Because there are some great views along here.”

“I have not been on a bike since I was twelve.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope. Guess what they say is true. You never forget.”

“So you want to head back?”

“Maybe just a bit further.” Spring was greening all around.

The paths were immaculately maintained and around every bend she saw another pretty stretch of water or the glimpse of a perfect Victorian home. The cherry trees had just started blooming and every time she spotted an open blossom she felt blessed.

Chapter Twenty

Eva stared into her closet, not seeing anything. Would Daniel try to make love to her? Would she let him?
Snap out of it!
She needed to focus on the clothes in front of her and not what might happen later. She’d heard all about Amelie’s from Jane. What to wear to the classiest, most expensive restaurant in town? She had a slew of city clothes she hadn’t even worn here yet. She ignored the little black dresses. She wanted something spring- like, but more formal than a sundress. She pulled a white dress with embroidered sprigs of lavender from the closet and scrutinized it. Sleeveless, but she had a white cardigan. It wasn’t quite Memorial Day, but she brought out her white strappy sandals with four-inch heels anyway.

When Daniel picked her up, she was still styling her hair. She took a final glance in the mirror. Good enough. She grabbed her purse and met him in the office.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. “Great dress.”

She bubbled with happiness, and she didn’t quite trust it. She was too cautious.
Just be happy already
.

They were seated at the best table in the room, overlooking the water on the left and with a view of the entire restaurant on the right. A full house, but these were quiet diners, mostly older, no children, no sports television noise. She could hear the click of the cutlery as the couple at the next table tucked into their meal. After a brief discussion, Daniel ordered chateaubriand. A single meal, made for two. They drank glasses of mellow cabernet, the wine smooth and rich in her mouth.

While they sipped their first glass of wine and cut into their steaks, they didn’t talk much. The beef was so tender she could cut it with a fork and the potatoes melted in her mouth. After the first few bites, Daniel asked her if she missed her job in the city.

“I don’t. Detroit advertising revolves around the auto industry. So dull.”

“But you stuck with it.”

“I had one client I really loved. A big flower chain. That was fun.”

“In a few days, Luke can plant flowers and get the lawn in shape for you.” Daniel poured wine into their glasses, finishing off the bottle. He said Luke’s name casually. He wasn’t the jealous type. Another check in his favor.

“Yes, Luke and I already talked about that. Blue Lake is big on petunias, I hear.”

“Yep.”

They split a dessert that was basically a chocolate bar with caramel and nuts shaped like a tall piece of cake. When they left, it took them ten minutes to get to the door. Daniel stopped at several tables to introduce her. A few of the patrons were from the Fast Eddie’s crowd, but most of them were the age his parents would be if they were still alive.

They drove home, and Eva noticed as Daniel pulled into the driveway that both Lily and Bob’s lights were on. Lily had probably borrowed Bob’s tablet again and Bob was probably watching sports on his laptop. Eva wondered if the two of them had conspired to leave her and Daniel alone.

“Kids are tucked in for the night.” Daniel parked and got out to open her door for her. He caught her there, as she came out of the car, in a kiss that made her hold onto him so she wouldn’t swoon.
Weak knees are not just an expression
, she thought.

Still kissing her, he closed the door of the car. She wanted the kiss to last forever. She didn’t want him to leave her, not now, not ever.

His mouth stayed on her lips but his work-roughened hands roamed her body, from her breasts to her thighs and up above the short hemline of her dress.

“Honey, what if the kids are watching?” She broke the kiss finally when it seemed as if he would undress her and lay her out on the hood of his car.

“Hmmm?” Daniel was still kissing her, pulling at her sweater so he could kiss her shoulder.
Who knew shoulders were erogenous zones?

It took every ounce of her will to push him a little away. “Let’s go inside,” she said.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

He took her hand and pulled her through the office, through the kitchen, down the hall, into her bedroom. He hadn’t turned on any lights. The moon was full and it shined down on them.

“Okay?” He was removing her sweater as he asked.

“Sure,” she said, loosening his tie then tearing it from his shirt collar with her teeth. He laughed and caught her hands, bringing them above her head just before her dress followed.

She’d stepped out of her heels. He’d shed his shirt. She went to work on his belt buckle, laughing with relief that finally the tension that had been building between them for so long was about to find release.

“This feels right. Right?” His leather belt felt smoother than any leather she’d felt before. Like suede.

“Ummm.” She kissed him in reply and pushed his shoulders lightly so that he fell onto the bed. He propped himself on his elbows, watching her unzip his pants. Their eyes locked and they both grinned when the tip of his hardened penis sprung free of his boxers.

He broke into a laugh, lay back, and said “Oh, baby.”

“Where’s the popcorn?”

Eva froze. Lily. From the kitchen. Eva hadn’t even heard her come into the bungalow. She looked at Daniel with a promise in her eyes.

“Soon,” she said. And then she slipped back into her dress.

****

Luke came early the next day, his truck filled with bags of manure and peat moss, plants and flowers. Eva said she’d be his helper, and so she met him outside in her grubbiest jeans.

“Put me to work, boss,” she said.

Eva looked around at her resort. Almost everything was done. This was not a construction site anymore. The airplane addition was buttoned up, only needing paint and shingles. The cottages needed to be fitted out with towels, sheets, dishes. Daniel had finish work to do in the addition. And Luke was here to make the yard look good after spring mud and a construction crew had turned it into a brown gooey mess.

Luke parked by the shed, on the gravel drive where guests would leave their vehicles. He pulled several large pottery baskets out of the truck and set them on the apron of cement around the shed. Then he eased out several flats of flowers and bags of what amounted to poop and dirt.

“So this will be your job.” Luke looked pleased to be giving her flower detail. “While you do that, I’m going to aerate and seed the lawn. It might look a little sparse today but it will fill in quickly. Then I’m going to plant the shrubbery as we decided.”

She smiled and shot her arm up in a salute. “Yes sir,” she said, before kneeling at the stacked pots, deciding to spread them out. “Oh!” They looked like pottery but they were plastic. That was fine. “What do I put where?”

“Well, you’ve got your basic fill, the petunias, and the ivy is your spill, this hydrangea is your thrill.” Luke handed her the hydrangea, and she smelled it’s sweet scent. The smell of summer. “Thrill goes in the middle?”

“Yup. Want me to make one up for you to copy?”

“No, that’s fine. I got it.” She could work with flowers all day if they all smelled as good as the hydrangea. She couldn’t wait until he planted the rose bushes. She loved the scent of roses.

Daniel’s car pulled into the drive. He never parked in the guest lot. He got out and came over to where she was kneeling in front of Luke. Daniel shot a quick look from one to the other of them and didn’t say anything except “Bud.” And then he did a fist bump on Luke’s shoulder.

Luke stepped a little away so their positions didn’t look quite so suggestive.

Daniel’s shoulders relaxed.

“Hey babe,” he said, finally acknowledging her. But it was also kind of like he was branding her with the casual “babe.” “Going up top. See you for lunch?”

“Yep. I believe Lily is making PBJs for everyone.”

“Great.” Daniel turned and went into the bungalow.

“That was not an enthusiastic ‘great,’ “Luke said.

“No. It was not. And I was only kidding. He must be in a mood.” Eva knew Daniel was a little jealous. That was okay, even flattering, as long as he kept it to a simmer. Didn’t Daniel know she couldn’t imagine any other man except him as a romantic partner? Maybe she should tell him. Or better, show him. Soon.

Luke ripped open the bags of soil and manure; whew, not all garden smells were pleasant. He showed her how to properly mix her pots.

She had not even started and her knees already hurt. She sat back on her haunches.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it!”

She started with the thrillers. She needed some excitement in her life. Also their sweet smell cut through the manure’s assault on her nose.

****

Luke left at lunch, and Eva hoped it wasn’t because he could sense Daniel’s mood.

“What’s eating you?” She and Daniel were alone in the kitchen snacking on grapes. The kids were gone to the hardware in town for a new trowel because Eva had broken Luke’s. Daniel made himself a big sandwich, but she wasn’t hungry.

“Huh?” He took a huge bite of his Dagwood. Chewed. Swallowed. “What are you talking about?”

“You seem a little, I don’t know, pissed off.”

“Nope.”

“Is it Luke?”

“Nope.” He took another bite of his sandwich. She didn’t know mouths could open so wide.

“I like Luke, but not the way I like you.”

He chewed, nodded his head.

“And last night…”

He finally spoke again. “You don’t have to explain about last night. I’ve been a single dad a long time, don’t forget.”

“So then it’s Luke.”

Too late. He’d already taken another bite of his sandwich. He shook his head no and put his hand on hers.

“I’m going to go out there and finish those flower pots.”

He nodded, and since he had food in his mouth, she kissed him on the cheek on her way out. “Oh, and Jane invited me to dinner tonight.” He didn’t respond. Probably still chewing.

****

After a full day of landscaping with Luke, Eva was beat. All she wanted was a long soak in her tub and then lounge on the sofa with the remote until bedtime. But Jane had invited her for dinner, and she’d realized with surprise that it was the first time such an invitation had been issued. Jane always came to her. Or they went out. And she was curious about Jane’s house.

She zipped into her best jeans and a beautiful silky black shirt with chiffon sleeves. It felt good to dress up a little bit after mucking about in the yard all day.

She found Jane’s house easily enough, a brick ranch with a huge picture window sparkling in the lowering sun and a red front door. Jane came to the door, all smiles, waving Eva inside. Jane motioned toward her apron and flour-dusted hands. “No hugs, don’t want to ruin your pretty blouse!”