Dreams of Fire (Maple Hill Chronicles Book 1) (35 page)

Marianne’s body had felt very nice pressed against him when she’d thanked him, and he hoped that wouldn’t be the last time. But she’d hugged Maria and her mother as well and maybe felt obligated to hug him as well.

He sighed and rested his head on the steering wheel for a moment at the stop sign. He hadn’t gone out with a woman in quite a while and felt very rusty on reading the signals. Maybe coffee tomorrow would clear things up.

Heading back to his workshop/apartment, he pondered the last few hours. He’d enjoyed meeting the Cavarelli’s, and John had sounded interested in a handcrafted entertainment center for the family. Maybe that would turn into a real commission. He’d seen John Irving from a distance before and wondered how Marianne had gotten to know him. Sarah and Kelly were familiar faces from high school and around town. He knew Mrs. Thomas slightly from having taken care of things at the house before. She was nice and a little dotty, the way old people sometimes were. Selene Singleton, Marianne’s grandmother, however, was formidable, in spite of her age. She reminded him of his own Scottish grandmother who had been tough as nails all her life. Selene had a way of looking right into a person, past all the external nonsense that people put up to show others. He liked her. Marianne’s mother seemed motherly and anxious about her daughter.

Well, one thing at a time. If his date with Marianne tomorrow was still confusing, he might have to ask Erin to interpret.

Marianne walked slowly back to the dining room, thinking about a date with the handsome Ruari. Her mother, grandmother, and landlady were industriously putting away leftovers and cleaning up. Mrs. Thomas sat comfortably in a chair with her walker to one side, chatting amiably with Grandma Selene as she put things into the new glass containers. Her mom had washed them and brought them out to be used right away.

“You’ll have food for a couple of days, lovie,” Grandma Selene said.

“Thanks for coming, everybody. I feel like I live here properly now,” Marianne said.

“Of course you do! We’ll be on our way soon. I think it stopped raining finally,” Selene said.

Marianne nodded. “Mom, I don’t have a spare bed yet, so I’m all set to drive you home again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yup. We can go any time you’re ready.”

They finished tidying up in the dining room and kitchen, and Grandma Selene and Lily Thomas took their leave.

In the car on the way back, Marianne’s mother said, “You have nice friends. I hope you can settle there for a while.”

“Me, too, Mom.”

“Ruari Allen seems like a very nice young man,” her mother ventured. “He is certainly a talented artist! I’m surprised he works as a handyman.”

Marianne shrugged. “He’s got to pay his bills, I’m sure.” She paused and then said cautiously, “I’m having coffee with him tomorrow.”

“That sounds lovely, dear,” she said warmly. “Take it slow, but take it, as they say. Don’t let Geoffrey be the last man in your life. ”

Marianne nodded and thought, you mean, like you let dad be the last man in your life? She’d never asked her mom about that before but felt that the moment was right. “Mom? Did you ever want to marry someone else after Dad died?”

Her mother was quiet for a bit. Then, staring out he window, she said, “I loved your father. He was a good man. We were married for eight years, and they were good years. I have had male friends since then, but none for whom I really wanted to ‘keep house,’ as it were. Losing your dad was hard. But I learned to be independent, and that was valuable. I didn’t want to let go of that. It works for me.” She turned to Marianne and said, “Be sure solitary independence is what you want. What works for you. It can be lonely,” she admitted. “Will you listen to some advice from your old mum?”

Marianne nodded, keeping her eyes on the highway traffic.

Her mom turned to her and said, “Get to know Ruari. Take your time. You may have rushed things with Geoffrey—or you both may have just been too young. This time around, take your time.”

Marianne nodded again. “Thanks, Mom.”

The miles slipped by, and Marianne, encouraged by the mood, cleared her throat. “Mom? I’ve been thinking. I feel like we lost touch with each other over the last ten years or so. Geoffrey kind of consumed my life, and I let him.” She paused, feeling vulnerable, “I miss you. I miss how we used to talk to each other. I know you don’t believe my explanation about the house and the last few weeks, but, I don’t care.”

“Honey, I’m sorry. You seemed busy and happy, and I didn’t want to intrude. I probably should have.” She added diffidently, “I’d like to see more of you.”

Unshed tears glittered on Marianne’s eyelashes, and she said thickly, “Thanks, Mom. Me too.”

By the time they pulled into her mom’s driveway, it was deep twilight. Marianne got out and hugged her mom hard.

Mom leaned back and said, “Do you want to come inside for a bit?”

Marianne shook her head. “I’m actually pretty tired. I think I’d like to go home. Call you soon?”

When she got back home, Oscar met her at the door meowing loudly. Her house seemed quite empty after the party, and it was dark outside, the evenings of summer getting shorter as the fall drew nearer. She opened a can of food for Oscar and got a fork and Maria’s salad and went to sit in the living room. She sat cross-legged on the sofa and looked at ‘Sleeping Lady’ as she ate.

She was really happy that Ruari had come, but the sculpture was too much for a housewarming present. She wanted to get to know him better but didn’t want to be intimate too soon. She remembered how warm and solid his body had been when she’d hugged him, and how pleasantly her insides had squirmed. Some part of her was putting on the brakes, though. Her relationship with Geoffrey had made her cautious, and her disastrous one-night-stand had certainly left her gun shy. She hoped Ruari would understand. Well, she’d been forthright with him up to now, and he’d come back. So, thus far it was a good strategy.

She finished the salad and snuggled with Oscar awhile, feeling happy and content, remembering her epiphany during the party. She felt like she had come home.

That night she dreamed of someone following her down twilight city streets. She was trying to get somewhere to meet people and do something important, but someone was following her. The surroundings turned into a blend of Maple Hill and city as she turned up the street where her house was. No matter how fast she walked, the footsteps were always behind her. She was nearly there, when the footsteps caught up with her. She turned and looked straight at her shadowy pursuer and said fiercely, “Okay, time to dance.”

And she surfaced, her dream melting away like a snowflake on her glove. She never completely awoke and fell asleep again almost immediately.

Chapter 28

Saturday dawned with sunny skies and Oscar demanding breakfast. She showered and examined herself in the mirror carefully. Her legs were healing nicely but were still peppered with red welts. Her wrist continued to display black, poky stitches, but the edges of the slice were healing into a narrow red line and probably wouldn’t scar much at all. Her wrist was itching, so she put more salve on it and lightly rebandaged the area to keep it clean. Luckily she was right handed, and she thought she might be able to sterilize a pair of scissors and tweezers and take the stitches out herself in a day or two. The bills for the Urgent Care Center were going to come in eventually and would probably be a shock.

She chose a pair of navy blue shorts hemmed above the knee and that hugged her figure nicely, along with a white and blue striped polo shirt. She brushed her hair and pulled it into a ponytail and regarded herself in the mirror. She didn’t look particularly vulnerable (good). She also didn’t think she looked particularly romantic (mostly good). She looked more like a fun person who was a sharp dresser (good for now). Friends, she thought, not lovers. Yet. She let the ponytail come down and used barrettes to pull her hair back from her face instead. That softened the camp counselor look. The scabbing on her legs looked like she’d taken a tumble in a gravel pit. Oh, well, Ruari already knew about her injuries, so no need to hide. Ankle socks and sneakers completed her outfit.

It was already 9:30 by the time she got her things together, and she decided to indulge in a pastry from the co-op for breakfast. She told Oscar she was going out and headed up the walk towards Main Street. The day was freshly washed after yesterday’s rain, and everything sparkled. The sun was hot, but the air was cooler and less humid. It was a little preview for Fall. She smiled and hummed a little to herself.

Main Street was busy with traffic. There seemed to be a lot of extra people even for a weekend. She wondered what was going on when she realized it was Labor Day weekend. There must be a lot of people from the city up for a long weekend before school and September started. All the shops had their pennants and flags flying in the breeze with doors open and merchandise hanging invitingly from nearby sales racks. Marianne browsed a bit on her way trying to time her arrival.

Outside the co-op her phone jingled faintly from her purse, and she paused to extract it. Grandma Selene was named on the display.

“Hi, Grandma!” She said happily.

“Hello, dear, how are you?”

“I’m great! It was so nice to see you yesterday.”

“Yes, me too. Listen, where are you?”

Marianne realized her grandmother sounded agitated and sobered immediately. “I’m in Maple Hill outside the co-op. Are you okay, Grandma?”

“Yes, dear, but I was out watering the flowers in front a while ago, and a car drove past the driveway very slowly. It might have been a tourist or someone looking for a different address, but it was silver. Doesn’t Geoffrey drive a silver sedan of some kind?”

Her happiness burst like a soap bubble to be replaced by a creeping dread. “Yes, a Lexus. Do you think it was him?”

“I didn’t get a good look at the driver, and I’ve been debating whether to call you or not. I don’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”

“No, that’s okay. I’m meeting a friend soon, Ruari actually. Hopefully, it wasn’t Geoffrey, and it’s nothing to worry about.” In spite of that, she reflexively scanned the street around her.

“I hope so too, dear. I’m sorry to bother you. Have a good time with your young man.”

“Thanks. I’ll call later.” She pressed end and slipped the phone back into her pocketbook. Her carefree happiness had vanished in a wash of apprehension. Just then she saw Ruari walk up.

He was wearing a terra cotta colored T-shirt that said “Red Dirt Shirt” on it and a pair of blue shorts. His legs were strong and freckled. The new shorter haircut looked nice on him. His white teeth flashed in a smile when he saw her and sent a pleasant tingle through her in spite of her anxiety.

“Hey, how are you today?” He asked.

She put on her own smile, determined not to let Geoffrey’s possible presence ruin her outing. “I’m fine. You?”

“Good. I haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?”

She shook her head. “Me neither. I figured I’d check out the cinnamon rolls from the bakery here,” she said.

“They’re amazing!” He said enthusiastically.

They entered the cool space within and made their way to the bread racks and bakery bins. All the bread was out for the day and smelled so heavenly she impulsively bought a loaf of brioche. Then she got a huge cinnamon roll to eat now. Ruari selected a ham and cheese pastry, and they went to the drinks bar. She ordered a jasmine green tea and had them ice it. Ruari chose a large black coffee and doused it liberally with cream. After they paid they made their way outside and fortunately had to wait only a few moments for a table on the sidewalk to free up.

They settled themselves on the metal chairs and took a few bites of breakfast before talking. Marianne scanned the street and sidewalk surreptitiously.

“Thanks for having me at your party yesterday,” Ruari said. “It was nice to meet your mom and grandmother. They seem really nice.”

“They enjoyed meeting you too,” Marianne confirmed as she took another wonderfully sweet, sticky bite. Food was helping to calm her nerves. “These are so good. I could become addicted to them!”

“Have you tried the other breakfast pastries?” Ruari answered. “They’re good too. I’ve had way too many of them myself.”

They ate and talked of inconsequential things for a few more minutes before Marianne said, “The sculpture you gave me is really beautiful. Thank you. I…I wondered why you gave it to me?”

He finished chewing the last bite and said, “I work with wood and make furniture and practical things most of the time. Sometimes, though, I have the unexplained urge to make something like ‘Sleeping Lady,’ and I have to make it. If I don’t, all my other work goes to hell until I work it out of my system. I didn’t know you when I started ‘Sleeping Lady.’ I just worked on it. After I met you a couple of times, I just had a feeling it was supposed to go to you. I don’t know why.” He shrugged.
 

Marianne considered this and said slowly, “It’s an unusual housewarming gift to give someone you hardly know, that’s all. I was just wondering whether you expected anything of me?” She looked uncomfortable.

He said uncertainly, “Expected anything of you? No…” Then his brain caught up with her words. “Oh! I’m sorry. Uh, no, you’re right, I don’t know you very well. I don’t—I’m not asking anything of you—I didn’t mean anything by it! I just had a feeling it was supposed to go to you,” he finished helplessly.

Her lips curled upward in relief. He looked sweet when he was confused. “That’s okay then. I like you. I just don’t want to rush things. That’s all.”

He smiled back apologetically. “I haven’t gone out with anybody for a while, so I’m rusty on all the signals.”

“Ruari,” she said with the air of one laying her cards on the table, “I just got divorced after being married for fifteen years. Impulsively, I went out with one person for one night after that, and it was a complete disaster. I’m not in any hurry. I’d rather get to know you as a friend first.”

He nodded in understanding. “Fair enough.” They sipped their beverages in silence for a moment, letting things settle again. “You said you would tell me what happened to your ghostly roommates.”