Page 24 of Again, In Autumn

Adam approaches the towels at my feet and holds a hand to stop Grayson from coming closer. “Stay back buddy, I don’t want you to cut yourself,” he explains, his voice as thick and deep and smooth as ever.

I stare at the top of his head as he moves to pick up the edges of the unwrapped towel. My breath stops again. I might pass out. Or be sick. He folds the towel and his tan, strong fingers brush against my boot, and I swear I feel it against my skin.

This cannot be happening.

He stands, twisting the gathered towel in front of me, and checks the rocks between our feet. He’s so close to me that his breath touches mine. I wish that I could stop my mouth from gaping, stop my eyes from trying to pierce through his skull, but my brain’s gone on vacation. My body moves on autopilot.

I remember that scar on his right eyebrow. I don’t recognize the speck of gray in his short beard.

“I think it’s okay,” Adam says, oblivious to my state, instead looking at Grayson in the open front door, as emotionally shattered as his fish’s home. Adam gestures to the space in front of the car. “I would just wear thick shoes when you walk out here again. This is a boots-only area.”

Grayson huffs, “I only have my sneakers. Ugh, everything is ruined!”

Adam continues to avoid my eyeline. “I’m sure your mom can get you some boots.” I realize he won’t look at me, but he did motion in my direction with his head. “I’ve got some tools and a special vacuum in my workshop that’ll take care of it. If you call your dad back out, I’ll show him to it.”

“My dad’s not good at tools,” Grayson growls. He turns around. “And she’s not my mom.”

Adam’s head tilts.

“Grayson, what are you yelling about?” Francesca asks, coming outside.

“Auntie Vee broke Miggy’s bowl!” Grayson storms inside.

Fran’s eyes go wide. She throws her hands in the air. “What happened, Vienna?” Then she sees him. “Wait…Adam?”

I watch the smile break over his face. His dark lashes touch, and he relaxes easily on one hip. “Fran?”

I’m still motionless while the two of them register the connection and cross the distance to exchange a non-awkward hug. For people who only knew each other for few months years ago, they’re oddly familiar.

“What are you doing here?” she asks. “David, come outside!”

“Oh, I’m just –”

“Adsy!” David exclaims with surprise, coming through the door. He pounds him on the back.

Adam shakes his shoulder. “Well, I’m just here for the holiday. My sister and her husband wanted some peace, so I thought I’d crash it.”

“Oh, they wouldn’t get any with us here, anyway,” Fran says. “It’s so good to see you again! I wondered if we would.” Then, exasperation rustles through her nose when she sees the towel in his hand. “And thank you for that. One more task to add to our fun family holiday! Get fish new bowl.”

He holds it up. “I think most of the glass stayed contained in here.”

The rest of it pierced my soul.

“There shouldn’t be much on the ground, but I’ve got a Shop-Vac if you need it.” Adam hands the bundle over.

David takes it carefully, and places it on the porch. He says, “I’ll grab it later. Hey, how come we haven’t seen you around here?”

“Yeah…” Adam runs a hand through his hair. His back is to me. “My dad and his wife decided to rent out the house and it’s a big vacation seller. I try to come back occasionally, but usually in the Fall, when it’s available.”

“Ah. We’re exclusively summer people,” Dave replies, catching a leaf midair.

Francesca adds, “We come back every summer for a few weeks.”

“Minus one,” David mutters.

Her smile strains. “It’s nice to be back here. All together.”

Even with my internal struggle erupting, I notice Fran’s tense muscles relax when David elbows her lightly in the side. Without context, a viewer couldn’t read the sentiment.

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