Page 34 of The Love Dose
The three of us laugh and sip our ciders. The awkwardness is gone between me and Caroline. Thank heavens. I almost made a disastrous mistake. I can’t lose her friendship.
“How about this?” I say to Caroline. “I’ll drive you through town, show you the sights which shouldn't take long, then we’ll come back, rest a bit, and I’ll head back to the city.”
Caroline says, “Sounds perfect.”
The two of us stand.
Aunt Pearl says, “If that’s not a signal for me to leave, I don’t know what is. I’ll leave you two love birds alone.”
“We’re not?—”
“Yeah, whatever you say. Caroline, call me if you need anything. My number’s on the fridge.” She points to it. “And while you’re in town, pick up some extra batteries and candles.”
“What for?”
“The storm,” she says, looking at us like we’re as dense as a cloud of bees.
The sky is still a perfect winter blue.
“Sound advice,” Caroline says, placating her.
I kiss my aunt goodbye and see her out. I don’t bother offering to drive her home. She’ll never agree. She’s convinced walking—in all temperatures—is what’s keeping her alive.
Caroline and I lock up the house, though merely out of big city habit. The only crime in Sugarbush Falls is taking too long to return a book to the library.
Caroline dons the wool hat I gave her. It brings me inexplicable joy. Teeth chattering, we hurry to my car, laughter mixing with our shivers as the cold air nips at our heels.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Caroline
Sitting beside Calvin in the SUV, I'm pretty sure I enteredThe Twilight Zone.
It’s me and him but everything else is different. The scene outside is rural, sweet, innocent. The polar opposite to high-strung Manhattan. The car is rugged, seen better days but fits in perfectly with the earthy, bucolic mountain town. Light years from my Mercedes that Paul drives me around town in. Then there’s Aunt Pearl who is straight out of a TV sit-com. The eccentric, doting side character with no filter.
But the most obvious indication of this alternate universe is the palpable attraction between me and Calvin. I was sure it would let up once I got out of Dodge and found myself in a no-stress setting. I guess my brain needs more time to adjust.
My mind keeps going back to the near-kiss in the guest bedroom. My heart races just thinking about it.
My friends have been calling him Dr. Handsome since they heard how he treated me in the ER after the fall that kept mefrom joining Evie on her birthday getaway to Yosemite. Until now I thought of it as a fun moniker. Not anymore.
Calvin's a hottie. Especially for a guy five years my senior. He's tall and buff. His graying hair, forehead wrinkles, and questionable wardrobe do little to retract from his good looks. I ponder what he looked like twenty years ago. I wouldn't have been able to keep my hands to myself. I mean, it takes every ounce of restraint not to grasp his free hand right now.
He's maybe a foot away from me, one hand firmly on the steering wheel, the other completely available. I can practically feel him without touching him, his presence is so startlingly profound. Butactualtouching would be a whole lot better.
I tell myself to stop the crazy thoughts.
When did this happen? More importantly, why? Bernard hasn’t been gone long. If my therapist was here, she’d remind me that I never completed the grieving process. If Josh were here, he’d probably say I never loved his father to begin with. He would be wrong.
While ours wasn’t the heady love affair that comes with youth, I loved Bernard. Despite the age difference or family dynamics. He was a kind, wonderful partner for the short time I had him. I like to think I was the same for him.
“You okay?” We are at a stop sign and Calvin is looking at me. More like studying me. He’s been pretty quiet. I’ll bet a hundred bucks he’s mulling things over, just like I am.
“Yep, just tired.” Bold-faced lie. I'm fired up.
“I hear ya. Long day.”
In the distance I see ski trails cut into the mountain. Above it, clouds are gathering. Should make for a solid ski day.
