Page 38 of Miracles and Marriage
She left the apartment a few moments before six and arrived at the lobby door just as Cal pulled up. Before he could park, she waved and hurried to the car. He stowed her suitcase in the trunk and held the passenger door for her.
“With so many children in your family, I guess I’m not surprised you are always punctual,” he said as she settled in.
“My folks made a rule. If you weren’t in the bathroom at your assigned time, it became open for whoever wanted it. My sisters loved to primp, so we learned early on not to be late.”
“Uncle Hal used to say it was rude to keep people waiting,” Cal said as he pulled back into traffic.
“It is. How are you coping with his being gone?” she asked gently.
“It’s not as hard here. There’s lots going on so I’m not thinking about it all the time. When in his home in Richmond, I expected him to appear every moment. It’ll get easier. At least that’s what people say.”
“Easier, but the longing to see him, the wish for one afternoon again never quite fades,” she said sadly.
“Speaking from experience?” he asked.
Zoe nodded.
“A dear friend died when we were in college. I still miss her.”
Cal didn’t speak again until Zoe gave directions for the steak house. Dinner didn’t go as quickly as she had hoped since it was Friday night and the restaurant was crowded. By the time they finished their meal and were back on the road, it was after ten. They reached the cottage after eleven.
The wind blew from the ocean and the town of Seagrass Point was closed up. Few lights beyond streetlights illuminated the night. When they turned onto the road where the cottage sat, no lights showed at all.
“Not a lot of people live out here it seems,” he said.
“Most of these places are summer homes. Which makes it ideal the rest of the year to get away. I love it when the beach is deserted and I can have it all to myself.”
Once inside, Zoe hurried to turn on the heater.
“Fortunately my great-grandparents had hoped once to live year-round here so equipped the house for all weather. It’ll warm up soon.”
She stood in the living room and looked around, wondering what Cal saw. Could he imagine the years of loving visits from boisterous children and indulgent adults? Or did he see it as a casual home that showed its eclectic background and age?
“Shall I take the same bedroom as before?” he asked.
She nodded, breathing a soft sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t going to pursue the matter he spoke of before. Maybe his idea of a honeymoon was different from hers.
“I left the water heater on when we left before, so if you want a shower, the water would be hot,” she said, feeling a bit bewildered.
This wasn’t quite turning out like she thought.
“I’d prefer to take one in the morning, after our run.”
“Want hot chocolate or something before bed?” she asked.
“If you’re making it, I’ll have some. After I take our bags up to the rooms.”
By the time the beverage was ready, the house had warmed enough Zoe could take off her jacket. Cal had returned after depositing the bags and lounged against the counter watching as she prepared the hot chocolate.
“I didn’t see your laptop,” she said, adding cocoa to the warming milk.
“Didn’t bring it. But you reminded me,” he said, taking his phone from his pocket.
He turned it off and laid it on the counter.
“No interruptions this time.”
Zoe was startled. He was never incommunicado for work.
