Page 36 of The River in Spring
Something passes between the two of them. A big story that can’t be told tonight. That’s how I see it anyway.
“I went to Maine to be with Sam, when my sister died.”
Oh. Damn.
Aurora weighs in. “When Kristen passed, she and her family were living in Maine. Thankfully, Scarlett was able to relocate there for Sam.”
Parish picks up on the story.
“I was getting through my own issues. Processing grief and loss by hiding in my writing. My son had died some years before. Anyway, we met on Martin’s Beach, and the rest is history. Now we are a family. Scarlett, Sam, and I. There’s something to be said for destiny. I don’t think it can be ignored.”
“Don’t forget Boo!” Scarlett says.
“That’s right. The dog had lost his family too.”
I take in the drama of their coming together. It is so different from the story of Nobel and me. Their love story wasn’t easy to tell or to live. It must be solid to go through that kind of start and end up here. The pain solidified what they found in each other. I can see it on their faces, and I feel it when they speak.
11
Nobel
Wiping the last traces of shaving cream off my face, I pick up the cell and take Dove off speaker.
“What were you and my mother whispering about on the phone last night?”
The few second pause in her answer confirms something is up.
“What do you mean? We were just talking about having your family come to McCandy’s for a show sometime. That would be fun, right?”
“I call bullshit.”
That wasn’t it. But I have my own secrets and they will be revealed tonight. Hope it goes as planned.
“What?” she says. “You’re paranoid. Let’s talk aboutyourbirthday. I want to celebrate it even if you don’t,” she says, changing the subject.
“Uh huh.”
It is an obvious effort to misdirect the conversation.
“Let’s get past yours first. Then we can discuss if we need to plan anything. You know what I’d really like?”
“Me naked in your bed?”
“Well yeah, babe. That would be the best birthday celebration you could plan. Let’s lock it down.”
Her giggles spark my dick to respond.
“Of course, that will be part of your gift. But we need to do something special. I want to. Come on. Please.”
There’s no refusing her. It isn’t in me. There has never been a problem before about doing what the hell I want to do. When I wanted. Before Dove I saw no reason to bend to things that I didn’t care to do. You do you, I’ll do me. Even stupid things like birthday celebrations. I was that guy. Period. Now, somehow things look different. It is because I am a different man with her. An improved one, most likely.
“Whatever. I guess a nice dinner out would be fine,” I give in to logic and kindness.
A little snort precedes her answer. “Okay good. I’ll keep it simple.”
Do I believe her? Not sure I do. That snort sounded suspiciously like it was hiding a lie. What has she planned? I may regret my recent evolution.
“I’ll pick you up at seven tonight,” I say, walking into the bedroom. “We can have a few drinks before dinner.”
