Page 41 of Unexpected Union

Mitch carriedthe fishing gear while Audra finished eating her bagel.

Therewere two boats moored at the dock. Mitch chose one and dropped downinto it, steadying himself as it rocked a bit. Heplaced the fishing polesto the side and reached up to help Audra in.

He reached forher waist, encountering the swell of baby. She laughed and thesound warmed him. He liked her laughter. Something else he’d missedover the past months.

“I feellike a sausage,” shesaid as she rested her hands on his shoulders and lightly steppeddown into the boat. It rocked wildly and he held hertightly.

“Whoa, don’tcapsize us.”

“I wouldn’tdare. That water is freezing.”

Sittinggingerly on one of the bench seats, she looked up brightly. “This is a greatidea.”

Mitch steppedto the stern and checked the small trolling motor. Seeing the gastank was full, he pulled the cord and it started immediately. Thesoft hum of the motor sounded loud in the early-morningstillness.

“We’regoing to wake everyone up,” Audra said, turning to watch him castoff and guide the little boat away from the dock.

“It’s not thatnoisy. None of the boats on the lake woke you on other mornings,did they?”

Shelooked around. There were at least a half-dozen boats scattered around the glassysurface. She had heard none of them.

By the timethey stopped, and Mitch cut the motor to allow them to driftslowly, the sun had risen. Some of the chill abated and he settledback.

“I’venever been fishingbefore, so you have to show me what to do,” Audra said,shifting, rocking the boat. “Oops. How do we movearound?”

“We don’t.Hand me that blue box, it has the flies. I’ll get you going.”

A fewminutes later both had lines in the water—on opposite sidesofthe boat. Audralooked relaxed, blissfully gazing over the water, anticipationevident.

Mitch wasamused. Obviously she expected to land a fish instantly. As theminutes ticked by, he watched her. Her anticipation waned asfrustration mounted.

Sheglanced at him,frowned.

“What’sfunny?”

“Nothing.”

Narrowing hereyes, she glared at him. “You’re definitely amused.”

He nodded.

“Why?”

“You look asif you expect the fish to just jump in the boat. Fishing is a slow,longtime process. Relaxing, remember?”

“Idon’t feel relaxed. I’mafraid the boat’s going to tip over if I don’t keep a constantbalance. Or I’ll drop the pole or the fish will yank it out of myhand. And one thing I don’t think we took into consideration wasthe frequency with which pregnant women need a restroom.”

Hislipstwitched. So muchfor a relaxing morning on the lake.

“Should I headfor home now?”

Sheshook her head, now glaring at the fishing pole and the line. “No,I’m good for a while yet. But I thought we’d have a fish by now. Ithought we could have afish fry today like the Carmichaels did. Return their hospitalityso to speak.”

“Relax. Givenenough time, we’ll probably catch as many as Mr. Carmichaeldid.”

“Oh great, theworkaholic himself is telling me to relax?”

Mitchlaughed aloudat herdisgruntled tone. When she looked at him, her eyes sparkled and shegrinned. Suddenly he no longer felt like laughing. He wanted topull her into his arms and kiss her again. Feel that warm weight ofher body, the new shapes and contours he was growing to know.Wanted to taste her mouth, breathe in her special scent. Wantedthat feeling of connection he felt when they embraced.

---