Chapter 19
“What do you think of this place?” Jordan asked Sam, walking around the fieldstone and wood cottage perched on a hill overlooking the lake. “I thought it would be at the edge of the water rather than up this high.”
“Maybe it’s better to be further from the water in case of floods,” she replied. The outside of the house was nice, but the inside was chopped into several small rooms without a good sense of flow. “Is this the first house you’ve looked at?”
“Yes. Guess it would be wise to see other places before making any decision. Anyway, it’s an excuse to get out of town and spend time with you.” He put a possessive arm around her waist. “We’ll have to try a weekend away on my boat.”
She stared at him, puzzled. “If you have a boat you can sleep on, why do you need a house in the country?”
He was silent as he considered her words. “Well, for starters, I can’t use the boat from November to April. It’s too cold. A place in the country could be lived in year-round if there’s heat and a fireplace. Also, it’s restricted living on a boat. If the weather’s rainy, you’re stuck inside. Although, with you around, I don’t think that would be a problem.” He sent her a sexy grin while his mind conjured an intimate scene of cuddling with her in the full-size bed.
The realtor, Grace Hall, sat in her station wagon parked in the driveway, busy with paperwork. She’d shown them the house and then left them on their own to discuss the pros and cons. Seeing the couple approach, she climbed out of her car with a pleasant smile. “Well, what do you think? The owners are eager to make a sale. They’re moving out west to be near their children. You could get a good deal.”
“It does have possibilities, but I wanted something right on the lake with a dock. I’m sorry I didn’t mention that to you at the beginning. I’d like to keep my boat here year-round. I know there’s a marina not too far away, but I’d prefer having the boat closer.”
“That makes sense. I didn’t realize a dock was a top priority. Let me check my listings and see if there’s something with that feature.” Grace couldn’t find anything available at the moment but promised to get back to them.
After returning to the realtor’s office, Jordan turned to Sam. “Let’s take a hike around the lake. The weather’s just right, and we need to walk off the hot fudge sundaes we had earlier.”
Sam wasn’t sure about his proposal. “How long is this walk? I thought we were supposed to relax over the weekend.”
“Not far, maybe three or four miles. If you get tired when we’re halfway around, we can turn back. What do you say?”
Something about his reply didn’t sound right. “I wasn’t the brightest math student but if we hike two miles and then go back, we’ll have done the same number of miles as if we walked the whole lake.”
He gave a shout of laughter and pulled her into his arms. “You’re too smart, do you know that? I thought I could put one over on you. Okay, we’ll stop whenever you want. How’s that?” He pressed a tender kiss on the top of her head.
“That sounds much better,” she murmured, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. At least she’d had the foresight to bring a good pair of sturdy sneakers along.
After leaving the car parked near one of the entrances to the trails, they started out. The day was clear and sunny, perfect weather for a leisurely stroll. Jordan was in the mood for a more vigorous hike, but he tempered his strides to accommodate her.
“Is this pace good for you?” he inquired.
“Fine. Hope I’m not cramping your style.” She sniffed the fresh air, redolent with the scent of pine trees and new growth. “This is much better than walking on cement sidewalks.”
“Guess we’re both country bumpkins at heart,” he said.
“I don’t know about that. A balance of city and country would be perfect.”
“That’s why I’m trying to find a country place for us to enjoy.” He stopped and turned to her. “It’s more fun to share a space like this with you than experience it by myself.” As he said those words, he knew they were true. Perhaps it was premature, but he didn’t care.
“That’s so sweet.” She was overcome with an emotion she couldn’t quite define. Then she blurted, “I keep thinking you’ll tire of my company. We’re so different. But then again, you could always find another woman to share a country home.”
His brow wrinkled in confusion. “Why do you keep saying things like that? I don’t think we’re that different. On the most important issues, we’re right on target.”
“Like sex and food?” She asked with raised eyebrows.
“Well, what’s wrong with those two items? A relationship that’s satisfying is going to have those components. But there’s so much more. When we’re together, doing things like tramping through Central Park or stopping for ice cream, I see everything around me with a heightened awareness. During the week when we’re apart, there’s grayness to what I’m experiencing. Am I the only one feeling this way?” He searched her expression closely.
Sam closed her eyes briefly as the portent of his words sank in. Jordan’s sincerity demanded a truthful answer. “I do look forward to seeing you,” she finally replied, “but there’s a fear attached that I can’t quite squelch. We met under such bizarre circumstances. And believe me, your effect on my life has been monumental.”
His hands cradled her face. “I’m glad to hear that. It bodes well for our future.” Then he kissed her long and soundly before resuming their hike.
They stopped along the way to admire shore birds wading in the lake. Jordan picked up a flat pebble and sent it skimming over the water.
“I’ve always wanted to do that!” Sam exclaimed, searching for a similarly sized stone. She found one and tried to imitate his movement. The stone flopped a few times and sank. “That’s what happens all the time,” she complained.
“Here, let me show you.” He came to her side and went through the correct motion. “You have to move your hand smoothly, almost parallel to the water, or else it will drop.” His next stone whizzed through the air and skipped merrily across the lake.
Pressing her lips together with concentration, Sam tried again. But the flat pebble refused to do its thing. “I give up,” she declared stalking away. “I guess I’m just not coordinated.” This was the opening to confess her clumsiness in his tai chi class. She opened her mouth to tell him but the words wouldn’t come. What was the matter? Why was she such a coward?
He caught up with her. “Don’t take it so seriously. Most boys develop that skill early in life. I think girls have a harder time unless they’re tomboys. What were you like as a child?”
“I was always drawing or painting. Someone handed me a crayon when I was about three or four, and I found a new world of color and design. Sports were not my thing, except for swimming. I even have problems playing ping pong.”
He couldn’t help laughing. “At least my ego will never suffer when I take you on for a game. That’s something.” He reached for her hand as they walked.
“I’ll bet most of the women you’ve dated were great at sports,” she said with a touch of envy in her voice.
“Who cares? I’m with you now, and I’ve forgotten the others. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, Sam. You are unique and wonderful. I’m not looking for an Olympic champion to share my life. Can’t you understand that?” He put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake.
“You’re a great confidence builder, and no, I’m not trying out for the Olympics yet. But I do like to hold my own when it comes to ordinary things, like playing ping pong and skimming stones. Guess I’ll have to stick with painting and belly dancing. At least I have an edge in those two areas.”
“You can say that.”
After Sam called a halt to hiking, they headed back to the inn to relax and take a leisurely shower together. Jordan had made reservations for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the lake. “It’s a casual place, so don’t worry about dressing up,” he told her.
“I can’t, even if I wanted to,” she retorted.
He laughed as he pushed her onto the bed. “Be glad I let you bring any clothes at all. I should have kept you naked under the covers for the entire weekend.”
“Is that so?” She sent him a coy smile.
“Would that be so terrible? We could send out for food and hibernate. We’ll have to try it on a cold, snowy weekend next winter. By that time I should’ve found our weekend retreat. Right now we’d better get going. Our reservations are for eight.”
Jordan was talking about the future, Sam realized. But did they have one?
Rather than try to figure out that conundrum, she decided to take one day at a time and enjoy the night’s pleasures.
~ ~ ~
“Andrea, it’s so good to see you. You’re looking fit and tan. How was the weekend down south?” Lori Atkins came around the table at the upscale restaurant to give her friend a kiss on the cheek. She went on to greet Andrea’s sister Karen.
“It was great. Ben had business in Boca Raton, so we flew down Thursday evening and came back last night. I spent most of the time sunning myself by the pool.”
“Lucky girl,” Lori declared as she sat down and glanced at the menu.
“I’m glad you could meet us today. I needed to come into town to pick up bridesmaid gifts, so I thought I’d phone and see if you were free for lunch. Karen came along to keep me company.” Andrea smiled at her younger sister.
“Well, Monday is usually a quiet day at the office. Most of my clients have busy weekends and need to catch up,” Lori explained.
“How’s the interior design business these days?” Andrea inquired while she scanned the menu. “Their Cobb salads are fabulous.”
“I’ll have one of those, too,” Karen chimed in. “Yes, it’s good to see you, Lori. The shower was so crowded, it was hard to get any quiet time for conversation. But I think it went very well.”
“Oh, it was wonderful,” Lori enthused. “I’ll join you in ordering the Cobb salad. I have a few pounds to lose before the wedding.” She patted her stomach with a wry look. “Concerning business, I have more clients than I can handle. Spring is always busy. People are redecorating for upcoming holidays and weddings.”
“I can’t wait ’til Ben builds our new home in Greenwich. It’ll be so much fun decorating the place. Believe me, Lori, I’ll keep you plenty occupied,” Andrea asserted.
The waiter came to fill water glasses and take their order.
“Where are you shopping for your bridesmaid gifts?” Lori asked.
“Probably Bloomingdales,” Andrea replied. “The problem is, I’m not sure whether to pick up five gifts or six. My youngest sister recently told me, in no uncertain terms, that she won’t be coming to the wedding. She was supposed to be one of the bridesmaids.” Andrea’s expression was grim. “Karen was there when she made this declaration. So were my mother and two elderly aunts. Believe me, it was quite a shock. So I’m stuck with a bridesmaid’s dress and no one to wear it. It doesn’t seem fair to ask someone to fill in at this late date.”
“What’s the matter with her? I’ve never heard of anyone doing such a thing,” Lori exclaimed. “Did you argue about something? Is that the reason she’s not coming?”
“My sister’s a very strange person. She dislikes anything to do with family. Wouldn’t you say so?” Andrea turned to Karen for affirmation.
Nodding her head, Karen said, “I would agree with you there. Samantha tends to do her own thing.”
“Samantha? I’d forgotten her name,” Lori said with a puzzled expression. Jordan’s new girlfriend’s name was Samantha. “Is she a belly dancer by any chance?”
“A belly dancer? I don’t think so,” Andrea said with a laugh. “My sister doesn’t know her left foot from her right. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Jordan mentioned he was seeing someone whose name is Samantha, and she belly dances at restaurants. But there are tons of women with that name. It’s very popular nowadays.”
“Well, I can assure you Jordan would have better taste in women. My sister doesn’t date and devotes all her time to her paintings, which are as strange as she is. Right?” She turned to Karen again.
Karen nodded her agreement.
The waiter appeared with their salads and a basket of fresh bread.
“Oh, we don’t need the bread,” Andrea declared with a dismissive gesture.
“No, we don’t want it,” Karen said.
“I’m glad you girls are so disciplined,” Lori said. “Otherwise I’d probably gorge myself on those rolls.”
“How is your brother these days? I was surprised when he broke up with Lara Jensen. I spent time talking to her at my shower and was very impressed. If I had the courage, I’d call her and see if she’d fill in for my sister, but it’s probably too late to do that.” Andrea munched on her salad with a thoughtful look.
“I don’t think it’s too late,” Lori exclaimed. “She’d probably be thrilled to be in the wedding party. Although how Jordan would feel about it, I don’t know.”
“I was going to pair him with my sister,” Andrea explained. “Do you think he’d mind walking down the aisle with Lara? I don’t want to put him on the spot if he’d feel awkward.”
Lori was silent a minute as she thought about the situation. She was annoyed with her brother for not confiding in her in the first place. Besides, she hadn’t heard from him in weeks. It would serve him right to be with his ex-girlfriend. “I think it would be okay. Jordan’s not the nasty type. He’ll pretend everything is fine and go through with it. Why don’t you ask Lara and see what she thinks? If she’s all right with the idea, go ahead and do it.”
“I think so, too,” Karen nodded her head. “Lara’s a lovely woman. She was so helpful at the shower.”
“Since you both agree, I’ll phone her and ask. I’m glad that’s settled. I’ll pick up six bridesmaid gifts and figure she’ll say yes to my proposal. Thanks for helping me out of this embarrassing situation. As it is, my mother’s been a wreck since the scene at the restaurant with Samantha. She wants us to be one happy family, and it’s hard for her to understand why this isn’t going to happen. After Samantha opened her big mouth and screamed at me in front of everyone, I never want to be in her presence again,” Andrea declared.
Lori shook her head in consternation. “Your sister must have something wrong with her to do a thing like that in a public place. I don’t blame you one bit for not wanting to be in her company. I try to avoid negative people if I can.”
“That’s very wise,” Karen said. “I was shocked, too, especially since our two elderly aunts were with us. They talked about it all the way home.”
“I’m sure they’ve spread the word to the rest of the family, which is bothering my mother no end. My father asked me to call Samantha and patch things up so she’d be in the wedding party. I’d rather cancel the wedding than do a thing like that. If she wanted to apologize to me, she had her chance. Since I never heard a word from her, I’m standing firm. I hope I never have to see her again,” Andrea said in a determined tone.
“Parents always want their children to get along,” Lori said. “Every time my sisters and I quarreled about something, they would usually intervene and try to fix things. It took them a while to figure out we were better off negotiating our own arguments, rather than being forced to listen to their lectures. Maybe in time, things will change with your sister, Andrea, and the two of you can at least be cordial, if not friendly. That’s always possible, you know.”
“Possible but unlikely,” Andrea replied. “You, Diane, and Amy get along well because you’re all on the same page. Samantha and I have never been close, and I can’t imagine anything changing. But thanks for all your good advice, Lori. Just talking it out has made me feel better.” She patted her friend’s hand and sent her a grateful smile.
“That’s what good friends are for,” Lori said, giving Andrea’s hand a little squeeze. “I’m always here for you.”
“As I am for you,” Andrea replied.