by Adams, Zoe
“I mean, what do you think is going to happen? I just met Lady. We aren’t getting married or doing anything on paper yet. But if we do get married, I promise as a gentleman to call you first.”
Lady’s mother must have recognized she would get no further with Del. So she turned to her daughter.
“Please, honey. What about your career? I don’t want you to waste valuable time off your life. Besides, you know you can’t just disappear. You were born and bred to continue our world famous opinion and brand on clothing.”
“Yes, Mother. I’m well aware of that. With such fine teachers, how could I forget? I have already been planning for my future. Del has given me an art studio. I plan on entering my own line of clothing for the Spring Fashion Blitz in New Kirk City.”
Lady’s information put heat back on the situation.
Her mother grimaced. “That’s the most prestigious fashion event of the year. Why don’t you try one of the smaller events first?”
“Why? What’s the difference? I’m going to be stressed either way.”
“Yes, I know. But how are you going to know what’s in fashion if you’re sitting in the country? What does a farmer know about fashion?”
Lucy shrugged at Del. “He doesn’t need to know about fashion. He inspires me and I feel safe with him. Look at him, Mom. I think he will look good in any city or any outfit. I mean, how could I expect to find the sexiest man like this, in the country? My age stands against me. But I will be by his side until his blond hair turns grey and all his muscles turn to flab. ”
Lady looked at Del intently. “I don’t see him hurting me or even embarrassing me. There’s something about him, like I’ve known him before or something.”
She turned her attention back to the questioning group. “Let us have our love, and let us have our privacy. We’ll see you at the Spring Fashion Blitz. Then we can reassess these decisions and base future ones on fact. I would like to know for sure if Del is right for me. And I’m sure everyone will feel a little better after some time has passed.”
Lady and Del had spoken their bit. Now it was up to everyone to finish their drinks and exit on cue. Given more time, Del would have planned a barbeque and given them a feast. Considering the fact they liked to show up at any hour of day unannounced, he didn’t feel bad with only offering wine.
If it was etiquette and class they admired, then they would have to abide with civil introductions and guidelines. This business of showing up out of the blue and demanding to be placated was a little extreme for Del, but well within his limits to justify their curiosity.
It satisfied his curiosity as well. Lady had committed the next six months of her life to him. Well, it was kind of to him. She’d also dedicated herself to proving something for her own self. She planned to do two big things: be an artist and tame a passionate man.
Del realized how private he really was. They still held hands and he turned to face her carefully. He wanted to kiss her good and hard. He wanted to close his eyes and let everyone disappear. He didn’t do what he wanted. He didn’t sound like he wanted. The voice coming out wasn’t what he wanted, but it was there and it covered them strongly.
“Well, ma’am, it looks like things are going well.” He snuck a kiss on her fingertips, then lowered her hand softly.
Lady blushed at the name she’d scolded him about earlier. She raised her face to his, and something froze everything in place. She looked how Del felt. Like being stuck and sinking quick.
Everything blurred into slow motion. He couldn’t move fast enough to reassure her. He moved a long strand of hair behind her ear. He stroked it over her neck. His finger followed her smoothness for a long second.
Everything else in the room had to wait. First he needed to come through this black hole that only focused on Lady. Del already made a choice to stand by her. He wouldn’t move away from her now.
Del wondered how to proceed, or if he should try at all. He was fine with the option of just standing there with her.
Lady’s mother reached around Del. “I’d like to see your work station and make sure you have everything you need.”
“You know, Mom, you should have called first. It’s kind of messy right now.” Lady nervously scratched her arm.
“Well, I just want to make sure you have suitable resources.” Mrs. Steele huffed.
“Don’t worry, Mom, if I need anything, then I know how to get it.”
Del visibly shifted. Lady’s mom looked him up and down.
“Yes, you do know how to get what you want.” She turned her head and shook it lightly. “Of course my daughter knows how to win. I can’t decide if I should be proud or not.”
Lady’s father hugged her, then shook Del’s hand. He nodded at Del and walked from the room.
The house emptied of its visitors. Del could breathe a little better. He turned his attention to the empty, dirty glassware.
Later that day, Del wasn’t really in the mood for complications. They already had enough intellectual exchange for one day. Brain expanding talks could be done under a different sun.
Del cracked open a beer and walked out to the old veranda. Lady was dressing herself somewhere. Del didn’t mind her attention to detail. It was impressive how she always looked so comfortable.
Maybe that wasn’t the exact word for it. Lady was stylish and sweet. She looked young but never really acted young.
Her femininity shocked his senses. Lady showed just enough skin to be girly and could be conservative at the same time. Her allure came from layers of sugar and sweets.
Del couldn’t wrap his mind around her anymore. He really needed an easy buzz and an easy lay. That shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
Chapter 10
The confrontation with Lady’s family had been a huge milestone. Del worked the farm in the morning and came home to Lady in the afternoon.
For the first time in his life, Del didn’t plan on the farm being his career. These were just things that needed to be done before winter.
Lady never really asked much about his work. She kept her questions basic, like, how was your day? Or, did you have a good morning? She would pucker her lips at the information and Del would land on them after a short answer.
Their talks never went past the seasonal shift or the next lunar turn. But life held a simplistic sway flowing easily from one day to the next.
Lady’s personality was calm. She could be demanding but it wasn’t off putting. She liked his soap and his wine, but most importantly, she liked him.
They tolerated frozen food, which covered the basic staples to survive. Neither one of them wanted to stop what they were doing and tame a cookbook or learn formalities of a kitchen. Del knew it would be okay as long as they stayed on the same path. Del put himself back into the here and now, and blinked at Lady.
“I’m sorry the food isn’t very good.” Del pushed his plate to the side and guzzled beer.
“I think it’s great.” Lady took another bite.
“Oh please, don’t make fun of my frozen food.” Del rolled his eyes and guffawed.
Lady finished chewing and set her fork down. “What? No, I’m serious.”
“Yeah, right. I’m surprised you’ll eat processed foods.” Del finished what he started. Truth be told, she was a princess and he never really forgot.
“Well, food isn’t your main draw, but I’d be a fool to let it bother me. Everything else is so perfect. I can walk around naked and not run into maids.” Lady sighed wistfully.
Del sobered. “The only person you’re allowed to walk into is me. And if you find someone else, they have to go through me as well.”
Lady gave him a big grin. She nailed the perceptive and sarcastic look perfectly.
“Okay? We’ll see about that. I just spent eighteen years of my life being told what to do. I’m not that anxious to hand the reins over just yet.”
“I know you’re not.” Del grinned. “You don’t want to change your name or acknowledge a par
tnership with me outside this house.”
“Yes, I do. I’m just very selfish. I don’t want to share you or split your attention from me in any way. I want all of it. Everything you have to give is what I want.” Lady picked up her fork then set it back down. “I don’t care about food. That’s not what sustains me the most.”
Lady shrugged and sat back stubbornly.
Del’s body tightened into laughter.
“Ha. I could look the whole world over and never find a girl like you.” Del shook his head and sipped his beer. “I just don’t know how you found me.”
Lady agreed. “It makes me believe in fate and karma and stuff like that.”
“Well, ma’am, it makes me think that class and beauty are still alive. I really don’t mind the daily reminders.”
Lady gaggled a quick, sporadic laugh. “At least I’m out of class when you talk about class. But I still have class. I just hope I never have to sit in a classroom again.”
“I’ll take that too. Yes, ma’am, everything about you is a ten. I don’t think you should be sitting in a chair the next time you learn something.”
Lady rolled her eyes. “The only things you can teach me are in bed. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes, that’s what we’re both saying.” Del stood from the chair and opened the cooler. “Anytime I think it’s time to teach you something I’ll talk about class, and where you belong.”
“Somehow, I know better than to argue with you. What part of me do you think wins that argument?”
Del was smooth. “It shouldn’t be an argument. Your whole body should be in alignment and agreement with mine. That’s one of the first things I noticed about you, that our aligning is so natural.”
Lady nodded and looked at him wordlessly. Del could tell from her steady gaze she hungered for things other than food. That was just fine with Del. They had the rest of the night to goof around and be romantic.
Tomorrow they would go back to their respective corners of the farm and eek out something prosperous. Tonight they would pet and console each other. There were little spots that needed massaging and other things needing attention.
“It’s Friday night,” Del said with emphasis. “We should go out.”
Lady never wanted to leave the farm house. It complimented Del very much she found so much comfort with him. But enough was enough. Even Del got cabin fever and wanted to get out for a while.
“Let’s go to town,” Del suggested.
Lady looked up and smiled. “I can’t go to bars yet. What else can we do together?”
Del pointed his thumb at his chest. “Why don’t you let me worry about where you can and can’t go?”
An hour later they were scrubbed down and dressed up for their trot into town. Lady had an obsession with matching. She wore a little black dress to match his classic black cowboy shirt.
“Do you like my dress?” She twirled in front of him.
Her skirt swished above her knees. Although it moved in a loose and dreamy way, her shirt did not. Black tightly kissed her form. It hugged the tiny waist and cradled wide breasts. Very little was left to the imagination. Lady couldn’t exaggerate an hourglass figure any better.
She looked good. Real good. The little black dress had shell snaps down the front of it. He was vaguely reminded of one of his own shirts. The skirt flounced around her knees. Red cowboy boots covered her shins. The few inches of leg that showed were enticing.
“Yes, you look great.” Del gawked at her.
“Good.” Lady flounced her attention back and forth in front of the mirror. “I mean, thank you. I had to alter it. See right here how I added the country stitching and cowboy cut to the back of it?”
Del could see it crystal clear. She looked ready for a night on the town, any town. He hoped she wouldn’t be disappointed with the only bar in Cape City.
“All right,” Del said, “let’s get a move on.”
Lady laughed. “I almost expect you to say giddy-up and stuff.”
“Someday I might have to light a fire under your butt to get you moving, but I doubt it. You need next to nothing to be inspired.”
Although he did enjoy watching her put on makeup, he wanted to show her off just as much.
“How long until you are ready?” he asked.
Usually they just floated along in a harmony where everything happened easily. Del wasn’t used to waiting. He didn’t mind, he just liked to know if he could be doing something else besides hanging around by the door.
Lady turned her head and smiled. “I only need five more minutes. I want to look natural and older.”
“Well, that sounds damn near impossible.” Del scuffed his cowboy boot against his heel. “Why don’t you just take all the time in the world and paint lines and wrinkles on your face?”
They laughed at the idea. Lady twisted the lid on a bottle shut and smiled. “All right. I’m ready to meet your friends.”
The bottle fell over and glass clinked on the counter. She righted it quickly. Del realized she was nervous.
“Don’t worry. Everyone will like you. Come on, let’s go.” Del held out his hand, and she took it without hesitation.
An hour later they entered the swinging doors of his brother’s fine drinking establishment. Del led Lady up to the bar. Ted steadily filled his patron’s demands.
“Hey, Ted,” Del said loudly over the music. “This is Lady.”
“Well, I can tell she’s a lady.” Ted held out his hand. “Nice to finally meet who settled in at the farm.”
Lady got her hand back before giving Del a worried look. He winked and covered for them.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve settled down. I’d call it a comfortable work place for both of our interests.”
“Yeah.” Ted winked. “I know about your interests, Del. They are boring and outdated. So what about you? What are your interests, Lady?”
Her answer was born from the heart. “Fashion. I’m going to compete on the runway this spring.”
Ted looked at Del for confirmation. Del nodded.
Lady grinned. “The farm and its seclusion is my inspiration. Del is a wonderful man to allow me his space.”
Del nodded and tilted his head. He wasn’t used to being praised and was a little unsure of how to react to being called wonderful. “I’ll take a beer, please. What would you like?”
He put his head very close to Lady’s when he asked the question.
“I don’t know. I want something sweet.” Lady grinned.
“Something sweet, the lady says.” Ted grinned and flipped over a shaker. “You got it.”
A few minutes later they had their drinks in hand. There was nowhere to sit at the bar. Del considered the dilemma. A table nearby had extra stools.
“Excuse me,” Del said with exaggerated bravado. “Can we borrow your chairs?”
The people at the table nodded. Del placed the chairs with unparalleled enthusiasm.
“Let’s sit right here.” Del waited for her to sit, then he pulled his chair close in a slanted way.
Del put Lady on the pedestal where she belonged. Right now they were both singled out and elevated on the wall. He put his face in Lady’s peripheral.
“So, what do you think of the place?” Del asked.
Lady looked at him. He realized the second mistake of the night. They sat on one side of the room with their back to the wall.
Lady could see the whole place. Del followed her line of vision. This bar made drinking look far from glamorous. What could the future of his life contain?
Was it truly in cities and society? With other people, forced to get along because of limited living space? Or was their place among the tumbleweeds that blew for miles before being interrupted or stopped?
Del didn’t know. He looked at Lady and she had the same questions. For the first time Del felt like this part of the world wasn’t home. The thought lingered and grew. The more he considered it, the more he realized he’d always felt a little out
of place. It wasn’t a specific boiling point at the time, but now it was outrageous.
He pulled his stool directly in front of Lady’s. When he looked at her face again, everything was much clearer. His fiery heat cooled for a tolerant conversation.
“Everything is different with you. The old bar isn’t quite so exciting.”
Lady looked at him with booze laden courage. “What was that you said, Minister Del? You definitely live up to your name. Let’s play pool or something. I don’t know why you don’t let me mingle with the neighbors.”
Lady shook her head and stood up. Del smiled. Lady looked aged with expertise and she teased him with classy charm. They left their chairs in the aisle and approached a table.
The normal pool players took up the tables. Del recognized someone and yelled, “Hey, Paint Store Bill, I challenge you to a game of pool.”
He looked up hesitantly until he saw Lady.
“All right, I’ll play you after this game.”
He leaned over a cue ball and lined it up for a shot. A resounding crack dispersed balls across the table. Del waited for the player to stop shooting before talking to him.
“So if we beat you, can we have the table?” Del asked easily.
“No way. But we can play partners.”
Del looked at Lady questioningly.
“Sure.” Lady grinned and smacked Del’s butt. “We can play partners. I already have mine.”
The agreement was made. Lady and Del retreated to a safe distance. They watched the game. The competition moved quickly, and Del realized these guys were good.
He whispered to Lady, “I hope you’re good.”
Lady’s eyes grew wide and she gave him quick consternation. “Can we save the bedroom talk, please?”
She giggled but looked rueful instead of happy. She commanded his attention so easily. Lady swayed past the table. She let her finger run up a wall of sticks.
Lady looked at each one of them from top to bottom and then back up again. They were bent, scarred, and worn. She found one in somewhat good shape.
Lady held the cue stick in her hand carefully. She checked for people quickly before holding the stick out. She checked the straightness with one eye closed and one eye clenched. She could’ve been looking down a gun barrel. She turned the stick and sighed.
