by J C Hartung
She hadn’t shifted in his hands but hers had roamed down his chest and around his back.
“I didn’t have to sneak around. And, Raina, I never got caught,” he explained, with a confident smile that had the laugh gurgling to her throat. He saw she enjoyed his answer before his mouth took over hers and forced the laugh to be absorbed between them.
She couldn’t breathe, or she imagined that’s how she should be feeling. She was stuck in a cloud of complete and utter contentment. What was happening to her was the return of something she thought was lost. She could only find one word to describe the feeling; it was freedom.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The stairs creaked mildly beneath their feet as he led her back up as a new and bizarre feeling settled over her. She couldn’t recall ever being in a situation that led to meeting the parents before. She knew the Sawyers long before she ever met Mark and no one before that ever mattered enough to put forth the effort. This was something new, something that was only his.
Linc wasn’t turning it into a big deal, in fact, as far as she could see he was as calm and cool as ever. Not that it mattered all that much. It really didn’t feel unnatural or formal or forced in any way, but it was interesting nonetheless.
“Have a seat, can I get you something to drink?” he asked, as he moved them easily into the kitchen, first turning the music softer, then opening a cupboard filled with an assortment of glasses.
She took a seat while her eyes looked around. “Whatever you’re having is fine.”
He flashed a quick smile back at her and was satisfied she didn’t seem nervous in the least. He took down two water glasses and filled them from the dispenser in the fridge and passed one to her. He walked back and leaned on the counter near the sink.
“Darling, it’s wonderful to see you,” Diane said to Linc, as she breezed back into the kitchen. She placed one hand on his cheek and kissed the other before reaching into the cupboard and grabbing a glass.
“Mom,” Linc placed his hand on hers and took the glass from her hand and looked at Raina sitting at the table.
Diane turned and saw the girl, and her first thought was, this cannot be the same woman I saw weeks ago. Whatever was going on inside of her was certainly agreeing with her, and she hoped that a piece of it was Linc. Diane swept aside her surprise as she straightened and smiled across the room.
“Well, hello again!”
Linc noted simultaneously the reactions of the women in the room. Diane looked especially pleased, and Raina looked confounded.
Raina recognized the woman immediately, and Diane crossed to where she now stood.
“Hi,” she managed to push free as she stuck out her hand. Diane gently brushed it aside and welcomingly scooped Raina into her arms.
“You’re Lincoln’s mother?”
Disbelief and appreciation resonated in her quiet voice as her face was still pressed into Diane’s shoulder. Diane chuckled, and Raina thought it was similar to the way Linc acknowledged situations.
“Yes, and you are the cookie queen!”
As she pulled away, the women examined each other before Diane gave her shoulder a squeeze. Linc moved next to Raina and ran his hand down her back.
“Diane, Raina. Raina, Diane.”
The three settled in at the table, even as Raina remembered the idea behind the words Diane had spoken to her that seemed to spark some of the changes in her.
“So a monster of a week was it?” Linc asked Diane, as he swung his arm over the back of Raina’s chair.
“It was all the usual setbacks as we completed two jobs. We hit a snag or two at the new site and it was extra entertaining with Julius at the helm!” Diane threw her head back with a shake and laughed. Linc smiled and looked over at Raina.
She was quiet and sat back to observe the relationship between mother and son. She liked what she saw, the way they poked at each other, and the tone of love in each of their voices.
“Enough about me, Raina, tell me about yourself.”
She felt Linc’s hand dip into her hair to touch the back of her neck, and she smiled over at Diane and saw that her twinkling blue eyes were focused solely on her own. She suddenly had no idea what to say, so she looked at Linc, whose eyes smiled down on her.
Diane saw the slim trace of hesitation and swiftly altered her question. “I loved your shop. Has the traffic slowed with the end of summer?”
Raina swallowed and smiled thankfully at Diane. “It’s slowed substantially, but the local business is solid and it has only continued to grow. With the holidays around the corner, orders will keep us busy through the New Year and after that we’ll see.”
She finished confidently and Diane was pleased. “Linc tells me you have a son, how old is he?”
“Oliver turned five and started school all in the same week,” she explained, as she clutched at her heart.
“Oh, that’s a big step. How was it?”
Raina flashed a look at Linc. “I was a bit of a frantic mess, but I had a few good distractions.”
“You were not a frantic mess,” he assured her. “I hate to break up this warm moment, but speaking of distractions,” he turned back to Raina. “What do you all need to do to be ready for supper?”
From where Diane sat across the table, she saw her son looking at a beautiful young woman whom he was very clearly in love with. What she knew of this girl was minimal. What she felt she could assume, simply by understanding her situation, was that this girl would not likely enter into a new life with Linc lightly, which sent a worried ripple through her. She also wondered how quickly whatever was going on between them had progressed since last she saw her son.
Raina looked at the watch on her wrist, made a quick calculation, and thought she had better start getting ready. “I could take a few minutes.”
Linc grinned at her. “I thought you would. I’ll show you your room.”
They all rose from the table but Raina’s attention was still on Diane. She wanted to somehow say thank you for her kind words that day in her shop, though she didn’t know how to talk about it without explaining herself. Instead of speaking to the situation, she extended a branch of friendship to this woman.
“I hope we’ll have more of a chance to talk later.”
“I hope so too, dear!”
She hadn’t said anything since they got in the truck to head downtown, and he had no idea why she was suddenly feeling closed off to him.
She’d walked out of her bedroom and back into the kitchen, and the mere sight of her made his head spin. He hadn’t seen her this done up, and as much as he thought he preferred the less is more approach, he found himself stumbling over his suddenly clumsy tongue.
Now as he drove, he knew he shouldn’t have been surprised. She was from the city and holding nothing back tonight, she certainly looked like the city. Her dress covered one shoulder and its fabric draped the rest of her body like it was made to gauzily whisper and caress her curves. The richly coloured dress, to his estimate could have matched the vibrancy of a peacock’s feather and with the usual quirk of her style; she paired the dress with a pair of electric purple heels and the leather jacket she’d worn on their karaoke date.
She hadn’t fussed much with her hair, only twisting it up neatly on the top of her head, but she probably knew she didn’t have to, because she had applied enough makeup to turn her eyes into the star.
After such a wonderful afternoon where their conversation had been a steady and entertaining flow, it was slightly bizarre to be sitting in silence, with no physical contact, and no hint to what could be going on in her head.
As he waited for her to return, he relived the moment he saw her earlier in his mind as he wrestled with himself over whether to coax her into talking to him, or allow her to do it on her own. Thankfully, she broke the silence about half way to the restaurant, just when it was becoming too much for him.
Her hands were neatly folded in her lap and her posture was formal beneath the jacke
t she’d thrown on over her dress.
They were at a red light when she finally broke her statuesque pose and spoke. “Your mom is great. Did you know I met her in the summer?”
“She told me about you, but I didn’t know it was you until we had our pie date in your shop.”
“Really.”
She nodded in understanding, and as the light turned he continued down the road. The day had been one of the best she felt she’d had in so long that she hated the cloud that fell over her the moment she’d left the kitchen table earlier. What she hated more than the cloud itself was how she never seemed to have a warning before it would suck her under and pull her into the fog, which was likely a factor in why she had avoided so much for so long. But maybe it was time to fight through it and not merely succumb to the frigid waters that could pull her under.
“Can I have a moment to talk something through with you, Linc?”
He nodded, and their eyes met fleetingly before she continued.
“She said something to me that day that changed a lot of things. I don’t want to give all the credit to what she said and how it affected me, but it likely has a hand in me sitting in this truck with you.”
“How so?” he asked, and feeling better for having her break the silence, and the fact that she was sharing something very personal to her, he reached across and took one of the hands she’d been twisting in her lap.
“There had been a lot of things, and what she said added another layer. I actually don’t remember what she said, but it made me see that I didn’t have to exist in a continuous state of survival. Maybe it was more of a feeling that finally caught, but I noticed that everything around me was alive and thriving but me, and I didn’t want it anymore.”
They were amidst the tall buildings now and the restaurant wasn’t far. Traffic moved slower and allowed them to become more observant of the other’s emotions. Linc turned to catch her intense eyes on him. Without allowing either of their eyes to stray he brought her hand to his lips, first smelling the light fragrance on the inside of her wrist and then to brush his lips across her soft skin. Eyes still caught in a match, he gently placed their hands down between them, before he heard her soft voice.
“You and your possibilities walked into my life a few days later.”
Her eyes didn’t flicker, though he wanted to believe he felt the smallest wave of a tremble in her hand.
His lips responded with that smile; the one that had caught her attention the first time. The smile that oozed confidence and seemed to say, trust me, I know exactly what I’m doing.
The light changed once more and before she could continue with her line of thought they were in a parking lot. Linc was looking at her again and she was afraid his eyes and that smile could convince her of practically anything at the moment.
She returned the smile and avoided the desire she felt to climb into his lap and kiss him until the sun came up. With a swift shift, she brushed aside everything else she had wanted to say, and thought it best to hold on to it for another time.
She recognized the host and was immediately lost in his long, drowning arms. Linc stood back and observed the whole exchange, and the way Raina became animated in a way he’d never seen. Introductions were made with a lighthearted spirit which made her seem so in control; it was something to be admired, he thought, and a complete contradiction to the woman he arrived with.
They were seated without hesitation at what Linc judged was likely the best table in the place. He’d expected the restaurant to have great food, he even expected it to be popular, but he hadn’t been fully prepared to put her into the world along with it. He’d eaten at one of the restaurants she said she’d worked at in the past, but putting her together with this environment was opening his eyes to the sort of talent she actually possessed, and a whole new and intriguing woman took shape before him.
It was a day of revelations for both of them he mused, and because he was open to them, he took another long look around with fresh eyes. The restaurant wasn’t what he thought it would be. Where he imagined it would be light, sleek, and sophisticated he found it to feel more earthy and real. The bricks were exposed and left with the old world markings that spoke to the history of the neighborhood. The heavy iron chandeliers that hung from the high industrial ceiling added more drama, and if that wasn’t enough, in the center of the dining room acting as the only dividing feature stood a large stone hearth where a fire burned.
Their drinks were brought to them and she felt his eyes continue to press her. Something had changed, but she couldn’t exactly put her finger on it. Or perhaps it had been her behavior in the vehicle that had inserted a new tone to their day. Whatever it was, she felt her heart flutter knowing he could likely see straight into her at the moment.
She tilted her glass to see the candlelight dance through the liquid and she met his eyes, bent on the purpose of knowing what he saw.
He wondered if someone whose nature was a combination of innocence, energy, sophistication, and childlike wonder, could possibly understand how completely captivating they could be. Across the table he watched a glow touch her cheeks before those eyes bore into his. He thought he saw challenge, he may have guessed at shy apprehension, but when she spoke he felt nothing but curiosity.
“What has been your favorite piece to create?”
“Sorry, what?”
She smiled and watched his eyes dance between her eyes and her mouth. She placed her glass of wine down on the table and leaned forward on the table cloth with her elbows.
“Of everything you’ve ever made what has been your favorite?”
He smiled now, thrilled by her and caught completely off guard by her question, as a catalogue of works flipped page after page in his mind.
“The first desk I made, which sits in my mother’s office, and a dollhouse I made with my niece.”
“With her, really?”
“Really,” he confirmed. Reaching across the table his fingers brushed the back side of her crossed hands.
“Not some swanky wine cabinet or glossy table? Not even the house you’re building?”
His grin was genuine as he watched her contemplate this truth. He shook his head. “The house isn’t done, so I can’t know yet if it’s my favorite, and either way, that’s different. I can say for sure, that though I do love almost everything I make without anyone else’s specifications, the dollhouse was a thrill, because as much as she loved playing with it, she loved building it with me too.”
“Have I told you that you’re sparkling tonight?” He spoke lightly trying to impress upon her how very enchanted he was with her. He saw her shoulders shake lightly and her chest rattle beneath the soft layers of fabric. She couldn’t help but smile shiningly at him.
“You have, several times, but not with those exact words.”
“I wonder how many more ways I can show you?”
Her head tipped back this time, and her laugh danced around him and filled every crevice of his being with its music.
“Does anything upset you, Linc, or make you angry or afraid?” she asked lightly.
“Sure,” he considered. “Apathy, waste, greed and reptiles to name a few, in no particular order.”
“Name one instance where you were so angry you saw red.”
She leaned forward again and he followed suit. Between the candle that flickered between them, the light from the fire, and the dimness of the chandelier, there was enough light to illuminate everything around. Only Linc felt they were the only ones in the room, and he couldn’t help but hope she felt the same.
“In sixth grade we built bird houses out of popsicles sticks. I spent a lot of time building balconies, and three levels where the food could be stored. I really wanted to see the birds use it.”
She raised an eyebrow at the story. “Are you teasing me?” she asked.
He played the victim. “I wish I were. It’s a tragic tale.”
His expression must have convinced her because sh
e laughed again. “Alright, go on then.”
“I got home from school first that day. Morgan and Chris had already moved into the middle school down the road. Anyway, I was fishing out my key and Chris pushed me into the door, in the process crushing my construction.”
Her face changed on cue; a mix of sympathy swirled with restrained amusement.
“I dropped the disaster my creation now was and whirled so quickly on Chris he had no idea it was coming. By the time Morgan reached us Chris had a split lip and had rolled me over on the ground where he had me pinned and ready to strike.”
“Temper, temper,” she whispered with mock criticism.
“Not temper, blind rage. I get angry,” he shrugged. “Some things upset me, and the rare creepy crawler frightens me.”
She watched him for a handful of time before their mouths broke in smiles at the same moment.
They dug into an assortment of appetizers the moment they arrived, but their conversation never faltered.
“What about you, same question. Any out of the ordinary creepy, crawling confessions?”
She smiled at him before her fork filled her mouth. He saw her consider and then almost missed it, but saw the brief flash that passed her eyes.
“I’m allergic to cats, I’m not particularly fond of insects, and like you, I can’t deal with reptiles. But I loved to catch frogs as a girl, so I always think that’s a bit weird.”
He leaned back in his chair encouraging her to take what was left on the plates.
“Catch frogs?”
“There’s a consistent boggy spot at my parents’ house. There were always buckets of them after it rained. I think I genuinely loved them then.”
“Anything else?” he asked, as the empty plates were whisked away.
She locked her eyes on his and thought it better to hold on a while longer. “How about we save the rest for later,”
“I imagine I’ll be available later,” he offered easily.
