The Leafing: the 2nd book in The Green Man series

by Sharon Brubaker

“Hi, Percy!” Sylvia called to him. “I’m home.”

  He perked up his ears and sat up when she came into the room.

  “Do you want to go outside, boy?” she asked him.

  He stood up and trotted over to her. Sylvia clicked on the leash and patted the curly pouf on the top of his head. She took him for a walk away from his house thinking it might be better. On the way back, he pulled at Sylvia to continue to go towards his house. As well trained as he was, she had to pull a bit harder.

  “C’mon, Percy,” she urged him, “Time for dinner.”

  He came, albeit reluctantly and hung his head slightly as they walked into Sylvia’s house again.

  “Poor baby,” she said, and gave him a hug. “Let me get our dinner.”

  The evening duskiness had turned to darkness on a dime. Sylvia was glad to be inside.

  Sylvia rooted through the refrigerator and closed the door in disgust. She opened the freezer to stare at a small stack of frozen meals. She didn’t feel like anything in particular. Settling on cereal, she poured a bowl for herself and topped it with milk before she filled Percy’s dish with dog food. He wasn’t in the kitchen.

  “Percy,” Sylvia called.

  He didn’t trot out to her call, so she took his bowl with her and went to look for him. He was in the living room again, looking out the window.

  “C’mon boy,” Sylvia urged. “It’s dinner time.”

  Percy didn’t budge. Sylvia went to get his bowl and brought it to him. He nosed it, but declined to eat.

  He leaned on her and she stroked him. He looked up at her with his huge black brown eyes.

  “Poor baby,” Sylvia said stroking him. “You must miss your Mommy and Daddy,” she crooned to him.

  She went out to the kitchen and brought her bowl of cereal into the living room to eat with Percy. Percy nibbled a bite of his food, but put his head between his paws. Sylvia’s thoughts returned to what Carol had said at lunch. Carol was right, Sylvia really didn’t know Tony and Joyce and it was unusual that he asked her to care for his dog. But, she didn’t really care. Percy was a nice addition to the house. She didn’t feel alone with him around.

  At some point in the middle of the night, Sylvia felt a weight on her feet.

  It was Percy. She didn’t protest at the warm weight next to her and fell into a deep sleep.

  The week passed quickly. Sylvia and Percy got into a routine with one another. She began to enjoy walking him each morning and evening. They ate their breakfast and evening meals together and Percy had become a regular fixture at the bottom of the bed at night. It was a surprise when her doorbell rang Saturday morning and Tony was on the other side. His arms were full of packages.

  “Come in,” Sylvia said. “Come in.” She called to Percy, “Percy, look who’s here!”

  Percy trotted down the hallway and gave a joyful bark when he saw Tony. Tony shifted his arms and gave a large bunch of flowers to Sylvia.

  Flustered she took them from him and said, “Thank you.”

  He put the packages on the coffee table in the living room and sat down.

  “Can I take your coat?” Sylvia asked, “And get you a cup of coffee?”

  “My coat is fine here,” he told her, “but, I’ll take you up on that coffee – black,” he stated.

  Sylvia took the flowers with her to the kitchen to put them in a vase, and returned with the cup of coffee which she gave to Tony.

  “Thanks,” he said. “Thank you isn’t enough for what you’ve done this week for me,” he started.

  “It wasn’t a problem,” Sylvia said, “Percy has been a wonderful companion.” In fact, Percy came over to sit by her side and she automatically reached out and rubbed his head. He put his head on her knee and she smiled. She took a sip of her own coffee before asking, “How did you make out?”

  Tony sighed, “Not very well. Joyce’s cell phone is dead. I haven’t been able to locate her at any of our other houses. I don’t know where the hell she is,” he stated flatly. “I guess she wanted to disappear for a while.”

  Sylvia was quiet for a minute wondering how to bring up the fact that she saw Joyce with another man in the market, but Tony opened up the opportunity.

  “Look,” he stated, “It probably wasn’t a secret that we were having some difficulties. I think she ran off with someone. But, I don’t know who.”

  Sylvia cleared her throat. “Tony,” she began, “just before New Year’s Eve, I saw Joyce in the grocery store. I was pretty sick with a cold, but it was definitely her,” she hesitated, “but, she was with someone else that I didn’t know.”

  Tony’s eyes glittered with anger and his mouth tightened perceptively and his hands gripped the coffee mug tightly. He didn’t say anything.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. Everything happened so fast last weekend that I didn’t think of it and I didn’t think I should tell you over the phone,” she said lamely. “I’m sorry.”

  “Not your problem,” Tony said flatly again. “Thanks for telling me. It confirms what I thought. She’s probably with that guy and they could be anywhere. Her bank account was depleted just after Christmas. She could be in the islands or Europe or, or anywhere!” he cried in frustration.

  Sylvia stared first into her cup of cooling coffee and then out the window for a few minutes. Both were silent. When she turned a little to look at Tony, he was staring out at the water.

  Tony eventually turned to her. His countenance was calm and his voice firm. “Like I said earlier, I don’t know where to begin to thank you for taking Percy and…” he paused, “…just being here, I guess, when I needed someone.” He waved a hand at the packages. “I didn’t know what to get you, so I brought a variety of things.”

  He pulled out a gold wrapped package of Godiva chocolates, “Chocolates, flowers, wine…,” he pulled out a trio of wine bottles – a red, a rose΄ and a white.

  “You didn’t have to do any of this,” Sylvia looked embarrassed at the gifts.

  “It’s truly doesn’t scratch the surface,” Tony said, “So, would you go out to dinner with me tonight?”

  Sylvia was stunned and didn’t know what to say. She started to stammer, “Th-that’s really not necessary.”

  “I insist,” Tony said. “I can make reservations at Pot Au Feu. “

  Sylvia was impressed. Pot Au Feu was an amazing French restaurant on the canal in nearby Chesapeake City. It was a five star restaurant and people drove or boated miles to enjoy the food and the view.

  “But,” Sylvia began.

  “No buts,” Tony said. “I insist. I’ll pick you up at 6.”

  He turned to address Percy who was back at the French doors. “Percy, time to go home,” he said to the dog.

  Percy stared at Tony and then at Sylvia. He walked over and sat down with Sylvia.

  Tony sighed. “Percy, I really don’t have time for this,” he said tiredly and he turned to Sylvia, “If you haven’t figured it out, he’s a real ladies man.”

  This made Sylvia giggle and Tony finally smiled.

  “C’mon Percy,” she told him. “You can come and visit any time.”

  She gathered up his things and helped Tony take them to the car. When they were finished, she put the leash on Percy and he walked slowly to Tony’s car. He clearly gave the impression he did not want to go.

  “Get in, Percy,” Tony ordered and Percy obediently jumped into the back seat. He stared at Sylvia and whined.

  “Oh my goodness,” she said. She gave him a hug and a kiss on top of his pouf .

  “See you tonight,” Tony said.

  They drove down Bayside and pulled into Tony and Joyce’s home just a few houses away.

  Chapter 9

  During the first period of a man's life the greatest danger is not to take the risk.

  Soren Kierkegaard

  Sylvia lazed around for the next few hours. She wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about going out that night. Something didn’t feel right about it. After all,
Tony was a married man. And then, she felt prudish not to accept his thanks. She had put the gorgeous flowers in an antique cut crystal vase near a window in the living room on a small table. The wine, she stored for later and the chocolates she opened and sampled. They were nearly as good as the chocolates Mr. Carter had brought to her from Europe.

  The house seemed empty and after eating a few chocolates she felt restless. She wandered around picking up things here and there, but not really concentrating on cleaning or anything else. Just after four she took a long, luxurious bath using some luscious bath salts Marian had given to her. She dressed carefully in a very simple black velvet dress. She reached almost automatically to put on the holly necklace and earrings, but hesitated. She didn’t want to think about Owen tonight and her hand paused on its way to pick up the jewelry. She reached instead for some edgier jewelry of silver and bronze in simple modern lines that stood out against her creamy throat with the patina of the metals and a few crystals sprinkled like stars. The matching earrings dangled and sparkled in her chestnut hair. It was the perfect accent to the black velvet. She padded downstairs in stocking feet dangling her shoes in one hand. At the bottom she teetered into very high heeled black stilettos that Owen referred to as “FMP’s” or fuck me pumps. She grimaced as she thought of his label for the shoes, but pulled her dress coat from the closet and gave it a good brush before putting it over the banister.

  The doorbell rang and she checked her makeup one more time in the hallway mirror before opening the door. He stood and looked at her, stunned by her elegant dress and high heels. This was quite different from the sweatshirts and pants she had been wearing each time he had seen her earlier.

  “Would you like to come in?” Sylvia asked after a pause.

  “If you’re ready, we should go,” Tony said. “I made reservations for 6:30.”

  “No problem,” Sylvia said and took her coat from the banister and Tony stepped inside to help her into it.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He also opened up her door to the black, BMW SUV. She climbed in immediately sinking into the warm, obviously heated leather seat and was surprised when Tony handed her the seat belt to pull around her.

  “Thank you,” she said as he shut the door and made his way to the driver’s side. She wasn’t used to such impeccable manners.

  They were quiet as they drove along bayside. Sylvia wasn’t sure what to say to him. Should she ask him where he had flown or where his other homes were located? Tony didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk either.

  “Great,” she thought. “This is going to be an awkward evening.”

  She watched the landscape fly past as Tony drove smoothly and very quickly down the highway to Chesapeake City. She held her breath as they went over the huge bridge that spanned the canal. It always gave her the creeps. He exited the highway and drove carefully through the narrow streets that wended their way to the restaurant.

  Tony parked and hurried over to open her door.

  “Thank you,” she said again. Her voice cracked a little. They had been quiet on the ride to the restaurant.

  He nodded and took her elbow to guide her over the still slick street and sidewalk. They walked past a couple of boutique stores that were closed and dark. Sylvia remembered that she and Owen had come to Chesapeake City for lazy weekend brunches at the restaurant in the yacht basin. Then thoroughly mellowed they would wander through the boutiques, happily holding hands. They ended the day by licking large ice cream cones while enjoying the community concerts offered weekly in the waterside park. The memories twisted sharply in her chest.

  She must have gasped or teetered as Tony held her arm tightly and asked, “Are you okay.”

  She shook her head and then, knowing he couldn’t hear, she said, “yes, I’m fine,” quietly.

  They entered the restaurant and Tony took her coat to hang in the small coat room. It was full, but not packed to the gills with anxious, hungry diners waiting for an hour or more as they did in the summertime. The hostess sat them at a small candlelit table that looked out on the canal. The restaurant was full of mooning couples. There was a family group celebrating a birthday. The bar downstairs was quiet. Lights sparkled on either side of the canal. The water was a black mirror.

  Finally, Sylvia broke the silence, “This is lovely,” she said to Tony.

  He nodded.

  The server brought iced water with lemon and asked if they would like a cocktail.

  Tony looked at her expectantly.

  Sylvia shook her head, felt gauche and said, “No thank you, but I would like a glass of wine.”

  Tony nodded and requested the wine list.

  “What do you like?” he said as they perused the pages of wine.

  Sylvia turned the pages of the wine list recognizing only a few of the wines.

  “I prefer a red,” she told him. “Why don’t you choose?” she suggested.

  Tony studied the list with concentration and when the server returned he requested an expensive Italian red, a limited edition.

  “I think you’ll like this,” he said. “A Montepulciano is one of my favorites as well as Pinot Noirs.”

  The server returned with the bottle and showed the label to Tony. The server deftly opened the bottle of wine and handed Tony the cork, which he sniffed briefly, then her swirled, inhaled and tasted the small amount poured into the glass for him. He closed his eyes and smiled.

  “Excellent,” he said to the server who smiled acquiescently.

  The server filled two glasses and placed the bottle on the table.

  Tony picked up his glass and raised it to Sylvia, while smiling for the first time that evening. It changed his looks dramatically.

  “To a wonderful neighbor and last minute dog sitter,” he toasted Sylvia. Their glasses clinked together.

  She smiled and sipped her wine.

  “Thank you,” Sylvia said and took another sip. “This is lovely,” she added referring to the wine.

  Tony nodded, “I thought you would like it. It’s one of my favorites. I keep it in my cellar.”

  Sylvia glanced at him and he added, “I like to collect wines,” he said.

  “Tell me about that,” she said. “I only pick up stray bottles, relying on the guy that likes red wines at the local liquor store. He likes Shiraz as well and points out things that I might like. He hasn’t been wrong yet. He’s also somewhat of an expert on champagnes.”

  “Really?” Tony said with interest. “Where is this store? I might like to talk to him.”

  Sylvia told him where it was located and he nodded.

  “I’ll need to make a stop there tomorrow. Usually I bring my wines in from a store near our place in Jersey,” he told her.

  The server interrupted. “The manager sends this with his compliments,” he told Tony and his obsequious smile took in Sylvia for a brief instant.

  Tony nodded. “Give him our thanks,” he returned.

  After the server had placed a platter filled with delicious looking appetizers and plates, Tony said, “This looks good. I highly recommend the shrimp Le’jon and the crab.”

  “So,” Sylvia asked, “Do you eat hear often?”

  “Often enough,” Tony replied.

  Sylvia suddenly felt uncomfortable. It they knew Tony, they probably wondered why he wasn’t there with Joyce. She flushed pink; she was sure, to the roots of her hair.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Umm,” Sylvia started to stammer, not quite knowing how to speak her thoughts. “Won’t they wonder why I’m here and not Joyce,” she finally blurted out uncomfortably.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I bring business associates here. It’s not their business to know my business, if you catch my drift.” His mouth took on the hard line it had when she had talked about Joyce earlier that day.

  “Oh,” she said quietly.

  His mood changed in a flash, and he smiled at her with that winning, heart melting smile almost instantaneo
usly. She was almost taken aback.

  “Let’s relax and enjoy the evening,” he said and raised his glass again to her.

  Next he picked up a plate and loaded it with appetizers and handed it to her.

  “Oh, thank you,” she said and kept herself busy sampling the appetizers.

  Over the food and another glass of wine, Sylvia began to relax. She wondered how she could have thought Tony cold and distant. He was far from the glowering statue from the Christmas party. For a moment, she didn’t realize she had blanked out of the conversation.

  “Penny,” Tony asked looking at her thoughtfully.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Sylvia answered. She flushed feeling gauche.

  “That’s okay,” he said. “It’s definitely okay to be quiet some times.”

  She thought he had an inward shudder and remembered that Joyce seemed to never stop talking. Sylvia turned her attention back to Tony. She learned he owned landfills in Jersey and the local one in Maryland. This surprised her, when he told her.

  “I thought the landfill was owned and run by the county,” Sylvia mentioned.

  “I own it and the county manages it,” Tony answered easily. “It’s complicated, but it works,” he said. “Many states do this.”

  “I like the state of the art recycling center,” she commented. “I’m so glad it’s available here.”

  Tony nodded. “The recycling center is a great business move, profitable too,” he added. “We’re all going green and green is money,” he smiled and laughed a little.

  They had finished their appetizers. The salad and main course were served moments later, swiftly and silently. The server had brought a second bottle of wine. They continued to talk and she learned that he and Joyce had built the house in North Bay after they had seen the property from a boat three years prior. Sylvia was surprised. She wondered how they had gotten round the laws regarding building on the same footprint of the previous home. Tony smiled, at this and once again she felt naïve. They carefully avoided talking about Owen and Joyce. The only hint occurred when Tony toasted a wish for better holidays in the future. Sylvia could not have agreed more.