“It’s traditional Irish colcannon,” he explained. “Mashed potatoes and cabbage and some herbs, I think.”
Sylvia tried it and liked it. Bill put a large scoop in his half empty bowl. Owen did as well. By the time they had finished their stew and another black and tan, Sylvia felt quite mellow, warm and cozy. Owen had slipped his arm around her again and she gravitated toward him.
“Are you tipsy again?” he asked her.
“No!” she insisted, “just feeling cozy.”
“Hmm,” Owen murmured.
Coeds approached their table. They were students of Bill’s. They invited Bill to join their group. He raised an eyebrow to Sylvia and Owen.
“I can’t disappoint,” he said and he grinned at the pretty co-eds’ retreating back.
“Go,” Owen said, “we have this.”
“Thanks for the dowsing instruction,” Sylvia said as he stood up to go.
He nodded to her, but waved to the group at the bar and headed over.
“They love him,” Sylvia said.
“He’s something,” Owen agreed. “He is an excellent teacher.”
Chapter 35
“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”
- Helen Keller
Owen and Sylvia returned home to walk Percy in the early evening. When they were settled, Owen built a fire in the fireplace in the study. They sat together on the loveseat watching the flames. Owen sat and seemed tense to Sylvia.
“Are you okay?” Sylvia asked him.
“Sylvia,” he started, “Where do things stand with us?”
She was stunned. He seemed as upset and confused as she was. For some reason, this surprised her.
“Somewhere between friend and friendlier,” she ventured, referring to their relationship status of the previous year.
“I don’t know if I can live with that,” Owen said seriously. “I’ve told you, I love you. We’ve been ‘friendlier,’ as you say and I want it back. I’ve been trying so hard and you’ve been,” he hesitated seeking words to say, “like ice. I wonder if you even care a whit,” he finished using an old-fashioned term.
Sylvia was stunned. She fought her own emotions as she sought words to say to him.
“Owen,” she started and then turned to look him in the eye. “Owen, I love you. I have certainly come to realize that in the last few weeks. But, I’ve been confused about my own feelings towards commitment. I’ve had to work through my hurt from your actions a couple of months ago. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’ve been doing these last couple of weeks. It…” she paused, “it has shown me how much you love me. I, I want to be friendlier again. I love you and…”
Before she had a chance to finish the next comment, Owen had taken her in his arms and was kissing her passionately and she melted to him. She found she was crying and was even more surprised that he was crying too. They stopped to take a breath and she gently wiped a tear from his cheek. He started to laugh and found she was laughing too.
The quiet evening was followed by the long, hot night she had fantasized about just a few days ago came true. Percy felt put out by Owen’s presence in the bed and harrumphed onto the dog bed last night causing further laughter.
“Sorry, Percy,” Owen had told him, “Daddy’s back.”
Sylvia couldn’t stop smiling as she slipped from bed and stretched luxuriously. Percy whined again and she shushed him quietly as she pulled on clothes to take him outside. He raced down the stairs and pulled at his leash that hung beside the door. Percy high stepped down the road in the morning sunshine, happy to have her sole attention. Sylvia wanted to hurry Percy with his walk so that she could return to bed with Owen with steaming mugs of coffee in hand. She thought she might take a quick shower and put on the garnet lingerie he had given her at Christmas. It would be a nice surprise for him to wake up to.
“C’mon, Percy,” she urged. “Let’s get home.”
She did as she thought, but the coffee was cold before they had an opportunity to drink it. Owen had loved her surprise and was nearly speechless when she bent over him to kiss him awake. It was an idyllic Sunday morning. Eventually Owen got up to make them fresh coffee leaving Sylvia to doze off and on in bed until his return.
“What do you want to do today?” he asked her when he brought their coffee.
She coyly looked over her coffee cup. “I can’t ask for a better way to spend a lazy Sunday,” she told him.
He climbed in bed next to her grinning. “I agree with you,” he answered, his voice deepening to a husky tone.
Sylvia sighed contentedly. Hours later they realized they were famished. Owen offered to get some take out. Dusk had fallen and the stars began to pop brightly into the darkening sky. Sylvia was more than surprised when Percy ran for the door and started to whine and then bark. A moment later, the doorbell rang. Puzzled, she went to answer it. Tony stood on the other side.
“Tony!” Sylvia cried in surprise. She stood a moment too long with a pregnant pause.
“May I come in?” he asked.
Sylvia flushed, “Of course,” she told him, “I’m sorry. I’m just so surprised to see you.”
“I know,” he said as he walked past her and towards the living room.”
“Wine?” Sylvia asked him faintly.
“Yes,” he said and he pulled a bottle from inner portion of his coat. “Here,” he said, “this is the wine of the year. I know you like Syrah’s.”
Her eyes widened and she went to the kitchen to open the bottle. The bouquet exploded when she pulled the cork. Sylvia sniffed appreciatively as she poured the wine into two balloon glasses. She carried the corked bottle under her arm as she balanced the two glasses in her hands and returned to Tony who was sitting on the couch. Carefully she put her burden down on the coffee table and handed him a glass. He had been staring pensively out at the water when she entered.
“Thanks,” he said absentmindedly. “Those stars are beautiful this evening.”
Sylvia agreed.
“Have you ever been out in a boat on the bay looking at the stars in the middle of the night?” he asked her.
Sylvia shook her head.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “Magical. We’ll have to do it this summer.”
Sylvia didn’t answer, but instead asked, “How are you? Where have you been?”
Tony looked surprised. “I told you I was going to Florida, didn’t I?” he said.
“Yes,” she answered.
“I was at the condo for a couple of weeks and then I still felt I needed to get further away, so I chartered a boat. I’ve been sailing around the Bahamas.”
“I thought I read somewhere that the crime rate was horrific in the Bahamas,” Sylvia interjected.
“It is, it is, but, that’s mostly in Nassau,” he told her. “The outer islands are quite safe,” he assured her. “I had an opportunity to work on my tan.”
Indeed, his teeth flashed bright white against his tanned skin. He looked fairly happy, but Sylvia thought she could still see tension around his eyes.
“And what about you?” he asked. “What’s been happening with you?”
A kaleidoscope of images filled her mind. She remembered the shower, the break ins in the neighborhood, her relief at Kenny’s release from jail. A hundred other images assailed her.
Sylvia started to speak, but Tony interrupted her. “Sylvia,” he said, “As far away as I went, I could not get you out of my mind,” he told her.
She opened her mouth to answer as her eyes opened wide in surprise, but the kitchen door opened and Owen’s voice called out, “Syl, where are you?”
“In here,” she called, hoping that Owen could feel her mental warning that she wasn’t alone.
He walked in with a large bag. He stopped frozen in the doorway when he saw Tony.
“Hi,” he said coolly to Tony.
“Owen,” Sylvia re-introduced them lamely, “you remember Tony Capaselli.”
Both men n
odded at one another.
Briefly Sylvia explained about the break-ins in the neighborhood and how the police thought they might be connected to Joyce’s murder. She explained that Owen was staying with her as sort of a protection detail. Tony nodded.
“I’m interrupting your dinner plans,” he said and stood up, not touching his wine. “I’ll be in touch soon,” he said to Sylvia. “Good night,” he said and nodded again to Owen and left.
“What was that about?” Owen said with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
“Not sure,” Sylvia said. “He’s back in the area and he knows I love red wine, so he brought over a bottle. Here,” she said, “try some.”
Owen shook his head, “It will clash with the cuisine,” he said. “I bought a pizza steak for myself and picked up a toasted turkey sub sandwich for you.”
“Yum,” Sylvia said. “My favorite.”
“With,” he said with a flourish, “extra pickles and hot peppers on the side.”
She followed him out to the kitchen with her wine glass for dinner. They devoured their sandwiches, famished from their active, but lazy day in bed.
When they had finished, Owen turned to Sylvia, “So, I’m your protection detail?” he asked accusingly referring to her comment to Tony.
“Sorry,” she grimace, “It just popped out of my mouth.”
“Hmm,” Owen teased.
Sylvia yawned, “I’m not sure about you,” she said slyly, “but, I’m quite tired. I wouldn’t mind going to bed early,” she told him.
“Only after we walk the dog,” Owen said, “and perhaps a long, hot shower,” he paused, “together?” he suggested.
“Deal,” Sylvia said.
And they did.
Chapter 36
“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were big things.”
- Robert Brault
Sylvia decided that the making up from their relationship hiatus was a very good thing. Carol kept teasing her to tone down her ‘glow.’ Sylvia floated through the week and neither of them thought twice about Sylvia being alone on Wednesday evening when Owen was at the university teaching his class. Sylvia wasn’t worried. Percy was there and she settled in the study to watch some television. The doorbell rang. Percy whined and gave a little bark and Tony was on the other side when she peeked through.
“Hi,” she said, surprised.
He had not called her in the last few days, and she honestly had not given him a thought since last Sunday.
He pulled a bottle of wine from his coat, “I thought I would try again,” he said.
“Oh!” Sylvia said, surprised.
Sylvia went to get wineglasses and corkscrew from the kitchen. Tony had gone into the living room and made himself comfortable.
“This is number two on the wine list,” he told her as he opened the bottle.
He toasted as he handed her a glass.
“Where’s Owen?” he asked, “your protection detail.”
“He’s at the university,” she replied, “teaching a class.”
Tony made a ‘tsk, tsk’ sound and commented, “Falling down on his job of protection detail.”
“I’m fine,” Sylvia said stoutly, “and besides, now you’re here.”
“Hmm,” Tony said, sipping his wine.
They sipped at their wine quietly for a few minutes.
“Tell me more about these break in’s,” Tony queried.
Sylvia shared what she knew telling him she had been in Connecticut when it had happened. She asked if he had spoken with Joe or anyone else at the police department.
Tony nodded. “I found out yesterday that Kenny had been released,” he said quietly.
“It means someone else was at your house after Kenny left,” Sylvia said. “They think the person who robbed your house and murdered Joyce might be the same person who broke into my house and Kim’s house.” It still gave her the shivers to think about the break in. “I was lucky,” she continued, “and so was Kim. We weren’t at home when we were broken into.”
“Thank, God,” Tony said, vehemently.
“Back to square one, though,” Sylvia commented.
They were both quiet for a few minutes. Tony had poured them a generous second glass of wine. Tony had moved closer to Sylvia.
“Sylvia,” he said, putting down his glass. He took hers and put it on the coffee table as well and took her hands. “Sylvia,” he repeated. “I don’t want to talk about Joyce. I want to talk about you. I cannot get you out of my mind,” he told her.
She tried to pull her hands away, but he pulled her hands to his lips and kissed them.
“Tony, I…” she began, but he pulled her hands down so her face came close to his and he began to kiss her. His kisses were dangerously sensual. She put her hands on his chest to push him away, but her hands didn’t seem to want to work. As his kiss became more passionate a voice seemed to come to her head that said, “What the hell?”
Owen. It was Owen. He had come home and was standing in the doorway.
She pushed Tony away. “Oh. My. God,” she stated softly. “Owen?” she cried nearly knocking Tony over as she got off the couch. “Owen?”
Owen had walked out to the kitchen. He was pacing with his hands clenched into fists. He saw her and he stopped, his eyes blazing as they had a few months ago.
“Sylvia,” he said, deadly quietly. “I don’t understand,” his voice was steely. “What the hell is going on?”
She stood, wringing her hands. “I… I…,” she started lamely.
Tony came into the room and Sylvia thought Owen might punch him.
“Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t know you had laid claim again,” he stated. He turned and left.
Sylvia was confused. What the hell was that all about? Laid claim? What century was this? Her eyes briefly looked after Tony’s retreating figure and narrowed. He had had an odd expression on his face as he left and she wasn’t sure she liked what she saw. It was almost triumphant. Had he done this on purpose to throw Owen off or her?
Owen was still standing in the kitchen, eyes blazing, waiting for an explanation.
“Owen, he just came over,” she stated. “I didn’t invite him.”
“You certainly didn’t seem to dislike his advances,” Owen accused.
Sylvia didn’t know what to say. “I tried to push him away,” she defended herself.
“Yeah, right,” Owen said sarcastically. “Look, Sylvia,” he stated, “this works two ways. A couple of months ago, I was ape-shit about the wedding thing. You were insanely angry. Now, you’re kissing another guy after we’ve ‘made up’ so to speak and you don’t expect me to be angry?” His voice rose as he spoke. “I thought we were moving forward. I don’t like games like this,” he growled at her. “And I don’t want to play them with you.”
“Owen, I’ll say it again, I didn’t invite him over,” she stated as calmly as she could, “when you were not part of my life, we were tentatively exploring a relationship. I don’t know what to say. He kissed me!” she cried.
“Well, maybe you need to think about what and who you want in your life,” Owen said sarcastically, “me or the poor, sad multi-millionaire.”
He sighed wearily before he continued. “I’m moving back to Marian’s while you decide,” he told her. “I love you, but I’m not going to be in the middle of this. It’s either me or him,” he said, giving her an ultimatum.
He left.
Sylvia stood in the doorway between the hallway and the kitchen. She leaned on it for support. How could this have happened? Owen was being childish. Or was he?
“Men!” she uttered vehemently.
Percy came over to her and whined.
“You are a man too,” she scolded accusingly to Percy.
He shrank back a bit from her, from the tone of her voice.
“Oh, you!” she cried, “I love you!” she reached to scratch his ears and give a kiss on the top of his head.
He wanted a walk. She had gotten used to having Owen walking him at night. She put on her coat and grabbed a flashlight.
“C’mon, Percy,” she said.
They didn’t walk too far. Joe had sufficiently spooked her. She nervously looked around as they walked.
“C’mon, Percy,” she urged him, “Hurry up!”
He obliged and she nearly ran home with Percy trotting happily beside her. When she got in, she locked the doors and turned on as many lights as she could. After a few minutes, she felt silly and began to turn them off, one by one.
“Percy,” she told him, “you can sleep in the bed tonight.”
Percy happily obliged and she put her arm around him to quell any anxiety. She wasn’t sure what to do about Owen. The confusion had returned and reined her thoughts again. She sighed and tossed and turned until she fell asleep.
Chapter 37
“Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Sylvia went to work early and when Carol opened up her office door to wish her a cheery ‘good morning,’ Sylvia nearly bit off her head.
“What’s up with you?” Carol asked.
“Oh, my God, Carol,” Sylvia said, “I don’t know where to begin.” But, she told Carol of the previous evening’s events.
“There’s no question, girlfriend!” Carol told her, “Screw the multi-millionaire. Owen loves you! What are you playing at?”
Sylvia snapped, “Well, once again, you take his side!” she accused. “He barely gave me a chance to explain. It was all a horrible mistake and now he’s gone—again.” Sylvia held back tears. “I don’t like this emotional roller coaster either, but he’s jumping to a lot of conclusions. I tried to tell him…”
“So tell him again and again and again,” Carol advised. “Eventually, he’ll get it. Men have fragile egos.”
Sylvia rolled her eyes in response. “Well, his fragile ego will need to wait a bit. I have a deadline,” she told Carol. “I’ll see if he can meet me for lunch.”
But, lunch didn’t happen. Mr. Carter pulled her into a lunch meeting with some of the board members at the last minute to discuss the plans for outreach. She wished he had not dropped this on her all of a sudden, but he was like a proud papa, as pleased as punch, while she smiled and explained their plans to the board members. It ended well. Carol had left early for a dental appointment so she didn’t have a chance to explain to her either. She texted Owen she was sorry, but received no response. Weary, she headed home. Her phone rang on the way home and she answered it eagerly, hoping it was Owen. It was not. It was Tony.
The Leafing: the 2nd book in The Green Man series Page 33
