by A. M. Kusi
“Good morning, beautiful,” River said, his voice hoarse. He leaned down and inhaled, at her neck. River swept the hair off her shoulder, tucking a piece behind her ear. He pulled Ella closer, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Ella rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she turned to check the clock by the bed: six. She intertwined her fingers with his and asked, “What time do you have to leave today?”
River sighed and rubbed his face with his other hand. “I can stay until three, then I’ll drive back to Boston.”
“Are you up for a hike before you leave? There’s an easy trail with a great view, but it’s a little drive from here.”
“Sure,” River answered without hesitation.
Ella bit her bottom lip and smiled. River’s arm moved from under her as he rolled on top of her, dominantly. She felt his morning arousal between her legs and gasped. River’s lips parted in a sly smile before he leaned down to kiss her.
“I have morning breath!” Ella warned.
River kissed her with gentleness mixed with desire in answer. Her body responded as she kissed him back. She pulled him tighter against herself. River groaned and rolled the rest of the way off her to stand on the ground, breaking the kiss.
“Are you upset about last night?” River asked.
Ella was still reeling from the kiss but knew what he was talking about. “No.”
River smiled. “I’ll go get my stuff.”
“We should drive separately; it will be faster for you to go home from the mountain,” though she wished they could ride together, savoring every minute they had left.
“Okay. See you in a few,” River said, walking down to Mac’s room.
They ate a light breakfast before heading out to their cars where he followed her to Mount Philo.
Once River and Ella had parked in the small gravel parking lot, he offered to carry the backpack with their water and supplies. They began their trek up the mountain over the well-worn dirt trail through the woods. Tall trees of varying sizes were scattered throughout the forest on either side of them. The ground was covered in multi-colored leaves and pine cones. There were clusters of wildflowers, moss, and lush green plants scattered throughout the landscape. A flash of a striped tail flicked behind a rock—a chipmunk. Small animal burrows could be seen on the edge of the path, and squirrels scurried up and down the trees, chattering. Birds sang, and leaves rustled from the gust of warm wind. The forest was alive with activity.
A large tree had fallen, and the exposed roots laid open to the elements to their right. The sunbeams broke through the thick canopy of green trees above, creating bright orbs dancing around the forest. This place was truly magical. Several other hikers and their dogs passed them on their way down the mountain. Ella smiled and waved at all of them.
“Do you know all these people?” River asked, jogging up the man-made wooden steps of the path over to a footbridge.
Ella laughed. “No. Here in Vermont, we like to be friendly.”
“Oh,” River said. “That would never work in Boston. People would look at me as if I had three heads.”
They laughed.
A ginormous boulder that seemed stuck halfway down the mountain was directly above them. River followed Ella up the natural stone stairs leading to the gigantic enigma and turned left on the path.
Soon they made it to a paved road. Ella explained it was an alternate route to the summit. She directed him to turn right and he followed her down a small hill and back onto the trail to their left.
The wooden path grew steeper, and they could see the drop-off down the mountain. River swallowed nervously. “We sure are getting high.”
Ella continued on. “Almost there. There is a nice viewing spot right up here.” She pointed off to the right.
Once they reached the top of the incline, Ella walked over to a cliff edge. River grabbed hold of a tree and took a few steps back, suddenly appearing dizzy.
“Are you okay?” Ella asked, concerned.
“Yeah. It’s just a little high,” River explained, backing up to the trail.
“Are you afraid of heights?” Ella asked, seeing his jaw tense.
River shrugged. “I’ve never had the opportunity to find out really, but this is definitely making me uncomfortable.”
Ella walked up to him and took his hand in her own. “Come on. There’s a place right around the corner I think you’ll like better.” She led him over tree roots and down the path where the dirt turned into stone, and they could see the edge of yet another cliff face. This one had a fence surrounding it, and she carefully climbed down the rocky ledge. He followed her, then stayed seated on a rock to see the view.
The fields below looked like a patchwork of green, and they could see the lake separating the two states and the mountain of New York directly in front of them.
“Wow,” he said, taking out his phone and snapping a few pictures.
Ella was looking out at the view, standing near the fence. He snapped a picture of her from the side, capturing the moment.
“The summit isn’t far, but I thought you would appreciate the fence here,” Ella explained.
“The fence is nice, but the view isn’t bad either,” he said flashing her a smile.
***
River followed her the rest of the way to the summit of the mountain where several chairs and picnic tables were scattered throughout a grassy clearing. A log cabin was at the top, which Ella explained was sometimes used for weddings and events.
There were a few other people meandering around. Moms and dads with their toddlers tied on their backs in baby carriers, kids running about, and a few spry older folks stretching or resting at a picnic table. River took in the array of green trees, the bright blue summer sky, and the beautiful scenic view of the purple-blue mountains of New York in the distance. He was hot and sweaty from the exertion, but the gentle breeze made the temperature perfect.
Ella walked up to the single black chain that hung more as a reminder to not go farther rather than an actual barrier. River cautiously approached her side, taking more pictures with his phone.
“Can I get a picture with you?” he asked.
Ella smiled and agreed, “Only if you send it to me too.”
They turned and posed with their sweaty cheeks against one another’s, and the view behind them.
“I can take a picture if you would like,” offered a young girl, who looked to be college-aged.
“Sure, thanks,” River said, as he handed his phone to her. River wrapped his arm around Ella’s waist, pulling her closer to himself. They heard three clicks and then the woman gave him back his phone.
“Thank you,” Ella and River said in tandem.
River selected the pictures and sent them to Ella’s phone while they walked over to two chairs, taking a seat next to each other. Ella grabbed the backpack from River and unzipped it.
“Now it’s my turn to capture you,” she said, pulling out a sketchbook and pencil.
“You want to draw me?” River asked, surprised.
“Is that okay?”
“Absolutely,” he agreed.
“No peeking!” Ella warned as she got started.
River held still in the pose as she directed him. He watched her nose crinkle with concentration, and he fought the urge to kiss it. Her pencil seemed to move effortlessly in her hand, dancing around the paper. She stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth or bit her lip occasionally while focusing on her work. He held his phone up, trying to sneakily get a picture of the artist at work. She was so entranced in creating, she didn’t notice.
“When did you start to draw?” he asked.
Ella answered without looking up from her work, “When I was a kid.”
“Did you ever take art classes?”
“Not until college.”
When
Ella was done, she turned the paper around for him to see. It was as if River was looking at a black-and-white photo of his present self. She had drawn a realistic portrait that captured his personality. The only color on the page was a bright light green that she had blended with a darker color for his eyes. He looked unearthly. River was looking at himself through Ella’s eyes, and he was speechless.
“Is it too much?” Ella asked, unsure.
“It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I love it! You’re really good,” he said.
Ella smiled and ripped it out of her book, signing the bottom corner E.S. and handing it to him.
“For me?” River asked.
“Yes.”
“Thank you.” It was such a simple phrase to convey the immense gratitude, awe, and admiration he really felt.
Ella nodded and put the rest of the items back into the backpack. “I can keep it in here until we get down to the car if you want.”
River took one last look at the drawing before handing it back to her. Ella tucked the picture in the notebook for safekeeping.
They drank some water and ate the snacks Ella had packed while they talked and enjoyed each other’s company before finally devouring the sandwiches Maggie had made them for lunch. They took their time on the return trip, opting to walk down the paved road this time rather than go through the woods.
“Julia wanted me to remind you that next time you come up, your pottery will be ready to glaze,” Ella said, walking hand in hand with River.
“Oh, that’s right. I have some projects and a trip to California in the next few weeks. Would you be willing to come to Boston? I would love to show you around all my favorite spots. I have some time in mid-July.”
“If it’s during the week I can do it. Weekends in the summer are busy with events at the inn.”
“Okay. I’ll take a couple days off work,” River agreed.
They reached the cars at two thirty in the afternoon. Ella handed River the portrait she had made for him and leaned against his black Tesla while he put it in the car.
River returned, placing one hand on either side of Ella and leaning down to kiss her. “I’ve had a lot of fun with you these last few days,” he said.
“Me too.”
“I wish I didn’t have to leave,” he admitted.
“Me too. Three and a half weeks is a long time to wait,” Ella said.
“Yeah, but we can call, text, video chat, and use all that modern technology will enable us to. I look forward to our talks.”
“Really?” Ella asked.
“Absolutely. It’s become the best part of my day.”
Ella looked in his eyes.
They pulled each other close in an embrace, giving in to desire. Their kiss seemed to communicate everything neither one of them was ready to say aloud, mixed with promise and their goodbyes.
When they finally parted, they were breathless. River pulled Ella close for one more lingering hug before they climbed into their own cars. Driving out of the parking lot, River drove straight while Ella went right, as they were separated once more.
***
Ella returned to the inn and took a shower before changing. She went through the kitchen to thank Maggie again for her help over the last few days with the inn, and then got to work preparing for the wedding the following day.
The first event for the year went by without a hitch. The bride and groom were happy, and all the guests loved the food that Maggie and Annie had made with Ella’s help while Emily and Tanya had taken care of the inn.
River kept in contact as much as he could via text during the day, and they spoke by phone or video chat every night. Ella loved seeing him, but wished he was actually with her in person. July Fourth holidays came and went, and the busy summer season was in full swing at the inn. Ella got into a rhythm with her work during the day, which helped the time go by faster. She truly enjoyed what she did, but the distance between her and River was getting to her.
With Maggie happy to oversee everything while she was gone, Ella scheduled help for the three days she would be away in Boston. On the Tuesday Ella was supposed to leave, she walked past Mac’s room, remembering the last time River was at the inn and the night she’d spent wrapped in his arms. She glanced over to Mac’s office. She hadn’t opened that door since he died, leaving it untouched for seven months. Ella promised to go through it when she got back from Boston. It was time.
Maggie was in the kitchen, relaxing with a cup of iced tea while going over the menu for the wedding that weekend. Ella would be back Thursday in time to help.
“All that for two nights?” Maggie asked with a raised eyebrow, motioning to her bags.
“You should talk. Do you remember the large suitcase you’d drag here for our one-night sleepovers?” Ella laughed, and Maggie joined her.
“A woman has to have options. Are you nervous?”
Ella bit her lip. “Yes. It’s been three and a half weeks. What if he changes his mind?”
“You talk to him every day, right?” Maggie asked, and Ella nodded. “Do you feel different about him than you did three and a half weeks ago?”
Ella looked away as she thought about it. “Yes, but not in a bad way. I like him a lot. I mean, really like him.”
“Are you sure you just like him? Because for the last three weeks you have been gushing about all the things you love about him. I mean, what else is left for you to know? Honey, you’re in love.” Maggie smiled knowingly.
Ella felt as if her heart had stopped beating as panic tightened her chest, making it hard to breathe. She loved River, and it terrified her.
“Deep breaths, Ella. Here, take a sip of water,” Maggie offered, seeing the beginning of Ella’s anxiety attack.
“Maggie, I can’t love him,” Ella declared.
“We can’t control who we love, Ella. You know that better than most. But what makes you say that?”
“It won’t work long-term. We live so far apart. We’ve been over this,” Ella said impatiently.
“It’s working so far. Talk to him about it,” Maggie encouraged her.
“No, I can’t tell him that. I’m not ready for that…that…”
“Vulnerability? Trust?” Maggie offered.
“Yeah, those.”
“Then just enjoy your time together and see what his life is like. There is no law that says you must profess your undying love for him just because you feel that way.” Maggie winked jokingly.
Ella gave her an unimpressed look, but she knew there was truth to her friend’s words. She didn’t have to tell him. He would think she was crazy and clingy for having fallen in love after less than two months of knowing each other anyways. They hadn’t even had sex yet.
“You’re right. I will just go and have fun. Keep things light,” Ella said, more convincingly than she felt.
“I’m always right, and the sooner you realize that, the easier your life will be,” Maggie teased.
Ella rolled her eyes and grabbed her bags. “Love you, Maggie.”
Maggie squeezed Ella tight in a hug. “Love you too, little birdy.”
Chapter 20
Ella drove through the heavy city traffic towards River’s house. The multilane streets were busy with construction, forcing her to take a detour. The concrete sidewalks were packed with pedestrians hurrying along their way to their respective destinations. Gone were the sounds of birds and rustling wind, replaced with blaring sirens and car alarms. The air was polluted with car exhaust and mixed with the smell of various foods from street venders.
Ella pulled into a somewhat quieter neighborhood, away from the skyscrapers. The street was lined with brownstones with expansive steps leading up to each one. Maple and elm trees decorated the edge of the sidewalk, their trunks surrounded by metal gates. She pulled into a parking spot in front of the brown
stone her GPS had navigated her to and shot off a text to River, letting him know she was there.
Ella gathered her bags from the trunk and locked the car before walking towards his door. Seeing him open it with a wide smile broke through any worry and anxiety she had felt during the long drive there.
Ella ran up the flight of steps. River met her halfway to take her bags and pulled her in for a kiss. Their mouths met after being apart for so long, assuring her the spark between them was still there. Ella’s lips tingled and she pulled him closer to her body.
River groaned, “I missed your gorgeous face,” he said, ushering her through the front door. Ella felt his gaze rake over her body admiring the fuchsia pink Capris Ella wore that hugged her curves just right, and the low-cut black top that held his attention the longest.
Ella observed the open-floor plan divided by a set of stairs. To her right was a living room with a giant flat-screen TV mounted above a gas fireplace. His couch was black crushed leather with brightly colored pillows scattered across it and it faced two matching armchairs. A white coffee table was in the middle of the room, with several travel, sports, and tech magazines strewn across it. Ella saw many photos in black frames decorating his living room walls, though from where she stood, she couldn’t see who the people in them were. To her left was a small modern kitchen. She could see another room past the stairs with a large table and guessed it was the dining room.
River led her up the stairs and to the hall where there were three doors. He pointed to the first door. “That’s my office.” He tapped the door directly to his right. “This is the guest room. I didn’t want to assume anything, so you’re welcome to stay in either room.” He led her down the hall to the last door. “But I hope you stay with me here, in my room.” River left it open and walked in, setting Ella’s bags on the floor by the bed.
