She reached down blindly to pet the boy. „I don’t. I like dogs.“
They continued to stare at one another for one full minute before he motioned for permission to sit beside her. She smiled and tried to move to give him more room but the boy leaned against her right leg and she didn’t get far. The man’s slacks brushed against her leg when he sat; she made a minute adjustment with her thigh and felt the warmth of his skin beneath two thin layers of fabric. Her heart kicked once then flew, lighter than air.
A second later it stopped dead when it finally occurred to her that where there was a small boy and a daddy there was generally a mommy as well.
„All… Although maybe I shouldn’t encourage him. His mother may not appreciate him getting so dirty.“
He wasn’t fooled. He knew what she was asking.
„His mother died three years ago and I don’t think even she could have kept him clean for more then six minutes at a time.“ His stare was intense but she didn’t mind, she couldn’t look away either. „Friend of the bride or the groom?“
„Groom. You?“
„The bride is my cousin.“ So that made him, what, her client Henry’s wife’s ex-sister-in-law’s nephew’s new wife’s cousin… and his son? Small world.
„The groom’s my scuba partner.“
„You dive?“
She nodded. „Do you?“
„Since I was a teenager but I… haven’t for a while. I’ve been a little busy.“
„Woof.“ Charlie crawled several feet away, bent his head down to pick something invisible up in his mouth, crawled back and dropped it at Charlotte’s feet. „Woof. Throw my ball.“
„Please,“ his father said automatically.
„Please. Woof.“
She picked the ball up, threw it and Charlie chased it… and his dad was still staring at her when she turned back. „I bet you’ve been busy. He’s a cute little boy.“
He nodded, his mind on something else. He frowned briefly, then decided to tell her.
„You know I feel like I ought to know your name but I don’t.“
„ Charlotte.“
„It suits you. I mean, I think it does. It feels like it should. I know this is going to sound strange – or like some pick-up line or something – but I feel like I know you. Have we met before? I’m Sam Rutherford.“
„I don’t think so.“ But she knew exactly how he felt as something deep inside snapped and let go, became tranquil and easy, spreading a sense of lightness through her soul. „What do you do?“
„I’m an associate professor of the Romantics and Victorian literature at U Dub.“ A University of Washington professor, of poetry and heartfelt literature – Do not swoon! Don’t do it! „That’s Keats and Shelley, Tennyson and Browning, those guys.“
„I know.“ And she’d bet every class he taught was packed full of girls. „I’m an accountant.“ That sounded so dumb she almost slapped her forehead. Her mind was exploding with ideas, but it was so hard to think. „I own my own business.“
In her peripheral vision she knew Charlie had returned with the make-believe ball and, seeing he’d lost her full attention, dropped it a few feet away. He lifted his head, looked over his shoulder as if watching another toss and went to fetch it once more.
„If we haven’t met before, it’s good to meet you now, Sam Rutherford.“
There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that what she saw in his face was her future. Happy, earnest, genuine, solid and real – he had an honest face, a trustworthy face. He glanced down, saw her hands and took one in his to examine it as if he’d never seen one before… or maybe to determine if it was strong enough to hold his heart. Finally, he wove his fingers between hers and held them with his other hand.
„How would you like to walk over to Kerry Park and see a spectacular view of the Sound? It’s only a few blocks away, an easy walk even in those shoes.“
„I know where it is.“ She stood and he came up with her. „Can we bring the dog along?“
„That was my plan. If we wear him out with a walk I can put him to bed early, get my niece to sit with him and then we can go out for a drink, or dinner… or anything.“
She smiled her approval of his plan and he turned to Charlie, who was still on all fours, humming an oddly familiar tune. „Hey, Big Guy, wanna go for a walk?“
„Woof. Woof.“
Big Guy. An endearment. She imagined him calling her honey or sweetie or dear and her stomach didn’t hiss and spit. She’d answer to his sugar and darling… but not babe. There was just something about babe that rubbed her wrong.
She put out her free hand hoping Charlie would give her one of his. „Can I hold your leash, little doggie, so you don’t get lost?“
„Woof.“ He shook his head. „My boy has my leash.“
„Your boy?“
„My new friend.“ He turned his head and looked pointedly into thin air. „He’s four like me.“
She looked at Sam who shrugged to say you-know-kids and grinned at his son. Her skin prickled.
„What did you name your new friend?“ Sam asked him, playing along.
Charlie looked confused. „I didn’t name him nothing. He gots a name already.“
„Then please introduce us.“ He started them down the path toward the gate. She felt him hesitate at her side and turned her head in time to catch him sniffing the air. „Do you smell that?“
She inhaled deeply, smelled nothing and took a wild guess. „Christmas?“
„Yes!“ He was confused and amazed.
„That’s Mel,“ said Charlie, proud of his pal. „He smells like cookies, doesn’t he, Dad?“
Sam sniffed again, moved his head about to catch a second whiff but it was gone – his adult defenses were up. Charlotte had a sudden, brilliant thought and squatted down to the boy’s level; her smile was casual and cunning.
„Charlie, you know how your long name is really Charles Rutherford?“ He nodded. „What’s Mel’s long name? Do you know?“
Charlie giggled. „Sure. It’s dumb. He sang me the song to it. He says it sticks in your head and you can’t get rid of it.“
„What is it?“
„Mellow Lemon Yellow.“
„Mellow Yellow?“
„Donovan,“ said Sam, identifying the song immediately. He laughed. „Your pal’s a hippie, Big Guy.“
„What’s a hippie?“
Epilogue
„Careful now, Big Guy.“
„Keep your eyes closed tight, Mom.“
„I will, Charlie. Just don’t walk me into another wall. I’ll break my nose.“
She felt Sam’s strong arm across her lower back and knew she had nothing more to worry about. Charlie was so excited his six-year-old fingers could barely hold still long enough to keep a good grip on hers as he led her up the stairs and down the hall toward his bedroom.
They were married, the three of them – that’s what Charlie told everyone. Charlotte adopted him the same day she married his dad, so they were a real, true family now.
The ink had barely dried on those papers when they were signing again for a pretty three-story Victorian in the university district. All three of them fell in love with the old house and had spent every spare minute and extra dime restoring it. Sam, who’d put himself through college working construction every summer, was a wonderful carpenter.
In her opinion, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do with a hammer and a piece of wood.
„We’re almost there. No peekin.’“
„I promise. No peeking.“
But when they were halfway down the hall and should have turned left into Charlie’s room, they proceeded on to the next room, an unfinished room they had plenty of plans for but not enough time or money, just yet. She knew when they passed through the doorway as Sam stepped back and used his free hand at the small of her back to guide her safely to the center of the room.
The first thing she noticed was the soft scent of new paint and wallpaper paste – two smells she now knew as well as coffee and bacon. She felt a soft breeze on her left and heard the gentle rustle of fabric. The window was open and… there were curtains. But how -?