jackiecthomas

Mia stepped into the elevator with a weak cup of coffee from the sad pot in her hotel room in hand. She’d get proper coffee after the meeting. Her stomach flipped nervously as the elevator descended. She said a small silent prayer that it would not stop at Luke’s floor. Last night had been awkward; she had almost slept with him. The elevator bell rang as the door opened and Luke stepped in. Mia looked down nervously and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“Morning,” Luke said lightly.

“Good morning,” Mia replied.

“Ready for this meeting?”

“Mm-hmm.” Mia said, praying this would be the end of the forced conversation. 

Luke turned towards her.

“Mia about last night.”

No, not here, I don’t want to talk about this now, she thought. The elevator bell dinged as they reached the ground floor. Mia had never been so grateful to be out of the elevator. She stepped out, and Luke followed. They had the pitch of their career to one of their firms largest clients in Santa Monica. The plan had been to fly in and out quickly before travel for the country shut down. A mysterious illness was spreading rapidly, and there was talk of a travel shutdown. The company needed this pitch to go well. Mia and Luke were the top two performers for the company, so they had been sent out on a Hail Mary. 

Mia stepped out of the hotel, expecting the air to be warm, but the ocean breeze was still chilly. It sure beat the snow back in Chicago thought. The doorman recognized her and went around to get the rental car. Luke took advantage of the moment.

“Mia about last night, I just wanted to apologize.”

“There’s no need. We were having nice time and things just got out of hand, no need to apologize.”

Please let this be the end of this, Mia thought to herself. She couldn’t deal with and bring her A-game to the pitch. The car came around, and Mia walked for the driver’s side before Luke could. The passive-aggressive move of power was noticed. As Mia grabbed the key from the driver, he asked, “Are you folks leaving today before the shutdown?”

“Hopefully,” Mia said as she got into the car. 

Luke, who had already gotten in the car, leaned towards the driver’s side. “Any word on anything official? The news was saying maybe by 5 pm tonight?”

“I haven’t heard anything official. I just know most everyone is checking out this morning.”

Three hours later, Mia and Luke walked out of the Plaza Building, closed deal in hand. Mia had worked her entire career to get to this point, and now, she had just accomplished something that was sure to put her inline for a significant promotion, possibly partner in the firm. As Luke drove back to the hotel, they had both noticed that traffic seemed a bit lighter. 

“Should we have a drink to celebrate,” Luke asked as they pulled up to the hotel?

“Maybe a drink at the airport might be better. With everyone so jitter about a shutdown, it creeps me out. I’ll feel better once we are on the plane back home.

“You’re right. It’s a weird feeling, isn’t it? Let’s pack up and head for the airport early then”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll meet you down in the lobby in twenty?”

“Sure.”

They dropped the car with the valet again and went up to their rooms. Mia changed out of her suit and heels and into jeans and a soft navy sweater and a pair of loafers for the flight. She packed up the last of her toiletries and checked her appearance in the mirror. Her engagement ring caught the sunlight as she straightened her hair. She stopped and looked down at it, and thought of Landon, her finance. They had been friends first, then lovers, and now even though they were engaged, they sat in some sort of a grey area. She loved him, but the passion was gone. When she had accepted the ring, she had meant it. She and Landon had been engaged for almost five years, yet neither felt that they needed to set a date. 

Mia met Luke down in the lobby, and they walked out and waited for the car to be brought around again. Mia noticed Luke’s grey sweater seemed to match his eyes, as his auburn hair, with its natural golden highlights, shone in the California sunshine. 

“You look nervous,” Luke said.

“Me? No not really. I just want to get home.”

“Will Landon be home?”

“No, he called last night he’s going to wait it out in Singapore.”

“He’s still over there with that merger?”

“Yeah, he wants to be there as soon as life resumes to help push it through.”

Luke nodded, and Mia knew it was a silent judgement. She resented it and felt embarrassed for what looked like Landon’s lack of concern for her. The car came around, and Mia let Luke drive. She was grateful for the pause in conversation as she looked out the window. Twenty minutes down the road, both Mia and Luke’s phone buzzed. Mia pulled her phone out to see that the flight home to Chicago had been cancelled, Luke’s said the same thing. Luke pulled off the highway and pulled into a Starbucks parking lot.

“Okay plan B,” Luke said.

“No plan B,” Mia replied, “All air traffic has been halted. We’re stuck. We can try and drive. I mean we have a rental car.” She didn’t look up from her phone.

“If this virus is serious enough to halt air traffic I doubt that we’ll make it driving cross country to Chicago.”

Mia turned and looked at Luke, hoping he couldn’t see how terrified she was. 

“I don’t know anyone out here where I can stay. I guess we can go back to the hotel?”

“I have an idea. It’s nuts but it’s an idea.”

Mia took a deep breath.

“My uncle owns a little cottage further up the coast, near Cambria. I could call and see if it’s free, and we could wait this out up there?”

Mia looked out the window as she weighted Luke’s suggestion. Who knew how long they were going to be stuck. 

“Mia, do you want me to call and see?”

Mia nodded, “Okay, it’s better than staying back a the hotel. The logistics of that are a nightmare.”

Mia stepped out of the car as Luke placed his call. She pulled out her phone and leaned up against the vehicle. She wanted to let Landon know what was going on. It was early there, but she didn’t want him to worry. Her hands shook as she texted him:

Hi babe sorry to text so early. So, I’m stuck in California. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. Luke from work has a cottage up the coast we’re going to try to stay at near Cambria. Hope you’re safe.

She dropped her phone and reached down to pick it up. Luke knocked on the window, as she wiped the grit from the parking lot off of it. She turned around and opened the car door. 

“The cottage is ours. We can order some groceries to be dropped off if we order quickly. My uncle Dan said the place is pretty well stocked right now. They were going to try to come down but didn’t make it before the shutdown. So do you want to go?”

Mia got into the car. 

“Thank you. I think that’s the best idea at least until we know more.  Your uncle won’t mind you bringing me along?”

“No. It will just be us. As I said, they got stuck up in Washington state, where they live. Actually had I known they had planned to come down, I would’ve just planned to go there anyway. The cottage is in a pretty spot.”

“Thanks for letting me come along. Please make sure to thank your uncle for me.” 

“I will, but we’d better get going it’s a bit of a drive. Will you look up the number to Dub’s Grocery Store in Cambria City? We’ll need to order groceries.”

“By phone? Don’t they have a website?”

“I’m sure they do but my uncle said to talk to Dub directly.”

“Ah, let me find the number here.”

Four hours later just as the sun was beginning to set, they pulled off of the Pacific Coast Highway onto a dirt track towards the Ocean. The drive down had been so incredibly beautiful, and during normal circumstances, Mia would have insisted stopping several times to get pictures and explore the neat little towns they passed through. The car crept over the bumpy track as they defended down towards the shore. Around a bank of large trees stood a small white cottage. It reminded Mia of something out of an English garden more than the California coast. Luke pulled the car up to the covered porch and spotted the two boxes of groceries that said Dub’s General Store- Cambria City, CA. on the side. 

Mia stepped out of the car, as the wind whipped off the ocean. Streaks of red, orange, purple and magenta streaked across the sky as the sun made its final descent towards the horizon. Even in these circumstances, it was so beautiful, that one could not help but stop and take in the splendour of it. She shut the car door and walked towards the edge of the small cliff where the cottage sat. The sandy beach was accessible through a well-worn path. She walked to the edge and looked down thinking there had to be a good twenty feet between her and the shore. She backed a few steps back and curled her hands around herself as the wind battered her. It’s so beautiful here, it’s worth being cold, she thought to herself. She heard Luke approach from behind and turned to see him walk up with a wool blanket.

“Here, I thought you might want this. It’s never really hot here, and always windy.” He held out the blanket for her. 

“Thank you,” she said over the roar of the wind.

She pulled the blanket around her and took a deep breath. The wool seemed to be an impenetrable force for the cold wind, it warmed her quickly. 

“You enjoy. I’ll bring our bags in.” Luke said.

Snapping out of the trance-like state from the sunset, she turned and faced Luke, remembering she was a guest, and had been incredibly rude.

“Oh let me help. Sorry, I was just so struck by the beauty of this.”

“No, stay. Enjoy it. Really. It is beautiful.”

Mia smiled and turned back towards the view. She heard Luke walk back towards the car and took the moment to check her phone again. Landon had not texted back and it was now morning. He had to have seen the text by now, Mia thought. She looked at her phone, no texts and no missed calls. Wondering if her phone was not working properly she turned it off and back on again. Turning back to the sunset she checked the phone screen occasionally as it rebooted. Once fully up and running, the status had stayed the same. She tried not to be concerned. 

As the last sliver of fiery-orange dipped below the horizon, Mia turned back towards the cottage. It was quaint with its wood siding and turquoise blue shutters. She walked back and saw a white wicker swing partially covered, sitting on the porch waiting to be hung. On the other side, there was a small bistro table and two chairs. She knocked as she opened the front door, not sure what the polite thing was to do. The front of the cottage had been recently redone, as everything looked more modern than the structure itself. There was a large open plan kitchen that shared the space with a smaller living room and a stone fireplace off to one side. The other side of the room was flanked by French doors that looked out to the ocean. 

“Come in,” Luke said standing behind the kitchen island. “I’m just putting the groceries away.”

Mia slung the blanket over the back of the couch and walked towards the kitchen. 

“I’m sorry, I should’ve helped. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sunset so beautiful in all of my life. What a beautiful spot.”

“Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. I used to spend summers here when I was a kid. The whole world seems to stop when the sun sets like that here. When I was a kid, my parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, they’d all have cocktails out there for sunset.”

“Really,” Mia said as she sat at one of the stools at the kitchen island. “That is very neat. I’ve never asked where you’re from.”

“My family is from New York, and we’re spread all over the country. I grew up in New York state though.”

“Hmmm, I’ve never picked up the your accent.”

“Oh this accent?” Luke said in a thick New York accent.

“That’d be the one,” Mia laughed. 

“I kind of lost it over the years.”

“So summers on one coast, and the rest of the year on the other. Nice.”

“Would you like a glass of wine? Uncle Dan always keeps a stocked cellar. We can help ourselves to anything but the wine on the red racks.”

“Sure, where’s the cellar?”

“Here I’ll show you.”

Mia got up and followed Luke to the wall behind the kitchen where a fully stocked wine cellar stood. She followed him into the small space in awe of how many bottles there were. She would have never thought from the outside that the inside of the cottage would have such lovely amenities. Luke reached around her and grabbed a bottle of Malbec. Mia caught a whiff of his scent, leather, sandalwood and something citrusy that she couldn’t place. She had first noticed on the flight out. 

She and Luke had worked together for the past two years, but both of them travelled for work and rarely spent in the office together for more than a week at a time. She liked him, as he had always been nice to her, and competent at his job. They had gone out to a few social occasions at work, and he had met Landon. Luke had a wife, who ran off with her personal trainer, shortly after Mia had met Luke. 

As they walked out of the cellar Mia found the bathroom. She stepped in front of the mirror and took in her windswept look. Her cheeks were pink from the wind still, and her normally smooth brown locks were sticking out in every which way. She smoothed her hair down, running her fingers through it, as the noise of the ocean pulled her towards the window. She looked out of the small bathroom window towards the ocean. It was now dark outside, but she knew it was there, she could smell it and hear it. 

After a dinner of grilled steaks and a bottle of wine, they sat in front of the massive stone fireplace with a small fire going. There was something so comfortable about the cottage, that felt instantly like home to Mia, and for some reason that put her slightly on edge. The large white sofa, with its overstuffed cushions, felt like a cloud to sit on as Luke sat in the leather chair opposite. They had talked about the merger and toasted to their success at dinner. Mia wasn’t trying to be rude; she just wasn’t very talkative. Landon’s absence had unsettled her. She’d try and call him when she settled in for the night. 

As if Luke read her mind he asked, “Have you heard from Landon?”

Mia sat up further on the couch.

“I haven’t. Normally, I’d say he was in a meeting but its a Saturday morning, afternoon now. I wish he’d text, something so I know he’s okay.”

“It won’t bother me if you want to call him.”

“I tried earlier. I’ll try again at bedtime.”

“I’m sure there’s an explanation for his absenece. Why don’t I show you to your room? That way you can call or have sometime to yourself when you want to.”

“Thank you,” Mia nodded as she said it, although she wasn’t sure if  it was Luke’s subtle way of asking for the living room for himself. 

Luke stood and Mia followed him past the kitchen and bathroom towards the back of the cottage. 

He stopped at the last door of the hallway.

“I’m going to give you the master. You’ll have your own bathroom and private deck, kind of your own space. It also has the best views in the cottage.”

“Oh? You don’t have to give me the best room.”

“Believe me, you’ll want it when you see the view in the morning.,” Luke said as he opened the door and switched on the light. There was a large bed with plush white linens and a tall tan upholstered headboard. The furniture in the room was in various shades of white, light tan, and the palest baby blue, to look like the ocean. The far side of the room was a series of French doors that overlooked the view, and where the private deck was. The room looked more like a luxury, boutique hotel room. Luke and Mia stepped into the room entirely, and he turned around. 

“The bathroom is in there. There is a clawfoot tub in there large enough to swim in.”

“Luke, this is so generous. Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Like I said, when you wake up in the morning look to your left out those doors. You will not be disappointed.”

“Where are you staying, I mean which room?”

“First door on the left, down the hall. It’s always been my room here. Don’t worry, all of the rooms are really nice.”

“Oh, I wasn’t implying.”

“No I know. Anyway, there’s your suitcase,” he pointed to it sitting next to the dresser, “please feel free to use anything you’d like or need. I’ll let you get settled in. Think of the cottage as your’s too.”

“Luke thank you so much, and if you talk to your Uncle please tell him thank you too. This is so generous and so beautiful.”

Mia reached out and hugged Luke, and he hugged her back. The hug was filled with gratitude, but there was something more there, Mia felt it, and she knew Luke did too. There was something about being in his arms that she found intoxicating. The hug lasted a second longer than it should have and when she pulled away, his lips brushed over the top of her head. She wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not, but her stomach fluttered. She stepped out of his embrace, both of the unsure and slightly embarrassed. 

Luke left the room and Mia settled in. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the light to see the tub Luke had mentioned. It was beautiful. She opted for a shower instead, saving a soak in the big tub for another night. She was grateful that the cottage had been well-stocked, not just with food, but quality toiletries as well. She slipped into her pyjamas, a soft pink coloured silk slip, with champagne-coloured lace. She had spotted it in a window of a lingerie boutique on Oak Street in Chicago. The slip was ridiculously expensive, but she splurged and bought it anyway. Tonight the luxurious weight of the silk felt softer against her skin. She pulled the throw pillows off the bed and sat them in one of the chairs in the room. Pulling back the blankets, she climbed into the bed, sinking into to the lushness of it. The linens on the bed were of the highest quality, and the mattress seemed to hug her body. She picked up her phone from the nightstand and called Landon again. This time she left a more serious voicemail asking him to call no matter the hour. 

The next morning Mia woke early before Luke. She pulled her robe around her and set out to make coffee in the kitchen. Once the pot had brewed, she poured herself a cup and took it back to her room. She had intended to drink it in bed, but the view of the ocean from the deck lulled her outside. With the way that the deck had been built and the cottage situated on the plot, the wind from yesterday did not batter her. It was chilly, and she pulled her robe closed further as she sipped her coffee. She checked her phone and tried to call Landon again as she dressed for the day, but still did not get an answer. Her annoyance had begun to turn to worry. 

Over the next few days, Mia and Luke passed the time by working, reading, and playing old board games. Mia had not heard from Landon, and she was not sick with worry. At the same time, she found herself falling hard for Luke. There was something in the air between them, that felt like pressure building. Mia knew what the release was, but she wouldn’t let herself think about it for too long. Luke took a business call from his room, while Mia worked from the kitchen island when her phone buzzed. She reached over and saw that it said she had missed a call from Landon. The phone had not rung. She picked it up and ran back to her room, calling him again. This time he finally picked up after four days of silence.

“Lan, are you okay?”

“Hi, I’m alright. How is California?”

“What? Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry I haven’t answered your calls and texts. I..”

“Are you okay? Why didn’t you answer me? Landon, I’ve been worried sick.”

There was an eerie silence on the phone that put Mia on edge.

“I’m sorry I worried you. I just wasn’t ready to have this conversation.”

“What conversation? What are you talking about?”

“Mia I met someone. I know there isn’t a good time to do this, and my timing sucks. She lives here in Singapore.”

“What, Landon? What are you talking about?”

“Mia I’m sorry. I love you, but not wife kind of love, more like a friend kind of love. I know I should’ve told you before now, I’m sorry.”

This time Mia was silent, she didn’t now what to say. 

“Lee and I got married over the weekend. I’m not telling you this to hurt you. I just want you to know that I have fully committed to my new life here. We’re going to have a baby. Mia I’m sorry to hurt you.”

, hMia pulled the phone away from her ear in disbelief as she heard Landon call out her name. She pushed the red button on her screen and dropped her phone to make the pain spewing from it to stop. She opened the French door and walked off of the patio and down to the beach. Where she sat for a long time deep in thought, how did I miss that? I know we’ve grown apart, but a whole other life! She thought to herself. The more she thought about it, she wasn’t sad that Landon wasn’t marrying her, it was the betrayal that hurt most of all. When she looked deep down and was honest with herself, she knew it would not have worked with Landon. 

The sun had shifted towards the horizon, she had sat for so long down on the shore. She was deep in her own thoughts that when Luke put his hand on her shoulder he scared her. 

“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. Is everything alright? You haven’t moved from that spot for two hours. I thought maybe you’d gotten some bad news. I heard you run through the house. Can I sit next to you?”

Mia nodded and Luke sat down next to her. He just sat and did not try to pull information out of her, knowing she’d talk when she was ready. Mia was grateful. 

“Landon called. He got married yesterday, and has a baby on the way in Singapore.”

 Mia looked at him, as her bottom lip quivered. 

“Wow. Mia I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”

“Is it strange that part of me thought it was coming? I mean not exactly like this, but there was something in me that just knew something wasn’t right. I was a coward, I should have left him. I… I..”

Luke reached over and pulled Mia’s lips to his before she could finish her statement. His touch was gentle. He looked her in the eye, and she nodded slightly, giving permission before he brought his mouth down over hers. Suddenly Mia could feel that pressure between them begin to ease somewhat. She realized in that moment that the man she truly wanted was kissing her in the most beautiful place she had ever been. She wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned into him, committing to the kiss. The shift in balance caused him to topple backwards as he held her. He landed with a soft thud on the sand, and Mia pulled away enough to see his face. She felt his laugh before she heard it, and it put her at ease.

“I’ve wanted to do that for the past two years,” Luke confessed. 

“Only that,” Mia asked with a playful tone in her voice?

Luke smiled slyly. 

“We could go back up to the cottage and…” Mia said as she got off of Luke and stood. 

He stood, and followed Mia, their walk, turning to a jog and an all-out sprint by the time they reached the cottage. Mia turned around just as they entered the cottage and pulled Luke’s body in close to hers. He kissed her with such passion that she felt it in her knees. The stood in the middle of the living room, shedding clothes, breathless. 

“Mia wait, stop,” Luke said, each word coming out as a gasp. “I really want this, are you sure you want this?”

Mia removed her bra and let it fall to her feet.

“Mia your gorgeous.”

 “I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything before.” She reached up and pulled her mouth to his, kissing him without abandon. 

My body shook. It was too much emotion all at once, and it seemed to ooze out through my body physically as I trembled. 

“Get out. I never want to see you again!” I shouted. 

Sam just stood there dumbfounded, in disbelief that I was kicking him out. 

“Linds, please let me explain, it’s not what it looks like. I mean it is, but I am so sorry I would do anything to take it back.”

My anger had shifted to heartbreak again, and my tears flowed again. The harder I tried to hold them back the fuller and faster they fell. 

“Just leave,” I said softly as I stood in the middle of our living room. The living room we had just pained in our new house. 

“Linds, please.”

Rage surged again inside me.

“Get out of my house!”

“Our house,” Sam said quietly. 

I knew he was right, but that was an argument for another time. We had only just moved in two months ago. We had bought this house as our first starter home, and I imagined us starting a family in it. Now that dream was gone. Sam looked at me, the remorse coming off of him in waves. I said nothing and stared at him hard. He turned around, grabbing his bag, and his keys out of the dish on the table by the door. He stepped out and closed the door quietly behind him. 

I stood in the middle of our living room of the life we had begun to build, in shock. I didn’t know what to do. What does one do when her finance sleeps with the exotic dancer at his bachelor party? Our cat Oliver wound around my legs, his tail stroking my calf. I took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen. I grabbed the bottle of white wine out of the fridge, the bag of spicy potato chips and headed for my bed. I didn’t bother with a glass; I intended to finish the whole bottle. I climbed into bed as Oliver curled up alongside me. I could smell Sam’s scent on his side of the bed. Angry, I pushed his pillow off the bed. Oliver seemed unfazed and was more interested in the bag of potato chips. 

I woke the next morning with a blinding headache and a mouth so dry it felt like I had crossed a desert in the night. I sat up slowly and looked around the bedroom. Our bedroom that was now my bedroom, I wondered? I noticed that Oliver wasn’t in bed with me, and I thought it was odd. I got up and slowly made my way to the bathroom, passing the living room on the way. As I used the bathroom it dawned on me that I had passed Sam sleeping on the couch in our living room. I hadn’t heard him come back in during the night, but then I doubt I would’ve heard anything after an entire bottle of wine. I walked back into the living room, and sure enough, he was fast asleep on our couch. 

“Wake up,” I said firmly, then backed down my tone, it hurt my head to be any louder. “Sam, wake up.”

He opened his eyes and sprung up, causing his footing to be unstable. He braced himself against the couch. 

“I know, I’m not supposed to be here. You asked me to go, and I did.”

“Why are you here now,” I asked, cutting him off.

“I have nowhere to go.”

“Go home to your parents, or Duane’s.”

“I never want to see him again. I can’t go to my parents, all flights have been grounded, and nonessential travel cancelled.”

“What are you talking about?”

“That virus, the entire country is on lockdown. I went to rent a hotel room last night, and they wouldn’t let me check-in. There’s a statewide order that started at midnight. I got pulled over on my way home last night for violating it. I didn’t even know the damn thing was going on. Here,” he said as he reached for the remote and turned on the television.

I watched the crawl at the bottom of the screen trying to gain as much understanding as I could grasp as quickly as I could. With the lead up to our wedding, and then this bombshell with Sam, I had been out of touch. Apparently much more out of touch than I had realized. I sat on the edge of our coffee table and watched. 

“I’ll make some coffee,” Sam said as he left me watching tv. 

I watched in disbelief at the reality I had woken up to. My cell phone rang, and I answered without looking at who was calling. 

“Lindsey, are you okay? Is Sam okay? We’ve been so worried about you two,” my mother said. “You didn’t answer your phone last night, neither did Sam, we’ve been so afraid for you two.”

“I’m sorry mom. I didn’t mean to scare you. I took a sleeping pill,” I lied, “and went to bed.”

“Oh, are you ill? Why are you taking a sleeping pill? Is it wedding jitters?”

“No mom,” I said as Same walked back into the living room with a cup of coffee in his hand for me. He sat down next to me and handed me my cup. I nodded as my mother went on.

“Yes, mom, he’s here. We’re both safe and here, together.” I tried not to look at Sam as I said it. Taking a deep breath, I searched for a way to get off of the phone. I felt Sam pull the phone away from me gently.

“Hi Mrs Windsor, I mean mom, yes, we’re safe.” Sam stood up and walked over to the window as he took the “mom” bullet for me. 

I grabbed my coffee and walked out of the room. I needed a shower, I smelled of stale wine, and if I was honest I needed a minute to think about my next move. I started the shower, and made it as hot as I could tolerate. I took two Tylenol from the medicine cabinet and washed them down with my coffee before I stepped into the shower. 

As I walked out of the bathroom, my towel wrapped around me I could smell breakfast cooking. I listened for Sam’s voice, wondering if he was still stuck on the phone with my mother, but I only heard the noise of him cooking. I walked into our bedroom and dressed before I made the bed. I found Sam in the kitchen sitting at the table with Oliver spread out next to the plate of pancakes.

“I’m sorry about this Linds; I’ll be on my way as soon as I can. I just need to find a place.”

The kitchen seemed sunnier than usual, this morning and the light pierced through my skull, angering my headache further. The sunlight in the morning in this kitchen was one of the things I had loved most about this house, when we looked at it. Now the cheery sunshine felt odd and out of place. I rubbed my head as I walked and sat down at the table. Oliver took it as an invitation and stood up and walked over. I hated it when Sam let him on the table while we ate. I petted Oliver’s head and then put him on the floor. Sam put another forkful of pancake into his mouth and chewed quietly. 

“I just don’t understand,” I said softly. 

“Which thing?” 

“You and I. It’s enough for the rest of the world to fall apart but to do it without the one person, who I thought was my person. I think that is what is scariest of all.”

Sam took a deep breath and put his fork down on the plate. 

“I will always be your person Linds. I know you don’t believe that, but it’s the truth. I never set out to hurt you. Believe me if I could be somewhere else and spare you this pain right now I would. At the same time, I am glad I am here. Who knows how crazy this might get,” he gestured outside. “I’ll try to stay out of your way. I’ll see if I can make a space for myself in the garage until I can find a new place.”

I looked over at him and nodded. The whole scene so surreal.

He pushed the plate he had made for me towards me. I pushed it gently away from me.

“I know you’re so angry with me, but you need to eat,” he said softly. 

“I can’t eat this morning,” I said as I stood up. “I’m going to go camp out in the bedroom and log-on to work to see what the plan is for Monday.”

I curled up in my bed with my laptop and didn’t bother to open it. All I wanted was things to be the way they were. I wanted to be in Sam’s arms; I needed to be in his arms. I loved him, but in my gut, I couldn’t reconcile the betrayal. I fell asleep and woke in the late afternoon. Groggily, I walked from the bedroom. The house was silent as I walked through. There was a part of me that was afraid that Sam had left, that he had found somewhere else to stay. I walked out the backdoor, and heard saw him hauling more junk out of the garage. When we moved it, the garage had been packed full of a lifetime of the previous occupant’s junk. We had intended to clean it out but had not gotten to that point yet. Sam had built a sizable pile in the back yard, that was separated into wood and metal. He stopped as he walked out his hands full, sweat on his brow, dirt on his face, when he spotted me.

“Hi, I thought I’d get started. I cannot believe how much stuff is in this garage. It’s crazy. I almost have a space large enough for a bed cleared.” He said as he dumped an old chair into the pile of wooden items, none of which were functional. The slapped his work gloves together, to shed the cobwebs that had stuck to them, as he walked up to the back porch. 

“I found a bed to put in here.”

“You found a bed in the garage,” I asked?

“No, I.. uh… Mark has an extra. He’s going to drop it in the driveway in a little bit. Sorry, I just wanted to give you your space. I’ll put the medal at the end of the driveway, I’m sure a scrapper will come to get it, and I’ll burn this old wood in the wood stove in the garage if it gets too cold out here, or you can burn it in the fireplace in the house if you want. I’ll break it down for you.”

I felt a pang of guilt that he was having to make a place for himself in the garage, but reminded myself that he had done it to himself. I went back into the house without saying anything and spent my afternoon catching up on work. I saw our mutual friend Mark pull up with a twin mattress and box spring in the back of his pickup truck. Mark came to the front door and knocked, but before I could answer it Sam came around front. 

“I’m back here,” Sam shouted so Mark would hear him. 

I listened to Mark walk off the porch, and I left them to it as I went to start dinner. As I began to prepare dinner, I overheard their conversation. 

“Man what were you thinking, Linds is…” Mark said, the frustration thick in his voice. 

“I don’t remember doing it. I was so wasted. I could kill myself for hurting Lindsey. I love her. Fucking Duane. I’m my own man, but damnit, why did he let me do that?”

“How’d Linds find out?”

“I told her.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I couldn’t lie to her.”

“Wait, let me get this straight, you told her you slept with the dancer, but you don’t even remember doing it? What the hell, man?”

“Duane said we were all over each other, I mean I woke up naked next to the girl. I mean, I honestly don’t remember. I slept with someone. I just wish I could remember.”

“I was there for most of the night, and you were fucked up, but not that fucked up. What did the girl say when you woke up next to her?”

“She didn’t. I got up to use the bathroom and when I came back, she was gone. Duane stood in the doorway of his room and clapped.”

“Fucking Duane. If I were you, I’d find the girl. I know you man, you’d never do that to Linds. I mean, did the two of you fool around before you went out that night?”

“Yeah.”

“Well is it possible that you didn’t sleep with the dancer?” 

“It’s possible. Shit, I don’t know. I wish I could remember. I’ve never drunk myself blackout drunk.”

“You weren’t when I left, I mean you were pretty trashed, but you were still conscious. I left around 2am. Find the girl.”

“I’ve tried. Duane said he hired her from an online ad but couldn’t remember where. I told him, to text her back, and he said she hasn’t replied.”

“Well when all of this shit blows over, I’ll go see if I can find her. I hate to see you two like this. I’m glad you’re staying here, though. It makes me nervous, her by herself right now.”

“Yeah. Thanks for the bed.”

I sat at the table, my stomach rolling as I overheard their conversation. The fact that Sam had doubts that he had slept with the woman, yet still told me left me more confused. I stood to stir the pot of marinara sauce I had started when I saw Mark leave, waving to Sam. I moved on to chopping up vegetables for a salad to go along with my pasta when I heard a knock at our back door. I walked over and opened the door.

“Would it be okay if I showered before I grab some of my things,” Sam asked, still standing on the other side of the screen door. 

“Of course.” 

I moved out of the way and went back to cooking. I heard the shower start as I finished up dinner. I made myself a plate of pasta and salad and set one aside for Sam as I took mine back to my bedroom. I heard him dress and leave out of the back door. I got up to see the light on in the garage. That night I laid in our bed once again, by myself. Oliver had chosen to bunk with Sam in the garage, and part of me was happy about it. Thinking about what to do preoccupied my mind, and I found it difficult to sleep deeply. 

The next morning I woke late and made my way into the kitchen. Coffee had not been made, and I wondered if Sam was awake and had not come in or had not woken yet. I made coffee and opened the back door, so he would know that I was awake. As late morning turned into early afternoon, I noticed that Sam had not emerged from the garage. Curiosity had gotten the better of me. I poured him a cup of coffee and walked to the door at the side of the garage. I knocked, and when I didn’t hear anything, I peeked inside. I stepped inside and saw Sam’s small living space set up inside the garage. Oliver meowed loudly as he walked in circles at the end of Sam’s bed. Sam was curled up.

“Sam, I brought you coffee”, I said loud enough to wake him, but he didn’t rouse.

Concerned, I walked over and knelt down to wake him. He was feverish to the touch. I shook him hard, and he roused slightly. He was ill, very ill. Terrified, I put down the mugs of coffee and pulled my phone out of my back pocket. I saw him shiver as I dialled for an ambulance. The virus started with a high fever, and I had never seen Sam sick with more than a sniffle in the two years since we had met. The operator answered, and I told her our address and Sam’s condition. I opened the overhead door, so the EMT’s would be able to grab him easily. I sat as with him as I waited, the realization that he might actually die hit me hard. I knelt back down and set the phone on the garage floor. I reached over and ran my hand through this thick brown hair. He looked up at me as he shivered hard again.

“I love you, Sam, please hang on. Help is on its way.”

He slipped his hand out from underneath the blanket, and I grabbed it and gave it a gentle squeeze as I heard the ambulance approach. The EMT’s got out and brought the gurney down the driveway. Seeing them in full protective gear terrified me. I knew the virus was contagious, and it hadn’t occurred to me that I had been so close to Sam, and might have contacted it. I tried to go with him, but the EMT’s told me only patients were allowed at the hospital right now. I stood a the end of my driveway as I watched Sam leave in the back of an ambulance. A state trooper approached me from behind. 

“Ma’am are you that man’s fiancé?”

I turned around to see the Sherriff standing far away from me, with a mask on his face.

“Yes.”

“You’ll need to quarantine yourself in your home for the next fourteen days if your finance tests positive for the virus. Until we know, we’re asking you to quarantine voluntarily. I will have to put a notice up on your property, so other’s know to stay away. I’m sorry it’s the law.”

I nodded and walked into the house as if on autopilot. I sat on the couch watching the last light of day leave the room. I didn’t want to call my parents, and Sam’s lived out of town. I didn’t have anything to tell anyone until I had more news. I got up to let Oliver in as he meowed loudly at the back door. I went out back and shut the garage door, and grabbed Sam’s phone out of the garage. I brought it in the house, making sure to disinfect it. I realize how silly that was, having been in close contact with him today. I made myself a cup of tea, and set both his and my phone on the kitchen table, hoping the hospital would call. After I finished my cup, I couldn’t wait for the hospital to call any longer. I needed to know how he was doing. The phone rang and rang without an answer. It felt like the life I recognized was slipping away from me. I was angry and terrified. I slammed my phone down onto the table. 

 Not knowing why I picked up Sam’s phone and started to look through it. There were 14 unread text messages. Three were from Mark, and the rest were from Duane. I looked through them, as my stomach lurched. It had been a prank. Sam had not slept with the dancer. Duane thought it was a funny joke. I began to sob, thinking of Sam alone in the garage so sick and now alone at the hospital. 

 I sat up on the couch most of the night, as Oliver purred away on my lap. Finally, around 3 am, my phone rang. I jumped at the noise of it, startling Oliver, who clawed into my lap. The screen said Lawndale Hospital. My hands shook as I answered it. 

“Hello is this Lindsay Eaton?”

“Yes, how is Sam? Is he okay?”

“Hello I’m Dr Tompson, I’m treating your fiancé. He’s stable for now, Miss Eaton.”

I felt tears of relief spill down my cheeks.

“Can I talk to him?”

“He’s resting now.”

“Okay, when he wakes up will you please tell him I love him, and I know the truth. Please, I know that sounds nuts, but he needs to know.”

“I’ll tell him. I’ll call with more updates as we have them. He has texted positive for the virus. You will need to monitor your temperature and will have to self isolate for the next fourteen days. This is very important.”

“Of course. Can his family come see him? I know I can’t, but can someone be there with him?”

“I’m sorry we can’t allow any visitors right now.”

I bit onto my lip to keep from crying harder. 

“He’s responding well to the therapy so far. I think his prognosis is good. I will call if anything changes and will update you tomorrow morning. Take care of yourself, Miss Eaton.”

The phone hung up before I could say anything more. I dialled Sam’s parents and told them what I knew. Then I called my own parents. Everyone wanted to come to be with us but with the travel ban in effect; they couldn’t travel. I fell asleep on our couch as the sun came up. I woke to the sound of my phone ringing in my hand. I saw that it was a number I didn’t recognize. I answered right away anyway just in case. 

“Hello, this is Lindsey Eaton.”

“Hold on,” a man’s voice said, and my phone beeped to accept a video call. I pulled it away and saw Sam. He had an oxygen mask on and looked weak. 

“Linds?” Sam asked pulling his mask away. “I love you.”

“Sam, I love you too. Honey, please get better and come home to me.”

“Are you sick?”

“No so far, I feel alright.”

“I’m so sorry for all of this.”

“No, Sam, I’m sorry. You haven’t done anything wrong. Duane tried to pull the worst practical joke ever. If I ever see him again, I’ll kill him for putting us through this.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter, please just get better. When you come home, if you still want to, I want to marry you.”

I watched as his eyes watered.

“We should wrap up. You need your rest,” a voice from off-screen said.

“It’s a date. I can’t wait to marry you. I love you, Linds.”

“I love you too.” 

I kissed the phone screen before he hung up. 

Three weeks later, Sam returned home, to our house, that once again held the promise of our future life together. I was lucky and never did end up sick. Sam made a full recovery. The following weekend after he returned home we got married, our family and friends watched online. 

Lisa crimped the crust tightly on the edge of the cherry pie. Since the quarantine had started she had cooked a lot. It had been a goal to learn how. She always told herself she’d learn when she had a family to cook for. The only other living being in her condo was her old English sheepdog Rufus, who was enjoying her cooking journey as much as she was. Lisa put the small pie into the oven and opened the lid on the large pot on the stove. She had found a recipe for white bean soup online and had made it for dinner. The condo smelled of the fresh bread she had baked on her lunch break to go with the soup. The scent of rosemary and garlic wafted from the pot as stirred the soup

In week three of quarantine, she decided rain or shine that she’d eat dinner on her patio. She lived on the third story and her balcony was covered by the balcony above her. Two weeks had passed of dinners out on the balcony and she now had it down to a science. She had even strung up white Christmas lights to lights and made an attempt to make the space feel more intimate. It brought her outside each night and she found it raised her spirits.

Lisa put the cheery yellow table cloth on the small dinner table outside. She returned with a bowl, and cutlery and set them out. She finally put half of the soup in a tureen, that she had impulse bought after deciding to learn how to make soup during the quarantine. The last thing she brought out after the soup was a few slices of the hearty, fresh bread. Lisa sat and spread the cloth napkin across her lap as Rufus let out a pathetic whine. Lisa rolled her eyes before she stood up and let Rufus out onto the patio with her. Sitting back down, she ladled a bowl of soup into her bowl. The steam came off of the top in swirls. Rufus whined again and then curled up next to her at her feet. Lisa tucked her feet under the dog to keep them warm. The evening was chillier than she had thought. She decided Rufus would be rewarded for his warmth by a slice of the fresh bread when she was done. She took a bite of the creamy, hot soup as she watched the sun begin to set. Orange and magenta streaked across the sky and the beauty of it cheered her.

As she sat and ate her soup she noticed the light turn on inside the condo next to her. She had noticed that someone had moved in. Each night she wondered if she would get a peek of her new neighbor, but they had yet to reveal themselves. She had kept to the strict stay at home order and only left her apartment to walk Rufus across the street to the park. Normally she’d expect to run into her new neighbors at this point, but life was different now. As she ate she thought she saw a shadow move in front of the window. Intrigued she leaned forward to see if she could get a better glimpse.

Her long chestnut hair dangled in her bowl of soup. When she leant back in her chair, defeated that she had not gotten a good look at her new neighbor, the soup splattered onto her blouse from her hair. She dipped her napkin into the water glass and dabbed at the soup spatter, grateful it was white. Rufus looked up at her. Taking pity on her dining partner she broke one of the pieces of bread in half and put one half down for him. He sniffed the bread and then looked towards the neighbor’s condo. Lisa watched his ears perk up before she heard the lock on the door of the neighbors door to their balcony. Rufus stood as the door opened.

A man stepped out in a blue button-down shirt, his sleeves rolled up, jeans and barefooted. Lisa couldn’t help but stare, he was gorgeous with his sandy blonde hair and sharp jaw. He was well built and Lisa licked her lips, not sure what was yummier, the soup or the man standing on the balcony next to hers. Rufus stood and growled. The man turned at the noise of the dog.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you out here tonight. I didn’t mean to disturb you,” the man said as he backed towards his door.

“You aren’t disturbing me,” she said as she turned to her dog, “Rufus stop that.”

The dog laid back down and sulked.

“Are you sure? I’ve tried to come out after you’ve finished your dinner. I know these balconies are close together.”

“You aren’t bothering me at all.” Lisa got up from the table and walked a little closer, but still kept a safe distance. Rufus’ head picked up as he watched her move closer. She reached out her hand to shake his and instantly withdrew it, remembering that was not a good idea during a pandemic.

“Oh sorry, I forgot, no contact. I’m Lisa,” she waved.

“Hi Lisa,” he waved,”My name is Harry. It’s nice to meet you neighbor.”

“You too. Sorry I didn’t know you had been waiting for me to finish dinner out here. I can go in and give you some space.”

“No way. Please finish, I barged in on your dinner.”

“We can both be out here. We are distanced far enough apart, for health guidelines. I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“Are you sure? The fresh air is nice after being inside all day.”

“It is, isn’t it,” confirmed as she sat back down at the table.

Harry leaned against the railing as he looked to the west towards the last sliver of daylight. The loss of the last of the sunlight turned the air chillier. Lisa pulled the blanket she had draped over the chair around her. Almost simultaneously Harry cupped his hands and blew into them.

“It’s cold tonight,” Rachel said unsure of wether to make conversation or not.

“It is. It’s supposed to be in the 40’s tonight. I am still getting used to the weather here. I’m from Alabama. We don’t do cold like this where I’m from. I moved up here for work.”

“Well, Indy is nice. It’s normally warmer than this. Cold weather and a quarantine, welcome to town, ouch,” Lisa joked.

Harry laughed and Lisa felt it in her knees. She didn’t know how it was possible for him to be even more handsome, but his smile softened his masculine face. That smile with his perfect teeth almost took her breath away.”

“I am going to guess you’re a chef? The smells coming out of your condo always smell amazing.”

Lisa laughed. “No way. I decided to learn how to cook during the quarantine. Prior to this, I could make scrambled eggs, and a few other things, but I wasn’t very good at it.” She laughed.

“Well it always smells really nice.”

“Oh my gosh, where are my manners? Would you like some? It’s white bean soup, it turned out pretty good.”

“No, I’m good,” he said as he put his hands out to signal no.

“Are you sure, I have more than I can eat. I read that you’re not supposed to reduce a recipe the first time you make it. So I’ll have bean soup for days.”

Harry laughed, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all, I’m happy to share. I’m not ill, and I haven’t had contact with anyone else since quarantine started. You could always microwave it just to be safe though.”

“I trust you.”

“Let me run in and get a bowl,” Lisa stood and walked in to get one before Harry could stop her. She returned a minute later with a bowl, spoon and cloth napkin for him in her hand. As she stepped out onto the porch, she saw that Harry had brought out a chair and a t.v. table along with a indoor floor lamp. He came back out with a glass of white wine in his hand.

“Can I offer you a glass of wine to go with your soup,” he offered?

Normally, she would have never accepted a glass of wine from a man she didn’t know. It did sound nice with the wine, so she poured her water into the planter and set it back down onto the table as she dished him a bowl of soup. She set a piece of bread on the wide rim of the bowl and carried it along with the napkin, spoon and her empty glass over. She held out the bowl and he took it setting it down on the small tray. He held up his finger and went inside to fetch the bottle of wine. He held it out for her to see and she nodded and he poured her a glass of wine.

“Thank you. I was just thinking this dinner needed wine.” she said as she sipped it on her way back to her seat.

As she sat, Harry raised his glass and she raised hers. That night they talked over dinner and it dawned on Lisa that this felt more like a first date. She learned that he had moved to Indy for work, as a financial manager for a manufacturing company. She also learned that he was single, had never been married, and had moved up three days before the quarantine had started. She shared that she had moved to Indy for work as well, she was originally from Chicago. She had lived in Indy for three years and had grown to really like the city. She was single as well. They moved on to talking about their hobbies and found they had a lot in common. They both liked to be active, play tennis, and golf as well as read.

The timer for the cherry pie she had put in the oven went off, interrupting their conversation. As she went inside she couldn’t believe how much she found herself really liking Harry. She brought the small pie out onto the table on the balcony to cool.

“Is that a cherry pie,” he asked?

“It is, I sure hope you’ll have some. I can’t promise it will be as good as the soup. I’ve never made it before.”

“Dinner and dessert, this is a treat! Would you like another glass of wine? I’m going to get one for myself.”

“Okay, as long as you don’t mind sharing.”

Harry refilled her glass and they both had a slice of the warm cherry pie. It was delicious, the perfect balance of sweet and tart. They sat and talked long after dessert. It was now properly cold but neither of them wanted to say goodnight. Lisa tried to hide that she was shivering, even with Rufus at her feet and the blanket pulled around her. They talked well into the night, laughing and getting to know each other. As Rufus began to whine, Lisa took the hint that he needed to be walked again. She stood and began to clean up dinner, sad that their night was coming to an end.

“If it’s okay, I’ll wash your bowl and spoon just to be on the safe side. I haven’t had contact with anyone but I’d hate to get you sick,” he said.

“Okay. You know where I live to return it. I’m not worried about it,” Lisa joked.

“Thank you again for a lovely dinner. It was a nice treat. I really enjoyed getting to know you. Thank you for sharing your dinner with me.”

“Well thank you for joining me. I enjoyed having someone to dine with and I’m glad I finally got to meet you.”

“It was nice to have a conversation. I’ll be honest I only know how to cook like three things, so I’ve pretty much been eating, PB&J sandwiches, scrambled eggs and cereal since this started.”

“I always cook too much, so you’re welcome to join me anytime.”

“Thanks, that’s a kind offer. I had a really nice time tonight. Good night Lisa.”

“Night, Harry.”

That night as Lisa lay in bed she thought of Harry next door. She hadn’t dated since her last boyfriend and that had been almost eight months ago. She thought about how well she and Harry had hit it off. She fell asleep wondering if he’d join her the next night.

As she walked past her patio doors the next morning with a cup of coffee in her hands she noticed the bowl Harry had washed sitting on her table with a small bouquet of tulips sitting next to the bowl and a handwritten note. Lisa walked out onto the porch and set her mug down as she picked up the note.

It read:

Dear Lisa,

Thank you again for a delicious dinner. It was to meet you last night. I’d love to have dinner again sometime. The flowers are to say thank you. I picked them from the park across the street. (Shhhh don’t tell anyone). I would have bought some properly but the shops aren’t open.

–Harry

Lisa picked up the tulips, her bowl , the note, and her coffee and brought them back inside. She put the tulips in water and thought about what to cook for dinner that night. She finally decided on chicken skewers with a satay sauce and jasmine rice. The recipe seemed simple enough. All-day she wondered if Harry would join her and found it difficult to focus on her work.

Around three in the afternoon, she slipped a note onto Harry’s balcony. She put it on the tv tray he had left from the night before and put a small flower pot from her balcony on top of it so it wouldn’t blow away.

It said:

Dear Harry,

Thank you for the beautiful tulips. I should let you know I work for the Indy parks department, just kidding. I won’t tell anyone you picked the tulips from a public park. I am making chicken satay skewers with jasmine rice, and a veggies tonight. I’ll have plenty if you’d like some.

-Lisa

That night as Lisa set the table on the porch she noticed that note was gone. She turned on her Christmas lights as she heard Harry’s door open. Rufus picked up his head and growled half-heartedly.

“Well fancy meeting you here, at my new favorite Indian food restaurant,” Harry joked.

Lisa laughed,” I see you got my note then. Would you like to join me, I have plenty of food.”

“I’d love to, but at least let me pay you for it. Dinner two nights in a row.”

“Nope. It’s my treat.”

“I must contribute somehow, I don’t want to take advantage. I know, how about I provide the alcohol. Wine? Beer?”

“Alright, your pick.”

Harry returned with two bottles of beer and set one on the porch railing for Lisa. She got up and retrieved it, leaving a helping of dinner on the railing for him in return. She and Harry talked well past dinner and into the early hours of the morning that night.

Each night of quarantine they ate dinner together. They both counted down the hours until dinner, and over time, they found waiting for dinner a stretch too far. They began to have lunch together too. Lisa fell in love with Harry over the meals she had learned to cook as she shared them with him. He had fallen equally for her. On the last night of quarantine, she finished dressing the salad and set it out on the table, where she found Harry already waiting for her. As she began to plate the food for both of them, Harry climbed over the railings of both balconies. It was the first time had left his balcony. Both of them had wanted to, desperately but they had stuck to the social distancing guidelines. Lisa turned to see Harry standing next to her. She sucked in her breath, surprised and excited at the same time. She handed him a plate of roasted chicken, wilted greens and sauteed potatoes. He took the plate from her and set it down on the table, instead much preferring to hold her. He pulled her into his arms.

“I’ve been waiting what feels like a lifetime to do this,” he said.

He leant down and kissed Lisa, and she felt it though her whole body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, takinging all of him in, the feel of his firm body, the smell of his cologne, the taste of his mouth. It felt like heaven.