Out From the Shadows

Chapter 16

Ashton is right; autumn is alluring. The trees have begun to shed their red, orange, and yellow leaves, the evergreens being the only exception. With a day to ourselves, we dress in informal clothes to go rake leaves into a pile. We politely ask the garden staff to take a day off so the backyard is completely vacant and to our disposal.

I slip an ear wrap on and include an extra pair of socks. We went shopping down town earlier in the month for winter gear. I purchased boots, the ones that I put on now, a light jacket, that I currently wear, and long sleeve shirts and pants. The Lakers acquired clothes before my arrival to the estate, but that didn't include anything wearable for winter. Snow will be arriving in the weeks to come and I like to plan ahead, if I can.

I head into the frigid air, a major difference from three months ago when I almost passed out from heat stroke. The backyard is half garden and half freshly cut grass. Yesterday's rain has made the ground squishy and the leaves flimsy. The flowers have started to shrivel up from the cold, but they will grow back next year just as bright and appealing as before. The leaves that have fallen after the rain crunch under my footsteps, alerting Ashton to my whereabouts. He leans against the house with a rake in each hand.

"Hey Al," he steers his way to me, looking disheveled and cold, even though he sports a wool scarf and hat, sweater, khakis, and work boots. His boots look wet, the light brown fabric darker around the toes and edges. He must have been working out here for a little bit already.

"What's with the nickname? You've been using it for a while."

He beams happily and looks at me lovingly. It is still strange to think, even imagine, that he could possibly be so in love with me.

"I just thought that it was endearing and that you would like it. If you don't, I can stop using it if you..."

"No no no! I've grown attached to it. It's just...I don't have one for you."

"You can call me what ever you want. Ash, dummy, bastard, whatever you desire."

I fake a thinking face, like I have to actually consider the options. Ash sounds about right, something about it fits him and his personality.

"I like the sound of Ash. So how about we get to rakin' leaves?"

I reach for a rake and he gladly gives it up. I follow him to an already started pile under a gigantic oak tree. I begin making tiny piles all around and then rake them into the main one. Ash has the same idea and after thirty minutes, the coldness has seeped through my gloves and I quake all over.

"Why does it have to be so cold?" I yell to Ash who is around the oak on the other side.

"I've started to warm up with all this exorcise. Of course, if you need some warming up we can always head inside, get some hot chocolate, then come back out." His head pops out from around the tree to check on me. My shivering has begun to take a tremendous amount of effort to hide and I really would rather not go inside for I don't think I will come back out.

"That sounds good, but do you think we could continue tomorrow? I'm guessing it will be warmer tomorrow and also less wet." I lift my foot up to show how soaked my boots are. He walks over with more leaves to add to the growing heap. The mass is big enough for both of us to jump in, which is the plan that will have to wait. I lean my rake up against the oak and Ash sets his next to mine. He pulls me close to his side, sharing the warmth that emanates from him. The chill runs away and the house is even cozier.

Once inside, we shed our winter apparel and leave it on the ground by the back door. I ask if we can make the hot chocolate ourselves, and he seems excited that I inquired. The kitchen is located in the basement, right under the sewing room. We take stairs found in a room, to the right of the room with the couches and chairs, to a hallway that empties into the kitchen. It takes up almost the whole entire basement, the pantry another room connected to the kitchen. Cooks bustle around, preparing dinner for tonight. I smell a mix of spices, ham roasting in an oven, cooking vegetables, and other aromas that I can't exactly make out. My stomach grumbles in delight of the food all around me.