The Crying Bridge

The Crying Bridge--Chapter 14

 She was home by 3:00 p.m. and had everything unloaded and put away by 3:30. She quickly mixed up cocktail sauce for the shrimp and prepared the vegetables for grilling. She mixed a complex marinade with some exotic Indian spices and set out a box of whole grain couscous to prepare later. It was still raining outside, but since the grill was under the porch roof, she thought they could still cook out there. The small kitchen got unbearably hot if the stove was on.

Around 4:30, she went into her bedroom to change out of the casual cotton shorts and top she was wearing. She was hot. It wasn't miserable as far as the temperature was concerned, but it was very humid. She put on a lighter weight tank top and a sarong-style skirt. She heard Evan's truck coming down the road just as she was retying her hair back.

He knocked lightly on the front door.

"Back here!" she called out. She had realized she hadn't made the bed this morning, and after last night, she wanted to put fresh sheets on.

Evan came into bedroom carrying a small overnight bag. He saw what she was doing and immediately dropped the bag and helped her get the fitted sheet tucked in and the top sheet arranged properly. They each put new pillowcases on the pillows and Del threw the quilt back over it all.

Evan went to her then, kissed her and held her for a moment. "I have something in my bag I'd like to leave here," he said.

"Sure, what is it?" she asked.

Evan opened his bag and took out a small paper sack. He wordlessly went over to the nightstand, opened the drawer and turned the sack on end. Several condoms landed in the drawer.

Del laughed. "With what I already had in there, I'd say we're good for a bit."

Evan laughed, too. "I bought more today. And they aren't going to do their job in my truck."

"I bought more, too," Del told him. "If last night and this morning are any indication of how often they'll be used, I thought it only smart to add to the stock."

"God, that's the truth," Evan said. "So how was shopping?"

"Tiring, but not in a bad way," Del said. "I like food shopping." She told him of the extra items she bought for his use and what she had planned dinner.

"You didn't have to go to all that trouble," Evan said. "But thanks. Does that mean you want me out here more than occasionally?"

"It means I liked sleeping next to you and spending the morning with you and I am hoping that becomes a very regular thing."

"It can be as regular as you want it," he said, taking her in his arms again. "I liked it, too, although I don't think 'like' really fits. I loved being with you. And I love you." He kissed her for much longer this time.

"Me, too," she whispered, laying her head against his chest, breathing him in. "Can you start the grill for me?"

"Yep, I'm on it."

While Evan grilled the veggies, Del arranged two shrimp cocktails on the table and made the couscous. She opened a bottle of white wine, grabbed the glasses and put those on the table, too. When the veggies were done, Evan poured the wine while she assembled the wraps.

They sat down to eat and just like from the beginning, they fell into easy conversation. Evan finally told her about a few of the short stories he had written and agreed to maybe let her read them sometime. He asked more questions about her parents and childhood and she inquired about his. When they had finished eating, they cleared the remnants of their meal and cleaned up.