“I guess you should,” he replied. He fought not to show how hurt he felt, puzzled at her rejection. It wasn’t like her to refuse to meet his eyes, to not even discuss things with him, to refuse to tell him why she had said no. He glanced at his watch. “You better go—so you aren’t late picking up Cecelia. Isn’t she at Sam’s house—or with Janet?”
“Sam’s house,” she said, her voice quiet. He detected a hint of reluctance, or was it regret when she said it?
He took out his frustrations on the pots and pans as he cleaned up the kitchen after she left, and in the yard when he raked—too vigorously—the leaves into a garden plot he had spaded up. Was this Felicity all over again? But he rejected the thought. Amanda wasn’t Felicity. She couldn’t be.
Maybe she just needed more time. He would give her more time—even if it drove him crazy.
Two weeks later, Amanda saw Cecelia off with her best friend, Samantha. A President’s Day weekend in Seattle with the rest of the Girl Scouts was an adventure her daughter had been looking forward to for weeks. When she boarded the train with her friends, Cecelia waved once. Amanda waved back and headed home, pleased that her daughter was happy.
When Cecelia had first mentioned the Girl Scout trip to Seattle, Amanda texted Marcus. Would he like to come over after Cecelia left for the weekend?
“For an adventure of our own?” he replied back.
“Maybe. And dinner, if you’d like.” She wanted to cook for him, to eat dinner with him, to enjoy some relaxed evening time with him, to consider what life might be like with him on a daily basis—to try out life with him, recalling what he had suggested weeks earlier. She knew he didn’t understand why she had reacted so strongly, rejecting his offer. He hadn’t said, but she could tell he was upset, maybe even angry with her. She’d apologized already, more than once, but her heart sped up when she considered it again. She sighed and decided that over dinner, they would discuss it. Maybe. Not marriage, it can’t be that, she kept repeating to herself. Maybe just a regular relationship, sort of like marriage, but not that, at least not now, not yet. If he suspected what she had in mind, he gave no indication. And he hadn’t raised the issue again.
She was busy working on a paper at her desk in the little space near the stairs when she heard stealthy footsteps and hands covered her eyes.
She turned in her chair, her heart clanging in her chest. Before she could say anything, he pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. “You didn’t answer the door, so I let myself in through the kitchen. I’ve been aching to kiss you and hold you—all day. How long has it been since I saw you last?”
“Twelve hours, or don’t you remember?” She chuckled. “We went to the library, to pull material for the summer workshop.”
“That long? It seemed at least twice, maybe three times that long.” He nibbled her lower lip in preparation for another kiss.
She chuckled before kissing him back. “You’re exaggerating.”
He kissed the hollow of her neck where her pulse beat. “Did Cecelia get off all right?” He felt her hands sliding down his back, past his belt.
“Yes, and she didn’t even look like she cared that she was leaving. Who was it who said we give our children only two things: roots and wings? I think she’s trying her wings.”
“That’s because you’ve given her roots, and she’s happy.” He hugged her again. “I want to make you happy, and me, too. Will you let me do that?” He moved her sweater off her neck and kissed her cleavage.
She let him tease her with his tongue and then turned and led him upstairs, closing the blinds against the light of the late afternoon sun. “I—I’m suddenly in need of a break. Will you give me a back rub?” she asked.
“Your wish is my command. Where do you want this back rub?”
“Follow me.” She took his hand. “How much time have you got?”
“For the back rub?”
“I changed my mind. I think I need a full body massage.” Without missing a beat, she asked, “And, may I take off your clothes?” when they reached her bedroom.
After the briefest of pauses, he replied, “Only if I can help you out of yours.”
“Deal.”
He slipped down her skirt and watched as she shimmied out of her panties and reached for the front of his jeans. They were barely on her bed before he entered her and she arched her back in ecstasy. Hours later, they continued to hold one another before their excitement in exploring one another’s bodies overtook them again.