Sleepless Nights:The Donovans of the Delta 2(48)
She squeezed her arms around him so tightly, she heard his breath whoosh out.
“Does that mean yes, Amanda?”
“No. It means I love you, and although you aren’t gone, I’m missing you already.”
“I haven’t gone yet, Amanda. And you’d be surprised at what can happen in eight days.” Cradling her tenderly against his chest, he began to hum. The song was I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.
“That’s one of my favorites, Tanner. Please sing it.”
He smiled. “It worked for Henry Higgins; maybe it’ll work for me.” He released her, then led her to a chair. Kneeling, he took her hand and sang the love song.
His rich voice filled the quiet room with beautiful melody. Amanda sat very still, letting the music flow around her, in her, through her. She thought how closely music and love were intertwined, especially for the two of them. She imagined that she heard the faint echo of music from years gone by, lovely harmony that had linked her life to Tanner’s.
With the last note resounding against the paneled walls, Tanner touched her face. Her cheeks were wet.
“Tears, Amanda?”
“For us. I’m crying for what might have been.”
“Don’t cry for us. There should be nothing except celebration for us. We’ve been given another chance. How often does that happen?” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her eyes. Smiling, he then held it to her nose. “Here. Blow.”
She sniffed. “I’m no statistician. How often does that happen?”
“Only once every fifteen hundred love affairs.”
“That’s impressive, Tanner. How did you know that?”
“I made it up.”
She chuckled. “You’re terrible.”
“I made you laugh, didn’t I?”
“Yes. You always do.”
“Good. Keep that pretty smile on your face. Let’s go outside and play in the snow.”
She shook her head. “Snow in the Delta. What will you think of next?”
“I’m thinking of this new position. It’s called the pretzel. I saw it in a foreign film once, over in Tokyo.”
“You’re making that up.”
“Wanna bet?”
She put her hands on her hips and grinned at him. “No. I’m from Missouri. Show me.”
“Before or after the snow?”
She pretended to be in great thought, all the while watching the play of laughter on his face. That was how she would remember him, she decided. Laughing.
“After lengthy consideration I’ve decided to forgo the pleasures of the pretzel until after I’ve given you a thorough drenching in the snow. One you richly deserve, I might add.”
They put on their coats and went outside to join the rest of the Donovans in the imported snow.
The snow looked as out of place as overalls at a black-tie dinner. It was heaped four inches deep on the patio. All around, the black Delta earth sprouted evergreen shrubs and holly, and even one late-blooming rose.
Paul and Martie and the twins were at the far side of the patio, building a snowman. Hallie was in the midst of a rowdy snowball fight with her teenage nieces and nephews. She let fly a snowball that caught Tanner squarely on the chest as he and Amanda stepped through the door.
“Look who’s come to join the fight. Slowpoke!” Hallie yelled.
“Let’s give them a run for their money, Amanda.” Taking her hand, he ducked behind a redwood picnic table and began preparing his ammunition.
The fight was on—Tanner and Amanda against Hallie and her troops. Snowballs zinged through the air, melting in the warm Delta sun almost as soon as they found their mark.
“We have the advantage, Mandy,” Tanner told her. “Keep low, behind the table. They’ll never roust us out.”
“We’ve got them on the run.” Hallie moved in closer. “Come out from behind that table and fight like a man, Tanner.”
Tanner could never resist a challenge, and Amanda knew it. She cheered as he gave a war whoop and bolted around the table. He caught Hallie in a flying tackle and rolled her in the snow.
“How’s that, smarty pants?”
“Reinforcements,” Hallie yelled. “Where are you when I need you?”
The nieces and nephews were also cheering for Tanner.
“Get her, Uncle Tanner. She ate the last piece of gingerbread,” Theo’s oldest called.
“Yeah, and her dogs chewed up my football,” Theo’s youngest said.
“Traitors.” Halite pounded Tanner’s chest. “Let me up, you big bear, or I’ll have Roseann turn the dogs loose.”
Tanner grinned up at Charles’s sixteen-year-old daughter. “You wouldn’t, would you?”