Beth Solheim - At Witt's End

After gassing the boat, the dock attendant wiped the surface clean. Bending low to inspect the area near the gas cap, he dabbed at a smear hoping to prevent an episode like last time when he had missed a spot. Tips of the twenty-dollar magnitude were a rare commodity.

The thirty-foot Sea Ray sport cruiser, named Brink's Lady, featured a Bimini top, full galley, sleeping berth, and a swim platform. The boat was Paul's most recent purchase. Two weeks earlier he had surprised Nan with the celebratory voyage around the lake where they toasted his new acquisition with a vintage bottle of Malbec from his personal wine cellar.

The capacity crowd at Yerry's on the Bay taxed the dock boys to the limit. Locals and vacationers boated to the restaurant, the finest in the upper Midwest, and moored in a sheltered cove just below the facility. The restaurant sat on the eastern shore of Pinecone Lake. A recent article in a national travel magazine featured Yerry's as offering the most romantic sunsets in northern Minnesota. Dining reservations were difficult to obtain.

A hostess welcomed Paul and Nan to Yerry's and ushered them past a large group of people waiting in line. The maitre d’ asked if Paul was satisfied with the location. At Paul's nod, he pulled Nan 's chair out and waited until she was seated.

"How were you able to pull this off on such short notice?” Nan gazed at the spectacular view. “Window tables are impossible to reserve."

"The owner is a personal friend of mine. I manage his investments. My recommendations more than doubled his net worth,” Paul said, “so he was happy to accommodate us."

The maitre d’ waited as Paul swirled the wine in his glass and brought it up to his nose. After inhaling the bouquet, Paul tipped the glass to his lips and drew in a sip. “That will do,” he said. The couple watched the waiter fill each glass half full.

"I'm sorry it got to be so late. I was called out on a retrieval about the time you said you'd pick me up. Thanks for understanding.” Paul had been unusually attentive and she liked this new approach. Being the consummate businessman, his tunneled focus reflected his demand for perfection as well as his refusal to be distracted. Tonight was different. Paul made her his priority.

A blush from the setting sun settled over Nan 's face. Paul smiled at her. “Getting here later than I planned turned out to be even better. Look at that sunset."

Nan rested her chin on her fist. “It's almost surreal, isn't it? With those hues reflecting off the water, I feel like I'm surrounded by flowers.” Even though the dinner hour was drawing to a close, the restaurant was full of patrons seeking the perfect sunset.

Nan wiggled her fingers in greeting to a recent client approaching their table. “How are you doing, Mrs. Boutain?” The woman clasped Nan 's hand to express her gratitude for everything the funeral director had done in her time of need.

Paul patted the woman's hand as she clung to Nan. “I'm so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Boutain. If there's anything I can do, please let me know."

"Such a nice young couple,” Mrs. Boutain whispered to her dinner partner as they were escorted to their table.

Strains of jazz filtered into the dining room from the lounge.

Nan sipped her wine. She grinned coyly. “Stop staring at me like that. You're making my mind wander."

"Good.” Paul laughed. “But that'll have to wait till later. I need to talk to you.” He raised his glass and waited until Nan 's glass touched his. “Here's to an important evening. Here's to our future."

The maitre d’ led the waiter to their table and stood back as the server set their plates in front of them. After a gesture signaling Paul's satisfaction, the two men gathered the tray and exited the room.

"I love your hair pulled back like that. You look angelic.” Paul rubbed his fingers over the top of her hand.

"It's the glow from the candles. Or maybe the wine's clouding your vision."

"You're beautiful whatever the reason,” Paul said. “But I suspect it's because I'm in love with you."

Surprised by Paul's declaration, Nan set her glass on the white linen and placed her fingers in the arc of Paul's hand. “That's the first time you've actually told me you loved me. I've often wondered if that's how you felt, but was afraid to get my hopes up. Before when we talked marriage, you seemed so nonchalant.” She cocked her head. “You're a hard man to read."

"It's hard for me to say, but that's how I feel. I'm in love with you Nan. I want to marry you."

The tender moment was interrupted by the waiter lifting their salad plates and replacing them with their entrees. “Enjoy your meal while it's hot,” Paul said. “We'll discuss this after dinner."

The sound of Paul's voice warmed Nan as she listened to him chat about the day's events. He spoke with such fervor she stopped eating. Paul had ordered Chateau Briand with Bearnaise Sauce. Known state-wide for their presentation of beef tenderloin smoked over apple wood prior to being roasted, Yerry's on the Bay had won several national awards for their gourmet rendition.

The sun tickled the horizon adding to the room's glow. Candlelight shimmered in Paul's eyes and his Romanesque features disarmed her. When Paul entered a room, women lingered a bit too long attempting to portray an image he'd find appealing.

When Nan first met Paul, she denied the attraction. He could never be interested in her. Glamour had not been her forte because her profession didn't allow time for primping and even if it did, she wondered if she could live up to his expectations.

Paul oozed charisma. Nan had become self-conscious about her appearance when she noticed the caliber of woman Paul escorted around town. She had always been disillusioned with her curly blond hair. Even though it was natural, she wished for dark hair and piercing eyes like the other women Paul dated. Instead, she did nothing to change the pale features that were part of her heritage.

Nan was shocked when Paul had phoned her a year ago asking for a date. Her nerves had gotten the better of her during their first encounter and she wrote the date off as an utter failure.

Drastic changes had taken place in her life over the past several years. Her parents had died tragically in a boating accident and then she had taken on a financial burden by signing the mortuary land-lease with the Witt sisters. That lease could be her ruin. If the sisters lost the resort, she'd lose everything. Adding to her tangled situation, she now found herself contemplating marriage to a man she barely knew. Even though she spent ample time with Paul, she felt he held her at arm's length.

The maitre d’ waited for a signal from Paul before instructing the waiter to remove their plates. “Are you ready for dessert, sir?"

"I couldn't possibly eat another bite,” Nan said. “I'm absolutely stuffed."

"Let's see what they've got. You don't have to eat if you don't want to."

The maitre d’ smiled. “Yes, sir,” he said as Paul pointed at the menu.

A business associate of Paul's stopped by the table and offered condolences on the recent loss of his business partner. “I suppose it's going to be a mess sorting through the legalities.” Shaking his head the man added, “I still can't believe an entire family died in that accident."

"I can't either,” Paul said. “Thanks for your concern."

Nan placed her hand on Paul's wrist as the man walked away. “Don't forget. If there's anything I can do to help sort things out, let me know."

"Thanks,” Paul said. “I've got it under control."

The maitre d’ placed Nan 's dessert in front of her before setting Paul's glass on the table. The long stemmed glasses were rimmed with sugar and filled with strawberries. The maitre d’ tipped Paul's glass to let champagne trickle down the inside of the stemware. He did the same with Nan 's glass. He placed two long-handled forks next to the glasses before smiling at Nan. “I hope you enjoy your strawberries."