Джерри Хилл - Gulf Breeze

"Thank you, by the way. We couldn't have done this without you," Carly said and lightly touched Pat's arm as she walked past. "But, I think the hard part's done."

"Carly?"

Carly turned. It was the first time she'd heard Pat call her by name. She liked the sound of it.

"You shouldn't lie to the help, you know."

"What do you mean?"

Pat walked over to her and playfully pinched her cheek. "Martin told me about the bookcase. He said I would hate you after we moved it."

Carly laughed. "But, you said yourself, you're as strong as an ox."

"Yes. But I think you'll probably owe me dinner for this."

Carly watched her walk away, not liking the accelerated beat of her heart. She reached up and touched her cheek where Pat had gently squeezed. Oh, don't go there, she told herself. It would be nothing but trouble.

But even with Pat's help, the bookcase was still a bitch to move. It took all four of them to haul it up the stairs and even then, they stopped twice to rest.

"Tell me again why we didn't hire a moving company?" Elsa asked.

"I only have a few heavy pieces," Carly said. "It's not like I have a house full of furniture."

"Let's see. Bed, sofa, entertainment center, that bitch of a desk," Elsa checked off on her fingers. "Table," she added.

"The table is small."

"This monster."

"This and the desk belonged to my grandfather. He had them in his office."

"They're beautiful," Pat said. "Heavy as hell, but beautiful."

When they finally managed to get it into her office, it was Martin who spoke first.

"Dr. Cambridge…Carly, please be sure of where you want it. I think I speak for all of us when I say, once it's down, it's down."

"You mean, I can't try all four walls to see where I like it best?"

"Here," Elsa pointed. It was the wall closest to where they stood.

"Wimp. I want it over there, closer to the desk."

"Are you sure?" Pat asked.

Carly turned around and surveyed the room. Martin tapped his fingers impatiently on the wood. Elsa rolled her eyes. Pat watched Carly's every move.

"Yes. This wall," she said.

"Okay. On three," Pat said and they all pushed and shoved the giant bookcase against the wall.

"Next time, we're hiring men," Elsa stated as she leaned against Martin. "Big, burly men."

"What are you saying?" Martin asked.

"Oh, chico, nothing against you," Elsa said. "You're very strong. But, I mean, like…burly, you know?"

"Elsa, you better stop while you're ahead," Pat suggested.

"How about pizza and beer? My treat, of course," Carly said.

"Of course it's your treat," Elsa said. "But I don't really feel like going out. Why don't we go back to my apartment, since I still have chairs, and order in?"

"Okay. I'll stop and get some beer on the way," Carly agreed. "Pat? Martin? That okay with you?"

They all agreed and Martin and Elsa left away first, Martin pulling the now empty trailer behind him. Pat waited at the entrance while Carly locked the gate.

"I'm going to stop at the liquor store for beer," Carly said as she walked up to Pat's Jeep. "Is beer okay or would you rather have something else?"

"No, no, that's fine," Pat said. "Do you want me to go with you or just meet you at Elsa's?"

"You go ahead. I won't be long."

Carly followed Pat's Jeep down the winding road until they reached the highway. Then, she let Pat pull away from her as she took her time. She was really tired and she suspected they all must be. It had been a full day, but fun nonetheless. She enjoyed Pat being there today. Of course, without her help, they never would have managed. And, she had to admit, she liked the woman. She would never admit this to anyone else, but in oh so many years, she felt a tingle of attraction to another woman. She would allow it to go no farther, she knew, but still, it was there.

When she arrived at Elsa's apartment, lugging in a case of Corona and a bag of limes, they were all sprawled on the floor, already drinking.

"I ordered two large pizza," Elsa told her.

"Good."

Pat got up to help her with the beer and they crammed twelve into the fridge.

"That'll do for now," Pat said, snagging another one. She pulled out a lime and sliced it into several wedges, passing it around to the others.

"I feel like I've been beaten," Elsa stated. "Just in case you wanted to know," she told Carly.

"And just in case I haven't said thank you enough…"

"Don't worry. I'll bring this up on numerous occasions during the summer. Whenever I need a day off because my back still hurts."

"I'm sure you will."

"How long have you two known each other?" Pat asked.

"College," Elsa said. "We lost touch for awhile, then ended up working together in Austin."

"Yeah, until you escaped and went back to college." She turned to Pat. "We worked for the State. But our ideals were shattered by politics. Elsa was smarter than me and left. I hung on, still hoping I could make a difference."

"I don't doubt that you managed that somehow. I can't see you taking no for an answer," Pat said.

"You've heard of the Edwards Aquifer?"

"Yeah. San Antonio gets its water from there, right?"

"Yes, among others. But it spreads all the way to Austin. It was my project. I did research for years and they were killing it, draining it dry. Too much development, too much runoff. The streams were drying up, thus the springs were, too. But, it was all politics. The developers had money and politicians love money."

"Now you've done it," Elsa warned Pat. "She'll go on for hours now if we don't stop her."

Carly laughed. "I'm over it, Elsa."

"Sure you are. That's why you still send hate mail to a former governor…who is now in the White House."

"I do not send hate mail." Then she grinned. "At least, not any more."

The pizzas arrived and they all dug in, devouring both of them until only one piece remained. Pat and Martin both eyed it, but politely offered it to the other. Elsa finally tore it in half and watched as they fought for the largest piece.

Carly offered them all another beer, but Pat declined.

"I live on the island. I should really get going," she said. She'd had a wonderful time. She didn't really know these people, but they had included her in their conversations and she'd enjoyed herself. She'd made new friends and Carly had warmed up to her, too. In fact, they hadn't had a single argument all day. Not really. The herons, well, Pat had just been teasing Carly.

"I can't thank you enough," Carly said as she walked her to the door.

"No, you can't," Pat teased. Then she lowered her voice. "Don't think this counted for the dinner that you owe me."

"I never thought it did," Carly said easily.

"See you two later," Pat called to Elsa and Martin. Then she paused at the door. "We still need to get together and go over the brochure. I've got some photos I want you to look at."

"Okay. I should have printed it out for you today, but I didn't think of it," Carly said. "If you're out and about tomorrow, come by the ranch. I'll be there. If not, Monday?"

"I'm doing some work out this way in the morning. After I'm done, maybe I'll swing by."

"Good."

Carly watched her, long legs and arms still bare. Pat went to the back of her Jeep, then pulled on a sweatshirt. Yes, she imagined the ride back to the island would be cold in the opened Jeep. Pat looked up and saw her watching, then lifted one hand in a wave as she drove away.

"You going to stand there all night?" Elsa asked.

"No, sorry," Carly said and closed the door.

"I guess I should be going, too," Martin said. "I promised my mother I would take her to church in the morning."

"Is all of your family here?" Elsa asked him.

"Just my mother and one sister. I'm from The Valley, most everyone still lives down there."