Nan Rossiter - The Gin and Chowder Club

Asa thought about the can of paint in the truck and started to speak. “I already have… I mean… I already planned on finishing the window today-that is, if you’d like,” he stammered.

“Well, if your heart is set on it,” Nate said. He looked at Noelle questioningly. “So, the bank, eggs, and the hardware store?”

“You don’t have to get eggs. I have a few other things to pick up later.”

“Well, what are they? I can get them.”

Noelle went into the kitchen to get her list. Asa stood, watching and silently calculating the length of time Nate would be gone.

Nate took the list and looked at it. “Well, my dear,” he sighed, “if Asa wants to paint, maybe I should just go to the bank and the hardware store. I don’t want to tie up his whole day.”

Asa’s heart sank as he cut the calculated time in half and wondered why he had insisted on painting.

Nate felt for his wallet, pushed open the screen door, eyed Asa, and said, “That last piece of peach cobbler is mine.”

Asa nodded.

They listened to the tires on the driveway, and Asa turned to Noelle.

“I’ve missed you,” he said quietly, pulling her toward him.

“I’ve missed you too.” She felt his arms around her and began to lose her resolve. He brushed his lips against her cheek, slowly making his way down the curve of her neck before searching out the soft lips he remembered so well. She closed her eyes and let him. “Oh, God, if you only knew how much I want you,” she murmured.

“Well, how quick can you be?” he teased, sliding his hands under her skirt and pressing himself against her.

Noelle felt how aroused he was already and knew she was losing control. I cannot let this happen again! Finally, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him gently away.

“Asa, I can’t do this.” She stepped back, still holding his hands. “I can’t do this to Nate-and I can’t do it to you . I am so very sorry to have initiated it. I don’t know what else to do. You know I love Nate.” She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. “And, Asa, I love you too,” she whispered. She looked into Asa’s sweet summer eyes, which were full of sorrow, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

Asa’s eyes stung, and he squeezed them shut. He pulled his hands out from hers and wiped his eyes with his palms. He turned away to look out at the ocean. He couldn’t look at her, the pain and confusion were unbearable. His joy was plummeting, his hope and desire were crushed by despair and jealousy.

Noelle stood beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. “Asa, I will never forget the amazing night we had-it meant so much to me.” She paused. “Listen, someday you will meet some lucky girl, and she will mean the world to you, and you will forget all about me.” Asa’s shoulders sagged as the tears he could no longer control spilled down his cheeks.

Finally, he turned to Noelle. “I won’t feel this way again,” he said quietly. “And I will never forget about you . Don’t you see? You are the only one I will ever want-the only one I will ever love, like this.”

Noelle could not bear to look into the eyes of this boy whose heart she was breaking. She looked at the tears on his cheeks and gently wiped them away. He closed his eyes and felt the loveliness of her fingers on his face.

“What will become of us?” she murmured. She lightly traced his lips, and Asa opened his mouth to taste her touch.

Outside in the morning sun, the songbirds fluttered back and forth between the bird feeder and the brush that lined their small sanctuary. The finches scolded each other and dropped more seeds than they ate. The juncos were thankful for the finches’ bad manners, and the chickadees called cheerfully to each other. Presiding over the entire troupe, Mr. Cardinal perched high up in the oak tree and sang a song of contentment.

There was a line at the hardware store that busy Saturday morning. It seemed as if everyone was planning to finish up their summerhouse projects that weekend. Nate waited patiently in line, chatting with a neighbor.

“Hey, Nate, what can I get you?” Jack, the owner, asked.

“I need a quart of that antique red we use, and I’d like to square up my bill.”

Jack nodded and went to mix the can of paint. He came back with the can and the list of charges made that summer. “Did you already go through the other can?” he asked.

Nate looked puzzled. “What other can?”

“Sam Coleman’s boy was in here this morning, picked up a can and charged it to your account. Hasn’t he been doing some work for you?”

“That’s funny… I just saw him, and he didn’t mention it.” Nate shrugged. “Guess he forgot. Anyway, he’s done a fine job if you’re ever looking for someone to do some work.”

“I’ll keep him in mind.”

Nate paid his bill and headed out the door.

Asa and Noelle did not hear Nate’s car pull up. They did not hear the door slam shut. The only warning they had was the sudden, startling sound of wings as the mourning doves and songbirds flew to safety.

When Nate came in, Asa was at the sink filling a glass with water and Noelle had rushed up the stairs. Asa’s heart was pounding, and his cheeks were flushed.

Nate glanced at the peach cobbler and nodded. “Guess I better eat that pretty soon,” he commented with a grin. He handed Asa the can of paint and a new brush. “By the way, did you happen to buy paint this morning?”

Asa felt like he had been caught red-handed. “Oh, I did… I completely forgot. I’m sorry… I’ll give you the money for it.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s always good to have some around for touch-ups.”

“All right… I’m sorry about that.” Asa grinned sheepishly, amazed that he was capable of so many lies.

He took the paint and brush upstairs and knocked gently on the bedroom door. He listened, but Noelle didn’t answer, so he slowly pushed the door open. “Noelle, may I come in?”

She was standing by the window, looking out at the ocean. The screen door downstairs banged shut.

She turned to him. “Asa, this is crazy,” she said in a hushed voice. “Do you realize what almost happened? If Nate ever finds out, he will be devastated. You must promise me you will never say anything-to anyone.”

Through the end window, Asa could see Nate out by the pool. He looked steadily at Noelle. “I promise…” Then he half smiled. “It was fun, though.” He pulled his shirt over his head, let it drop to the floor, and knew she was looking at him. He turned to take the screen out of the window. “Do you know where that drop cloth ended up?” When he turned back to her, she was holding it in her hands. He took it from her, threw it over to the window, reached for her hand, and pulled her on top of him onto the bed. She laughed. “ You are crazy, you know-and completely unsatisfiable!”

He rolled her over so that he lay on top, and then he kissed her. “I don’t think that’s a word, miss,” he teased.

“It’s Mrs. to you,” she said, “and it is a word.”

“Ouch, that hurts.” Asa rolled off, holding his chest, feigning pain.

When Asa finished painting, he came down to the kitchen to clean the brush. Nate was sitting on the porch, intermittently dozing and looking at the sports page. “Sox play a doubleheader tonight,” he said.

“I know,” Asa replied. “Wish I had tickets.”

Nate stood up and took out his wallet. He pulled out several bills and handed them to Asa.