Page 43 of Something About Silver

When the driver opened Lydia’s door, and she stepped out, Venom gave a howl but stayed put. He looked up to Harper, asking permission to go to her, but Harper restrained him.

“She doesn’t know you yet, Venom. Give her time.”

But she messed up his command of the dog. She bent over and called him. This time, Venom didn’t even check with Harper but bolted straight for her. He completely pushed aside the driver, who had his hands full of luggage and bags and nearly toppled.

The dog waited with anticipation, sitting erect right in front of her. As she petted the top of his shiny black head, he gave a moan, a long, tearful moan.

“What a good boy, Venom. Mama missed you.”

It was what she used to tell him. Was it something she’d learned or something she recalled? Either way, it gave Harper a thrill that warmed his whole body.

She was fussing over the dog, letting him lick her face, playing with his ears and stroking the sides of his face. Harper gave instructions to the driver to leave the luggage inside the door and made his way over to Lydia.

“Welcome. I’ve waited so long for this day.”

“As have I,” she said, leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek. It had embarrassed her.

“Does any of this look familiar?”

“I recognize Venom. Do you by chance raise flowers?” she asked.

“Of course. I’ll show you.” He took her hand without asking permission and passed the driver on his way back to the car.

“Thanks,” she said, waving.

“No problem, Ma’am. You have my card in case you’ll be needing anything additional. Thank you, Mr. Cunningham.”

He led her through the doorway and let go of her hand so she could wander. She noticed the flowers on the table right away and smiled up at him. “You grew these?”

“I did. You taught me. They’re from seeds you saved when you lived here.”

He was thinking how the room began to glow, just like it had done when she lived there. He noticed right away how the whole world seemed brighter, happier, now that they were in the presence of some kind of magic. Their chemistry was still there, bare and unprotected, intimate, yet they’d barely touched. He was hoping she was feeling the same. But he’d told himself he’d give her all the time in the world. And he wanted her to come to him, not the other way around. It had to be that way.

“I do feel like I know this place,” she said, turning around, walking over to the piano, some of the antiques that they bought together and others he got from his mother.

“You’ll want to check out the garden,” he said, pointing to the glass doors leading out to the deck and garden area. He noticed how the Gloriosa Daisies outside reflected into the room and turned everything golden.

She slid open the door and stood halfway in and halfway out, facing his flower garden.

“Harper!” And then she was quiet.

“Yes?” he whispered into her ear. “What is it?”

“I—I…” She turned to face him. He was still bent over, so very close. Her eyes searched his. Did she see the tears he had for her? Did she see it? He wanted her to. Focusing on his lips, she said, “I remember this.”

He didn’t think his heart could take any more. But he was wrong.

She slid her hands up under his ears and pulled his mouth close and then onto hers, while she plied her softness against his need, taking his breath away. Carefully, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, brought her against him, feeling her heart beat as they kissed, fulfilling the dream he’d had so many times.

He was no longer worried that she saw his tears. She had them too. They faced each other, staring and letting the moment wash over them both, their breathing ragged.

Venom stirred up attention as he took off chasing a squirrel. They both laughed.

“Come. I’ll show you,” he said, taking her hand again, but kissing the top of it first before leading her past the flower boxes, past the rows of cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, and his tomato trees. “They’re not as nice as the ones you grew.”

“They look wonderful. Everything looks wonderful. Did we—?”

He smiled.

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