Page 48 of Persuading Penny
Between the heaves of storm.
He’d looked at me, a crooked smile on his youthful face. “It may not be the most romantic poem, but...Seems like the moment called for it.”
I’d laughed and had been so charmed by him.
Throughout the remainder of our time together in Isreal, he’d throw out a line from Poe, or Tennyson, or Browning, whether the occasion called for it or not. I, too, shared with him my love of poetry and my favorite poets. It’d quickly become our little thing, a passion we shared.
But now, as his voice grew louder, his hands clasped behind his back, he walked through the rows of tables to the back of the room, around to the corner and...
He was coming right to us. I hardly dared look. What would he think of my presence? That I’d deliberately come to see him? Well, no. His name hadn’t appeared on the bill. Even the organizer had said he was a last-minute addition.
I glanced up. Our eyes met. He faltered. My heart stopped. He cleared his throat and resumed. I tightened my hold on my cup. He turned and continued on his way.
Though Cliff’s voice came to my ears, no words registered in my brain. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t make out the words, just the soothing pleasure of his voice.
“Are you alright?”Steve said, breaking into my thoughts.
I smiled at him, realizing that my eyes had watered up. “It’s one of my favorite poems,” I said without even knowing what the poem was about. But knowing Cliff, he wouldn’t be up there reading something that didn’t move people.
As he finished his last poem and looked at the far corner from where he’d come, I once again wondered if he was there with Bridget.
That’s fine, I told myself as that intolerable sense of loss filled me again. He has the right to be with Bridget, just like I have the right to be here with Steve. Yes. I had Steve. I wasn’t here alone. I wasn’t to be pitied. I’d noticed the way women had looked at him as we’d walked in. They’d nearly looked at him as much as they had Cliff.
Yes. I was not to be pitied. I was very much to be envied.
Nathan came back to address the crowd. “And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. An evening dedicated to our precious planet.I do hope you’ve enjoyed this evening, and I hope to see you when we do it again next week. Thank you all for coming.”
Some patrons stood to leave, while others remained to enjoy their tea or coffee.
“Do you want another cup of coffee before leaving?”Steve offered.
“No. I think I’ve had enough.”
I tried to avoid looking in Cliff’s direction but couldn’t help but glimpse him as he picked his jacket up off the back of the chair and come our way.
Would he just pass by? Would he ignore me completely? Would he show his disdain for my presence there?
He came closer as Steve and I rose, ready to leave the coffee house.
“Hello, Penny,” he said, his tone oddly possessive.
Had I not known him better, I would have sworn I’d detected a slight tremor in his voice. But it couldn’t be. Cliff never had a frail or trembling voice.
“I didn’t really expect to see you here tonight,” he added.
Steve looked at Cliff then at me, a question in his eyes as he put his hand around my waist.
“You know my appreciation for poetry,” I said. I felt the heat of Steve’s hand on my hip. Other than a chaste kiss on the cheek and perhaps holding my hand to assist me as we boarded the tour boat or to hop over a puddle, we’d never really touched.
“You’re a very good reader,” Steve told Cliff.
“Thank you.” Cliff’s tone was as cold as I’d ever heard it.
I looked at the two men, clearly sizing each other up. “Steve,” I said, “this is Cliff. He’s working on the same project as I am. We’re in different departments...like totally different departments and we rarely cross paths, but we do work for the same...” I realized I was rambling on, saying nothing that needed to be said. “We work for the same production house.”
“Oh,” Steve said extending his hand to Cliff. “Nice to meet you. It was a pleasure hearing you read those poems.”
“Thank you,” Cliff said again. His gaze dropped to Steve’s hand on my hip.He coughed and added, “Are you from Bath?”
