Page 14 of That Summer
I just didn’t know what.
7
The next morning,I woke to the smell of coffee.
In the weeks I’d been here, I’d never woke to the smell of coffee because I was awake and working before either Deb or Sarah got up. Hell, I was ready to go before the sun rose. I rarely saw Sarah because when I got off work, she left to spend time with her friends before she had to head back to NYC.
As I walked toward the kitchen, I wasn’t sure who I’d see, though the woman sitting at the kitchen island sipping her coffee was the person I’d wanted.
“You’re up early,” I yawned as I walked into the kitchen.
Deb turned slightly. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“About?”
“Just …”
“Still thinking about going on that date?” I reached for a mug and started to pour myself some caffeine. Usually, I didn’t need it. I’d drink water and be good to go, but the smell made me want some. Plus, I wanted to talk to her.
“Actually, yes.”
“If you’re that worked up about it, don’t go.”
Deb sighed and started to fiddle with the wedding ring she still wore. “It’s not that. I think I want to go, but I feel like I’m betraying Jeff.”
I took a sip of the java and then leaned on the bar in front of her. “Jeff would want you happy. This isn’t you being happy, Debs.”
“I haven’t been happy in a long time.”
I set my mug down and walked around the island to wrap my arm around her shoulders. She rested her head against my side. “Tonight we’re doing a practice run.”
“What?” she screeched and raised her head. My arm stayed wrapped around her.
“We can go to dinner in town or something. I’ll buy. I’ll open doors for you. You know, date shit.”
Deb slid off her stool, breaking our contact, and brought her mug to the sink. “While I appreciate what you’re trying to do, there’s a big gap in our age, and I know everyone in this town.”
“If anyone asks, we had dinner. Big deal? I’m living in your house, and maybe we want to go out for dinner tonight instead of cooking in this heat.”
“I don’t know, Blake,” she sighed.
“Think about it. We need to eat one way or the other.”
* * *
We were makingreal strides harvesting the trees. Duke and the guys had mentioned numerous times that having an extra pair of hands was a Godsend and we’d have all the apples picked the last week of July before their August deadline. I honestly couldn’t wait for it to be over. I wasn’t cut out to be a farmer.
My time on the farm was coming to an end in a week after the apple festival. My parents were coming to partake in the festivities and then driving me home. I wasn’t going to miss getting up before the sun and working myself to the bone. Granted, I knew there were worse jobs, but that didn’t mean I loved the repetitiveness of the apple game. But I had to admit, I was going to miss living here.
I was also going to miss Deb.
I didn’t feel as though anyone was breathing down my neck and forcing me to make life decisions. Deb let me be. She knew I had a job to do, and so did she. Each night, we had dinner together and then watched TV before calling it a night. Sometimes we’d relax in the hot tub together, and I honestly loved every minute of my time with her.
“I need your help,” Deb greeted me in the doorway as I walked into the house.
“Okay?” I smiled and started to kick off my boots.
“You need to take me on that date.”
