I’ll explain.
Stuffing the phone in her jacket, Nia kicked the ground, and the swing she sat on moved gentlyback in forth. The set was faux wood with tires to play on, bars to do chin-ups, a slide that emptied into a sandbox. The same colleagues who’d done the addition had put up this set for the kids, who were a little over two then. Nia had been so sad, she couldn’t even take pleasure in all their unselfish efforts to make the Ludzecky family more comfortable during the worst period in their lives
.
She sighed. She was sick of the grief. The mourning. Yet it fit her like old shoes, and she was afraid to get a new pair, afraid they’d pinch and be too tight, that she’d be hurting even more in them. “You are such a coward.” Rising, she crossed to the garden. Where once there were blossoms of yellows and pinks, now everything was gray. The symbolism wasn’t lost on her. The dead plants neededto be dug up and the dirt turned over. Since she was home today, the boys were banished to separate rooms, and
Matka
was inside in case they needed something, Nia sank down on her knees to do the grimy task. But she didn’t mind. She needed the physical exercise and she’d dressed in old jeans and a sweatshirt. It was late in the year to be doing this, but they’d put it off in warm weather. Luckily,the beginning of November had turned mild.
“Want some help?” she heard after a while.
It couldn’t be. She turned around and found Rafe in the yard. He appeared freshly showered, wearing pressed jeans and a beige cable-knit sweater. His hair was windblown. Nia felt a slice of desire go through her. Clean, quick and potent.
Sitting back on her haunches, she peered up at him. “You’retoo dressed up to be pulling weeds and dead plants.”
“I have old clothes in the car.”
She was about to say no, when she remembered her earlier thoughts about moving on. And his words.
I like you a lot, Nia.
“Sure if you want to. You can change in the bathroom just off the back entrance.”
Without saying more, he turned and left the yard. Five minutes later, he came back in paint-stainedfaded sweatpants and an equally tattered sweatshirt. He dropped down beside her. His male presence, the sheer power of his body warmed her. His blue eyes were made liquid by the sun. “Let’s work while you fill me in on what happened.”
“Before we do, tell me you didn’t drive all the way out here to see me.”
“Would that have been bad, Nia?”
“No, of course not.” She bit the inside ofher cheek in order to avoid saying that she was worried about taking up his time. “Where were you?”
“At the music hall site. Adam asked me to consult on the sculpture garden. He drew up plans and wanted to show them to me.”
“Did you like them?”
“Yeah, but I had a few suggestions. At one time, I dabbled in sculpture.”
“I didn’t know that. At least you were in the neighborhood, soto speak.”
He attacked the plants as she explained about the boys fighting, how she and Paulina had decided to ground them for a week. She was truthful about the cause of their argument. “Don’t feel bad about this, Rafe. It’s not your fault.”
“I don’t.” He shot her a knowing glance. “Boys fight, Nia. And I
am
giving one more attention.”
“Adam gives the twins plenty of attention.”
“Yeah, but I’m more of a catch.”
She giggled. “And modest, too.”
“Seriously, do you want me to talk to Sal?”
“I don’t think so. But thanks.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll do it.”
“I appreciate the thought.”
He glanced at the house. “He won’t see me out here, will he? I don’t want him to feel worse.”
She was struck by the thoughtfulness. She didn’t want her son hurtmore than necessary, either, and that this man felt the same meant something to her. “No, his room is on the other side of the house. And they can’t come out for two days.”
“Wow, high-treason punishment.”
She pulled out a
Stuffing the phone in her jacket, Nia kicked the ground, and the swing she sat on moved gentlyback in forth. The set was faux wood with tires to play on, bars to do chin-ups, a slide that emptied into a sandbox. The same colleagues who’d done the addition had put up this set for the kids, who were a little over two then. Nia had been so sad, she couldn’t even take pleasure in all their unselfish efforts to make the Ludzecky family more comfortable during the worst period in their lives
.
She sighed. She was sick of the grief. The mourning. Yet it fit her like old shoes, and she was afraid to get a new pair, afraid they’d pinch and be too tight, that she’d be hurting even more in them. “You are such a coward.” Rising, she crossed to the garden. Where once there were blossoms of yellows and pinks, now everything was gray. The symbolism wasn’t lost on her. The dead plants neededto be dug up and the dirt turned over. Since she was home today, the boys were banished to separate rooms, and
Matka
was inside in case they needed something, Nia sank down on her knees to do the grimy task. But she didn’t mind. She needed the physical exercise and she’d dressed in old jeans and a sweatshirt. It was late in the year to be doing this, but they’d put it off in warm weather. Luckily,the beginning of November had turned mild.
“Want some help?” she heard after a while.
It couldn’t be. She turned around and found Rafe in the yard. He appeared freshly showered, wearing pressed jeans and a beige cable-knit sweater. His hair was windblown. Nia felt a slice of desire go through her. Clean, quick and potent.
Sitting back on her haunches, she peered up at him. “You’retoo dressed up to be pulling weeds and dead plants.”
“I have old clothes in the car.”
She was about to say no, when she remembered her earlier thoughts about moving on. And his words.
I like you a lot, Nia.
“Sure if you want to. You can change in the bathroom just off the back entrance.”
Without saying more, he turned and left the yard. Five minutes later, he came back in paint-stainedfaded sweatpants and an equally tattered sweatshirt. He dropped down beside her. His male presence, the sheer power of his body warmed her. His blue eyes were made liquid by the sun. “Let’s work while you fill me in on what happened.”
“Before we do, tell me you didn’t drive all the way out here to see me.”
“Would that have been bad, Nia?”
“No, of course not.” She bit the inside ofher cheek in order to avoid saying that she was worried about taking up his time. “Where were you?”
“At the music hall site. Adam asked me to consult on the sculpture garden. He drew up plans and wanted to show them to me.”
“Did you like them?”
“Yeah, but I had a few suggestions. At one time, I dabbled in sculpture.”
“I didn’t know that. At least you were in the neighborhood, soto speak.”
He attacked the plants as she explained about the boys fighting, how she and Paulina had decided to ground them for a week. She was truthful about the cause of their argument. “Don’t feel bad about this, Rafe. It’s not your fault.”
“I don’t.” He shot her a knowing glance. “Boys fight, Nia. And I
am
giving one more attention.”
“Adam gives the twins plenty of attention.”
“Yeah, but I’m more of a catch.”
She giggled. “And modest, too.”
“Seriously, do you want me to talk to Sal?”
“I don’t think so. But thanks.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll do it.”
“I appreciate the thought.”
He glanced at the house. “He won’t see me out here, will he? I don’t want him to feel worse.”
She was struck by the thoughtfulness. She didn’t want her son hurtmore than necessary, either, and that this man felt the same meant something to her. “No, his room is on the other side of the house. And they can’t come out for two days.”
“Wow, high-treason punishment.”
She pulled out a
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