Leota's Garden (43 page)

He leaned back. “Wouldn’t, you mean.”

“Couldn’t, wouldn’t, what’s the difference?”

“There’s a big difference, and you know it.”

She looked at him in defeat. “One of my paintings is going to be offered for sale at a well-known gallery. It was like a reaffirmation from God.”

“Susan told me. You’re on your way, and your mother isn’t happy about it.”

“She thinks the professor is coming on to me.”

His brows rose. “Is he?” He gave her a slow, predatory grin. “Would you recognize the warning signs if he were?”

She gave him a dry smile. “Sam, I knew
your
libido was in overdrive when I was twelve.”

He grinned wickedly. “And I knew you had a major crush on me.”

He loved teasing her about it. Her heart had raced every time he was around. Her insides would go all fluttery whenever he looked in her direction, even if his expression was one of utter disdain. Little sister Susan’s pesky friend, Annie. He still made her heart race a little too fast for comfort. “I’ve grown up, Sam.”

He sighed dramatically. “Oh, for the good old days when Annie Gardner carried a torch for me. What goes around comes around, as they say. Now I’ve got a major crush on you, and you forget all about me and leave me cooling my heels on your front stoop.”

“Serves you right. You were less than kind in the
old
days.”

“I was stupid.” He rose, and her heart did a flip. She hoped he wouldn’t make a pass at her. Not now, when she was feeling vulnerable. He must have sensed her need for distance because he paused, studying her face, the devilish smile gone from his. “So where’s this painting that’s going to make you rich and famous?”

“Hardly rich or famous,” she said, standing and heading for the
kitchen. She told him the name of the gallery near Union Square. When he asked about the painting, she described it briefly.

The buzzer sounded. “Saved by the bell, hmmm, Annie?” She could tell he was trying to read what she was thinking. “I’ll take care of it.” He opened the door and went out.

Annie opened a kitchen cabinet and took out plates and glasses. The silverware was in a drawer in the counter. Since she and Susan had no dining table, she set the coffee table and tossed a pillow on either side so they could sit comfortably on the floor. Sam returned and set out the Styrofoam containers while Annie filled two tall glasses with ice water. The small apartment was quickly filled with the mouthwatering smells of good Italian cooking. She breathed in the wonderful fragrance of basil, tomato, and garlic. “I’m glad you didn’t leave, Sam.”

“The way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.” They sat down, and he held his hands out to her. “Shall I do the honors?” She put her hands in his and bowed her head. He said nothing for a long moment, his thumb lightly brushing the back of her hand, sending tingles up her arm. “Lord, for what we’re about to receive, we thank You. And, Father, keep my thoughts pure, would You, please? And put up hedgerows of thorns around me if I even look like I’m going to step out of line. In Jesus’ name, amen.” He raised his head and shrugged. “I thought I should mention the last part to the Lord, just as a safety precaution.”

She waited. He leaned forward slightly, just looking at her. She could feel the heat come up in her cheeks again. She cleared her throat softly. “The thing is to obey, Sam.”

“I’m trying,” he said softly.

“It would help if you let go of my hands. I can’t use my fork otherwise.”

“Spoilsport. What do you say you recline on the couch and I peel grapes for you.”

“Not on your life.” He loosened his hands enough for her to gently pull away.

The food was delicious, the company exactly what she needed. Sam told her about his week. He made her relax and laugh again.

“You’ve got me hooked on garage sales,” he said dolefully. “My apartment was beginning to look like
Sanford and Son
with all the junk I’ve
been picking up for Leota’s garden. Sorry. Junk to me, treasure to you. You’ll be delighted to know you are now the proud owner of an old wheelbarrow, a washtub, a watering can, and another bowling ball for your growing collection. It’s just an ordinary black one this time, but I’m on the lookout for the unusual. All in my car, even as we speak. I spotted a hedgehog yesterday. Couldn’t resist the little guy.”

“A hedgehog?” She laughed as she gathered their dishes and took them into the little kitchen.

“Sure.” He rose to follow her. “You know, one of those metal dudes with a brush on his back. You sit him on your back porch and use him to scrape the mud off your boots. Or that’s what the old gentleman said. His house had a Sold sign on it. Said he was downsizing. Must’ve been a CEO at one time. Knew all the lingo. I almost bought you a skiff, but I couldn’t fit it in my car. It was only ten bucks because there was a hole in the bottom of it big enough for a shark to swim through.” He picked up the dish towel. “You wash; I’ll dry.”

“I’ll do the dishes later.” She took the towel from him and tossed it on the counter. “Put a hold on all future purchases, would you, please? Unless you plan to keep them for yourself. What do I owe you for the loot you have now?”

His mouth curved slowly as he ran a finger lightly over her cheek. She pinched him on the underside of his arm. “Ouch!” He drew back in surprise. “I was only going to suggest a little kiss.”

“Fine.” She stretched up on tiptoes and gave him a sisterly peck on the cheek. She felt Sam’s hands at her waist and put her hands against his chest. She could feel his heart pounding. “Sam,” she said with a catch of her breath. She leaned back slightly, but he didn’t let her escape. His eyes were so dark.

“Don’t be afraid of me, Annie. I’m not playing your feelings. I swear I’m not.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“You’re afraid of something.” He cupped her face tenderly. “Is it this?” He leaned down to kiss her. It was the lightest of kisses, almost chaste except for the look in his eyes when he drew back and the quick response she felt. “Oh, Annie.” He didn’t hold back the second time. She felt his hands in her hair, then gliding down her back, pressing her closer and closer into dangerous territory . . . territory she knew she wasn’t to enter.

“Sam, stop.” She was trembling.

“I love you.”

“If you love me,
stop
.”

“Annie . . .”

She held the distance strongly enough that he let her go. When he reached out to touch her face, she drew back another step and shook her head.

“Tell me you don’t feel something, Annie.”

“You know I do.”

“You can trust me.”

“I trust God, Sam, and this isn’t part of His plan for me.”

“How do you know that for sure? Your heart’s racing as fast as mine. Tell me it isn’t.”

How could she explain to him when she didn’t fully understand herself? “It’d be so easy to give in, Sam. To forget everything for a little while and just let it happen between us.” Like so many girls she’d known from high school. Friends who’d lived fast and loose, thinking they’d never bear the consequences. Girls who lived for the moment and would pay for a lifetime. But it wasn’t just that. There was something more to it, something beyond her comprehension.

“I’m not asking you to go to bed with me, Annie.”

Feeling her face going hot again, she started to turn away.

Sam stopped her, reaching out to tip her chin back so their eyes met. “I wouldn’t let it go that far.”

Better to be frank. “You wouldn’t mean to.”

He searched her eyes. His gaze dropped to her mouth; he shut his eyes, then let out his breath softly. “Okay. You’re right.” He opened his eyes and looked at her for a long moment. “I can’t help wondering . . .” He seemed to shake himself inwardly. Turning away, he went around the kitchen counter and took his jacket from the back of the stool. “I’ll drop the loot off at your grandmother’s Saturday afternoon. Is that all right?”

Her throat tightened. “Sam . . .”

“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry, Annie!” His eyes blazed with the intensity of his feelings. “If you do, I’m going to throw patience to the wind and carry you into that bedroom . . .”

She could see he was hurt and troubled. The old Sam was struggling with the new Sam. Tension filled the air for a few seconds; then
he sighed and gave her a self-deprecating smile. “You were right to put the brakes on. If you’d given me an inch, I would have wanted to go the whole mile.”

He closed the door softly on his way out.

Jesus, keep him strong,
Annie prayed,
and me, too.

Chapter 15

The doorbell rang while Annie was in her grandmother’s kitchen. She had a tray of just-baked Toll House cookies in each hand and couldn’t run to answer it. “I’ll be there in a second, Grandma!” She closed the oven door with her foot and dashed for the counter.

“I’ve got it, honey.”

Annie heard children’s voices at the front door. “Trick or treat!” Leaning back, she looked through the doorway in time to see her grandmother raise both her hands and give a shriek. Annie laughed at the pretense, fully aware her grandmother wasn’t the least surprised by the ghosts and goblins on her front steps. She and Grandma Leota had been preparing for the children all day.

Giggles came from the flock of children clustered on the steps. “So now you’ve done your tricking—” Grandma said, unlatching the screen door and pushing it open—“come on in and have a treat.”

Annie heard the screen door slam and the front door shut firmly.

“Smells like heaven in here.” Arba was standing in the kitchen doorway while the children’s voices jabbered excitedly in the front room. “Caramel apples, popcorn, cookies, hot chocolate. I think you’ve thought of everything, girlfriend.”

“I hope so.” Annie grinned. “You can help serve.” She slid the last of the cookies onto a cooling rack.

“No need.” Arba pressed herself against the doorjamb as Nile squeezed past her, followed by his sisters and “Tom, Dick, and Harry”—or, as their mothers called them, Do Weon, Jorge, and Raoul. The children paused long enough to receive Annie’s nod and then descended on the treats like ants over a mound of brown sugar.

“Nothing like Halloween to bring out the greed in children,” Arba said. “One of Tunisha’s friends called this afternoon. Her parents were taking a vanload of children up to the hills where the rich folk live.” She smiled sardonically. “They figured they’d get better pickings up there. Some of them go to several neighborhoods and use pillowcases. They end up with enough candy to last an entire family for a year.”

“I’m glad your children decided to spend the evening with me and Grandma Leota.”

“Well, I’m sorry to say, not without persuading,” Arba said sotto voce. “I’m warning you, girlfriend, they want ghost stories. You start telling them some nice, little, honky fairy tale and they’re going to turn mean. Real mean.” Her dark eyes twinkled merrily. “And there are more of them than there are of us.”

Annie leaned close. “Don’t worry, Arba. I’ve got a story that beats anything they’ve seen or heard on television or in the movies.” She could hear her grandmother talking with the other ladies in the next room. Grandma Leota always raised her voice when she was speaking with Juanita Alcala and Lin Sansan Ng, as though speaking louder would help the two women understand English better.

Arba ladled hot chocolate into mugs and set them on a tray. Annie sprinkled marshmallows on top and recruited the children to help. “Come on, you guys. Grab some of the napkins, Nile. Raoul, you bring the tray of apples. Tunisha, bring in the cookies, please. Jorge, there’s a Tupperware container full of damp washcloths over there on the table. You can carry that while Kenya takes care of that bowl of popcorn. Story time is about to start! Hustle!”

Grandma Leota settled comfortably into her recliner while Juanita and Lin Sansan sat on the sofa. Arba took the overstuffed chair near the hallway that led to the bathroom and two bedrooms.

“Put all the goodies close enough to reach,” Annie said, smiling as
the children scurried into position. They settled down quickly. “Sit close together because it’s going to be very dark in here in a minute.” She gave little Kenya time enough to scoot back so that she was against her mother’s knees; then she went into the kitchen and turned out the lights. Squeezing around Grandma Leota’s recliner, she stood in front of the fireplace. “Ladies, please turn off the lamps beside you.”

The only illumination came from a small light left on in the bathroom and the glow of the streetlight through the front curtains. “Everyone ready to listen to a true story?”

“A horror story?” Nile’s eyes were wide and eager.

“I’m going to tell you how evil came to be in the world and who brought it.” Annie stood in front of the fireplace. The mantel was lined with carved, unlit pumpkins. No fire had been set in the fireplace. That would come later, as the story was told. As would time for roasting marshmallows.

“In the beginning, before the earth and heavens were made, there was only God. Everything was formless. There was no day or night. There was no sun or moon, no stars in the sky. There were no flowers or trees or birds. There were no fish or animals. There weren’t any people. Everything was darkness. Everything was stillness and silence.”