Chapter 10 - Lockdown
Olsson’s went smoothly. They got on the Trail and drank the coffee. Robby managed to eat his sandwich without too much damage to the front of his shirt. Grace looked over at him. “Two things I’m worrying about . . . and one question.”
“Okay.”
“First, your arrangement with Jim.”
“Oh, that’s easy. I’ve got the cabin next to you through the end of next week, not that Jim expects anyone else to want it until the lockdown’s over, whenever the hell that’s going to be. What’s the second worry?”
“It’s unpleasant.”
He looked over. “What?”
“Kirsten has done a one-eighty on her feelings for you and the band. She might have some new friends up here who’re influencing her. Billy’s trying to find out. She feels that way about all nonwhites. Jim and Nan are sorry they hired her, but they didn’t know.”
“See? I told you. Being Native American makes a difference to some people. But that’s okay .
. . So now we’ve solved all your worries.
You’re a carefree girl, with a budding career, going into the wilderness with a highly sought after male.
What could be better?” He looked over and reached for her hand.
“And you’re a tall, skinny, thirty-six-year-old, unemployed, minority male about to be locked down in the wilderness for who knows how long with a twenty-something, employed, redhead who likes sex. Now who’s luckier?”
“Touché,” he laughed and looked at the road . . . then he got quiet. He pulled off and stopped on the shoulder.
“What’re you doing?”
Robby turned the truck off. “I’ve got to say something.
” He turned to Grace. “This could backfire — this lockdown and us. It wasn’t that long ago we couldn’t get through the simplest conversation without sniping at each other.
We don’t know how long this is going to last — the lockdown or us.
And we’re about to go into it together.” He paused and looked through the windshield.
“I’m not sure this is a good idea, that we’ve thought it through.
” He looked back at her. “Normally, I admit, I’d choose a good time with a sexy girl without a second thought, but this could get complicated fast.” Margie’s words kept coming back to him, ‘You’ll be fine no matter what happens between the two of you.
But this could be a turning point for Grace. Think of her.’
“Okay . . . that’s a good point, though I hate it.” She looked forward. “We shouldn’t have to take all this — us — so seriously, at this point.”
He looked at her profile. “I agree, and I’m not ready to be separated from you for an undetermined period of time. Damn.”
“I still have that question.”
“What is it?”
“How long were you standing there — inside the café door — before you cleared your throat?”
“You mean did I hear you say you’re divorced? I did. Is that something I need to worry about?”
“No.”
“That’s all I need to know then.” He leaned over and kissed her, then restarted the truck and looked back at her.
“A sexy girl needs to get back up the Trail. I’m the man for that job since there will definitely be strings attached, and I’m famous for my expertise with strings.
We have the next three days to sort out the lockdown question. ”
There was a bustle of activity at the lodge — new arrivals, almost a holiday feel — so they literally steered around it.
They did see Billy and waved. He gave them a thumbs up.
Robby drove to the point first and unloaded Grace’s groceries.
She could get her liquor order from Jim later.
As he was putting the last box on the counter, he said, “I’m not even going to get close to you right now, or I’ll never get to my cabin. I’ll be back soon.”
Grace put away everything from Olsson’s and from the overnight stay.
When she couldn’t wait any longer, she went to the point.
She was expecting Robby to sneak up on her, so she was trying to turn around frequently, but a loon called, and she got distracted.
Then his arms were around her and he was kissing her neck.
She put her head back against his chest. The loon called again, and they both listened.
Robby leaned down and said softly into her ear, “I missed you this week. I discovered, while we were apart, I don’t like waking up and you’re not there.
I have a cabin, but I don’t want to wake up there.
I’ll shower there,” he smiled, “and when you’re working, I’ll play guitar there, but I want to sleep with you. ”
*******
“You have tan lines. I don’t see many of these,” Robby said, tracing one with his finger.
“Ummm. That was probably not your best line.”
“True. Sorry.” He kissed her shoulder. “Very sexy, though. Where did you get them?”
“At the beach. Where I’m from, you can walk the beach in a bathing suit from April into October.”
“Wow. So you live close enough to the ocean to drive to a beach?”
“I live close enough to walk out the screened porch door and be at the beach.”
“Ohhh. And who’s in that house now?”
“No one. It’s closed up . . . because I’m not there.”
“Who owns the house?”
“This is a sneaky conversation.”
“That’s my name, remember? And I’m liking this conversation . . . and your tan lines. So, who owns the house?” Robby waited. “Have I gotten to no man’s land?” He kissed a tan line softly.
“I’m trying to decide, but it’s getting increasingly hard to concentrate. You’re distracting me.”
“Well, it’s up to you. I don’t want to do anything to make you push me away, especially now that I’ve discovered these fascinating lines. How did I not notice them before? They go all the way around to the other side?”
“Maybe you were distracted. Of course they go around to the other side. Bathing suits have two sides.”
“Did you bring this bathing suit? The one that leaves these lines?”
“I did. And others. String bikinis. I’m sure you’ve seen lots of them.”
“I’m not going anywhere near that comment. I thought you were conserving space when you packed.”
“String bikinis don’t take up much space. They all fit into the toes of my boots.”
“Wow . . . great line for a song . . . So, did you decide where no man’s land is today?”
“You’re approaching the border.”
“Ahhhh. Thanks for the warning. I’ll move forward with caution . . . This house with the screened porch. Who owns it?”
“I do.”
“Hmmm.” He kissed another tan line and traced it with his tongue, looking up at Grace. She let out a contented sigh. “Is that house as remote as this cabin?”
“Oh, very sneaky. I see where you’re headed.”
“Uh-oh. There’s the border sign. That’s okay. I’m making progress. Don’t you agree?”
“You still need to broaden your interview skill set. Have more than one strategy, in case the first one doesn’t work. You’re still depending on sex to get all your answers.”
“Ohhh. Good to know. I’ll remember that. It’s a hard strategy to leave, when it seems to be working. I’m getting a lot of new information, and I sense secrets are about to be revealed. Why don’t you turn a bit, so I can see where these lines’ll lead?”
**********
Peering into the refrigerator, Robby said, “This weekend is a lockdown for me. When there are people around, I have to lock down. When they’re locked down, I can come out.
The crowds are going to be crazy this weekend, even up here.
What can we do? Besides what we’ve been doing I mean, which is great, but I’ll need some vitamin D at some point. ”
Grace was at the sink washing raw vegetables to eat with hummus.
“Well, we have a canoe, as long as we don’t get close to other people, or you wear a hat and sunglasses.
Most hikes are out because people get close on trails.
You could teach me how to skip rocks. We could drag the Adirondacks out into the sun.
You could play guitar outside as long as you don’t sing anything from the band.
Hey, where’s your yellow notebook?” she asked, turning around.
“How do you know about my yellow notebook?”
“You had it at the Lakeside.”
“Oh, yeah. It’s at my cabin. What made you ask about that?”
“I thought maybe that’d be something else you could do outside. In the sunshine.”
“Hmmm. I’ll think on that.” Robby closed the refrigerator door. “I got some house-made brats from Johnson’s and some of their bakery buns. I’m going to start some charcoal and grill us lunch, okay? Oh, and locally made sauerkraut.”
“I’ve never had any of that, but I’m game, especially if you’re grilling.”
“You’ve never had brats?” Robby was incredulous.
“Nope. I guess you can buy them at home, somewhere, but no one I know eats them. Same with sauerkraut.”
“Well, it’s lucky you met me. You’ve been leading a deprived life.”
“I’m starting to realize that.” Grace was drying her hands and reaching for the cutting board.
Robby put his hands on her shoulders and rested his chin on top of her head.
“No more. New life. And you’re making it yourself.
And I know better than to get in your way.
” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to run, literally, to my cabin and get the food — right after I get the coals going. ” He headed for the side door.