Chapter 16 - Robby’s House #2
Robby looked around the garage. His brows drew together.
“I never noticed. You’re right, though.” He looked away.
“The cleaning service doesn’t come out here.
I just haven’t spent enough time here to accumulate stuff.
” He leaned into the truck bed. “My trucks are never neat. I don’t think about it.
I’m usually in a hurry or thinking about something else.
Maybe if I ever took a long road trip . .
.” He straightened, lifting Grace’s backpack. “Does it bother you?”
“Not really. I’m just struck by the difference .
. . that it’s your truck and your garage, and they’re so different.
I wondered why . . . my job — I wonder how people think, what the inside of their heads looks like.
I don’t think the inside of yours looks like the inside of this truck . . . or this garage.”
“You’re right . . . It’s draped with lush, hanging vines.
There are secret chambers and unexpected bursts of colored light and uninvented musical instruments with cool sounds and naked girls with .
. .” He smiled down at Grace. “You don’t need to know all of what’s in my head.
That might scare you.” He handed Grace the backpack and got the box of groceries and the wines.
“Got to get the champagne chilled.” When they reached the back door, he said, “The keys are in my right front pocket. You’ll have to reach in for them.
Take your time and be thorough,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
Grace smiled and shook her head, got the keys, and held the door while Robby went through and into a small mudroom with the door into the house in front of them and a door to the basement on the right.
Robby led the way down the hall, past bedrooms. Grace glimpsed a combination bath-laundry room.
Then, they were in the main part of the house, one large room, bigger than her cabin.
To the right was the living space looking out to the lake with an open door leading to a sunroom.
In one corner was the ever-present woodstove, a deep red, L-shaped sofa, a birch coffee table, and a comfy-looking plaid chair with an ottoman.
They turned left toward the kitchen area, past a long, wooden dining table and chairs.
On the other side of that, through a large window, Grace saw a bay that opened onto Lake Superior.
The kitchen wasn’t big, but it had an island with a sink, counter space on either side, and four stools across the front.
Robby was there now, unpacking the groceries.
“This is super! I don’t know how you ever leave.”
“You’re not here.”
“Awww, that’s sweet.”
“And true. In fact, now that the champagne’s on ice, let me show you my bedroom.” Robby walked around the counter toward Grace.
“Wait a minute. I want to see everything. Go outside. To the lake. We have lots of time. The whole weekend, right?” Grace moved toward the open door to the sunroom. “This way?”
“Yes,” Robby said, to her back, shaking his head.
The sunroom was sparsely furnished but full of light and an endless view of the lake. “How long can you use this room?”
They were standing side-by-side looking at the lake. Robby put his arm across her shoulders. “It’s heated, so theoretically, year-round.” He looked down at her. “But to be honest, I don’t know. I haven’t spent all that much time here.”
“How long have you had it?”
“Well . . . the Gulls formed when I was about twenty-six. Seems like another lifetime . . . I must have done this about five years in. I would have been thirty-one. So, it’s about five years old.
” He looked off. “I guess I’ve spent about four weeks a year here.
I pay for security to keep a close eye on it, for break-ins and to notice storm damage, and Russell comes by.
They can use it anytime — with or without the boys. ”
“Do you entertain your family when you’re here?”
“Yeah, it’s great for that. And when I visit, I usually sleep here — except now, when I sleep with you.
I go down to Fond du Lac to my parents’ and the studio, or up to Grand Marais to the Lakeside and Marie’s, but I sleep here .
. . to reconnect to myself and the lake.
It’s kept me sane — this, my old friends, and my family, especially Marie.
I’ve never brought anyone from the road home.
I didn’t want people from that world in this one.
I still don’t.” He looked down at Grace.
“Now there’s you . . . You probably want to go down to the shore. ” She nodded. “I’ll get jackets.”
While he was gone, Grace kept looking at the lake, till a movement off to the right caught her eye.
She stepped closer to the glass, then she heard Robby behind her.
“Is that a dog?” She pointed to some trees.
Robby moved forward and looked. “If it is, it’s a big one.
I’ll get the binoculars.” He went inside, dropped the jackets on the sofa, and returned with the binoculars.
He lifted them to his eyes. “I’m not sure.
Here, see what you think.” He handed them to Grace.
“I’d say it’s a wolf, but it looks too heavy.
They’re usually lean. What do you think? ”
“I’ve never seen a wolf, but whatever it is, it’s looking right at us.”
Robby took the glasses back. “Yeah . . . Wolves are nocturnal. My bet is a dog.” He lowered the binoculars.
“Let’s see what happens if we go outside the door, but not down the steps.
” They went onto the landing. The animal was at least fifty yards away.
It continued to look at them and stood its ground.
“I’m not comfortable going out there, no matter what it is. Let’s just sit here for a while.”
Grace noticed the fire ring and pointed. “Is that what the Adirondacks stacked inside are for?”
“Yeah, but I’m not taking them out while he’s here.”
They sat there until Grace said, “This breeze is surprisingly chilly. I’m getting cold.”
“What time is it? I’m hungry. We can check on him later,” Robby looked in the animal’s direction. It had laid down but was still watching them. Robby stood up, offering Grace his hand.
She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. “Midday. Almost lunchtime.”
“Ha! You fall for this every time.” He pulled her into a kiss. They laughed, Robby opened the door, and they went inside, never noticing the animal had risen too and was walking toward the house.
They made thick chicken and avocado sandwiches with lots of salt, pepper, and mayonnaise. Robby had remembered Grace liked spinach on sandwiches. “This is a great sandwich,” Grace said, with her mouth full. “We’re such foodies.”
“There’s more to life than entrees. You still haven’t seen my bedroom.”
“Oh, man. That’s got to be your worst come-on ever.” Grace rolled her eyes.
“But wait till you see. It’s got three features that are admittedly guilty pleasures.”
They finished, Grace picked up her backpack from the table, and they went into Robby’s bedroom.
“Very handsome. Very bachelor.” Grace looked around the dark paneled room, a thick candle on the bedside table, recessed lights, and a king-sized bed with a dark comforter and lots of pillows.
“So let me guess. The king-sized mattress is one, right?”
“Yes, and I still have to angle a bit. The second feature you probably won’t notice, so I’ll show you.
” He opened the drawer of the bedside table, took out a remote, aimed it at the picture window, and clicked.
A dark shade came down. “It’s a blackout shade.
All these dark colors help me sleep better. And I do.”
“Good. What’s number three?”
“Here.” He led into the bathroom, which was not luxurious by some standards, but compared to Grace’s, it was 5-star.
For one thing it was roomy. One wall color matched the dark paneling in the bedroom except it was done in long subway tiles.
Then there was an extra-long, high-backed soaking tub in the same espresso shade.
And one wall of the large, glassed-in shower had the same espresso tiles and a built-in bench.
“The whole bathroom’s great, but here’s number three.
” He walked into the shower and pointed up.
Set in the ceiling was an oversized rain shower head.
“I have rarely experienced these, but they are hands down my favorite bathroom feature. I justified it by Russell’s assuring me a great bathroom is a good selling point. ”
“Are you thinking of selling?”
“No,” Robby said, coming out, “but hearing that was enough to justify my getting the shower head,” he said laughing.
He walked over and put his arms around her. “Wanna take a shower? We’ve never done that.”
“Sure.”
**********
“Robby? Wake up. I can’t reach your cell phone, and we need to check the time so we’re not late for your nephews. God, Robby. You really do sleep here.” She started to climb over him to get the phone. He stirred and put his arms around her. “No, Robby, this could be serious.”
“I agree. It feels serious. We could make it really serious.” He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “What’s got you going?”
“The time. I think it’s close to show time. Hand me your phone.”
He reached over, got the phone, and handed it to Grace.
“How long does it take to get there?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“It’s almost 3:30.”
“Oh. We should get dressed. How long will that take you?”
“Probably less time than it takes you.”
“I thought that was the way women liked it.”
“Shut up and put your pants on.”
“That’s the opposite of what you’re supposed to say. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a woman say that to me,” Robby laughed and sat up. “Where are our clothes?”
“In the bathroom.”
“Oh yeah. It’s all coming back to me now. Ummmm.”
He was still sitting on the side of the bed when Grace came out of the bathroom, dressed. She leaned over, ran her fingers through her hair as much as they would go, and stood up, swinging it back. “I’m ready.”
“Wow. Okay.” He got up and went in the bathroom.
Grace went out to the sunroom. She was back before Robby came out of the bathroom. “Robby!” she said, striding in. “That dog creature is lying at the bottom of the sunroom stairs.”
“Maybe it’s sick.” He was buttoning his shirt.
“It looks fine. Just gazing at the lake.”
“Not normal. Unfortunately, we need to leave.” He slipped his feet into his moccasins. “But he may not. We’ll see where he is when we get back, if it’s still light.”