Page 80 of Statler

“That’s where we’ll sit. Or even lay on our backs to look at what the heavens have to offer, tonight.”

“I can’t wait,” he said gruffly, and Eliza felt a giddy anticipation.

What was he really saying? That he was interested in star-gazing, or that he was eager to recline next to her?

Eliza couldn’t wait to find out.

Climbing onto the large, flat rock, she sighed happily at the toastiness the slab still retained from the sun, earlier.

She sat down, and slipped off her sneakers, splaying her toes over the smooth, warm surface before she sighed happily and lay back.

Statler didn’t hesitate to join her.

He stretched his big body down beside hers; his hard muscles settling perfectly to bump against Eliza’s shoulder and hip.

They held that position in silence for several moments while their visible breaths mingled above them in the night air.

“What do you think?” she finally managed.

He turned his head.

“Wonderful,” he murmured.

Was he talking about…?

Slowly, Statler rolled to his side, and raised his hand to gently stroke her cheek.

“Beautiful, actually,” he added.

He lifted a lock of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers.

After a few seconds of silence, he asked, “Are you okay with this?”

“I am,” she answered with a rasp in her voice as she turned to face him. “I guess you must have figured out already that I…like you.”

“Uh, huh,” he answered softly. “And I like you, too.”

“You don’t care who my father is?” she asked, because she needed to know that the ownership of the mill wasn’t swaying his opinions of her, one way or another.

“Not a whit,” he told her without hesitation. “You are very much your own person, Eliza. You’re not an extension of William Flazer, and I like you.”

Eliza let out a relieved sigh.

She believed him.

Still…

“We, uh, have to keep this from him, though. That is if we… That we…”

An amused, but tender smile graced his lips.

“That we what, Eliza? There’s nothing going on. All we’re doing is laying here, looking at the stars.”

Eliza knew he was teasing.

He was going to kiss her.

Still, she couldn’t stand the anticipation for another minute.