AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the kitchen, she pulled a package out of the refrigerator. “This is a roast that I meant to cook on Sunday.”
Devon got a roasting pan out, and she prepped the roast and some potatoes and stuck it in the oven.
“I’m not even hungry,” she said. “Can I change clothes? I want to sit on that terrace again if you’re not sick of it.”
“Are you going to spend the night? Because it’s going to be dark by six. I’m not sure about you driving down that mountain after sunset.”
“Yes, I’ll spend the night,” she said. “I can’t stand my house without Mike.”
They took glasses, a corkscrew and a bottle of wine out to the terrace. Trying to do it on the sly, Aisling wiped her cheek with her shoulder, but Devon saw and it broke his heart.
“It hasn’t even been two weeks,” he said. “You need more time. Let’s get through tonight.”
He uncorked the bottle and poured. “I can’t get used to this,” she said. “I actually felt a little hungover this morning.”
“Yeah, I drank after you left, too,” he admitted. “Don’t worry, I didn’t take any pain meds last night either. I was too drunk to feel pain.”
“Uh-uh,” she said, laughing. “I guess it isn’t funny.”
After a sip of wine, Aisling put her glass down. “I guess I’m just not in the mood tonight. Great. Forced to feel it instead of being in a stupor.”
“I’ll drink your share,” Devon said. “Cheers.”
But he wasn’t in the mood, either, pouring his glass out on the gravel. They watched the sun set again, going down, down, down beneath the dark purple line at the horizon, the ocean stretching out forever.
“I have a surprise,” Aisling said. “Don’t move.”
She got up and went to her car. In the back, she’d stashed the telescope she’d given Mike the previous Christmas.
“You did not!” he said, getting out of the chair.
“Stay put. This is light. I thought we could look for stars tonight. It’s clear enough.”
With a few false starts, they got it set up and aimed in the general direction of the southern sky, away from the persistent sunset that continued to light the horizon. And then they saw it.
Orion.
The next morning Lila came to take Devon to his hospital visit. Aisling had left hours earlier, but Lila caught the wineglasses upside down on a towel by the sink and evidence of dinner for two.
“Company last night?” she said, pointing to the glasses.
“Lila, one of the things I love about you is how you mind your own business when it’s needed, and right now I need it. Thank you for taking me to my appointment.”
“Well, I met your friend for a drink, and I think it’s a match. He’s a little old, with an older man’s sensibility. I could tell he’d taken time with his appearance and that maybe it wasn’t something he always did for himself. But I can adapt to that. I wanted to bring him home and attack him, but I was prim and proper for your sake.”
Devon laughed out loud. “I’ll probably get a promotion if you sleep with my battalion chief,” he said. “But don’t do it on my account.”
“I won’t. We’re seeing each other later. I hope you don’t mind. I had to tell him I was taking you today because he wanted to drive up to Dana Point for a picnic on the beach.”
“Why that far north? You can go right to Del Mar or Carlsbad.”
“I didn’t ask. Maybe something different. It’s too cold anyway, so I’m glad I had to say no. You ready?”
“I’m ready. I’m sorry I’m putting a crimp on your date, too.”
“No worries. I was glad to be busy. I’m feeling a little desperate right now, and a nice guy is dangerous if I don’t put the brakes on myself.”
“I’m glad it might work out,” he said, pleased with himself. “I’m ready for some happy news.”
