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For some odd reason, Gage’s mind moved to Thursday night when he had sex with his wife. He remembered what their sex life used to be like, nights of little sleep, exploring each other’s bodies like it was their first time and leading into the next day where they exchanged knowing glances. He couldn’t remember the last time they’d shared that. When did it all change? Was it as slow and steady as Tilly said hers was, creeping up on them without either of their knowledge? And… was Tilly filling that void.
If we’re being honest here, I don’t wear heels, but with the amount of times I thought about you I could buy a new mower, a professional one. Mine shifted somewhere along the way, not sure when.
Gage rose and went to the fridge to grab a bottle of water, the bulb still needed to be replaced. That had him closing it and moving to the garage to find one.
Tilly wasn’t surprised to learn Gage’s marriage had shifted. He’d been hanging with a stranger on his birthday, but it did make her sad. Hearing he’d been thinking about her, that it wasn’t one sided, it was wrong on some level, and yet, she felt a lightness she hadn’t felt in a really long time.
A professional mower? Not gonna lie. It’s nice to hear I wasn’t alone the last two days. Speaking of mowers, shouldn’t you be working? I was just weeding the gardens. It’s hard work that you do. If you weren’t so far, I would be tempted to hire you. ; )
Gage was on the ladder, stretched to reach the bin of bulbs when his phone chimed. He hadn’t pulled the container from the shelf yet, so he pushed it back in its spot and grabbed for his phone in his pocket. He grinned because if he was close enough to provide that service, he had a feeling they’d be chatting while his guys did all the work.
Well, I am spoiled and have guys who do most of the work while I supervise. Mower, Cub Cadet zero turn, pretty sure it might cost the same as the heels you want, mower might be even more. ;) We don’t work on the weekends. What are you doing today? Besides getting dirty. ;)
Gage hit send, placed his cell back in his pocket and finally pulled the bin of bulbs from the shelf. He found the one he needed, and after two weeks, he finally had the energy to replace the bulb in the fridge.
Tilly googled the mower and seeing the price, a tingle moved down her body at the thought of him thinking about her as often as she had him. She pulled up his pic, one she’d saved to her phone. She had a hard time understanding why any woman married to him wouldn’t be holding on with both hands, looking as he did and with the personality he had. She felt the warning, going down a road she shouldn’t be, but she ignored it because feeling this good couldn’t be wrong.
Luke took the kids to a double feature, which is code for paying for one movie and sneaking into another. With the gardens done, I’m kicking my feet up and taking a much needed rest while chatting with this old guy who eats his food through a straw. What are you up to?
Gage had just taken a gulp of water when he read Tilly’s message. He had to choke down the mouthful through a laugh. Funny girl. He smiled, took himself out to the back patio, sitting in the maroon covered chaise lounge, he placed the bottle between his legs and typed out.
Funny, cause I’m chatting with an old woman who gets bussed to the grocery store, while sitting on my back patio. Wonder if these old folks know each other. And sweetheart, I may be old, but I know what a double feature is. :P So, what does Tilly like to do for fun?
Tilly moved to her patio out back after reading Gage’s message. It was silly, but she could almost believe they were sitting together. Taking a seat on one of the rockers and putting her feet up on the plant stand, she thought about his question. What did she like to do for fun? It had been so long since she’d been out having fun that she didn’t have a ready answer for him. And what was even sadder is that it took talking with him to realize she missed it.
I suppose I should say getting all dolled up, going into the city, and hitting the night time venues, but getting in the car, rolling the windows down, turning up the music and just driving is more my thing. I love walking through flea markets, looking at the things people are getting rid of, making up stories about their lives. And garden centers. I could lose days in those places. All the things I’d like to do to my yard, but don’t have the skill to do. Imagining it though. And typing this I realize I might need to get out more. What about you?
One thing stood out, Tilly was the opposite of his wife. Heather loved getting decked out and heading into the city, his birthday served as a prime example. That had his thoughts moving to...when did she turn into a city girl? He could recall her enjoyment when they did venture into the city, but not the craving she had for it now. Fuck, there was a time when she spent the weekends with him perfecting their own landscaping, getting her hands dirty. Now, he did it all himself. Gage looked to the figure eight island in the center of his backyard. A large cherry blossom tree planted in the center, hydrangeas placed symmetrical on either side, and daisies dotted throughout. His eyes drifted back to the small screen.
Well, I’d have to say I like the same things as you, minus the flea market. But I could work in the yard and could spend hours in the garden center of Walmart. So, when I go to the nursery, I could lose days. Lol. What exactly do you wanna do to your yard? P.S. Getting bussed to the grocery store and liking gardens sounds fucking hot. ;)
Tilly laughed out loud at his last sentence. All she needed was knitting needles and the image was complete. At least she still ate her food and didn’t require it blended. He liked the same things she did. That made her smile but that smile faded thinking about Luke. They used to like the same things once upon a time. She looked out at their yard. Part of that was on her because she hadn’t noticed, or she had but wouldn’t acknowledge it until talking with a stranger. Only then did she admit to herself that she and her husband were growing apart. She didn’t want to think about her failing marriage so she focused on Gage’s question. It would be easier to explain what she wanted with a picture. Snapping one, she sent it then followed it with a message.
I’d love to extend the existing stone patio to include a water feature, a waterfall, not big, but stone that empties into a little pond. Bring the gardens around the pond. Add outdoor lighting, maybe even a fireplace off to one side of the patio. As far as flea markets, you don’t know what you’re missing. And if you think bussing to the grocery store and liking gardens is hot, then I might just be scorching when I tell you I’m not a heel person either and prefer bare feet to shoes. ; )
Gage tapped on the image to make it bigger. Fuck, she had a great yard, so much potential. He read what she wanted to do, smiled, stood, and brought up his camera. Angling his cell toward the small intimate seating area in the back corner of his yard, he snapped a pic of the flagstone patio where the stone was raised on two sides. One side had a small built-in fireplace, the other held a water feature. It didn’t flow into a koi pond—Heather said she didn’t want fish, he gave her that—but the water did pool into a stone pond that held floating water lilies. The area was put together with two loveseats. An area that he and his wife hadn’t used in a very long time. Gage sat back down and attached the image to their thread and typed out.
Something like this? Maybe one day I’ll give the flea market a try, I’ll just make sure there’s a bar close by in case I don’t make it through. Well, damn, now you’re talking my language. ;) Next, you’ll tell me you prefer beer over fruity drinks.
Tilly looked at the picture he’d sent. It was beautiful, exactly what she wanted, but it wasn’t that which held her attention. Last week, she didn’t know him. This week she was talking with a man who she not only felt comfortable talking so candidly with but who she could so easily relate to. Candice had told her she might find a friend. At the time, it had annoyed her, but maybe she was onto something. And it was thinking that, that had her realizing it was a Sunday, and he was talking with her. Where was his family?
Did you do that? It’s beautiful and yes, that’s even nicer than what I imagined. I don’t drink fruity drinks. Wine or beer, I like both equally. Can I ask, where’s your family?
As if the timing was perfect and somehow Tilly summoned Heather, he heard her car pull up and the garage door open. The annoyance that she was home surprised Gage. So much so, it also scared the shit out of him. He quickly typed a message to Tilly before he rose and went to meet his wife inside. Maybe he would ask her if she wanted to go out to dinner, just the two of them.
Now, I’m thinking you have magical powers. My daughter is at her friend’s house and my wife, Heather, just pulled up from getting her nails and toes done. Pick up the convo tomorrow? ;)
Tilly glanced at her watch and was surprised that over three hours had passed. She was even more surprised that she was disappointed, even a little sad, that their conversation was over. To him, though, she replied.
I’d like that. Have a good rest of your Sunday, Gage.
Before his wife entered the house, Gage regretfully sent back.
Me too. You do the same, Tilly. ;)
CHAPTER FOUR
Tilly glanced at her watch.The waitress had already been over once, but Candice was running late. Not that she minded, because it gave her some time to talk with Gage. For the past three weeks, they chatted over texts whenever they had a free moment. If she was being honest, Tilly went out of her way to have time to talk with him.
