The Lake

“Well, you’ve sure been looking at me that way.”

“She weren’t near as…” He stopped himself and scowled down at his soda can.

“Near as what, Charlie?” Leigh asked in a soft voice.

“You know.”

“Mean and ugly?”

He shook his head.

“Fat and stinky?”

He smiled, fought it away, and raised his eyes to her.

“She weren’t near as pretty,” he said.

“Probably not near as naked, either.”

The smile broke out again. This time, it stayed. His eyes still had a nervous look. “Not to start out with, anyhow.”

“Oh?”

“But what she had weren’t something I much wanted to see. It put me off my feed for a week.”

Leigh laughed.

Charlie laughed a little, himself, shaking his head. “I seen better-looking tits on a road apple. And she had a hind end…” He stopped. His face was suddenly solemn. “I beg your pardon,” he said.

“You don’t have to beg my pardon.”

“I gotta go now.” He gulped down the rest of his soda, put on his strange hat, and stood up. “Thank you for the drink.”

Leigh nudged herself away from the door frame and stood up straight as he came toward her. “I’m glad you came up here, Charlie. It’s been nice talking with you.” He gave the empty can to her, pulling his hand away quickly as if afraid of being touched. Leigh set both cans on a wicker table. She caught the screen door as it swung shut. “Hold up, okay? I’m going back down.”

He waited for Leigh to join him.

“So you’ll be selling baskets the rest of the day?” she asked as they stared down the slope.

“Yeah. I’ll make a stop at Carson’s and then head on away.”

“Do you go to all the lakes in one day?”

“I guess I’ll just get over to Circle today. It’s a full day trip, making Goon and Willow.”

“So they’re on tomorrow’s agenda? How would you like a helper?”

He shook his head.

“I’ve never been to those other lakes.”

“You can’t come.”

They reached the sand, and Charlie took long, quick strides as if wanting to leave her behind. Leigh quickened her pace. “What are you scared of?”

“I ain’t scared.”

“You just don’t want me with you. That’s real nice. It really makes me feel good.”

At the boat, he faced her. “It’s nothing against you.”

“Oh, sure.”

“It just wouldn’t be right.”

“What would be wrong with it? Oh.” Nodding, she pointed at the heart tattoo on his chest. “Your mother wouldn’t approve,” she said softly. Her fingertip touched the tattoo. Charlie flinched but didn’t move away. “I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with your mother.”

She put her open hand on his chest, feeling his smooth skin, his quick heartbeat. Sliding it down over the firm slab of his pectoral, she felt his nipple stiff under her palm. “Maybe you’ll come around again sometime,” she said, and took her hand away. She was trembling. “Maybe I’ll buy another basket.”

“I gotta get going.”

Leigh stood on the warm sand until Charlie had pushed off his boat. Then she walked onto the pier and watched him row past.

She raised a hand in farewell.

Charlie looked at her as he worked the oars, but he said nothing.

FOURTEEN

His boat was beached at Carson’s Camp. Leigh had watched him unload baskets and carry them up the slope.

She could go over there.

But she didn’t want to spook him.

God knows, she had already pushed matters as far as she dared. She’d probably scared him away for good.

Looking back on it, she was shocked by the way she had acted, the way she had felt. What was wrong with her? Never in her life had she come so close to throwing herself at a man.

It might be best, she told herself, if I don’t ever see him again.

Forget about him.

She turned her lounge chair to face Carson’s Camp. Lying back, she rubbed herself with suntan oil, but it was Charlie’s hands spreading the slick fluid over her skin.

After a while, Charlie returned to the boat. He loaded some baskets inside, took out two of the picnic baskets, and hurried back up the slope. Later, he returned empty-handed.

Leigh was glad he’d made sales.

He pushed off his boat.

She thought of the canoe.

Follow him.

No.

Just leave him alone. Forget about him.

All day, she thought about him. That night, in bed, she stared at the ceiling and wondered about tomorrow. She knew where he would be: at Goon and Willow. She had found out from Mike where the channel was. She could intercept Charlie, if she dared. She trembled, thinking about it.

I won’t go over there, she told herself.

You want to bet?

She pictured him gleaming in the sunlight, strong and sleek, the jeans low on his hips.

Fancy meeting you here, Charlie.

He would know, of course, that it was not an accident.

Get out of here and leave me alone.

No, he wouldn’t say that. He would sneak glances at her body. He wanted her, but he was scared.

Stop this, Leigh thought.

Restless, she threw her sheet aside. The breeze from the window cooled her damp nightgown. It smelled wonderful. It felt wonderful. Sitting up, she looked toward the moonlit window. She heard birds and crickets chirping in the night.

Why not go outside and enjoy it, she thought. You’re not going to fall asleep anyway.