Bubble, Bubble
He drove down the sloped drive to the circular car park. Looking back up the slope, he realized the drive was completely shielded from the road by the slope.
"What's that area off the side? It looks like it's…moving."
Lovejoy plucked he brochure from her hands and started chuckling. "If you'd taken time to check out the back, you'd know. Look." He pointed at a short paragraph about the small private swimming pool.
A string of small white lights lit a slate pathway from drive to front porch.
"I need to call Alex and let him know we've arrived." She got out on her side, phone in hand.
He got out as well and took the phone from her hand. "In a minute, Janie. You're missing the important bits again." He dropped the phone in her purse and turned her so she was looking out over a long, undulating field that went on as far as they could see. He stood behind her and held her shoulders lightly.
"Look up."
"Oh, my goodness! So very many stars, and so close-looking…and the sky is so black." She sighed. "It's incredible. It's every cliche I've ever heard about diamonds and velvet,"she laughed.
He looked at the stars with her for a moment, then looked at her profile as she turned.
"Incredible, yes."
She felt herself leaning back into him, felt him bracing to steady her. She allowed herself one, two breaths of his support before pulling away.
"We should be getting out things inside, don't you think"?
He sighed. "Ladies first." He held the door open, looking up again at the sky. Jane took up her purse and carry-on as he got his duffle out of the trunk. Their steps were cautious in the dim light. Lovejoy fumbled with the keys until he found the one fitting the door, and ushered her inside.
As tired and frustrated as she was (and a bit anxious about the coming night, if she was entirely truthful with herself), she still had the energy to light up with a smile at the living room.
"This is just charming." She ran her hand over the river rock chimney, hearth, and fireplace that took up part of the living room. A polished plank ceiling soared overhead, sloping down towards the kitchen.
"This is just…odd."
She turned and saw him looking at sparkling letters strung together, spelling out "CONGRATUATIONS!" over the mantel.
Her pulse jumped for a split second, then jumped again as the phone rang. She looked at Lovejoy and motioned hm to pick up the phone.
"Lovejoy, here."
A rich Southern tone rolled over the wire.
"Good evening. This is Dovey Carr, the cabin's owner. May I assume you're the gentleman of the couple staying at Dove's Rest tonight?"
"You may, and you have our undying gratitude, Ms. Carr." He motioned to Jane that the owner was on the phone.
"Glad to help. I just wanted to briefly explain the circumstances of the cabin. There's a book of instructions on the coffee table that should explain how everything works."
He heard a soft gasp from the kitchen.
"And I should explain that there were some extra touches put out this morning as the people who canceled were celebrating their first anniversary, poor dears. Either he, or she, not sure which, came down with the flu. At any rate, it won't keep, so please help yourself to the contents of the refrigerator."
"Ms. Carr, do we need to sign a register, or do an advance payment, or anything?" He was quite keen to ascertain if she would be dropping by anytime soon. His luck, he'd be starkers in the pool.
"No, Mr…I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"Lovejoy. No mister, just Lovejoy."
"I…see. My number is on the fridge. When you feel it's convenient, give me a buzz tomorrow and we'll take care of that. No hurry."
"Might be a bit of a problem, Ms. Carr. We'll be leaving tomorrow, I expect." He looked around again at the spacious room, the French doors showing the pool's glimmer in the moonlight, and wondered if that would be strictly necessary.
"Oh? Pity…rates are on the brochure, then, Just leave your payment on the table."
What? "That doesn't sound very…certain for you, does it, Ms. Carr? How do you know we won't just take off in the morning, leaving you with no payment at all?"
He heard a soft chuckle. "Somehow, Lovejoy, that never seems to happen. People tend to be in too good of a mood when they leave, to try to take advantage. Have a nice night, and call me tomorrow, all right?"
"Certainly, Ms. Carr. And thanks again."
"Lovejoy, the refrigerator is positively packed." Jane held the refrigerator door open.
He looked in and nodded. Whites and champagne chilled, reds on their side in the counter wine rack... three types of stemware in a glass-fronted cabinet nearby. He looked at a label of one of the whites.
"Janie, look at this. All the wine is made locally. Wonder if there's moonshine in the cupboard?"
"Isn't that a lot of whipped cream? There's only one box of strawberries to go with."
His mouth turned up in a smirking grin. "Not a lot for an anniversary weekend. Looks to be just about the right amount."
"Oh, really..." she shook her head, quite possibly trying to hide a small smile, he thought.
An assortment of dips, meats, cut vegetables, and cheeses were wrapped in the fridge. Crackers and crisps were on the counter, cookies were under a glass domed server.
"She said to help ourselves. The other couple couldn't make it."
Jane pondered over the "other couple" remark as she fished for her phone again.
"Alex? Are you all right? Well, we made it into a decent place…yes, it's clean. Of course they had two rooms. We'll start out as soon as we can in the morn…what? Who? Not the Atlantic,surely…oh, Lake Norman? Yes, we saw it from the plane. What time is he wanting to leave?"
Lovejoy could see her face start to freeze, Jane being too well-bred to scream into a phone, even when appropriate.
"I see. Men only? Oh. So the women can't bring their husbands, either? Yes, darling, it does sound deadly dull…so what time will you be coming back into port, or dock, or whatever they call it here? I see. So dinner at his lake house…" she sighed. "Yes, I'm sure we can poke around here, do some shopping. Yes, that would be quite late to try to navigate Charlotte again." She broke off as Lovejoy waved something in her face, pointing with his other hand. She scanned the policy notice.
"Well, maybe it's just as well. They have a two night minimum, and," she crossed her fingers with a twinge of guilt, "we were going to have to pay for two nights anyway, even leaving out first thing. The owner is a dear lady, but rules are rules, I'm afraid. Oh, she's very kind, quite…Southern. A very considerate hostess. Yes, darling…I'll call you in the morning. Sleep well."
She turned to find Lovejoy cocking an eyebrow at her, pretending to applaud.
"Lady Jane…if I didn't know better, I'd think this was a B&B with an owner in residence, acting as chaperone. Bravo!"
She looked like a schoolgirl caught with a handful of cookies. "I never said that, did I? And she does seem…considerate."
He grabbed her hand. "Let's explore. We can start with one of the referenced two bedrooms." He uncorked the white and filled glasses as they prepared to reconnoiter the environs.
He refilled her glass as she stood in the master bathroom, admiring the jewel-toned Jacuzzi ringed with candles, light from the outside lamp illuminating the stained glass window.
And again when she padded around the master bedroom, accessorized with fewer candles, but with terrycloth bathrobes hanging side by side, a thick sheepskin rug over rich green carpet.
Lovejoy ran his hand over the bedding. "Egyptian cotton, 800 thread count, sateen stripe, Laura Ashley comforter, a few years away from vintage status for the USA."
"What's that door?" She pointed at a glass-paned door to one side of the bedroom.
He grinned. "Maybe that's the second bedroom." And wouldn't that be interesting? Opening it, he had his turn to be gobsmacked.
"Don't see this in private houses much."
"What, a sunroom? I thought they were fairly…oh."
The sunroom was ringed with windows and festooned with grapevine motifs. And also with a padded leather massage table covered in white sheets, a basket of scented oils and a few more candles on a low table. A stereo was alongside it. He picked up a tape next to the stereo.
"Kama Sutra: Song of Love, Sounds for the Sensual Massage, Lovers' Collection…". He turned towards a blushing Jane.
"Well, I'm looking for the ones for "just good friends" but all I'm finding seems to be…the other." His face was the picture of innocence.
More exploring led them to a back deck with promised hot tub and stairs leading down to a softly lit swimming pool, water glowing a luminous blue. Nothing but forest stretched out as far as they could see. They found the second and third bedroom; one a loft, sized for the average six year old, and one in the converted basement, complete with two spiders. That sent them scurrying back up to the bedroom deck and the warm night air.
To hell with Alex and his room count, he thought. If not the master bedroom, it'll be the living room couch for me.He wondered idly why Americans seemed fixated on queen-sized beds that seemed to subtly suggest that two people could very well share a bed and not be on top of each other…so to speak. The image of a bright red luscious apple in a tangled garden came to mind.
Jane finally seemed to be relaxing. He noticed the weight of the bottle he'd been carrying around had dropped considerably. Not really to his taste, on the sweet side, heavily grapey, and, well…not very G&T, but it went down easily enough.
He wondered how much of a scoundrel he would have to be, to take advantage of an inebriated Lady Jane. He looked at her over the rim of his glass, her staring off into the dark forest, straight-backed but somehow vulnerable. He sighed, thinking he fell about ten percent short of being scoundrel enough for that. He contemplated what passed for his moral compass when he heard a gurgling, splashing sound behind him.
"Well, I was just curious to see how it worked…" Jane bit her bottom lip in an embarrassed smile, empty wineglass held loosely in her hand.
He shifted to make his other compass, which was pulling strongly north, less obvious, as the water bubbled and steamed between them.
TBC...