The Engagement
It was a postcard New England summers day, a day when the idea that Haven was troubled seemed impossible. More than the usual number of Haveners were out doing their Saturday morning shopping so Nathan had to park the Bronco a fair way down the street from "Haven Beds," the local beds, mattresses and bedding store.
"I suppose it'd be cheaper to go into the city, but my father always believed in shopping locally, it keeps towns like Haven alive," Nathan explained.
"It's nice how everyone in Haven seems to do that, I've seen enough chain stores to last me a lifetime, Haven has character. That's what brings in the summer people isn't it?" Audrey smiled at herself using the locals term for tourists. She loved the sense of belonging she'd found in Haven.
"That and the troubles keep the rent down," Nathan smirked.
"If Dave and Vince were a bit more honest you think they'd scare them all off? What would happen to the town then?"
"Things would get tight around here but the troubled families would stay, they can't just pick up and move, people in other places would never understand, not that there's as much understanding around here as there used to be."
"I know things have been tense lately Nathan, but never forget how many people in this town care about you, you've touched so many of their lives, - and you remember their names," she added with a self-depreciating grin.
"Hey you're getting better Parker," Nathan smiled. "You haven't called Stan Stew in ages, you're going native. Next thing you know you'll be going out crabbing and painting your very own white picket fence."
"We'll see," Audrey smiled.
"This is nice," Nathan observed.
"The weather's beautiful isn't it?" Audrey agreed.
"No - you and me, this, just hanging out, and have you noticed, not a single cell phone call," Nathan pointed out with a slightly relieved tone.
"Hey, maybe it's broken," Audrey joked, but she did automatically check her phone was turned on.
"It's our day off Parker, relax."
"Who are you, and what have you done with Nathan Wuornos? You're a chameleon aren't you?" Audrey teased.
"Hey I can relax," Nathan defended.
"Like that time you got drunk and started dancing with every girl in The Gull?" Audrey raised an eyebrow.
"So, you noticed that. I thought you were busy with Chris."
"It was kind of hard to miss, I took pictures!" Audrey reminded him. "I kind of wondered if you had a few stories to tell after that but you never said a word."
"A gentleman never tells," Nathan teased. Then his face became more serious, picking up on the slight tension in Audrey's demeanour. "Truth is there was nothing to tell, I'm not really a casual kind of guy."
"That's nothing to be ashamed of Wuornos, the best guys usually are."
"What about Duke?"
"Duke was going through a phase, ok it was a long phase, but I've noticed, there hasn't been anyone since Evie, not as far as I can tell anyway. I think our little boy's growing up."
"About time," Nathan complained.
"Hey he had it pretty rough growing up. He's turned out well considering," Audrey defended.
"Sounds like someone else I know," Nathan returned giving Audrey a meaningful glance.
"Why thankyou Chief Wuornos I do think I've become a little more civilised since moving to Haven. I actually have food in my fridge now, mostly eggs and milk and a couple of apples but its food."
"You're a regular Martha Stewart," Nathan smiled. It didn't bother him in the least that Audrey was more interested in crime scenes than decoupage.
"Hey don't forget I'm doing you a favour Wuornos!"
"Yeah, about that, did I mention I hate shopping?" Nathan confessed but it was too late to back out now, they had reached the weathered wooden store front of "Haven Beds." Nathan opened the door for Audrey and the bell over the door chimed as he followed her inside. "Hey this looks like mine," Nathan commented pointing at an antique bed on display. The store clearly sold old and new furniture.
"Keep walking Wuornos, we're looking for a shiny new mattress, not something your Grandma could have slept on, something supportive…. Like this one," she sat down on the end of a king bed and lay back.
"Good morning," a slightly older than middle aged woman greeted them. "But you should really lie where you normally sleep not just at the end, to choose the right bed you have to imagine that you're at home, try laying the way you normally sleep to get a real feel for it."
"A feel for it," Audrey smiled, shooting an ironic look at Nathan, "We'll try, come on partner," she called as she snaked up the bed and lay down on the right side, her head on the pillow her body curved towards the spot where her alarm clock would have sat if she was at home.
Nathan hesitated uncertainly but the sales lady was looking at him with expectation so he gave in and slipped his shoes off and climbed onto the bed next to Audrey. He automatically mirrored her position, though he kept a little distance between them, the ten inches between their bodies still felt heated and awkward in the half-lit furniture store. Damn Haven and its old wiring, he thought to himself.
"How does that feel?" the sales lady prompted.
A lump formed in Nathan's throat, he really didn't want to answer.
"Great," Audrey replied warmly, and she rolled over and was suddenly inches from Nathan's face. There was an awkward moment where she could sense the tension between them and she fought conflicting impulses to either move closer to those deep blue eyes or skit quickly away to because the store lady was watching them, instead she broke the tension by giggled childishly. "What do you think Wuornos?"
"It seems, ah, fine," Nathan stumbled. "Really fine." But the way he stared into her eyes revealed the bed was the last thing on his mind. His mind was reeling with the sensation of Audrey's breath on his eyelashes, cheeks and lips. He could smell her s lightly floral perfume and the scent of her skin, which smelled like a combination of vanilla, soap and baby powder. Nathan grimaced slightly realising he that tight blue jeans and a fitted grey t-shirt was not perhaps the best outfit for this activity. His outfit hid nothing. If Audrey got up now and he had to follow suit… Damn, sometimes he felt like a man around her, a man his father would have been proud of, and other times she reduced him to a nervous teenage boy.
"So sweet, I always love serving newlyweds," the saleslady gushed.
Audrey bit back a laugh.
"We're not- " Nathan began quickly.
"Married yet," Audrey interrupted with a cheeky grin.
Nathan gave her a wide eyed look and mouthed, "What are you doing?"
Audrey sat up and smiled at the sales lady, "It's just with the wedding, we're not sure if we can afford this, but Nathan's getting a sore back from the one at his house and we don't live together."
"My, my, a gorgeous young couple engaged to be married and still living apart, lovely to hear in this day and age! Well we can't have the groom walking down the aisle crooked, let's see what we can do about getting you this bed, we always discount the display models so if you don't mind?" she raised an eyebrow suggestively.
"Oh I don't think Nathan would mid, do you?" She looked innocently at her "husband."
"I um, that would be great, but I need a queen not a king."
"Oh I always think the queen beds are so much more snug, perfect for a young couple, unless of course you're planning children very soon, then you want space for the little ones to snuggle between you on cold mornings," the lady smile warmly at them.
"She does make and interesting point," Audrey teased.
"A queen will be fine for now honey," Nathan replied with veiled sarcasm, shooting Audrey a look that could have killed.
"Whatever you say sweetheart," Audrey grinned.
Their banter had given Nathan a moment to recover himself and he was only slightly uncomfortable as he sat up and the sales lady escorted them to the sales desk. Audrey linked her arm into his saying, "I'm just so relieved we'll still be able to pay for the flowers, the flowers really make a church wedding."
Nathan shook his head slightly but played along, "Anything for you sweetheart," and grinned at his "wife." While his heart was thudding in his chest he felt complete walking intertwined with Audrey. He felt every inch of pressure against his arm and like a starving man enjoying Christmas dinner. He never wanted the rouse to stop. While they nutted out the details of the final cost, delivery and payment Audrey either held his hand or patted his arm and playing the role of the happy newlywed was effortless as an enormous grin broke out naturally on his face.
"While you're here would you like to register some linens? Lots of couples pick a few things out and leave their names with us so their guests know what to buy for them, just like in the big stores, everything we carry has at least a 500 threat count," the helpful lady offered.
"Audrey raised her eyebrows at Nathan, a pleading look in her eyes."
"Sure," Nathan conceded; he would agree to almost anything at this point he was so euphoric. "What do you think honey?" A big part of him was desperately wishing this wasn't all an act.
"Well I love that," Audrey gushed pointed at a quilt set, white linens decorated with black and silver embroidered filigrees.
"Really?" Nathan asked seriously, eyeing her.
"Yeah, I actually do," she smiled a hint of omission in her voice, as if she'd given away a little too much of herself. Audrey pulled away slightly, an old automated response to intimacy that Nathan was all too used to noting.
"It's gorgeous," Nathan agreed and looking at the sales lady he added, "actually could we take that with us now, I'll owe my finance a present, we might can still come back and register for towels and things some other time right?" he asked smoothly.
"Of course," the sales lady agreed, the dollar signs practically flashing in her eyes.
"Are you sure Nathan?" Audrey asked doubtfully and a little concerned. She hadn't meant to trap him into buying something he didn't need or want.
"You know how careful I am with money, it'd be nice to see a woman's touch in my house," Nathan smiled. The unshakable gaze he gave her was so calm, so confident, so Nathan, Audrey felt a flutter in her stomach and her breathing was suddenly slightly heavier than it should have been.
"I'll just bag that for you," the sales lady offered.
For a moment the two of them stood paralysed in front of the register, standing slightly apart, the contact between them briefly stopped several different comments on the tips of their tongues and neither of them able to say any of the things that flashed through their minds. "You've been an incredible help today," Nathan said finally, touching her shoulder gently.
"It was fun," Audrey smiled back, slightly awkward, oversensitive of the charged air between them. Then the lady returned and passed Nathan the bag. She reconfirmed the delivery time for the mattress, reminded them to come back to register any other goods they wanted and with a little more gush than necessary added, "Good luck with your wedding plans, I'm sure you'll both be so happy together, I can always tell which couples will last, it's sort of a talent of mine."
Slightly alarmed Audrey glanced at Nathan, her look said, you don't think-? He gave her a slight nod, imperceptible unless you were looking for it.
"Yes you'll be very happy together," the sales lady gushed one more time.
"Thank you," Nathan smiled and slipping his arm around Audrey's back turned his "wife" around and escorted her out of the shop.
"You don't think she's troubled do you? After what she said about her gift?" Audrey whispered, leaning close.
"Just an old lady who sees lots of couples, she probably says that to all her customers," Nathan reassured her, but part of him wondered hopefully… what if she does have a talent? "So thanks for that," he complained regretfully withdrawing his arm and instead poking her playfully in the side as they left the shop and settled into a comfortable step, side-by-side.
"Hey I saved you a mint," Audrey grinned. "You're not embarrassed to be pretend-engaged to be are you Wuornos?"
"My reputation will never recover," Nathan teased. "If word spreads there could be a panic among the womenfolk of Haven. There could be riots," he deadpanned.
"Yeah right, you wish," Audrey grinned and slapped his shoulder.
"Hey," Nathan complained. "Have you forgotten? I can feel that."
"Yeah I know and you deserved it," Audrey grinned. "You need me Wuornos, someone has to keep you in check." Nathan couldn't disagree.