Disclaimers/content: As before – see Chapter One for full details.
Author's note: You guys, thanks so much for all your wonderful reviews. I love reading them, and it really brings a smile on my face every time I open my e-mail and see a bunch of them waiting in there for me. I am so glad this story is being enjoyed! Chapter Seven, by far, has been my favorite one to write. I certainly hope you enjoy it, as well!
It was quarter to seven by the time Neela started getting worried.
The sun was starting to turn a lazy golden color in the sky, catching on low clouds as the day slowly turned into evening. Neela sat on the bench outside the front doors of her hotel, waiting for Ray, while her mind raced a mile a minute.
Maybe she'd misinterpreted the time he had said.
Maybe he had said a different place.
Maybe she was sitting on the wrong side of the hotel.
Maybe she had day-dreamed the entire conversation.
Maybe he just wasn't going to show up.
She looked at her watch again, convinced that the time was wrong, even though she knew it wasn't. She looked up and down the street, wondering if she would see him coming. Maybe he was going to take a taxi – or a bus. Neela nervously fidgeted with the ends of her hair as she waited, trying to think of a million logical excuses as to why Ray hadn't shown up yet.
She didn't want to think that he had forgotten her – or worse – deliberately stood her up. Maybe he was angrier than he had let on about the lack of communication over the past few years.
Neela sighed, looking down sadly at the toes of her shoes. Even now, she wouldn't blame him for being upset.
"Is there an ancient Indian secret for telling your fortune from your toes?"
Neela beamed, looking up at Ray, who had suddenly appeared over her shoulder from thin air. "Not that I've heard of," she said, enjoying the smile on his face. He didn't look angry a bit.
"Sorry I'm late," Ray muttered, grimacing quickly at his watch. "I got caught up in the ends of rush-hour traffic."
"That's all right," Neela replied, jumping up from the bench and smoothing her skirt.
She had changed into a very pretty outfit as soon as she'd come back from the conference – although she told herself she was just doing it to change out of the wrinkled, sweaty ensemble she'd had on at the conference all day. The warm breeze caught on the gentle, gauzy material of her shirt, and the light summer skirt she wore, giving her a wonderfully windswept appearance.
Or, so she hoped. She was afraid that perhaps she just looked tired and unkempt.
Ray suddenly looked nervous. "So, uh, how was your conference?"
"It was pretty boring," Neela admitted, although she didn't add that she had spent all day thinking about nothing other than having dinner with him.
"Yeah, I can imagine," he laughed. He had the cute little smirk on his face that Neela had always loved – and at that thought, she felt her heart flutter against her control.
"Well, I'm not going to even think about the conference anymore," Neela said, trying to keep the conversation light. "Time to think about food. Where are we off to?"
"I don't think you'll be disappointed," Ray said. "Just follow me."
They walked. Neela hadn't expected to walk anywhere, but that was exactly what Ray seemed to be in the mood for, so that was what she gladly did. She walked beside him, for blocks and blocks, as the sky turned more and more golden, and traffic lightened to practically nothing. They chitchatted about this and that, nothing important – but everything important, at the same time.
Neela felt nothing but contentment as they wandered along the beautiful streets, looking into the windows of shops and enjoying the sight of families sitting out on their porches together, the adults talking and laughing, the children running and playing together nearby. She could smell barbeque and beer, and there was music playing from somewhere as well – a happy song, not one she'd heard before, but one she hoped she would hear again on the radio sometime.
She could also smell water, she realized, and as they rounded another corner, she found herself looking out – over a great, wide river – and the breeze that kicked off of it hit her right in the face, so cool and fresh and relaxing that she didn't want to move.
The road petered out into a small gravel trail, which seemed to extend up the length of the riverside, as far as she could see. Ray had come to a halt, right in front of the railing on the tall bank, and he hooked his arms behind his back and stared out over the water, looking like he was in seventh heaven.
"This is absolutely beautiful," Neela said, turning to look at him. Her words were entirely sincere.
"I know it," Ray replied softly, breathing the air deeply through his nose. "I come here a few times a week."
"I never realized we were this close to the river." Staring out at the little dots of boats she could see on the water, Neela smiled. It looked never-ending.
"I had a feeling you would be surprised," Ray said, still looking out intently over the railing. "I thought we could just walk along the water for a little while. There's a place to eat about a mile up."
"That sounds really great," Neela said, staring at his face even though he wasn't looking back. He was just as ridiculously handsome as he had always been, and she found herself admiring the way the slanted evening light was playing over his face.
She had all but buried every feeling she'd had for him after her accident, Neela thought. She had told herself she would never see him again. She had told herself that she would never again dwell on those feelings she'd once had, the feelings she had finally been ready to face just before tragedy had struck them both.
But here she was, helpless against all of her emotions as they bobbed right back to the surface, as if no time had passed at all since the last time she had seen Ray in Chicago. A curious warmth descended on her, and she realized with a start that she had been entirely unsuccessful in tucking her feelings away for the past two years.
"Ah, hell," she whispered.
"What?" Ray finally swung around to look at her, seeming worried.
"Uh, nothing," she laughed, staring down at the gravel. She certainly didn't need to tell him that he was making her stomach knot up, Neela thought.
"Ok." Ray crossed his arms, grinning, but looking uncertain. To her relief, he didn't press her for more information. "Shall we?"
"Of course."
Side by side, they started down the gravel path.
Ray and Neela chit-chatted a little more, this time about the nice weather, as the sky started to turn a wonderful pink and orange hue all around them. The sun was finally starting to set, and the colors sparkled off the water in a million fragments below. The intensity of the colors was magnificent, and Neela was riveted by the sight. Ray, too, seemed impressed enough by the beauty of the sunset to stop in his tracks.
Both of them leaned up against the railing, their arms nearly touching as they looked out into the sky, over the water, appreciating the moment for exactly what it was. Everything was neon pink and orange – and the sun was a hot red ball low on the horizon, flaring up every little cloud in the sky to match its intensity.
Neela wanted to say something, to comment on the beauty of what they were sharing – but she couldn't think of any words to do it justice. So they simply stood there together in perfect silence, as five minutes passed – then ten – then fifteen – as the sun finally slipped down below the horizon, and was gone. The sky faded, from a deep pink to a deep purple, and then a beautiful, glowing blue. Most of the stars were washed out by the city lights, but a few dared to sparkle through as night finally settled in.
Neela took a deep breath, then looked over at Ray, who was still staring out into the sky, looking perfectly content. His eyes were lost in deep shadows, but she could see a smile at the corners of his lips.
"Ray, that was absolutely gorgeous," Neela said, almost not trusting her voice.
"I know. I've watched that scene plenty of times from this spot. It never gets old." He looked at her, some of the deep evening light catching on his eyes.
"Thank you so much for bringing me up here," She said softly, folding her hands in front of her body and trying to meet his gaze. It was hard to see well enough, in the dark that had fallen, but she thought she was hitting the mark.
"Well, uh, let's go get some food, huh?" Ray said, sounding nervous again.
They continued up the path, walking in silence, and Neela was acutely aware of how very warm and content she felt beside him. Still captivated by the onslaught of feelings that had resurfaced in her, Neela stepped a little closer to Ray, bumping arms with him as they walked in step together.
Their fingers brushed – completely by accident – but Neela was stunned just an instant later when Ray used it to full advantage and slipped his fingers around her own, catching her hand loosely in his, and holding on as they continued to walk up the side of the river.
Neither of them said a word.
Neela felt a thrill start deep in her stomach and move straight to her head. Ray's hand was warm and rough in her own, and she clasped her fingers around his even more tightly, hoping to show him that the gesture was welcome. He continued to hold on, and their joined hands swung lightly between them as they walked on, still keeping perfectly silent.
They came to a small mom-and-pop diner, finally, which was back a little bit off of the gravel path. Neela wanted to chuckle as they stepped in; it was like a cliché greasy spoon restaurant, with a single table, two chairs, and a long, worn out looking counter. A large woman sat behind it, looking crabby at the prospect of customers this late in the evening.
Ray ordered a couple of hamburgers and a bag of chips, which he paid for quickly, and then carried toward the door. Surprised, Neela followed him back outside, watching as he found a break in the railing along the path and started down the bank of the river.
"Um, Ray, where exactly are you going?" Neela asked, following him through the fence and down the steep stretch of dirt.
"Come on," he said, sounding quite certain of himself.
With blind trust, she continued to follow him down the side. They came to a very small patch of shore, where several big rocks sat along the very edge of the water. She could hear the waves splashing gently against the edges of the rocks, and the smell of the water was completely saturating the air, engulfing her senses as she watched Ray climb up and sit on top of one of the rocks. He set the food down beside him.
Enjoying his idea, Neela hiked her skirt up above her knees and climbed up on top of the rocks – she was too concentrated on not falling backwards to notice that Ray was discretely admiring the generous view of her legs.
She finally settled down beside him, and they got down to the business of eating. Neela realized that she was incredibly famished, and she finished all of her food before Ray did. When he was done, he balled up the garbage rather neatly and stuffed it all into the bag – then folded his hands on his lap and stared up into the sky.
"Ray, this is really nice," Neela said quietly, not wanting to break the magic that seemed to be following them on this night.
"I'm glad you're having a good time." He smirked again – more flutters.
A few clouds were moving overhead, and Neela could see a small sliver of moon popping out between them every now and then.
It was absolutely perfect, she thought. She had never been in a more romantic situation. It was almost surreal, to be sitting there with a man she had been so deeply in love with so long ago, someone she hadn't seen in so many years – and yet, she felt like there might never have been that gap, like that love might never have been cut short and pushed down below her very memories.
She suddenly wondered if he was feeling the same way.
Desperate to get any indication of his thoughts, Neela turned and attempted to study Ray's expression in the darkness. He was still looking up into the sky, and he looked quite peaceful. His eyes were slits of contentment, and his lips were almost smiling. He looked comfortable, and content – but she couldn't really tell if he was sharing the intensity of her own feelings.
"Ray…"
He looked at her suddenly, torn from his peaceful spell, all attention. "Yeah?"
Suddenly, Neela was too afraid to ask him anything in that realm of thought, she realized. What if the answer was no? She couldn't ruin this wonderful evening with such an intense conversation – especially if she was just being foolish, and he had no feelings left for her at all.
"Thanks for dinner," she finished weakly, looking back out at the inky black water of the river, and the gentle reflections of the night sky that were falling on it.
"Any time, Neela."
