Chapter 29

May was proving to be an exceptionally hot month. The spring was walking towards its end without the appearance of the much longed-for rain and people were getting nervous. Summer was around the corner and everybody wondered how they'd manage if the rain didn't show up. Wells were getting dry, rivers and streams had lost their usual volume and the lack of water was causing devastation in farmlands and fields. Kid was also one of the many suffering from the drought. Water was in short supply despite all the wells he had dug on his property over the years and lately he had to pick up water from the River James to get by. At least, the river was quite near his place, which was a real relief. And apart from the lack of water, the heat was unbearable. It was a total pain and seeing little Alice suffer the heat was especially heart-breaking. Lou tried to keep her cool, fanning her or having her in light clothes, but it was impossible.

Days had flown by after the incidents at the fair. Neither Kid nor Lou had dared to mention the intimate moment they had almost shared. Lou had been awkward around him just after that night, and noticing her strange mood, Kid had understood that he should leave things as they were. If something was meant to happen, it would, but he wouldn't force the situation. He'd be patient. Paul was right; he needed to be careful and think things through because there were two other people to consider, the children, who were the most vulnerable in this equation. He thought that maybe it was better if he forgot about his infatuation. Things would be easier for everybody. He and Lou were getting along perfectly and it would be a real shame to spoil their friendship. After all, their other attempts to be a couple had always failed. They were perfect to each other as friends, but when they were lovers, for some reason or other, everything went wrong. Yet, Kid couldn't erase from his mind that brief moment when he had almost kissed her. His lips had briefly brushed against hers, feeling her softness, her sweet scent, her uniqueness. Kid could swear she had also wanted it, but then she had turned him down when he had offered to stay. Kid had a certain idea of what her problem was, but since they hadn't been able to have a serious conversation about it, they simply continued like usual.

Kid brushed his handkerchief over his sweaty forehead as he stopped to rest. He opened the door and then picked the wood boards and the tool box he had left to rest on the porch. As he entered the house, he found Louise sitting on the sofa, busily mending some of Joseph's clothes. She lifted her eyes from the trousers in her hands and smiled at him. "What are you up to?" she asked when she noticed everything he was carrying.

Kid left the boards in the middle of the living room. "Remember Joseph wanted to have some shelves for his books? I plan to build an extension to my bookcase, and that way he can keep his school things here," he explained as he pointed to the shelves in question.

"You're spoiling him too much," Lou remarked as she continued with her sewing. "He only told you yesterday."

"Can't help it, Lou. He's my boy."

"I know."

"Will it be all right if I start now?" Kid asked as he threw a look at the bassinet. "I don't want to wake Alice. She looks like an angel."

"Do you plan to make too much noise?"

"I don't think so. I just need to screw the boards to my shelves."

"So it won't be a problem."

"All right," Kid said and walking to the far end of the living room, he removed his shirt, remaining in his long john top, and took the measuring tape to make sure he had cut down the boards in the right size.

Lou casually lifted her eyes from the garment she was mending. She made an unhappy face as she saw that for some reason sawdust had fallen on the floor, the same floor she had swept and washed that morning. Kid was a very nice man, but he was a little disaster too. Lou wondered how he had managed to keep his house tidy and cleaned when Christine had left and he had no housekeeper.

Louise shook her head in resignation, and suddenly her eyes got drawn to his hands as they held the board. The sensations she continuously tried to drown rushed to her full force. What was wrong with her? Just the image of his hands turned her on. Her mind was full of memories, very vivid memories of how his hands felt against her skin, of the places in her body those hands had touched, of the overwhelming stirring they had caused on her. Lou took a deep breath as she started feeling out of control. She told herself to look away, but she couldn't and kept staring. Her eyes traveled from his hands up to his arms and back. His muscles contracted and showed the beauty of his body. The years had diminished his build slightly, but he was as enticing and tempting as ever. How much she used to love caressing and kissing those well-formed muscles! And how much she wished to run to him and sneak her hand under the material of his long johns and feel his skin!

A grunt escaped her lips as the needle grazed her index finger. Kid heard her and looked over his shoulder to meet her hungry eyes. They stared at each other for just a few seconds in silence and then Kid resumed the task. "You know," Kid said without stopping, "we should heed Joseph and stop hiding away."

His voice startled her and she quickly looked down back at the trousers. "What… what are you talking about?" she asked in an awkward voice.

Kid stopped and came to sit next to her on the sofa. "I see it in your eyes, Lou. That's the way you used to look at me. We should admit it once and for all," he said, carefully studying her reaction.

"Admit what, Kid?"

"That we like each other very much."

"I… I… maybe I do," she admitted, her eyes still downcast and her cheeks hot, "but that doesn't make it right."

"Why not, Lou?"

"I told you once… I can't love."

Kid placed a finger under her chin and made her meet his eyes as he scooted closer on the sofa. "I don't believe you."

Louise swatted his hand off and jumping to her feet, she scurried to the kitchen, eager to escape. Kid shook his head sadly, fearing that he might have scared her away and when she didn't reappear after a few minutes, he walked to the kitchen. "Why are you so scared, Lou?" he asked as he stood under the threshold.

Louise turned around, surprised to hear his voice. "I'm not scared!" she retorted as she folded her arms over her chest and stared at him with a serious expression.

"Yes, you are! You are terrified! You are afraid to admit you care because of what that means… of what that involves."

"You aren't making any sense," she retorted, locking eyes with him challengingly.

"Aren't I? You are as scared as when you left me years ago." At his words Lou stared at him with a flabbergasted expression. "Yes, Lou, I know that. I know you better than anybody else. You used the first excuse you came across because you were petrified. You preferred to sacrifice what we had back then to facing that fear."

"May… maybe you're right," Lou stuttered.

"I know I am," he said and in a bold move he took a few steps closer and his hand dared to stroke her cheek softly. Louise simply looked at him with big eyes, gulping as her whole body lit up at his touch. "Lou, life is giving us another chance. Let's grab it!"

His face slowly lowered to hers and this time their lips finally met. Louise moaned as she felt him, but the alarm in her head kept telling her that this wasn't right, that she had to stop it. She wanted to resist, but she had no strength or will. She wanted him so bad that as soon as his kisses had surprised her, she was a goner. Her soul was on fire and he was the only one who could suffocate the burning flames in her spirit. She hadn't felt so alive for a long time. Her mouth moved at his pace and her hands moved to touch the muscles and skin she had been drooling over minutes before. Her hand snuck between both their bodies and found its way to his belt. It was then that Kid stopped and took her hands in his. Lou was breathless as she stared at him in confusion.

"Lou, no. I want to prove to you I'm not a grabber like all those men you've known. I don't expect you to do anything."

"But I want…"

"Let's not rush, Lou," he said, placing a finger on her lips to shush her. "Let's walk step by step together. Let me show you how much I love you and I know you will love me one day too."

"I… I don't know, Kid," she replied sincerely.

"Please, Lou, I'm planning to court you like I couldn't years ago. I want to show you my respect and devotion, and we have all the time in the world to start from scratch. Please Lou, let me court you."

"I…"

"Please, Lou," he begged as he brought his face closer to her, almost touching her, and Louise couldn't resist his presence anymore and nodded her permission just as his lips finally brushed against hers once again, and they kissed, softly, intensely, just like those first times they had shared when they were nothing but a couple of naïve teenagers.