I said, embarrassed.
“It’s okay, I just need you close. It’s okay.”
I climbed back into Rusty’s lap. Kelly looked worried.
“I think it’s going to be a tough night,” I said.
“Cassidy, what did I tell you the first day we met?” Kelly said, finding a seat on the other side of the L-shaped couch.
“You said lots of things,” I answered. “You told me about your family. You said you were going to kill Rusty for letting me go out there alone…”
“And I told you that Rusty needed you. Do you remember? Not just any girl, I said, he needs you.”
“I remember.”
“I’m glad I was right.”
“I saw you at the mine. Thank you, both of you. Whether you were there for Rusty or for me, thank you.”
“We were there because we needed to be there. They couldn’t have driven us away.” Kelly spoke while Rhonda nodded in agreement. I looked forward to knowing this couple better. I could use a few friends like them.
I could feel Rusty withdrawing. He needed alone time or a distraction.
“Did Rusty tell you he found a house? We’re moving in June, so we can have the wedding there in July. Tell them about the house, Rusty.”
He shook his head no. He was still struggling. “You tell them, the more I hear you talk the more alive you feel to me.”
I started describing the house to them and Rhonda began asking questions. What style was I going to decorate in? What colors? As the talk flowed back and forth Rusty gradually relaxed.
“What do you like best about the house?” Rusty asked.
I blushed, “I’ll tell you later.”
This got a curious look from everybody. Oh gee, I should have just made something up. The kitchen tile. The open space for an agility course. The fact that deer visit there…anything. Rusty looked at me, waiting for an answer. Oh, okay…
I whispered in his ear, “The shower.”
Another curious look. “What’s so special about the shower?” he whispered.
“It’s… different, you didn’t notice?”
“I barely even glanced at the bathroom.”
Kelly and Rhonda were really curious now.
“Then I’m not going to tell you. I’ll save it as a surprise for June first.”
“Cass…”
“You have to see it for yourself.”
He gave up with a defeated sigh, but at least he wasn’t thinking about the mine any more.
“You two staying for dinner?” Rusty asked.
“Nah,” Kelly answered, “I think you two need some time. We were just checking up on you.”
After Kelly and Rhonda drove away I led Rusty up the stairs.
“Now, why did you have to go and remind me about that shower? I can’t think about that shower without seeing both of us in it. And I really need a shower before dinner.”
“So, tell me about this shower. I must have missed something.”
I started stripping down.
“It’s big enough for two.” I dropped my filthy clothes in a pile. “It’s got big clear glass doors, so you can see everything.” I unbuttoned his top two buttons. “It’s got this big bench across it.” A couple more buttons.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I unbuckled his belt.
“It’s got two shower heads. A regular one and a handheld one.”
He dropped his pants and followed me into the bathroom. I reached for a second bar of soap from under the counter and handed him the big bar.
“I couldn’t help it. When I saw that shower I saw both of us in it. Finding interesting ways to use that bench. Giving soapy, steamy massages. Trying out different positions…”
I stepped into the water and rolled the smaller bar of soap around in my hands until they were slick and sudsy. He stepped in and I moved over so he could get under the water too.
“This shower will do for now. But June first... June first I want to try the other shower.” His soapy hands found my body, caressing and teasing, washing away three days of dirt and grime with shivery, delicate touches. And my hands found him and eased away the cares of the past. Two bodies slipping and sliding. Kisses, lots of kisses. Deep passionate kisses. Delicate playful kisses. A celebration of another day together.
Later, as we were lying lazily in bed he asked quietly, “Can I just take you away? Can we just go somewhere for a few days? Would you come to San Diego with me?”
“You know I will.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Mission Beach was busy with beach walkers, tourists and kids. Rusty, decked out in swim trunks and a loose t-shirt, was scanning the crowds. I was trying not to study the ground. Ignore the tracks, Cass, just enjoy the day. I’d started out this morning in shorts and a t-shirt over my swimsuit but the beach beckoned and I’d left my clothes in the Explorer. The sun felt good and the beach stretched out in front of us.
“Let’s see if the water is cold,” I said.
Rusty smiled, continuing his search. Rusty was on a mission at Mission Beach. “We will, but first we need to make contact, then we can do whatever we want.”
“What are we looking for?”
“A grown up kid on a red bike, or a worn out skateboard, or a yellow surfboard or talking to a group of girls, who knows. You won’t recognize him until you meet him once. Let’s try the taco stand.”
We walked over to the taco stand and the old man at the booth smiled broadly.
“Rusty! Long time no see! Where have you been?”
“I’m looking for Cody. Any idea where he can be found these days?”
“Good luck. I think he lost his job at Belmont Park but last I heard he was trying to get on at Tacky T-shirts. There was a cute girl working the morning shift. He was trying to decide if she was worth getting up at eight o’clock for.”
Rusty smiled. All this sounded normal to him. We walked down to Tacky T-shirts. I looked around
