SPRING INTO LOVE
by Arlene Evans
The September breezes gently shook the golden leaves from their perches, then silently rocked and cradled them to the ground. One morning, the trees were bare.
Susan and Larry's love ended the same way. Slowly . . . one leaf at a time.
Larry left to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Lenice and Bill. Susan remained in the condo.
She wasn't lonely without him; in fact, she found pleasure in seeing her couch without its usual potato. As before, she found companionship by immersing herself in her favorite novels--romance novels--and dreamed of meeting a tall, dark, handsome, dashing hero.
One day, Susan took a good look around the condo. It was drab. Tossing aside her latest novel, she went to the library to check out books on decorating. She spent weekends and evenings after work researching, shopping and sewing.
Satisfied with her condo, she looked at herself. She was drab, too. She had her long tresses trimmed, started jogging three times a week and experimented with low fat cooking.
In late winter, when snow shrouded the leaves of the marriage, Lenice called. Susan was glad to hear her sister-in-law's voice; she liked Lenice and hoped they could remain friends.
"An old buddy of Bill's recently separated from his wife," Lenice said. "He's a nice guy, responsible, and good looking. He feels ready to date--how about you?"
"I don't know," Susan hedged. "The thought of dating makes me nervous."
"It's like riding a bike," Lenice quipped. "Once you learn, you don't forget."
Susan sighed. "Well, maybe I should. I've been mostly hibernating all winter."
"Great. His name is Rhett Morgan."
The name sounds romantic, Susan mused. When the phone rang, she felt as tremulous as a fall leaf.
"Hi, Susan?" His voice was deep and husky. "This is Rhett Morgan. Lenice told you I'd be calling."
Her heart quivered. "Yes. Hi."
"Do you like Chinese food?"
"Love it," she enthused.
"What if I pick you up and we go to the Twin Dragon?"
She hesitated. If she didn't like him, she didn't want to be stuck with him all evening. "Suppose I meet you there--at seven?"
"Shall I wear a red carnation, like in the movies?" he asked.
She laughed. It had been a long time since she'd laughed, and it felt good. "That would be intriguing and romantic," she replied.
She started to cradle the receiver when he said, "Susan . . . I like your voice."
She felt heat rise to her cheeks. Larry would never have said anything so charming.
At the restaurant, Susan startled when she saw him. He looked familiar, like a hero in one of her romance novels--tall, with dark wavy hair and rakish brown eyes, his clothes fitting snugly over his well-muscled form. He wore a red carnation.
He took her hand and guided her to a corner table. "You're lovely," he said. "Just like your voice." Then, to the waiter, Rhett said, "Bring us whatever the chef recommends."
Susan was delighted. Larry was too concerned about prices to let the waiter order, plus he was a gastronomic coward, unwilling to try new dishes.
Awkward at first, they talked about Lenice and Bill, the weather, then warmed and broadened to local and world events.
Later, he walked her to her car. "You're lithe like a panther," he said. "Do you jog?"
"Yes. Several times a week when the weather is decent."
"My wife would never do anything that physical. Oh--sorry. I didn't mean to make comparisons."
"That's okay. My husband hates Chinese food."
"He must be crazy. How about if I pick you up Saturday morning for a run through the park?"
After that, they ran often and she had him over for brunch on Sundays, trying new recipes that Larry would have detested. She found pleasure in cooking for someone who enjoyed foods other than meat and mashed potatoes.
Rhett complimented her on her taste in decorating. Larry wouldn't have noticed if she had covered the walls in mud.
In the spring, when their relationship was in full bloom, Rhett's job took him out of town for a week. Susan felt empty and restless. He called her every night and they talked for hours. She marveled at that--she hadn't had enough words to say to Larry to fill a minute.
Rhett called again Saturday evening when he arrived back in town. His voice was low, hesitant. Susan tensed.
"How about taking a drive tomorrow?" he stammered. "Up in the foothills."
"Sounds delightful," she responded, hoping she imagined the distress in his voice. "I'll pack a picnic lunch."
The drive took them over rolling, thickly forested hills. They hiked to a clear mountain lake, chatting along with the birds and squirrels. But Rhett seemed distracted. He must have had a stressful week, Susan reasoned.
They spread a blanket on the ground and Susan topped it with a lace tablecloth then set out the gourmet picnic she had prepared. They sat on the blanket and Rhett smiled broadly at the feast before him.
"I'm glad you're pleased," Susan said. "You sounded. . .ah, different on the telephone last night. And you've seemed. . .well, uneasy today."
"Sorry. I didn't know it showed."
"Then something is bothering you?"
"Yes." He leaned over the dilled potato salad to kiss her softly on the lips.
"That was nice," she said.
"Romantic?"
"Very."
He took her right hand and raised himself onto one knee, inadvertently mangling a stuffed chicken breast. She snickered.
"Did that break the spell?" he asked.
"It enhanced it," she said. "Please continue."
"Will you marry me?"
She fluttered her eyelashes. "This is so sudden."
"I know. I don't want to rush you, but I need to get an apartment soon. I can't stay with Lenice and Bill forever."
"Yes, Rhett, er, Larry, you'd better move home."
"Only if you're sure you want me to."
"How could I resist such a hero? Tell me--what possessed you to take the name Rhett?"
"It's the only romance story I could think of. I wanted Lenice to call me Rhett Butler, but she thought that would be carrying it too far."
"Yes. I might have said, 'Frankly, Rhett, I don't give a damn!'"
He grinned. "I wish we had a long winding staircase. I'd sweep you up and take the stairs two at a time, just like Rhett did with Scarlett."
"I'll settle for the doorway to our condo."
Arlene Evans: I have written three books; two are nonfiction, Seeing Color: It's My rainbow, Too for children and Color is in the Eye of the Beholder for teens and adults. Both are on the subject of color vision deficiency (CVD) or colorblindness. I was a school nurse for many years and could not find literature for children or teens on this common genetic disorder that affects 1:12 males and 1:200 females. Therefore, to fill this need, I wrote these books.
My novel, Dinner for Two, a romantic comedy, was released by Echelon Press in December of 2005. The hero is colorblind!
