Kentucky was moving into the dog days of summer. If July was hot, August was an inferno. The sweltering heat lay heavy over everyone and everything. The leaves on the trees hung lifeless waiting for a breeze to send them dancing but there wasn't a breeze to be found anywhere.
It was humid enough to be a sauna, a person would be ringing with sweat after a simple walk to the mail box. Though the air was wet the ground was bone dry. Yards were yellowing under the sun and many people had given up mowing weeks before.
At seven-thirty in the morning Cathryn stood beside the doorway of the garage dreading stepping out into the garage where there wasn't any air conditioning. The closed off room was like an oven already as it never quite seem to cool down outside at night. She hoped she could stay closed up in the Boat Dock fight to keep the air conditioner going.
But she knew better, no matter what the heat index reached there would be idiots that went camping. And when they camp they want to boat. So with a resigned sigh Cathryn stepped out into the oven-garage, got into her car, and immediately turned on the air.
Sure enough there was the usual Saturday line of people waiting on her when she made it to the dock. "If you just wait out here while I get everything ready I'll let you know when you can come in." She told them and locked the door behind her. First off she turned on the air and ten counted the money for the register.
After that she turned on the radio to the local country station and she was ready to let then in. "Okay you can come in now."
Cathryn worked quietly and methodically. The routine was old hat by now. When the last customer stepped up she looked up and smiled. "Sam! What are you doing here?"
"I was on my way to Butler to see my grandma and decided to swing by and visit you. Then I figured I would go on to the nursing home, swing by Falmouth on my way back, and bring you lunch." Sam leaned against the counter and toyed with Cathryn's fingers. "Are you interested?"
"Sure, but what if Carrie sees you?" Her fingers closed over his without her even realizing it.
Picking up her hand he brought her finger tips to his lips and smiled. "I was near by and thought I would bring you lunch. That's all there it. Isn't there? Besides it's as close as I'm going to get to taking you out for your birthday."
"Out for my birthday...that's sweet. Well you better go so you can have time with your grandma before you bring me my birthday lunch." Cathryn quickly leaned over the counter and kissed him good-bye."
She watched him walk away then when back to her work. Her birthday wasn't for another week and it warmed her that he wanted to do something with her to celebrate it. Kent usually took her out for her birthday. She figured this year would be no different. He was already making noises about where she wanted to eat at. It really didn't matter to her because he would be there instead of Sam.
It had been almost a month now since she moved to the couch. For a while Kent whined about her coming back to bed. Then came the flowers, once a week he would bring home a new bouquet of some sort of flower. Next was jewelry that she could have cared less about. After that he tried taking her out to eat. But Cathryn would rather stay at home. Soon he quit trying to win her back to bed so she stayed on the couch and he slept in the bed.
The only people that knew about the sleeping arrangements were Lizy and Sam. Both told by Cathryn. As far as the general public was concerned they were happily married and shared sleeping quarters.
It was twelve-thirty when Sam returned with a picnic lunch from Lee's Famous Recipe. The spicy aroma filled the cab of his red Dodge as they drove over to the picnic area. By pure luck they found an empty table. Kids ran screaming to and from the playground equipment. Somewhere a radio played the Top 40 count down. Parents were lounging in lawn chairs chatting with each other and occasionally yelling at their children.
"Sorry about this." Sam looked across the wooden table at her. "I guess this isn't too romantic." A ball bounced off their table narrowly missing the food. "Or private."
"It's perfect because I'm with you." Cathryn patted his hand and reached for her lemonade. "So did you bring a birthday cake?"
"You'll just have to wait and see won't you." Sam dug into his food with a smirk.
When they were finished Sam went to his truck and came back with a cup cake. He set the confection down in front of Cathryn and wished her Happy Birthday. On top of the gooey frosting sat a ring. A beautiful square cut emerald surrounded by small diamonds.
Cathryn gasped when she saw it sparkle in the sunlight. "Oh my God Sam, it's beautiful. You really shouldn't have."
"Of course I should. You can't wear my wedding band, yet, but you can wear this one. Just say you bought it yourself or Lizy bought it for you." Sam picked the ring off the cupcake and sucked the icing off of it.
She watched him slide the ring on the third finger of her right hand. "It fits perfectly." She said in amazement. "How did you know what size?"
"Are you kidding? I know these fingers, very well. Besides I remember Kent asking you before he bought that last ring for you."
"But that was long before we were together. You remembered for all this time." A tear formed and threatened to escape down her cheek. "Kent didn't even buy the right size then."
"I love you so I pay attention." Sam looked down at her watch and scowled. "I better take you back to work, your lunch is about over."
The cab of the truck was quiet on the drive back to the Boat Dock. When they got there Cathryn looked around cautiously to make sure no one was around before leaning over to kiss Sam good-bye. Their lips met for as long as possible before parting. Slowly Cathryn climbed out of the truck and watched Sam drive away.
From his rearview mirror Sam could see her watching him leave. The leaving was getting harder. He knew it wouldn't be long before he couldn't leave her. The way he figured it would be definitely be winter before he saved up enough money, if they could wait that long.
*****
The factory was even more scorching than the watery heat outside. Sam could feel sweat running down his back as the operated the machine for the gear boxes. The blue Weber t-shirt clung to him as he reached over to readjust the fan that was only ineffectively moving around hot air. He agreed to work over time that night so they could catch up from one of the machines being down. It was just more money he could save.
Grant wasn't quiet when he walked up behind Sam but he knew his friend never heard him. "Hey," he said and watched Sam jump in surprise and turn around, "I'm going out for a smoke break, wanna come?"
Sam turned back and put the machine on stand by. "Sure it has to be cooler outside."
"Why do you think I want to go to out?"
Grant leaned against the side of the building and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket. After he lit one he crossed his long legs and watched Sam. There was something on his mind but Grant wouldn't ask. If he wanted to talk about it he would say.
In the horizon, red lighting danced across the sky teasing everyone with the hope of rain. But farmers knew there was no rain with the red light show.
