Crickets sang in the background, accompanying Shelia on her walk. Summer had come, leaving it's handprint on the land. The grass was lush and damp beneath her feet. Recently mowed, bits stuck to her skin. It brought a smile to her face as she stuck her hand out and ran it across the stalks of corn to her right. Living in the country had its advantages.
It was twilight, that seam where day tries to turn into night. Purple and peach still tinged the nearly dark sky. Shelia tipped her head back and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of warm earth and dewy plants. It was the stuff dreams were made of.
She turned and headed back for the house, stretching as a yawn parted her lips. The back door slammed shut, and her boyfriend Todd stepped onto the porch.
"Enjoy yourself?"
"Of course I did. Did you enjoy doing the supper dishes?"
"Oh yes. I hate when it's my turn."
"Such a man."
Todd narrowed his eyes and reached out, catching her wrist. He pulled her close, burying his face in the lemony scent of her long, dark hair.
"I'm glad we moved out here. Country living suits you."
"I agree. Now all we need is a cow." Shelia laughed and kissed Todd on his cheek.
"If you bring a cow home, you're the one that's going to be milking it." He gave her bottom a pat as she headed into the house.
Fresh, early summer faded into a heat wave. Scattered severe storms threatened nearly every day, and each time, Shelia thanked the stars that they had a basement. Storms were her undoing. She would watch out the windows at the menacing clouds, and then gather up something to keep her occupied and go sit in the basement. Todd would be outside on the porch watching the weather, and she swore she could hear him laughing at her through the walls.
"Hey baby. Ready for the record heat?"
Shelia cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder and finished loading the dishwasher.
"Absolutely not. I think the air conditioner is doing something. The air isn't coming out very cold."
"The guys will be out on Monday to put in the central air. I know the window units suck, but it's better than nothing."
"Todd, it is nothing. I'm telling you, its breaking."
"You're going to jinx it. It's supposed to be ninety-eight degrees today and you're telling the universe to break your only source of cool." His deep laugh drifted through the phone.
"Be quiet. When will you be home?"
"Probably around eight. I've got to stop at the store and pick up a few things for the show."
Todd's uncle was hosting a car show that weekend, and he asked for help putting together door prizes. Todd's job was to bring it home, and Shelia got to put it together in an appealing manner. She rolled her eyes at the thought. It was boy stuff. What's the fun in that?
"All right. Bring home dinner too; it's too hot to cook."
"Yes, lover. See you tonight. Love you."
"Love you too."
Shelia set her phone down and closed the dishwasher door. Next step was laundry. As she walked through the living room, outside air greeted her.
