He didn't show up for another day. Then he just appeared, sauntered into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. He popped the cap with the opener, leaned against the counter and took a swig. At least Paul was the one who kept the beer stocked. I didn't drink it, and I didn't want to have to buy it, so Paul got his friend from work to make the purchase.
I was happy he was back. I loved the earthy smell he brought into the room, slouched there with his dirty khakis and grimy T-shirt. I guessed he'd done some hiking.
"Did you see that storm the other day?" I asked.
"I was out in it."
"Really?"
I tried to picture it. I liked the rain, but I preferred to watch it from a window.
"Were you in the lightening?"
"Yeah. That's the best part."
I laughed a little self-consciously. He was certainly more daring than I. Some might say foolish.
"There's nothing like being in the middle of a downpour, lightening flashing all around you.. It's like you're lost, forsaken. It's surreal."
I wanted to hug him, but for some reason I felt kind of shy and hesitant. Sometimes I didn't know who he was, what he wanted, how he would respond. So I just stood across from him, my arms folded.
He went into the living-room, and I followed him. Paul was at work. Maybe we could watch something together.
I wanted to tell him about Margaret, that we'd had lunch together. But what would that even mean to him? It mattered to me, but it didn't matter to him.
I wanted to tell him about the experience I'd had in the garden, but I needed the right setting for that. The right feeling. So I said nothing.
He sat on the couch, drinking his beer and looking out the window. I sat next to him.
"I watched the storm, right out this window. It was awesome.
"I was out in the garden when it started. Big raindrops, splatting on my arms.
"I was...watering the garden."
He put his arm around me and pulled me close. His hand absentmindedly wandered over my arm, my side, my thigh. He scratched with his fingernails along the material of my dress. I put my legs up and to the side on the couch. He pulled the material of the dress up, gently scratching the skin of my upper thigh. It started to feel warm. It was like striking a match.