As she hung up the phone, Sandra sighed with relief. For the first time since her husband's death she felt she could face the summer months and know that she'd be able to keep everything under control. These last two years, she'd struggled alone as the grass and weeds tried their best to smother her out of her country home. She sighed again just thinking of how hard she and Gray had struggled to get the small acreage under control in the first place and had made it into something they had truly been able to enjoy. She glanced out the window at the manicured area around the house and noted that the spring flowers were still in full bloom.
This year would be different from the last two summers though, she thought. She'd have a man to help her with the heavy work again. And there would be company for the long evenings -- real live company -- someone she could talk to and with whom to share the evening meal, all the meals. That's what she missed most, she guessed, human companionship. She had just invited her young nephew, still in college, but off for the summer, to come and stay with her in the country for the summer. He was happy to come to Texas to visit her, he said. He hadn't wanted to go back to his parents' house for the summer and be subject to their rules again after tasting freedom these last two years at school. His parents were amenable to his visit also, thinking he would have the supervision that they wanted for their fledgling son without their having to struggle to enforce the rules.
Well, she'd better get busy, she thought. She had only a month to get everything ready to have a houseguest for three months. The time flew by all too swiftly and suddenly it was Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and she was to meet his plane at the airport at 3:00 PM. She made sure that the dinner preparations were under control. The meat was marinating in the refrigerator, salad greens were washed and drying, vegetables were ready for last-minute cooking. Then she looked around to be sure the house was clean and the necessary linens were at the ready. Why was she so nervous at this late date, she wondered. Young men of 21 were not particular about their surroundings, she remembered. Well, perhaps she'd instill a little appreciation for neatness and beauty into his soul while taking advantage of those strong young muscles to help her with the heavy work this summer. In exchange for his help with all this, she'd committed to paying his tuition for the next year at Florida State, where he was enrolled as a student. This wouldn't exactly be a salary such as he would earn if he had a summer job, but at least at the end of the summer, he'd have the money he needed to return to school. He said that the arrangement suited his needs perfectly. His parents were glad to have the assistance. It was almost as if he had a scholarship, they'd said, and they could handle his spending money so he wouldn't have to worry about not having earned it over the summer.
A glance at the clock told her she just had enough time to freshen up and drive to the airport to be on time to meet his plane. After a quick shower, she dressed attractively and even put on her makeup with care. She didn't want to appear too dowdy for this first meeting in so many years. Gracious, the last time she had seen Matthew, he'd only been twelve or so. What was it he said was his major? She couldn't remember for the life of her. Well, she'd get that out of him soon enough, by indirect questions so that he wouldn't guess that she didn't remember. Mustn't have him thinking she was getting senile already.
As she walked into the terminal half an hour later, the shuttle from Dallas was just landing. Right on time, she thought. We're off to a good start. Then he was there, coming through the gate, and walking straight to her and hugging her enthusiastically. Arm in arm they went to reclaim his bags and then began the drive home. Glancing surreptitiously at him as she drove, she was pleased to note the lean body and strong looking muscles in his arms. Yes, he'll do just fine she thought as she mentally outlined all the tasks she'd need him to do for her. No work tonight though. They'd just spend the evening getting him settled in and getting reacquainted over dinner and maybe a video afterwards. They chatted amiably as they rode the three miles to the house, about the flight, his last semester at school, his parents, and numerous other topics. It's amazing how easy it was to pick up the relationship after all this time. She'd been afraid it would be too awkward after all, but it wasn't. You'd think they'd only been apart a few months instead of eight years.
After enjoying the Texas style dinner she'd prepared, they settled down to an evening of regular TV fare as they continued to renew their acquaintance. She gave him a brief outline of the things they would have to do to keep the place under control.
"But time enough to show you all of that tomorrow afternoon," she said. "I'm sure you're tired after traveling most of the day. Just make yourself at home and get rested up. I've put a TV and VCR in your room if you want to stay up and entertain yourself, and there's a radio and alarm clock, too. Help yourself to any of the movies you care to watch."
He agreed that he was a bit tired and would enjoy showering and just kicking back in his room for the rest of the night. He kissed her cheek and thanked her again for inviting him to stay with her for the summer. Then he made his way to his end of the house and she retired to her suite at the other end. She hadn't set a time for getting up, although she was sure she'd be up by first light anyway. Let the boy rest this first morning she thought as she prepared for bed. He looked strong and healthy and she was sure the tasks she needed him to do wouldn't do him any physical harm. The quiet country living should help rest his mind too. She spared a brief thought to hope that he wouldn't be too bored with no young people around to entertain him. She decided that she'd see if she could introduce him to a few of her friends' grandchildren who were home from college so that he'd have some fun as well.
The next day dawned clear and warm. She brewed a pot of coffee and took a cup out onto the deck to watch the world wake up as she was in the habit of doing these days. Giving a thought to breakfast she decided to make sausage kolaches and eggs. When she finished her coffee she went back to the kitchen, still in her robe, and set about making the dough and browning the sausages. Then when she had them in the oven she disappeared into her room again and dressed casually for the day in a soft silk blouse, peasant skirt, and sandals, without hosiery. By the time she'd dressed and returned to the kitchen, Matthew had made an appearance and sleepily was groping for a cup of coffee.
"Good morning," she greeted him as she handed him a steaming mug of the brew. "There's sugar on the serving bar and cream in the refrigerator if you use either of them."
"No, just black," he replied, settling on a stool at the bar and sipping the hot coffee.
As she bent over to remove the kolaches from the oven, he appreciated her slim figure beneath the soft fabric of her garments. Even an auntie can look pretty good, he thought. He continued to study her as she completed the meal preparations and came to join him at the bar with the plates of warm food. Awake now and fortified, he considered the woman before him with whom he would live for the next three months. She was slender and apparently in pretty good shape, especially given her 50 plus years. Her hair was still mostly brownish red with only one or two gray hairs sparkling when they caught the light. Her gaze from the electric blue eyes was steady and clear and her skin glowed with good health. She really didn't look a day older than when he had seen her eight years ago, except for a certain sadness in her eyes that appeared when she talked about his Uncle Gray. She must have loved him very much, he thought.
Still, if you considered her as a woman, she was very desirable. He felt a stirring in his lower regions and was a bit surprised at himself for this. He wasn't that kind of a guy usually, but she was good-looking anyway. Bringing his attention back to her words, he realized that she'd asked him a question. What was it she'd said? Something about his schoolwork he thought. Well, he could handle that line of conversation without too much difficulty. "I'm majoring in psychology," he replied. "It's an extremely interesting field and there's lots of room for psychologists in the job market these days."
As they cleared the dishes from the table and prepared to wash them, he bumped into her accidentally, almost sending her to floor and would have if he hadn't caught her. He was surprised by a jolt of electricity that seemed to flash through him as he held her close for a second while she regained her balance. "Wow!" he thought silently, astonished by his feelings. "This may be more fun than I had expected."
Shaken but not disturbed, Sandra regained her composure and proceeded to wash the dishes and set them in the drainer to dry. "Had he felt that?" she wondered. "What was going on here?" She'd thought such reactions were long dead and gone. Well, that one had better go back to sleep quickly. It definitely was not appropriate here and now.
After the cleanup was accomplished, she poured them both another cup of coffee, turned off the now empty pot and invited Matthew to stroll around the gardens with her as she described what she intended to accomplish with his help. He willingly accompanied her, admiring the beautiful yard and grounds as they toured them together.
"This patio is really private, Aunt Sandy", Matt observed. They were sitting now in the chaise lounge chairs just outside the garden room, finishing their mugs of coffee and enjoying the morning air.
"Yes," she replied. "That's why we put the hot tub here, as well as wanting to have it close to the house for ease of use, especially in the winter. Of course, I'm not really sure why I've kept it now that Gray's gone. I never use it by myself."
"Perhaps we can use it together this summer," replied Matt. "It's a wonderful way to relax and cool off after working hard all day."
"Perhaps so," she replied. "Well, we'd better get cracking before the day gets too hot to be outside." With that they set the mugs aside and started on the schedule of chores she had outlined for them to accomplish that day.
"I hang hummingbird feeders here every summer," she told him as they returned via the back entry to the house, through the garden room with its spacious glass walls that looked out onto the rose garden just off the patio. "The same little birds come every year and they know exactly where to find them."
As the day grew warmer and midday approached, Sandy suggested that they clean up and drive into town for lunch. They returned to the house and each went to opposite ends as they showered and changed for the trip into civilization. They'd enjoyed a wonderful camaraderie as they'd discussed the work and Sandy was very glad once again that she'd invited Matt to visit her.
Refreshed, they hopped into her sedan and she drove them to a lovely cafe in town where they found cool salads to their liking and continued getting reacquainted.
"Do you remember when you were little, how you used to love to sit in my lap and have me read stories to you?" Sandy asked.
