Sam stayed comatose for a solid ten hours. When she awoke around seven, it was with dismay to see how late it had become. Regrettably, all thoughts of a leisurely soak left her as she settled for a hasty shower instead. She really didn’t know if she would be able to pull this evening off. How could she possibly sit over a quiet dinner chatting about pleasantries when she knew she was on top of the most stupendous revelation of her life? Or anyone’s life, for that matter.
Sam was seriously beginning to regret her earlier spontaneity when she heard the old VW pull in. What the hell, she thought. I have to eat sometime, don’t I?
Rapidly grabbing a sweater off the bed she ran downstairs to let Per in.
"Good evening, Samantha." Smiled Per as he clumsily handed her a tiny bouquet of May flowers.
At her astonished look, he said, "This is the traditional custom, I believe?
Flowers for the lady?"
Shaking her head, Sam took the straggly bunch out of his hands. "Anyone ever told you that you’re quaint? Where did you get these?" She carefully stuck them into a vase on the hall table that held a bright display of tulips.
Grinning from ear to ear, Per sheepishly admitted, "Your front lawn."
Taking Sam’s arm, he propelled her out the door and into his van.
"Buckle up," he said in serious voice, turning the key over, "I’m afraid my driving is not very precise as of yet."
Having sad that, he preceded to grind every possible gear searching for reverse as he backed the vehicle up, turned it around and roared down the driveway.
Gripping her seat with both hands, Sam was visibly relieved when, five minutes later, they pulled into the Blue Goose parking lot.
"Where on earth did you learn to drive?" She asked as she thankfully scrambled out of the bus, feeling bruised and battered by the short drive.
Rather than answer her, Per commented, "Isn’t it a lovely sky tonight?" Sam looked up at the twinkling stars that, with the onset of darkness, were just starting to make their presence in the universe known. Which one is it? She thought to herself. Would it be any that we could see from here?
"Shall we?" Prodded Per, as he held the restaurant door open for her.
Not only was the Blue Goose the best restaurant on the Island, it was the only restaurant on the Island. That is, if you didn’t count the hot dog stand that ran from June through the end of August down at the ferry terminal. The owners of the Blue Goose wintered in Florida and had just reopened for the season.
Consequently, Sam and Per had the place virtually all to themselves.
"The service here should be excellent." Stated Per, looking about at all the empty tables.
"Don’t count on that." muttered Sam, who knew the proprietors.
He really is attractive, thought Sam as she sat back sipping her after dinner brandy and listening to Per talk about his recent travels across the country.
She is lovely both inside and out, thought Per, as he watched Sam laugh uproariously at one of his stories.
After dinner, they decided to go up to the old lighthouse on Hockamock Head.
Through silent, mutual agreement, Sam drove. She peered hard into the darkness as they went past Happy’s property, but she didn’t see any lights on. Happy strongly believed in the ‘early to bed and early to rise’ concept.
"Have you met Happy Joyce yet?" She asked Per, as they settled down onto a grassy spot by the cliff. It was a lovely night. The moon had climbed just high enough in the night sky to send long, shimmering threads bouncing vibrantly on top of the ocean waves.
"I have," replied Per, "he certainly is .......... different." He finished lamely, for lack of a better word.
"Different isn’t the word," chuckled Sam. "I’ve known him my entire life.
Believe it or not, he’s the one who first sparked my interest in astronomy. If it hadn’t been for Happy, I might never have left here and pursued my career."
"Of course," she said reflectively, "that might well have been all for the best."
Suddenly, her face had that same fragile, withdrawn look it had worn the very first time Per had met her. Wanting only to somehow give comfort, he reached over and pulled her to him. After spending some time sitting quietly in the calm refuge of his arms, Sam disengaged herself and slowly got to her feet.
"Come." She said, holding out her hand to him.
"Touch me here," she murmured, guiding his hand to her breast. Her rapid intake of breath told him that he had found the spot. Per couldn’t believe his senses.
She felt so good under him. I could lose myself in this woman, he thought. Never before had he felt so completely connected to another being. It was as if he’s always known her. And as if she had always been a part of him.
Sam was fully alive now and terrified by it. So many conflicting emotions were racing through her thoughts that she felt entirely overwhelmed by them all.
Better not to think at all .... just allow yourself to feel, she silently told herself. It had been so very long since she had given herself permission to feel
..... to need ....... to want .....
Much later, Per watched as she flicked her ash in the general direction of the ashtray on the bedside table. "Disgusting things." He commented. "Why don’t you quit?"
"Okay," Sam agreed amicably.
"When?" He asked, surprised at how easy that had been.
"Soon," she replied, lighting another.