It was Saturday morning and Megan stood at the door watching for a moment as Hunter unloaded long beams of wood from the truck. His muscles rippled in the sun as he worked and his dark hair hung over face. Two other guys were there with him, making a chain. She was glad they’d arrived and was trying hard not to get in the way, or pay so much attention to him. There was plenty for her to do in the house and she tried to turn her attention to that. The softer spring air had swooped in after the storm, and Megan wore a thin cotton dress, letting the light breeze blow in her hair. She waved a quick hello to the guys from the door, and then went into the kitchen to put up a fresh pot of coffee, in case any of them might want some.
As she worked in the house it was all Megan could do not to go to the back and watch them loading materials for the new roof. It was exciting to feel that her home would be re-built. It was as if the storm had blown away all that was old and unnecessary, making room for the new. The terrific winds that had shocked and whirled around her knew what they were doing, she thought. She wanted to be rid of old debris and damage and make the home her own now.
Despite herself, Megan looked through the kitchen window and could easily see Hunter carrying piles of wood, bending up and down with ease, totally focused on what he was doing. He moved with a natural rhythm, not a movement wasted, as if he were totally connected to the wood, the seasons, the moist earth. Megan stared. There was a silent, smoldering energy about him that stirred her deeply. She couldn’t remember being so drawn to a man in this way before. It must be all the lonely months since Kyle had gone missing, she thought. Megan was startled at the strength of her feelings, wanted to go out there and join Hunter, have him take a break, sit and talk.
As if hearing her thoughts, Hunter stood up straight, turned and looked towards the kitchen window. He seemed to be aware of everything around him, the weather, the sounds, people’s thoughts. As he stood and stretched, Megan watched him run his long, hands through his hair, look up at the sky, rub his foot on the ground, and then get back to work. He seemed so self sufficient, so utterly whole and complete, as if he needed no one. It wasn’t possible, though. There had to be some woman in his life. Had he ever been married? Did he live here alone? Thankfully, this job would take time. Everything felt different with him around.
The pot began percolating, filling the kitchen with the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Megan decided to bring out a tray of coffee and muffins for the crew. First she went into the bathroom to freshen up and washed her face, brushed her hair and put on some light make up. She hadn’t taken this much care about how she looked in a long while. Then she put on a bright blue summer dress, with a low cut neckline.
With the coffee and muffins on the tray, she first walked out to the big tree in the backyard where Hunter was working. The two other guys were down at the truck.
“How about some coffee? You’ve been working so hard,” she held out the tray.
Hunter stood up quickly and looked surprised. “That’s very nice. Thanks.”
Their hands brushed momentarily as Megan handed him a mug,
He paid no attention, just lifted his mug and drank it down quickly.
“The other two guys are at down the truck,” he said when he finished. “I’m sure they’d love some coffee, too.”
“Of course,” said Megan, feeling slightly rebuffed.
She’d wanted to linger there for another moment, but it was clear he was eager to get back to work. She smiled briefly and walked away down towards the truck. It was nice that he cared about his co-workers, she thought. It was also a relief that he was so straightforward and direct, not like Kyle that way. She’d been thinking a lot about Kyle these days, remembering little things she’d forgotten. Kyle would do whatever she wanted, tell her what she wanted to hear, but she could never depend on what he’d say to her. It would shift in a moment. Most of what he did was to mollycoddle her, Megan was realizing. Having Hunter here only intensified it, making her even more aware of how distant Kyle had been. She felt so different with Hunter around, right off the bat.
As Megan walked to the truck to give the other guys their coffee, a car pulled up in front of her home. Megan hadn’t been expecting anyone. She stood there, waiting to see who’d come.
Peter got out of the car as if he belonged here. Megan was surprised, after all these months, he took liberties now. He’d obviously come by to check on her and make sure things were okay. He’d been checking everyday regularly since the storm. Megan had told him that Randy was helping her get the roof put back on and Peter had been pleased to hear that.
“Randy’s one hell of a guy,” Peter had said. “Please call me, too, for anything else you might need,” he added.
“Of course I will,” Megan had said. She was grateful for Peter’s concern and friendship. She’d also been grateful to have more time away from him this past month. She’d needed it.
Now Peter came right over to her, and then looked quizzically at the tray she was holding.
“A little party?” he asked.
“These guys are working hard,” said Megan. “I’m bringing them some coffee.”
Peter raised his eyebrows. “Don’t remember you bringing me coffee on a tray,” he teased lightly.
“Come back up to the kitchen and there’s some for you too,” Megan said.
“I will,” said Peter. “Randy mentioned you had a crew here working on the roof.”
“Yes,” Megan said, her cheeks lightly flushing.
Peter looked at her more closely then.
“I’m going down to the truck to bring the rest of the guys some coffee,” she added.
“Great, I’ll go with you,” Peter added.
He accompanied her down to the truck as she gave the other guys their mugs. Then, they walked back up the hill and into the house together. Megan saw Hunter look up at them as they walked in. She flinched for a second, but pushed it out of her mind. Then she and Peter put the mugs and tray in the sink and started to wash and dry them together.
“There’s three guys here, right?” Peter asked, as he helped her wash the dishes.
“The other one’s out there behind the house,” Megan said lightly.
“That’s what I thought,” Peter continued, “heard about him.”
Megan was curious to know what Peter had heard, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. Her silence seemed to egg him on more, though.
“I’d like to meet him,” Peter said as the dishes were finished.
Megan felt irritated. “Why?”
“Why not?” Peter asked point blank.
“You’re acting odd, Peter,” Megan said then, putting down the dishcloth.
“Exactly what I was thinking about you,” Peter said, glancing over her forehead, out through the kitchen window, to the back, where Hunter was busy at work.
“Oh yeah, I see him back out there,” Peter remarked, scrutinizing him.
Megan glanced out the window as well. Hunter was working, oblivious to both of them.
“Think I’ll go out back and say hello,” said Peter.
“Why would you do that?” Megan didn’t like it.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Peter asked.
“Just curious,” said Megan, defensively.
“Listen, Megan,” Peter said then, “I hear this guy’s quite the ladies man.”
Megan swallowed hard.
“He’s got the all the ladies in Tom’s River in a stir. They’re talking about him, excited.”
Megan felt herself go cold. “That’s silly,” she said sharply, “just rumors.”
“Not rumors,” Peter continued. “I heard that the Pastor’s wife actually took herself down to the lumber yard to meet him on her own.”
Megan was surprised at how much that bothered her. She wouldn’t let it on though.
“So? The Pastor’s wife has a right to meet anyone she wants,” Megan defended her. “Why is everyone in town so obsessed with the Pastor’s wife?”
“You don’t think it’s unusual for her to go down to the lumber yard?” Peter said. “Come on, you’re covering something up. You have been since the second I got here.”
Megan suddenly felt furious with Peter. He was going way over the line, had come uninvited and was now snooping around. What business of his was this, anyway?
“It’s easy to get involved in something that’s way beyond you when you’re vulnerable,” Peter said more softly then. “Not only did you have to deal with Kyle, but then the tornado. That’s a lot for anyone. The last thing you need now is a ladies man hanging around.”
Megan resented every word he said. He spoke to her as if she were a foolish child.
“I can take care of myself, Peter,” Megan said, offended.
“Can you? I’m not so sure,” Peter looked at her.
“What are you implying?” Megan threw her hair back over her shoulders and took him on directly.
“I’m sorry,” Peter said then. “Maybe I went too far.”
“You did go too far,” Megan said. “Hunter is here to fixing the roof and anything else that needs repair. Randy sent him. I didn’t go out searching for him. I’m not desperate, like the Pastor’s wife.”
“I didn’t say she was desperate,” Peter came to her rescue.
“My impression is that she is,” Megan countered him quickly. “And, I’m not blaming her, I understand it. Some relationships drive a woman crazy. They can look perfect on the surface, but deep down, they’re poison, make you restless, nuts.”
“Is that what happened between you and Kyle?” Peter asked swiftly.
“I wasn’t saying that.”
“But that’s what you’re implying,” Peter was quick on the draw.
“I wasn’t implying anything. And my days of being questioned are over now, aren’t they?”
“Of course they are,” Peter backed down. “Sorry, I just want to meet this guy.”
“No,” Megan said staunchly, disgusted by their conversation.
“No?” Peter was stunned.
“No, you’re trying to make a fool out of me,” said Megan.
“Megan,” Peter tried unsuccessfully to take her hand, “that’s the last thing in the world I would want to do. Have I ever done anything like that before?”
“No, you haven’t,” Megan wanted to push him away, out the door. “But you are now.”
As Megan and Peter stood in the kitchen, toe to toe, Hunter suddenly came to the door. They both looked over at him surprised.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, “but I need to check the pipes in the basement. We’re not getting enough water out through the back hose.” Hunter was matter of fact, as though he hadn’t heard anything that was going on at all.
“Hunter, this is Peter Burns,” Megan said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to introduce the two of them.
Peter stepped towards him, and extended his hand. “How do you do,” he said.
Hunter shook his hand and nodded.
“Great that you’re heading up the crew,” Peter talked to Hunter as if he were a hired hand.
Hunter looked at Peter keenly. “My pleasure,” he said.
“I’ll take you down to the basement,” Megan said to Hunter then, “show you where the main pipeline is.”
“Much obliged,” Hunter replied, as Megan led him downstairs and Peter followed behind.
*
Once Hunter was finished in the basement and back outside working with the crew, Peter sat down in the living room, as if expecting Megan to join him there. She did not, kept fussing in the kitchen, wanting to stay as far away from him as possible. Hunter probably thought Peter was her boyfriend, Megan thought, or someone significant in her life. Peter hadn’t been so nice to him either. She’d been humiliated by that. Megan took the broom and began sweeping hard, trying to brush her upset thoughts aside.
After a few minutes, Peter got up and came into the kitchen, and leaned against a counter, watching her sweep.
“You’re not yourself, Megan,” he said slowly.
She stopped sweeping abruptly and leaned on the broom.
“Exactly what do you want from me, Peter?” she asked, point blank.
“That’s a big question,” he answered slowly.
“And I need an answer,” she pushed forward.
Peter tried to smile. “At this moment?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not the right time,” he answered slowly, calming Megan down.
She tried to get a grip on herself then. The wild fury of the crazy tornado seemed to have landed inside of her now. Everything felt topsy turvy. She felt impatient, and eager to get rid of all kinds of mess, not only from her home but her life as well.
“You’ve been a good friend, Peter,” Megan was trying to quiet down, gain perspective. “I appreciate all you’ve done. I appreciate our friendship.”
“Thanks,”Peter said.
“But, that’s all it is, a friendship. I’ve said that many times.”
“Yes, you have,” said Peter, “I understand.”
Once again, Megan felt he was mollycoddling her, didn’t really hear what she was saying. “There are limits to friendships, Peter.”
“I realize, of course,” Peter remarked, looking crestfallen for a moment.
Megan sighed. She wanted him to go home, wanted to alone here with Hunter. Being with Hunter felt like a breath of fresh air, no demands, pressure, or silent judgments.
“I just wanted to check in and make sure things were all right,” Peter said. “Nobody really knows exactly who this guy is anyway.”
“What guy?” Megan resented having Hunter referred to as a guy.
“The one I just met, Hunter.”
So, call him by his name, Megan wanted to say, but kept quiet. She didn’t want to inflame Peter further.
“I mean you’re going to be alone here with him and the rest of the crew for a pretty long time. It’s only smart to find out more about who he really is,” Peter went on.
Megan felt her face flush beet red. “That’s not for you to do,” she retorted.
“Of course it is,” Peter said quietly. “It’s my line of work.”
“Only if you’re specifically asked to investigate. No one’s asked you, Peter.”
“You like this guy?”Peter said, edgy now.
“I respect him,” said Megan. “He’s come here to help me. I don’t want his privacy violated.”
“You like him,” Peter corrected her, you’re acting like you’ve got feelings for this guy. I know you.”
“And if I did, would that be a reason to investigate him?” she asked bitterly.
“Absolutely,” said Peter. “The best reason I know.”
Megan turned away then, finished with the conversation. Peter got the message.
“Okay, I’m leaving now.”
“Fine,” said Megan.
“I’ll be back later though,” said Peter.
Call before you come, Megan wanted to say, but it was too much for the moment. She realized that things had already gone too far. Peter’s suspicions were stirred. He wouldn’t let go either, he wasn’t that kind of guy.
“By the way, Peter,” Megan said, as he was leaving, “why not give Angela a call?” Once again she thought how well suited Peter and Angela were. They were in accord about most things and were both lonely, too. It would take the pressure off both of them if they got together. It would take the pressure off her, too.
Peter turned and stared at her then.
“Angela’s relationship with Brian is going nowhere. She could be a perfect friend for you now.”
Peter’s face turned ashen. “Are you saying our friendship is over?” he asked.
“No, of course not,” said Megan. “But Angela could also be a good friend, and maybe even more.” Megan knew she might be crossing the line saying that, but it was important not hold back now.
Peter just turned around though, and left without saying a word.
Megan breathed deeply and ran her hands over her face, which was damp with perspiration. Her time with Peter had exhausted her completely. She was going to the sink to splash cold water on herself, when she looked up and saw Hunter standing there.
“Everything okay?” he asked her lightly.
“Yes, of course,” she replied.
“Good. Just wanted to let you know we’ll have to work later tonight than we planned to. About an extra hour or so.”
“That’s fine,” said Megan, “no problem at all. In fact I’m grateful.”
“Good,” Hunter said, turning to go.
Megan didn’t want him to leave.
“Wait a second,” she said then quickly. “If you’d like to stay for dinner after work, I’d be delighted to fix something for you. It’s been such a long day.”
“Thanks so much for the offer,” he said quietly, “but I’ll have to pass.”
Hunter went back outside then and Megan sat on a stool in the kitchen. She felt saddened. This was not something she would have ever done before. She should have never asked him for dinner. It was way too soon, came out of the blue. She was sorry she did it. But, in another way, she was glad. Things were clearer now between them. This was a business arrangement, and that was that.