Free Clear as Day by Babette James

really lovely. So different. I mean I have seen pictures of Oregon before, but I never thought of actually living there.”
    Please, please think about it now .
    ****
    Why, oh why, did the house have to be so perfect?
    Supper rolled in Kay’s stomach along with a large dose of guilt. She hadn’t missed the yearning in Nate’s eyes and voice as he showed off his dream house.
    Oh, he’d kept all the talk light and easy, but she couldn’t deny his inflections at the rooms that pulled his emotions. Was it good or bad that she could see the house as Nate must, that the bones of the place were perfect?
    Yeah, the house was a handy-man special, old and worn. Every room needed paint and new flooring, and the light fixtures were dated and not in a pleasant, quaint way. The kitchen needed gutting and all the appliances replaced. The red guest bathroom looked like an Old West bordello with the flocked wallpaper and fake-gilt Rococo chandelier, cracking everyone up.
    But the house was beautiful. Perfect. She bit her tongue against the flood of ideas and the intense craving to see them happen, make them happen.
    Nate took the teasing of the guys in good stride as they dug their teeth into discussing sheetrock, electrical outlets, windows, and a load of other remodeling issues. “You’re all invited to a strip-and-fill-a-dumpster party over the Labor Day weekend.”
    Dave shook on it. “If I can get the days, it’s a deal. Lloyd, you bring the tools. I’ll bring the beer.” He leaned back in his chair, stretched contentedly, and patted his belly. “Great supper, everyone. Now if we just had some of your mom’s cherry pie, Nate, life would be perfect.” He grinned, teeth flashing. “Best stuff in the world, Mrs. Quinn’s pies. Saved my life way back in high school.”
    “Saved your GPA, more like it.” Lloyd laughed. “Damn, but I love her apple pie.”
    “You’ll have to settle for my chocolate chip cookies.” Patti passed him the container.
    Nate snatched the cookie container before Dave could take it from Lloyd and waved it out of Dave’s reach. “Stuffing you full of pie was the only thing Mom could find to keep you in your seat and do your homework short of duct tape.”
    After their jolly crew finished dish duty, daylight eased into a quiet sunset, the lanterns and citronella candles were lit, and chatter flowed and ebbed until a change in music led to more dancing, singing and laughter.
    Dave brought out his guitar and proved whatever he’d done to his hand hadn’t affected his playing as he picked skillful chords along with the soft music. Sometimes he joined in singing along, his rough-edged deep harmony compelling.
    The time-warp playlists of music Dave and Lloyd brought on these trips always amused Kay. Back home, Lloyd listened to contemporary country and rock and Dave’s tastes ran from Metallica to Mozart, but they left that all behind when they came to the river.
    Lloyd danced with JoAnn to Coltrane and Hartman’s “My One and Only Love,” with the look in their eyes between them the same as when they’d danced to that song at their wedding reception seven years ago. The song ended and they stayed in their embrace, oblivious to the change in tune and tempo. Lloyd caressed JoAnn with his big, rawboned carpenter’s hands, whispering into her ear, and JoAnn’s face radiated utter bliss. They laughed quietly together and kissed. JoAnn caught his scruffy face in her hands. “I love you.”
    The weird sense she was watching a film in a foreign language struck Kay. Tears stung her eyes and she had to turn away. Damn it, she needed subtitles.
    The music shuffled into the first notes of Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night.” R.J. pulled Olivia from her seat, breaking off her conversation with Patti and Mark. Her yearning smile as she wrapped her arms around her husband was painful to witness.
    “There’s our song.” Nate murmured low in her ear, saving her from the bitter whispers of the past the