Free Until by Timmothy B. Mccann Page B

in,” she said with a smile.
    â€œI’m getting ready to go, Beep. I poured the rest of the tea in the thermos, and it’s by the door. You’ll probably need it to stay awake today. Can I bring you something for lunch?”
    â€œNo, sweetie, I’ll be fine, but thanks anyway.”
    â€œOkay,” he said, and reached out his arms to embrace her. As he did, Betty dropped her towel and pressed her nude body against his. His kiss met her lips with sweetness as he caressed her bottom and said, “You know something? I already miss you, and I haven’t even left.”
    â€œI wish you didn’t have to go so early,” she said, with suggestion in her tone.
    â€œSo do I, but Ferguson is on vacation this week, and I need to make sure they got those orders out this morning on time. I mean,” he said, pulling away and looking her in the eye, “I could spare ten or fifteen minutes, but I never want to spend just fifteen minutes with you.”
    The words Evander? Do you know how much I love you? burst from her heart, came up her throat, and sat heavy on her tongue, but she would not allow them to pass her lips as she smiled.
    â€œBaby, have a nice day, okay?” He kissed her on both cheeks and then on the top of the head. As he backed away, he looked at her body, which glistened and begged for his. “I have to go, Beeper. I really do. Otherwise you know I would stay. Pick up that towel, honey, before you catch a cold, okay?”
    Betty stood, wet, motionless, and nude, as he backed up to the door and slowly pointed with a single finger to his eye. He then made the shape of a heart with both thumbs and index fingers and pointed toward her. As the door closed behind him, Betty knew for the first time that her foster mother was right. At that moment there was no need to say the words. She could feel it all over her body.
    In the steam of the bathroom, with the heart now fading from the mirror. With the tea he got up to make just for her on the edge of the countertop. With the memories of the seconds they’d just spent together and the towel nestled at her feet. She mouthed “I love you,” so quietly she couldn’t even hear the words. No man had moved her like this one. No man had made her shake and shiver without a single touch. No man had done so much just to bring her joy. While her foster mother would, or could, never understand, she felt her lips wrap around the words once again. “Evander, I love you so much.”
    After she backed out of the garage, Betty released the convertible top of her car and picked up her cellular to check her messages. The workday, although it was the weekend, had begun. Behind the gates of Royalton Oaks, most familiespulled out their fishing boats, started searching for antiques, or put up their garage-sale signs on this sunny morning. The smell of dew in the air would soon be replaced with the scent of fresh-cut grass. But enjoying the leisure of the weekend was not a privilege she would allow herself to indulge. As she drove, she glanced at her organizer and her fingertips slid down the to-do section. Betty then pulled out her favorite cassette, Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life, and fast-forwarded the tape to the song “As.”
    The sun gave hints of a beautiful day as the temperature was well above the average for the season. While the calendar said it was winter, it was in the low seventies that morning in spite of torrential rains the previous night. The nesting birds let loose in song as Betty drove through the gates of the neighborhood, headed toward the firm.
    When the track began, she put on her shades and burst out in song off-key.
    The lyrics were special to Betty because she hoped to find that type of love. Unconditional love. The kind of love she could feel comfortable with just as if it were her favorite childhood comforter or a cozy sweater. A love in which she could roll up and rest after a long