The Gin and Chowder Club

“Seems like you just got eggs.”

“I had eggs a couple times this week, and I made a cobbler,” she replied, pouring two cups of coffee.

“I see that. I’m glad you left some for me,” he replied teasingly, eyeing the small piece that was left. “Hey, Sam mentioned that they’re combining the last Gin and Chowder with Asa’s birthday. Do you have any ideas of what we could get for him?”

Noelle’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know… I’ll have to think about it.”

Nate looked over her shoulder at the sports page. “Damn, I forgot the Sox had a twi-night doubleheader against Baltimore tonight. That would’ve been fun.” He scooped the eggs onto two plates, buttered the toast, and set the plates on the table. “Hope you’re hungry.”

37

Asa was up early. He had not gone running in days, and it felt good to run hard. The prospect of seeing Noelle that afternoon propelled him forward. On and on he ran. He noticed a woman sitting in front of the Fo’c’sle when he passed and wondered who she was. She smiled and waved, and Asa waved back. On his return, Asa looked up at Nauset Light and imagined how the bluff must have looked when the Three Sisters had stood guard.

After a shower, Asa wolfed down some of his father’s blueberry pancakes, grabbed his hat, said something about painting, and was out the door before either parent could ask a question. He stopped at the hardware store, apprehensive about what lay ahead, anxious for the inevitable first moment to be over. After making his purchase, he got back in the truck, glanced at the quart of paint, and, without knowing why, took his hat off and dropped it on top of the can.

Nate was just getting ready to run some errands when he heard Asa’s footsteps. He pushed open the screen door.

“Well, look who’s here,” Nate said, smiling and holding the door open with one hand while reaching out to shake Asa’s hand with the other. Asa still had a bandage on his palm, and he winced slightly at Nate’s firm handshake. “We were just talking about you.”

“You were?” Asa asked with alarm.

Just then, Noelle appeared in the doorway and smiled warmly. “Yes, we were. We’ve been trying to figure out how much to pay you for all the work you’ve done.”

“Oh, well, I’ve been thinking… You really don’t need to pay me-”

“Nonsense!” Nate interrupted. “You’ve earned it. And besides, what would your father say if I didn’t pay you? All he talks about now is managing those two tuitions. Asa, did you happen to keep track of your time?”

“Well, I think it was about thirty-five hours in all, but I was hoping to finish painting the window today.”

“Fine… fine… thirty-five, and don’t worry about the window. I’m taking a few days off now, so I can finish it up. In fact, I was just heading out to get the paint.”

Asa stood there, his mind racing. The only words he heard were heading out. He glanced at Noelle. She was leaning against the door frame with her arms folded. She was barefoot and had on a sleeveless turquoise blouse, unbuttoned at the neck, and a white skirt. She felt his eyes undressing her and looked away.

Asa thought about the can of paint in the truck and started to speak. “I already have… I mean… I already planned on finishing the window today-that is, if you’d like,” he stammered.

“Well, if your heart is set on it,” Nate said. He looked at Noelle questioningly. “So, the bank, eggs, and the hardware store?”

“You don’t have to get eggs. I have a few other things to pick up later.”

“Well, what are they? I can get them.”

Noelle went into the kitchen to get her list. Asa stood, watching and silently calculating the length of time Nate would be gone.

Nate took the list and looked at it. “Well, my dear,” he sighed, “if Asa wants to paint, maybe I should just go to the bank and the hardware store. I don’t want to tie up his whole day.”

Asa’s heart sank as he cut the calculated time in half and wondered why he had insisted on painting.

Nate felt for his wallet, pushed open the screen door, eyed Asa, and said, “That last piece of peach cobbler is mine.”

Asa nodded.

38

They listened to the tires on the driveway, and Asa turned to Noelle.

“I’ve missed you,” he said quietly, pulling her toward him.

“I’ve missed you too.” She felt his arms around her and began to lose her resolve. He brushed his lips against her cheek, slowly making his way down the curve of her neck before searching out the soft lips he remembered so well. She closed her eyes and let him. “Oh, God, if you only knew how much I want you,” she murmured.

“Well, how quick can you be?” he teased, sliding his hands under her skirt and pressing himself against her.

Noelle felt how aroused he was already and knew she was losing control. I cannot let this happen again! Finally, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him gently away.

“Asa, I can’t do this.” She stepped back, still holding his hands. “I can’t do this to Nate-and I can’t do it to you. I am so very sorry to have initiated it. I don’t know what else to do. You know I love Nate.” She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. “And, Asa, I love you too,” she whispered. She looked into Asa’s sweet summer eyes, which were full of sorrow, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

Asa’s eyes stung, and he squeezed them shut. He pulled his hands out from hers and wiped his eyes with his palms. He turned away to look out at the ocean. He couldn’t look at her, the pain and confusion were unbearable. His joy was plummeting, his hope and desire were crushed by despair and jealousy.

Noelle stood beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. “Asa, I will never forget the amazing night we had-it meant so much to me.” She paused. “Listen, someday you will meet some lucky girl, and she will mean the world to you, and you will forget all about me.” Asa’s shoulders sagged as the tears he could no longer control spilled down his cheeks.

Finally, he turned to Noelle. “I won’t feel this way again,” he said quietly. “And I will never forget about you. Don’t you see? You are the only one I will ever want-the only one I will ever love, like this.”

Noelle could not bear to look into the eyes of this boy whose heart she was breaking. She looked at the tears on his cheeks and gently wiped them away. He closed his eyes and felt the loveliness of her fingers on his face.

“What will become of us?” she murmured. She lightly traced his lips, and Asa opened his mouth to taste her touch.

Outside in the morning sun, the songbirds fluttered back and forth between the bird feeder and the brush that lined their small sanctuary. The finches scolded each other and dropped more seeds than they ate. The juncos were thankful for the finches’ bad manners, and the chickadees called cheerfully to each other. Presiding over the entire troupe, Mr. Cardinal perched high up in the oak tree and sang a song of contentment.

39

There was a line at the hardware store that busy Saturday morning. It seemed as if