Quilt As Desired

'I'm sorry. I saw your car parked up by Pins and Needles, and I was on my way to the Rice Bowl when I saw you go into the video store. Randy and I were waiting for you to come out, but she got distracted by a rat back there,” He pointed to a narrow alley. “And you got by us.'

'What did you want?'

'I was going to offer a deal I hoped you couldn't refuse.'

'I'm listening,” she said, and reminded herself again that Sarah was right, Aiden was way too young for her to be having heart palpitations over.

'Okay.” He nervously rubbed his well-muscled left arm with his right hand. “How about I buy dinner, and then we go back to your place and watch your movies,” he said in a rush.

'You don't even know what movies I have in here,” she said as she held up the bag.

'I don't care. If you like them, I'll like them.'

'You mean to tell me you want to sit through an educational video on women and menopause? You are an evolved young man.'

'Very funny. I think we both know that isn't what you have in there. For one thing, you're not old enough.'

'You don't know that.'

'Yes, I do. My brother Marcel told me you were one class ahead of him in high school. And I do know my mammalian biology. By the way, he had a crush on you back then.'

'I was, and I knew that.'

'But you were a mysterious older woman who wouldn't give him the time of day?'

'He was a Star Trek geek who went around making secret hand gestures and speaking Klingon to his friends.'

'I'd like to think you were saving yourself for his charming younger brother.'

'Listen to what you're saying. When I was in high school you were in second grade.'

He closed the distance between them, and her breath caught in her throat as he gazed deep into her eyes.

'I'm not in second grade anymore.'

He cupped her chin in his hand and brushed his mouth lightly over hers. The touch of his lips shocked her to her core, but she didn't break away.

'You're definitely old enough,” she said when they separated.

'Do I get to come watch movies, then?'

'I'm not so sure that's a good idea,” she said and absently rubbed a finger across her lips.

'If I promise to behave myself?” he asked. “Unless you don't want me to, that is.'

'I have a feeling I'm going to live to regret this, but okay. You buy dinner, I'll show movies and we'll see what Fred thinks of Randy.'

Dinner turned out to be fast food Chinese take-out. Harriet dropped Aiden and Randy at his apartment so he could get his car then went on up the hill. She carried dinner into the kitchen.

'Fred,” she said. “This could be a big mistake. He's too young, and even if he were old enough, I'm not ready to consider getting involved with anyone. And frankly, Fred, I don't think I ever will be. Your daddy was it for me.'

She had filled two bowls with rice and was arranging the beef and broccoli on top when she heard a soft tap on the kitchen door. She opened it, and Randy bounded inside, followed by Aiden.

Randy was similar in size to a beagle, but shaped more like a shoebox. Her head was round and her ears small triangles that looked like they had been glued on as an afterthought. Her color was a tan-and-grey mix that was highlighted with bluish freckles. She jumped up in front of Harriet, and for the first time she noticed the dog's eyes.

They were the same yellow-blue as Aiden's.

She looked at Aiden and then back at Randy.

'That's weird,” she said.

'Not for her. It's not unusual for dogs to have white eyes.'

'So, you're the weird one?'

'Didn't your mother teach you to be nice to guests? Especially when they bring you dinner?'

'Aunt Beth may have mentioned something about that, eons ago when I was young.'

'Not the age hang-up again. Do you realize that if I were ten years older than you instead of the opposite we wouldn't be having this discussion?'

'Yes, we would. Ten years is ten years no matter which way it goes. Besides, no matter what our age difference, we shouldn't be having this kind of discussion.'

'You're not a lesbian, are you? I mean it's okay if you like girls, I just didn't pick up that vibe from you, and usually I have pretty good gaydar.'

'I am not a lesbian. I'm not an anything. I'm not on the dating market.'

'Oh, God, you're not married, are you? Do you have an estranged husband stashed away somewhere?'

'No, nothing like that. If you must know, I'm a widow.'

His face lost its smile. “I'm sorry. I didn't know.'

'It's okay, there's no reason you would have known. My husband died five years ago.'

'I'm sorry,” he said again.

Randy sensed the change in mood and instantly went to her master's side. He reached down and scratched her ear.

'How about we just eat and watch the movies and not worry about anything else,” Harriet suggested. “Here.” She handed him the two bowls and picked up the bag of movies. “What do you want to drink? The options are pretty much water or tea.'

'Water is fine.'

She grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and led him through the kitchen and dining room and up the stairs to the second floor, with Randy bringing up the rear. Aunt Beth had set one of the upstairs bedrooms up as a TV room-a burgundy leather sleeper sofa was oriented opposite a large television with a small side chair next to the window.

Aiden set the food on the large ottoman situated between the sofa and TV.

'This looks cozy,” he said. He pushed a fluffy pink afghan out of the way and sat down.

'It is. It's where Aunt Beth comes to unwind.'

Fred had apparently been sleeping upstairs and chose that moment to join the party. He didn't have much experience with dogs.

What happened next would have made a good highlight reel for one of those funniest home videos shows, Harriet thought later.

Fred came in the door and in one leap landed on Randy's back. Randy yelped and jumped onto the ottoman. Chinese food flew everywhere. Fred hissed, Randy cried, and Aiden and Harriet each tried to grab their respective pets. The cat jumped up onto a bookshelf, a clump of broccoli dangling from his head. The dog ran down the stairs, trailing rice as she went. The two adults collided and then rolled off the ottoman onto the floor in front of the TV.

Harriet found herself on top of Aiden. She looked down at the surprised expression on his face and burst out laughing. He smiled. She picked a clump of sticky rice off his eyebrow. He grabbed her hand and licked the rice off her fingers. Her fingers twined in his.

Aiden took her other hand and pulled both over his head. “Okay, you have me where you want me. What are you going to do now?'

Harriet's heart hammered in her chest. A shiver rippled through her. With a sudden movement, Aiden flipped them both over. He lowered his head and brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. She closed her eyes, and he kissed her again, questioning this time. She was shocked at her own eager response.

The kiss deepened, and Harriet lost all sense of time and place as his body melted onto hers. She felt abandoned when he finally pulled away.

'If we don't stop now, we won't be stopping at all,” he said and looked hopefully at her.

She blushed. “We aren't that kind of friends…” She paused.

'Go ahead and say it,” he said. “We aren't that kind of friends yet. That means