Halcyon Days: Chapter 32 (Patreon)

With our backs to the room Mei and I ignore the stares and whispers and settle into our second date. This time I am not eager to fill the gaps in our banter with nervous chatter. I was learning that the spaces were not empty, the pauses not simply dead air, they were a chance to center our own thoughts thoughts before sharing them. It was such a little thing and yet, for a blabbermouth like me, it was a revelation. Slowing things down, allowing the conversation to breathe, allowed my defenses to come down. With Mei I didn’t have to perform, I didn’t have to pretend. Even better, it allowed me to enjoy the more subtle forms of communication that my talking usually distracted from. Dark, smiling eyes glancing my way, hands nervously rubbing the fabric of a dress, the subtle shift of weight to lean closer, there were novels being written without a word spoken.

The comfortable silence is broken as Otis brings us our beers, served in old fashioned pub style dimple mugs. Mei stares at hers a moment then, with a guilty sigh now that the jig was up, pushes hers over to me. “A tea please, Otis. The usual.”

“One green tea, coming up.” He smiles and heads back to the bar.

“Not a drinker?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I don’t like the feeling of losing control. And that stuff tastes retched.” Holding out her hands she says, more a command than a request. “Keys.”

“Hm?”

Nodding toward the two foamy pints in front of me. “You’re not driving after pounding those down back to back. Keys.”

With a smirk I surrender my car keys then take a looooong pull from my beer. Chug, chug, chug. As Mei sits there looking at me like I’d just grown a second nose I steadily down the entire pint in big, thirsty gulps. After draining it right to the foam I bring the mug back down with a whump, wipe my lips, then cover my mouth as I let out the inevitable belch.

Half amused and half aghast Mei says. “Was that supposed to impress me?”

“Did it?”

“No.”

“You’re the one who wanted to speedrun our date. I’m just doing what I’m told.”

A giggle escapes her, quickly covered up, before she brushes her fingers along the side of my hand. “An obedient man? So they do exist. Lucky me.” Her tongue wets her full lips, slowly and sensually. “But let’s not rush through it too much though, hm?”

The wan fluorescent lighting of the old Legion sparkle like a constellation in her dark eyes as she gazes into me. For a moment time freezes as my head spins, and it had nothing to do with the beer I’d just chugged. Mei, lightly nibbling her bottom lip, holds my stare, an eternity in an instant, allowing me a glimpse of the incandescent desire that raged behind her cool facade. She was nervous, really nervous, as anxious as any virgin would be, but overcoming that trepidation was the strength and confidence of a woman who knew exactly what she wanted. I’d seen this all last night but things were different now. We’d had our first kiss, her secret had been shared and kept, and she’d had 24 hours to bolster her courage. That combination of adorable innocence paired with sexy self-assurance was…irresistible! And when she glances over her shoulder, reminding herself that we were under the watchful eyes of Yeye and his crew, and pulls her hand away from mine to nervously tuck a strand of hair behind her ear I absolutely melt. I’d been with more women than I could remember but there was something about this one that had me feeling that I was doing this all for the very first time as well.

“Did you have a good day, Dusty?” She asks, trying to bring the energy back down to earth before we started making out right in front of the old folks. “Your father wasn’t troubling you again I hope.”

“Nah. He’s fine. He’s used to my misadventures by now.” I wave it off. “I had a great day actually. Really great. Barb, it turns out, is the best boss in the world.” For a moment I consider sharing with Mei what I’d discovered in the shed, just for a laugh, but it didn’t feel right. That was Barb’s business. Just yesterday I might have let it slip but talking slower, more thoughtfully, also allowed me realize before it was too late that if anybody in this town knew the value of a secret it was Mei. How untrustworthy would I appear if I was blabbing about Barb’s past while expecting to remain in Mei’s confidence. Someday, if I was lucky, we might have the kind of relationship where everything was shared between us, the kind of relationship I’d only heard about. But not yet. I continue. “Practice was everything I ever wanted in a team. That was so damn fun.” After a beat I add. “I doubt we’ll win a single game mind you.”

“Another year, another perfect record for the Honeybees.” She chuckles.

Cutting through the music comes a quip from the opposite corner. “Mei laughed! Ray, you seeing this?”

As she cringes she mutters again. “He wasn’t supposed to be here. I’m sorry, Dusty.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I say softly, laying my hand on hers. “Ignore them, Mei.”

Taking a deep breath she smiles, the tension easing in her shoulders. With a little self-deprecating sigh she says. “Everybody thinks I don’t have feelings just because I don’t laugh my head off at every lame joke.”

“They’re wrong.” I say. “They are so wrong. You have feelings. Deep feelings. They just don’t have the eyes to see them.” Again we share another gaze, again our electric desire sizzles the air between us.

“Your green tea.” Otis shatters the moment as he places a cup and little metal teapot on the tabled. Mei pulls her hand away, straighting her coat as we both catch our breath. Oblivious to what he’d just done he pours her a tea and sets down the pot. “Food won’t be long.” With a look of surprise he picks up my empty mug. “Thirsty!”

“Otis.” Mei says without looking away from me.

“Yeah?”

“Could you make that platter to go?” She glances my way. “We’ve decided to make it a picnic.”

Looking over to Raymond he then gives her a big nod and another cheesy wink as he states the obvious. “No fun having gramps watching over you, huh? Got it, Mei.”

As Otis heads back to the kitchen I quip. “I love picnics.”

“And I love not having a room full of chaperones.”

“I like that too.” I nod toward Raymond. “You’re close with him. He’s protective. That’s sweet.”

She looks back toward her grandpa then to me. “He’s always looked out for me.” After a moment she adds. “I think he feels responsible.”

“Responsible?”

Mei hesitates, weighing up how much to say, before letting it out. “Grandma was different too. Like me.” She says in soft and vulnerable tone, showing me a trust I hadn’t yet earned but one I would cherish. “Some in our family blame him for bringing the mutation into our bloodline.” Though she was vague in that use of ‘some’ I had no doubt that her mom and dad were among that lot. “She died not long before I was born. I think I remind him of her. I think he feels guilty that I had to bear her secret alone, like it’s his fault.”

“Mei.” I say. “He loves you. I saw you two together for only a couple minutes and it was so obvious. I didn’t see guilt, I saw a grandpa who loved his granddaughter.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

“I’m not just saying it.” I say. “So it’s a hereditary thing. Your secret.”

“Mm.” She nods. “I think so anyway. It’s all hush-hush. The secret that can’t be told.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.” She says softly. “It’s just how it is. We just want to be left alone. At least I do.”

“We?”

“There’s more of us.” She leans back and slowly spins the cup in its saucer, staring at the steam rising off of it. “I’ve never met any others but I know there’s one south of here. Or used to be. Her name’s Winona. She moved out west awhile back, actually escaped South Dakota. Lucky woman. She got married to a super nice guy. Runs her own business now, a garage. Her grandma Marie comes into the store from time to time to give me updates. Marie’s such a kind woman, wise too, I imagine Winona must be the same.”

“If you never met this Winona how did you find out about her?”

“Marie.” She says. “I don’t know how but she saw right through me the first time we met. She was passing through Halcyon and came by the shop. She saw me and she just knew.” Taking a sip of her tea she continues. “I don’t see her often but it’s a treat when I do. It’s so nice to be able to talk about things openly with somebody. Someone who at least sort of understands. Marigold tries but…” She sighs. “She tries, and I love her for accepting me, but she doesn’t get it. Grace didn’t either. How could she?” I sit bewitched as Mei spoke. For a woman so guarded, who kept her feelings bottled up, when she did speak it was with admirable openness and bravery. “I’m hoping to go out to Ehkolie with Marie to meet Winona someday. But just knowing she’s out there thriving gives me hope. She inspires me even though I’ve never met her.” Taking a big breath of air she lets it out all at once. “I can’t believe I’m telling you all this.” Shaking her head she says. “I barely even know you!”

“You said it yourself, it’s nice to be able to talk to somebody.” I smile. “I’m really enjoying getting to know you, Mei.”

“Same.” She says…before we fall silent as another soul gripping gaze takes hold.

A voice far off, from another world, echoes our way. “Food’s ready! All bagged up for ya, Mei.”

“Dusty.” She whispers.

“Yeah?”

“You think you can speedrun that second beer quicker than the first?”

My smile grows. “Just watch me.”

Chapter 33