Excerpt from Chapter 10:
Their day alone had that hint of cool that serves as a reminder that fall comes early to the mountains. All the fledgling birds had left their nests and the wild flowers along the roadside had gone to seed. Soon also, these vacation days would be at an end and, with them, the final moments of what in some respects was a temporarily recaptured adolescence. Each, in his or her way, clung to the images of high school and of that idealized love which can haunt the memory and block growth into the fullness of adulthood.
Eager to fill the void created by unexpected and potentially awkward hours together, Janet suggested to Dennis that they clean the house in an effort to leave it as they had found it. She put the surprised and inexperienced young priest to work with a dry mop in the bedrooms while she used a wet mop on the kitchen floor. Dennis could hear Janet singing while she worked, a French song that echoed a long ago high school concert.
When she was satisfied that the house was clean enough, Janet called out to Dennis who was burying trash in the yard, Lets go wade in the river. Her face and arms glowed with perspiration after the nearly two hours of exertion.
Having taken off her shoes for the short walk through the weeds, Janet stumbled over a stone, exclaiming Ouch! That hurt.
Feeling lighthearted, Dennis laughed and said, Here, clumsy, take my hand.
Although momentarily startled by the uncharacteristic familiarity, Janet took the outstretched hand and felt it tighten around her own.
You know, she said, as they continued towards the water, Im reminded of the story of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper. When Peter objected, Jesus told him: If I do not wash you, you will have no part with me. Then Peter said, Well then, not just my feet but also my hands and my head. And the Lord replied, He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet and he is clean all over.
Dennis was surprised that Janet remembered this story but she explained that she had attended Holy Week services in the Hartford Cathedral and that the bishop had washed the feet of some priests at the Holy Thursday service. Seeing the old man on his knees before the younger priests had impressed her.
When they reached the waters edge, lifting her skirt above her knees, Janet plunged in without hesitation and began to wade upstream, calling out over her shoulder, Come on. Dont be afraid.
After rolling up the legs of his pants, Dennis stepped gingerly into the river, feeling a shiver of refreshment through his entire body as his feet were bathed by the flowing water.
Like children, the two played in their primordial Eden. The sun, filtered through the trees, ignited in the water tiny diamonds that frolicked around the rocks for a second or two before being extinguished forever.
Playfully, Janet reached down and splashed water on Dennis. However, skipping away, she tripped over one of the rocks and fell.
Ah ha, cried Dennis, The Lord metes out swift punishment to those who sin. But, seeing that Janet was struggling to get up, he rushed to help her and saw blood in the water. She had a gash on her knee and, though the wound would prove superficial, she was momentarily stunned. Supporting her under both arms, Dennis helped her to the shore where he sat her on the embankment. There were tears in Janets eyes, not so much from any pain as from disappointment that the happy mood had been broken.
Kneeling in front of her, Dennis began to dry Janets feet with the towel they had brought from the house. All the while he kept asking, Are you sure youre okay?
Although she nodded, Janet felt embarrassed and uncomfortable, her drenched clothing clinging to her body, her hair awry and the blood trickling down her leg. Abruptly, she stood up, determined to run up to the house and change. Her foot caught on her skirt and she fell into Denniss arms. The dam burst; the tears flowed and she sobbed uncontrollably on his shoulder.
While Janet washed and changed upstairs, Dennis built a fire in the blackened stone fireplace, thinking that it would help to brighten her spirits as well as warm her body. However, it took several matches and considerable blowing to ignite the kindling. Nevertheless, by the time Janet came down, a bright if tentative flame greeted her.
How nice, Dennis. But the sun is too bright. How about closing the drapes so that we can see the fire better?
Good idea. Itll be cozier. The sunbeams will have to dance someplace else.
Dry and refreshed, with only a strip of bandage around her knee to remind them of the recent misadventure, Janet curled up on the sofa and said softly, Im sorry Ive been so much trouble.
Having placed another log on the now secure fire, Dennis sat down beside Janet, took her hand and slowly traced the outline of each of her fingers, starting with the thumb. When he reached the pinky, he reversed the direction, but when he got to the ring finger, he lifted her hand and kissed it.
Excited by his touch, Janet leaned closer and whispered, Perhaps, after all, the unexpected and unplanned can bring their rewards.
Dennis smiled, a slight flush rising to his cheeks.
Touching his hair with her free hand, Janet continued, I think it was a Greek philosopher who said that there are four elements out of which everything in the world is fashioned: fire, water, earth and air. At the river we had water and earth and here now is fire. There remains only air. With that, she breathed softly into his face.
Taking a deep breath, Dennis savored the air that only moments before had been in the lungs of this beautiful young woman. Janets lips were still puckered from blowing when Dennis tenderly brushed his own against hers. Then, pulling her towards him, he cradled her in his arms like a baby, feeling the warmth of her body against his own for the first time in a decade.
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