Down by the River by Lin Stepp

his. He shook his head a little to try to clear his thoughts.
    â€œI thought I saw you out in the yard,” he said, trying to sound casual.
    â€œI was deadheading the flowers.” She opened her hand to reveal the dead flowers she’d clipped from a clump of coral and white periwinkles.
    Jack looked around. “The place looks nice.”
    â€œThank you.”
    She wasn’t making this easier. “Look, I thought I should stop by for a few minutes to talk since my girls are spending so much time over here.”
    â€œOf course.” She smiled graciously. “Would you like to come up on the porch and have a cup of coffee? I can run in and get some. It seems too nice a day not to be outside while it’s so pleasant.”
    â€œYeah, that would be good.”
    Jack followed her up the steps, trying not to focus on the sway of her full hips underneath her skirt as she walked. He wondered if she knew what an incredibly sexual appeal she put out. Perhaps her husband had been smart to keep her close to home.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” she told him, letting herself in the front door.
    Jack had time to regain his composure and settle himself into one of the newly upholstered wicker chairs before she returned. She carried a wooden tray, and Jack stood up immediately to help her with the door as she negotiated her way onto the porch with it. The tray held a cruet of coffee, two colorful mugs, and a plate of small muffins. Hustling around her feet wiggled two small corgis who made a dash for the yard as Jack shut the door.
    Grace, catching a glimpse of them out of the corner of her eye, set the tray down and clapped her hands twice. “Sadie and Dooley, you two get back up here right this minute.”
    The two small dogs turned and obediently came up the porch steps.
    She gave them a stern look. “Did you ask me if you could go out in the yard?”
    They hung their heads like chastised children.
    â€œWell, then, you’ll have to wait for a while before you can go out in the yard again. Besides, you know I don’t like you to be in the front yard, anyway. The highway is too near.”
    She seemed to remember Jack was there then.
    â€œWe have a guest,” she told the dogs. “Go and say hello and then go lie down.”
    The dogs dutifully came over to sit in front of Jack and offer him a paw.
    Grace looked at Jack pointedly. “They want to shake hands with you if it’s all right. That’s how they greet guests.”
    â€œOh. Sure.” Jack shook each paw in turn and marveled to see the small dogs then go over to lie down on the porch right where Grace had indicated.
    Jack watched them, impressed. “They’re very well-behaved little dogs.”
    â€œThey were better behaved. It’s been a challenge teaching them so many new rules in a new setting since we moved here. We’re still working on it.” She leaned over to scratch the dogs’ ears affectionately and gave each a small treat from out of her skirt pocket.
    Then she poured out two cups of hot coffee. “I’ll let you fix your coffee the way you like it.” She gestured to packets of sugar and a small pot of cream on the tray.
    Jack fixed his coffee and then watched her stir cream and a half packet of sweetener into her own cup. He noticed she still wore her wedding ring, along with a milky opal on her second finger beside it. There was a bluish opal on her other hand and a ring circled with diamonds on her ring finger. Jack remembered her opals from before. He saw two more tucked into her pierced ears.
    â€œBorn in October?” he asked, making an effort at conversation.
    She looked surprised at his question and then smiled as she saw his eyes studying her hands.
    He sent an easy smile back at her and propped his feet up on a stool. “I remembered that opals are the birthstone for October.”
    She took a sip of her coffee. “Yes, and I’m fond of