Love Is a Canoe: A Novel by Ben Schrank Page B

here for a day but it feels like a week,” she said.
    “But if you truly settled here the days wouldn’t feel so long.”
    “That is nonsense. Savor the freezing weather that will come? I do not think so.”
    “I would love to build you fires.” He tried not to sound tentative.
    “I do not want to stay here, Peter. I want to go. We could build fires in San Francisco.”
    Peter didn’t speak. He took a mug of tea and sipped at it. He would have liked some scotch, but Maddie frowned when he drank. Everyone seemed to. He looked out at the dark lake. Maddie made a noise in her throat. She said, “Why will you not admit that you are tired of having people ask you to go for a paddle with them in the lake? I would hate it.”
    “That never really happens.”
    “It happens all the time. I have been with you twice when it happened! Remember at Gilmor glassworks? That was awful.”
    “They were just tourists. And it’s not my fault that Jessie Gilmor still likes to poke fun at me. It’s good for her business.”
    “It was not funny. Having our picture taken with tourists was not funny.”
    “And at Pantomime’s.” He smiled.
    “Yes, there, too! You think Arthur is your friend but look at what he does each time we are in the store! That is not protecting and caring for a neighbor.”
    “No,” Peter said. “I suppose it isn’t. But there’s not much business up here. We do what we can to take care of each other.”
    “Take care of each other? You think they want you around. But you are wrong. Henry wants to make improvements at the inn. He wants to be free to try again to expand to Hudson. Maybe even down to Rhinebeck.”
    “So that’s what you two talk about at your lunches?” Peter frowned and stood up again. “It’s impossible to make it in Hudson. The gossip from the antique-store people kills you before you can even open your doors. Henry should know that by now.”
    “Henry is friendly with those people. Why should he not try? And what do you think we talk about if not our plans? You sound paranoid and not very supportive of your friend.”
    “Please, Maddie. I don’t know why you can’t take it easy on me.”
    “I am trying!” She shook her head and looked away from him. “I am sorry. It is because life was so nice and new on the West Coast and here everything is the same.”
    Peter took her hand and said, “Do you want to eat? I could make us some soup and toast?”
    “Soup from a can? I have good food in the car. I returned home and before I knew what was happening I found myself cooking for you.” She smiled up at him. She said, “I will bring it in.”
    But Peter kept her hand. He kissed the tips of her fingers. He ran his other hand up the length of her arm and around to her breast. He heard her breath change.
    She said, “I do not like pushing you. But when I leave here and see the whole world I cannot help but return and want to take you along with me back into it! I am going to sell my house this fall for sure. Then I will go to San Francisco and all I can do is dream of what fun we could have there. You could write! You could, you know. It is being here that paralyzes you.”
    “Can’t you leave that alone?” Peter pulled away and waved his hands in front of him. “Really, we should have fun together. Not argue all the time.”
    “I do not believe you want me to leave anything alone.”
    He said, “I’m happy just being here.”
    “I do not believe that. I cannot be here with you, watching you growing old and doing nothing. I do not enjoy being so harsh but the situation demands it.”
    “We should eat,” he said. It was finally dark.
    “I will go and get the hamper from the car,” she said. “Tomorrow morning we can drive to my house and swim in the pool. I want to use it before I lose it.”
    The phone rang inside the house and Peter made no move to answer it.
    “Shall I?” Maddie smiled and went into the house.
    “Couldn’t hurt,” Peter called after her.