“I only remember the things I read in college that felt like porn. Ask me about Samuel Richardson’sPamelasometime.”
“The two leads should make love in a tidal pool,” Lisette suggested.
“No,” I said, “they should be arguing the whole time, and then they suddenly kiss, and a big wave crashes in the background.”
“And they get soaked,” Lisette said, “and get hypothermia on the way back to the car.”
“They get caught in a cave by high tide,” Paul suggests, “and have to cling to each other all night to stay warm.”
“One bed,” Lisette cried. “Only it’s a mussel bed!”
One thing that became clear was that Lisette, Paul, and I worked well as a little group. It was fun to be with the two of them, keeping the game going.
“Too bad Mark is missing this,” Lisette said. “He never comes out to play.”
“Should we go find him?” Paul offered. “He lives up in Torbay. We could drive there and ask around.”
“He would hate that. I don’t even want to know what he does all weekend,” Lisette said.
“Probably works on an old car, or an old house, or an old girlfriend,” I offered.
“Right? You’ve seen him put the moves on girls at the Puffin?” Lisette asked. “He’s shameless.”
“He does okay for himself,” Paul said. “Not quite sure why.”
“He keeps asking everyone until he gets a yes. That’s what you need to do, Paul.” Lisette turned her blinding enthusiasm toward him again, and he turned away as if to shield his eyes. “Throw yourself at women constantly!”
“Don’t I get another few months of being a sad sack?”
“Just promise you aren’t lying awake at night waiting for Trish to return.”
“I promise you I’m not.” Paul’s gaze on the horizon seemed a little too careful, too emphatically not in my direction. It felt a little insulting, somehow, the constant care about not giving me any ideas, like he was a movie star, and I was his eager intern whose expectations needed to be kept in check.
When I finally did catch his gaze, I smiled. “So what’s our ending for the movie? A big church wedding? What do you think, Paul?”
He looked a little wary at my tone and didn’t answer.
“Nah,” Lisette said. “Twist ending. They’re both spies and now they have to kill each other.”
When we got backto St. John’s, Paul dropped off Lisette at her new place and then drove me home. We sat together in the car for a moment.
“Well, thank you. Today was lovely,” I said. “All that island needs are a few more chain restaurants and it could really be something special.”
“You’re going to keep coming to improv practice, right? This Thursday?” Paul asked.
“Do you really want me to?”
“Of course.” He looked serious.
“Okay, then.”
He spoke again just as I reached for the door handle. “Wait a second. There’s something I wanted to tell you.” He took a breath. “My ex-wife…” The words came out of nowhere. I waited for Paul to finish the blow.…is the love of my life? …may be coming back any day now, which I’m desperately hoping for?
“…messed me up a bit.”
I nodded cautiously. “Divorces will do that.”
He shook his head as if I wasn’t quite understanding him. “So I’m trying to be really careful about…”
