CHAPTER 18

Cara insisted on driving. Her car was bigger and newer than mine, but rather than a restaurant she drove us first to a Mercedes dealer. I looked at several cars and, while the styling and performance were impressive, the prices weren't. Why anyone would pay $175,000 for a car that has "options" that cost an additional ten to twelve thousand was more than I could comprehend. We wasted an hour there before stopping by an Italian restaurant in Smithtown. Heads turned when we entered, but I doubted that anyone even noticed me.

Lunch was good and fun. Sitting between Cara and Sara was…well, it was as informative as it was interesting. Their hands roamed all over my body even as other patrons looked on. I could see the envy in the eyes of some of the men and the anger as many of the women saw their husbands paying us so much attention. One thing I did learn—Sara clearly knew as much about me as Cara did. She knew all about my university experiences and almost as much about my relationship with Daisy. She laughed crazily when she repeated the story of driving Daisy and her asshole boss down the streets of Kings Park.

After lunch Cara drove us to a BMW dealer where the prices were better, but not much. Once again, items that I thought should be included cost thousands extra. I did buy a new car that afternoon, but not a BMW and certainly not a Mercedes. I bought a Toyota SUV—a Highlander that, not surprisingly, included virtually everything anyone could want in a car. They even took my Civic in trade, sight unseen, after I described it to them—mileage and body condition. I wrote a personal check, telling the salesman that I wouldn't need the car until Wednesday at the earliest. My check would clear by Tuesday at the latest. I agreed to drop off the Civic Sunday afternoon and rent a car until Wednesday when Cars could drive me to the dealer.

"For a brilliant scientist and businessman, John, you don't have much imagination. Why don't I drive you to and from work? I could stay overnight with you."

"I appreciate the offer, but I'll probably be dead from lack of sleep if you do."

Sara looked at me coyly as she said, "There are worse ways to go." I couldn't help myself. I laughed like crazy until I couldn't laugh any longer.

"I'll still need a car to visit some local clients."

"Does that mean I can't stay over?" I agreed we'd talk about it tonight.

Cara drove us back to the office so we could pick up Sara's car. I was surprised when she said she was leaving us. "We did this so you and Sara could get to know each other and see if something develops between you. For that you need to spend some time together and alone. I recognize a third wheel when I see one." She hugged her sister then came to me. We hugged and she kissed my cheek. "I'll always treasure our time together, John. Maybe we'll be able to do it again."

"I look forward to it, Cara. You're almost one of a kind and you would be if not for Sara. I'll always love you no matter what happens." I hugged her back then kissed her forehead and let her go. Sara held my hand as she drove away. We followed a few minutes later in her car, a small Subaru SUV.

"You know that Cara joined the Army after graduating. I did, too. We needed the GI Bill to pay for college although I got most of my training while I was in the service. I'm a medical imaging specialist. I run all of the equipment at Good Samaritan in West Islip. I love the work, but sometimes my hours can be crazy. I usually work four twelve-hour days a week—seven to seven—sometimes from morning to night and sometimes the opposite. We never have two days alike.

"There are some really good times, but there are also some that are just horrible like car crashes or boat accidents or especially injured children. It takes a while to get used to people dying, but it's great when you know you've helped someone." She followed the same route I had last night and soon enough we were back at the house. It was a balmy evening so we sat outside in the backyard on the bluff overlooking Long Island Sound.

Long Island was created ages ago by two glaciers that pushed sand and rocks down from New England before receding. The first glacier formed the south fork in Suffolk County that included the Hamptons and Montauk. The second formed the north fork that ended at Orient Point. Just like at the beach when you push your hand through the sand, high cliffs or bluffs more than a hundred feet high were left when the glaciers melted. That also accounts for the billions of rocks on Long Island's north shore. Most are just pebbles, but some are as big as thirty feet in diameter.

We sat tonight in the lawn swing, my arm around Sara's shoulders. She eagerly snuggled in close then turned her head and we kissed. It was just as wonderful as the kisses had been last night and early this morning. We kept at it until Sara rose and pulled me up, telling me that we needed to put the sheets and comforter into the dryer. Damn, but I had forgotten all about that.