Under the Canopy of Love

A short story by Vanessa Wu.

Smashwords Edition.

Copyright © Vanessa Wu 2011.

Edited and published by Ambergris Books.

This story is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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Under the Canopy of Love

I had no idea that Eduardo had a crush on me until he made a lurid suggestion in the playground one day. We were both waiting to collect our children from Miss Ellingham’s classroom. We were early. The children wouldn’t be let out for another fifteen minutes or so and no other parents had arrived yet.

I had seen Eduardo half a dozen times only. Usually it was his wife who collected Emilia, their daughter. He was handsome with a good, solid body like a tennis player, and he had an engaging smile. He could talk to anyone and make them feel comfortable. Although we barely knew each other he looked into my eyes and sighed like an old friend.

“I’m so looking forward to the summer break,” he said. “Aren’t you?”

“Well, having Olivia at home all day won’t be much of a break.” Olivia is an only child. I love her dearly but parenthood is relentless and exhausting.

“No – I mean when they go to camp!” Both Emilia and Olivia had enrolled on a summer camp. They would be away for two weeks.

“I’m a bit nervous about it, actually.”

“Why? Has your daughter not been away on her own before?” Eduardo drew closer to me and his face creased up with concern. It was very attractive.

“No. This is her first time.”

“Emilia went last year. She loved it.”

Eduardo reassured me with a summary of Emilia’s experiences at camp. His dark eyes danced with pleasure and I laughed at some of the things he said. “Most of all,” he said, “it’s time off for us, isn’t it?” And he chuckled conspiratorially.

“I suppose it will be a rest,” I said. “Will you be staying at home or are you planning to go away?”

“Oh, I’ll be at home. It would be nice to get away.” His eyes looked mournful. “But Carla will be in Portugal for some of the time on business.”

“Portugal? Lovely. Couldn’t you go with her?”

“Portugal is too hot in the summer. Besides, someone has to be here in case there is an emergency.”

“Oh yes. Now you are making me anxious again.”

“Actually, I will tell you a secret.”

“What?”

He leaned in close again and lowered his voice almost to a whisper. His arm brushed my shoulder, sending a sudden tingle through me. “Last year I camped out in a site near the children. Because Carla was anxious, like you. So she sent me to be close to Emilia. Ha-ha! But there was no need! I was so bored!”

I laughed. “That is amazing. You camped nearby? Really? I have never heard of anyone doing that. That is so crazy.”

“Carla made me do it!”

“Well a man must do what his wife says.”

“I will tell you another secret.”

“What?”

“We are not married.”

“Really?”

“Still living in sin,” he said. He raised his thick eyebrows suggestively and smiled a wry, ambiguous smile that I couldn’t interpret. He was so close I could see the pores in his skin, which was golden, clear and slightly flushed. He added boldly, “Not that there has been very much sin of late.” I stared at him wide-eyed and his pleasant laugh caressed the space between us.

I was a little shocked. I wasn’t sure I had heard correctly and I didn’t know how to reply. The incomprehension must have been apparent on my face, for Eduardo continued, “I would never in the world wish for Emilia to be unborn but sometimes having an only child in the house impinges on adult pleasures, if you know what I mean.” And again his laughter softened his words and his dark eyes danced with meaning.

It was then he made his lurid suggestion. “I tell you what. Come and camp out with me in the field near their camp and I promise you, there will be no need for anxiety and nothing at all to fear. Not even boredom. Especially not boredom.”

I was expecting him to chuckle again but he didn’t. His eyes lingered on my body in a way that I couldn’t fail to interpret and then he turned suddenly at the sound of voices behind us. Other parents were arriving and our conversation was curtailed.

Until that moment I had never really properly looked at Eduardo. Afterwards, everything about him was burned into my memory. His words ignited my imagination. My feelings were set on fire.

At first I couldn’t believe I had heard him right. But he phoned me he next day. His voice was relaxed and familiar. “Have you thought about my suggestion? I wasn’t joking, you know.”

“I didn’t think you were joking.” My voice was dry and strange. “How did you get my number?”

“It is on the sheet for parents. Everyone’s number is on it.”

“Ah, I’d forgotten.” The school had distributed the numbers of all the parents in Olivia’s class. It was supposed to be for emergencies. Or networking. I suppose what Eduardo was doing was a kind of networking.