Burning Both Ends Of The Night

By: Lara

“Aaron Charles Carter, that is the most idiotic idea I ever heard,” Jane Carter snapped as she plunked a plate of spaghetti down in front of her younger son. “My answer is no.”

“Um, Mom? I love you, but I don’t care what your answer is.” His twin sister Angel’s eyes widened as she froze in mid-bite. “I’m eighteen…and I’m going.”

“Hey, Carters.” Nick walked into the kitchen, ruffled Aaron’s hair, kissed his mother’s cheek, winked at Angel, then went to the pot of spaghetti. “Mmm…spaghetti.”

“Nick, doesn’t Lara feed you?” Aaron asked, amused.

“Yes…and quite well.” Nick patted his stomach. “Obviously. She’s visiting her sister in Missouri for a few days. I’m a bachelor again.”

“Does her sister like Missouri?” Aaron asked. Jane frowned.

“Aaron…” she said in a warning tone.

“Does she?”

“I guess so.” Nick sat down at the table with a full plate of spaghetti. “They’ve been out there for about fifteen years.”

“So they like the Midwest…that general area?”

“Yeah…it’s quiet…good people…” Nick looked from Jane to Aaron. “What’s going on?”

“Aaron has some crazy idea about farming,” Jane told him. “Pass the cheese, please.”

“I thought you wanted to go into marine biology.” Nick looked even more confuzzled.

Aaron passed her the Parmesan cheese. “No…it’s not like that. You know Sebastian, one of my dancers?” Nick nodded. “He lives in Kansas…and he said there’s a woman in his town who’s trying to get her farm into production. I guess her husband died in an accident last year, and if she can just get the farm moving this summer…she might be able to keep it.”

“Aaron, you know nothing about farming,” Nick pointed out.

“My point exactly,” Jane said quickly.

“Sebastian said that’s not necessary. He said she just needs someone who’s eager to work. I’m a hard worker, and I’ve never really been to this part of the country. I’m going to college in the fall, and I want to do this. And I’m going.”

“What do you think about this?” Nick asked Angel. She looked up from her spaghetti.

“I…well…” she looked from her mother to her beloved twin.

“Angel, you CAN have an opinion in this house,” Nick said gently, then glared at his mother.

“I’ll miss Aaron to death…and I think it’s crazy…but he really wants to go,” Angel said softly. Aaron gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“See? Angel’s even willing to let me go.” Aaron rolled his eyes. “What am I saying? No one is ‘letting me go.’ I have the money to get there…I’m an adult now…I’m going.”

I went to work for her that summer/A teenage kid so far from home/She was a lonely widow woman/Hell-bent to make it on her own…

Aaron tapped his foot impatiently as the plane landed in Wichita. He was nervous as hell, but excited, too. This wasn’t something that was going to be given to him because he was a Carter. He would have to earn every dollar, every ounce of respect. And he was thrilled to death. He felt free for the first time in years.

His dark eyes anxiously searched the group of people outside the gate, looking for his friend’s red hair and skinny body. “Carter!” A voice yelled. Aaron turned his head towards the voice.

“Hey, Bastian.” He hugged his friend tight. “How are you?”

“Good. Glad to see you.” Sebastian picked up Aaron’s carryon bag. “I’m just sorry I won’t be around to see you more, but that study trip starts in a week.”

“Aren’t you sick of Europe yet?” Aaron joked.

“No way. This will be so cool. Going to England to study at Oxford. I mean…really!” Sebastian practically jumped up and down. “It’s only for eight weeks, but if I’m gonna major in history next year, this will look SO good.”

“So you’re done? Dancing, I mean?” Aaron asked as they found the correct baggage area. Sebastian nodded.

“Yep. I’m gonna finish my senior year in a real high school. No more touring crap. Even though St. John is about the most BORING town in America…but after all we’ve been through the last year, I want boring, you know?”

“I DO know,” Aaron said softly.

“You’re gonna love Mrs. Norris. She’s great,” Sebastian said as he started his beat-up but well-loved car. “She’s down to earth…not like most other adults…if you understand.”

Aaron liked to think of himself as a grownup, but he did understand what Sebastian meant. “Who all lives out there? On her farm, I mean.”

“Well…” Sebastian scratched his head. “I haven’t been there in a while. There’s this old guy, Nelson…he’s been with her and her husband since the beginning, but he’s getting old. A few of the kids from school help out now and then…but she needs someone full time this summer.”

“She knows I know shit about farming, right?” Aaron said anxiously, and Sebastian laughed.

“Yeah, she knows that. She’s nice, Aaron. You’ll love her.”

Sebastian’s car wove down the bumpy road leading to two barns and a nice-sized farmhouse. The house was old but well taken care of. Three pickup trucks and a small car sat in front of the house. Aaron got out and stretched his legs. It had been a ninety mile drive from the airport. Two large figures walked from the barn, followed by a smaller man.

“Hey, Sebastian.” A large boy about Aaron’s age looked him over. “This the city boy?”

“Yeah, Matt, it is,” Sebastian said, annoyed. “Aaron, this is Matt and his younger brother, Josh.”

“Hey,” Josh said with a friendly grin. Matt just stared at Aaron.

“Glad you’re here. Now I can go work somewhere else.” Matt turned and trudged back to the barn. Aaron looked at Josh.

“Sorry. He’s a loser. Nice to meet you.” Josh followed his older brother. The small black man that had followed him smiled broadly.

“Aaron, right? Good Bible name. My name’s Nelson. I keep an eye on things round here.” He shook Aaron’s hand. “Strong handshake. That’s a good sign. Well, I gotta watch those two. See you around.” He turned and silently walked back to the barn.

“Okay,” Aaron let out a sigh in the word. “This is gonna be a nightmare.”

“No, it won’t,” Sebastian insisted. “Matt’ll be gone as soon as possible, and Nelson and Josh will help you. C’mon.” He led Aaron to the house and knocked on the door. “Mrs. Norris?” he called.

“Come on in!” A female voice answered. The two boys stepped in the door, letting it slam behind them. “I’ll be right in.”

“Relax,” Sebastian hissed at Aaron. Aaron didn’t reply. He looked around the rooms he could see. It was a house that was lived in…comfortable…his own house didn’t look this happy and it was four times as full on occasion.

“Hi, Sebastian.” A slender woman appeared from the kitchen. She gave Sebastian a warm hug. “I swear to God, you’ve grown six inches since I saw you last!”

Sebastian surprised Aaron by blushing. “Just two, I think. Mrs. Norris, this is my friend, Aaron. Aaron, this is Mrs. Norris.”

Aaron shook the woman’s hand, looking her over at the same time she looked him over. She had long strawberry blond hair pulled back into a long braid, and her eyes were an inquisitive blue, reminding him of Nick’s. Her body was long and thin, and she wore faded blue jeans and a striped short-sleeved blouse, knotted at the waist. “Mrs. Norris…thank you for giving me this job.”

“Thank you for coming out here in the middle of nowhere, Aaron,” she said, smiling. “And anyone who works on this place calls me Olivia, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, unable to keep from smiling back.

“Let’s get you settled upstairs. I have a guestroom prepared for you.”

“I’m gonna get going. I promised my mom I’d be home for dinner,” Sebastian said. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Aaron. Is that okay, Mrs. Norris?”

“Of course. He’s not a prisoner here. Tell your mother hello for me.”

“Yes, ma’am. Later, Aaron.”

“Bye, Sebastian.” Aaron watched his friend leave and felt suddenly lonely. He didn’t feel that way long. Olivia Norris gave him the warmest smile he had ever seen.

“I don’t bite…I promise. And tomorrow you’ll be working too hard to be lonely.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, smiling back.

“Olivia…not ma’am or Mrs. Norris, okay?”

“Yes, Ma…I mean, Olivia.”

“Good. We’re gonna get along just fine.” Olivia led Aaron up the narrow staircase to the second floor.

Olivia told Aaron to get settled in; she’d call him when dinner was ready. The bedroom she showed him was small but comfortable, and it didn’t take him long to unpack his small suitcase. He smiled as he remembered all the bags he used to take on tour. He wouldn’t need any of that here. He had brought good work boots, jeans, tshirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, and a few nice shirts in case something would come up that he needed to look nice.

Olivia called his name about an hour later. He washed his hands and trotted down the steps. Nelson was sitting down at the small kitchen table when Aaron walked into the room. “Is there anything I can do?” Aaron offered. Olivia shook her head.

“No. I have it under control.” She set a bowl of corn down on the table. A small chicken was already on a platter, and Aaron saw a huge bowl of steaming mashed potatoes, as well as a loaf of bread. He sat down and Olivia put a tall glass of milk in front of him. “You’re still a growing boy,” she said, and smiled to show she was teasing him.

“Where do you live?” Aaron asked Nelson as Olivia got herself a glass of water and finally sat down.

“I have a room out over the barn,” he informed Aaron. “It’s like a small apartment.”

Aaron looked at Olivia in confusion. Why was he in the house when Nelson, a full time employee, lived in the barn? “Don’t start thinking about it,” Olivia said, reading his mind. “Nelson likes having his privacy out there, and it’s really a nice place. Running water and everything. Since you’ll only be here for the summer, I thought it would be nice for you to be in the house…and less lonely.”

“For you both,” Nelson said, frowning at her. “I don’t like you being in this big place alone, Miss Olivia.”

“Yes, Nelson, I know.” Olivia rolled her eyes and Aaron knew this was not the first time they had had this conversation.

Nelson said grace and they dug into the delicious dinner. Aaron hadn’t realized how hungry he was, and everything tasted wonderful. When Olivia brought out an apple pie, Aaron felt as if he had died and gone to heaven. “Miss Olivia, you outdone yourself,” Nelson announced, pushing back his pie plate with a sigh.

“This is a special occasion…a new friend,” Olivia said, smiling at Aaron. He smiled back. “But don’t count on this every night. By suppertime we’re usually so tired that I don’t make anything big.”

“But it’s always good,” Nelson said. He stood and carried his dishes into the kitchen. “I’ll be saying my good night now…I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow, young man.”

“Yes, sir,” Aaron said, smiling at Nelson. Nelson slowly made his way out the door towards the barn. “How long has he worked here?” Aaron asked as he helped Olivia clear the table.

“Well, I’ve been in this house for four years, and I think he worked for the family who owned it before that. He’s never had his own farm…totally content working for others. And he’s good. You’ll learn a lot, and he’s very patient.” She started running water in the sink to wash dishes, and Aaron picked up a dishtowel. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to,” he said. He liked being in the kitchen with her. There was a warmth and happy home feeling that he wasn’t familiar with.

“So…you sing, huh?”

“I like to think I can,” he said, and she laughed.

“Well, the way Sebastian talks, you rank up there with the angelic choir.” Aaron blushed and Olivia laughed harder. He liked the sound. “He’s a good dancer?”

“Damn good,” Aaron said before he thought. “I mean…”

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m not your mom. We’re all equals here. Swear all you want.”

“Thank you,” Aaron said, still embarrassed. “Anyway, Bastian is a GREAT dancer…but he’s smart. I mean, he’s good at what he does, and gets paid well to do it, but he’s all about school. I wish I could have finished high school at a REAL school,” Aaron finished wistfully, looking down at the plate he was drying.

“Did you like what you did?”

“I loved it…and my family was supportive…but I never felt I could honestly say, “hey, Mom, I want to quit singing.” She would have flipped out.”

“The rest of your family performs?”

“Well…Nick…he was a Backstreet Boy…now he’s married and working as a producer. My sister Leslie tried singing for a bit, but she didn’t really like it…she’s studying theater in New York now. BJ wasn’t ever involved in the performing thing…she’s a normal person, in advertising…getting married next year.”

“A normal person, huh?”

“Performers are NOT normal,” he told her, and she giggled harder.

“And I have a twin sister…Angel…she’s a model.”

“Wow. Impressive family,” she commented, and he sighed.

“Yeah…I guess so. None of that does much for me here, though.” He looked at her solemnly. “I don’t know shit about farming, Olivia. I hope I don’t make things worse.”

“You can’t make things worse,” she promised, her blue eyes sad. “Since my husband died…I’ve been killing myself to make ends meet. If we can work hard this summer…it might pay off. He loved this place…I love it…and I don’t want to lose it.”

“I’ll do anything I can to help,” he vowed, hating the sadness in her eyes.

“Okay, then…first thing you can do is get to bed. You look exhausted…and our days start early here.”

“Yes, ma’am…I mean, Olivia,” Aaron corrected himself. Olivia reached up and ruffled his blond hair.

“Good night, Aaron.”

“Good night,” he said shyly, and hurried up to his room.

We were a thousand miles from nowhere…wheat fields as far as I could see…Both needing something from each other…not knowing yet what that might be…

Five o’clock came way too early for Aaron. He was used to coming IN at this time, not getting up. He slapped off his alarm and clumsily pulled on a pair of old jeans and a tshirt. He washed his face and stumbled down the steps. Olivia had a huge plate of pancakes waiting at his place, as well as a smaller plate of bacon, a cup of coffee, and a glass of orange juice.

“Bedhead,” she teased, ruffling his hair again.

“Oh…I forgot to comb it,” he mumbled, digging into his breakfast. Nelson, who was almost finished with his own breakfast, smiled.

“You not a morning person, young man?”

“I’ll learn to be,” Aaron said, and Olivia and Nelson laughed.

“Matt and Josh should be here around six and then you guys can get started,” Olivia told Aaron. “Probably working on the barn. The second floor needs some serious work, and I thought that might be easier for you than going out in the fields right away.”

“Thanks. I have worked some carpentry before, but I don’t know anything about real farming,” Aaron told her, slowly waking up.

“By the time this summer is over, you’ll learn all KINDS of things,” Olivia promised him.

When Aaron forced his body to walk back to the farmhouse for supper, he decided he would bow down and kiss the feet of any farmer he ever met for the rest of his natural born life. Farming was hard work…and he hadn’t even gone out into the fields yet. He spent most of the morning pulling apart the floor in the barn, and the afternoon helping Nelson work on a tractor that had broken down. From what Nelson said, the tractor broke down on a regular basis, and Olivia didn’t have the funds to buy a new one. So Nelson tinkered with it, and by some miracle it had sputtered to life.

“You guys coming for dinner?” Nelson asked Josh. He shook his head.

“Nah…I’m going home, and Matt has a date. See you tomorrow, Aaron.”

Aaron frowned as he watched Josh’s brother impatiently hop into his truck and honk the horn for Josh to hurry up. The older boy hadn’t said three words to Aaron, and when he did, they were rude words. “Don’t you worry ‘bout that boy,” Nelson said, coming over and standing beside Aaron. “He’s just no good. Doesn’t wanna be here…doesn’t wanna work in general. But I heard him give his notice to Miss Olivia…this is gonna be his last week.”

“Good,” Aaron said before thinking. Nelson laughed and clapped Aaron on the back.

“My thought exactly. C’mon. Let’s get supper and get you into bed.”

Aaron almost fell asleep in his vegetable soup. He caught Olivia and Nelson laughing at him more than once, and he didn’t care. He was past exhausted. He carried his bowl to the sink, said goodnight, and barely made it through a quick shower before passing out on his bed.

A strange sound awakened him around two in the morning. He sat up and looked around. It sounded like sobbing. He pulled sweatpants over his boxer shorts and padded out of his room. He followed the sound down the staircase. He peeked around the wall and saw Olivia sitting on the sofa, crying into her hands. He tiptoed down and slowly walked towards her. She jumped.

“Oh…Aaron…I’m sorry.” She wiped the tears away, embarrassed.

“It’s okay.” He sat down and looked at her, hating the misery in her pretty face.

“I was just…uh…well…” Olivia looked down at the photo album in her lap. Aaron said nothing, just put a comforting arm around her shoulder. She buried her face on his shoulder and allowed herself to cry for about ten minutes. She finally pulled away, sniffling. “I’m sorry…Aaron…I just bawled all over you.”

“I’m not that sweet. I won’t melt,” he said, grinning as he wiped her tears from his bare chest. “Are you okay?”

“Yes…I was just…remembering.” She ran a finger over a picture. “Not the best idea sometimes.”

“How long were you married?” Aaron asked.

“Not long. Five years. It’s better now…a dull ache, really…but sometimes I really miss him. Miss the companionship. He was my best friend.”

“Sometimes I don’t know if my mom and dad even ARE friends,” he admitted. “I never see them go out, just the two of them. She’s so busy trying to run our lives that she doesn’t have one of her own.”

“That sucks,” Olivia said sympathetically.

“Yeah…it does.” He looked into her blue eyes. “That should make you feel good. You had more in your five years then I think my mom and dad have had in over twenty-five years.”

“True,” she said with a smile. “Thank you, Aaron. You’d better go back to bed…your alarm will go off in a few hours.”

Aaron groaned and stood. “Thanks for reminding me.”

She laughed through her tears and smiled at him. “Good night, Aaron.”

“Good night, Olivia.” As he walked up the stairs, he saw her looking at the pictures once more, but this time she wasn’t crying.

Two weeks passed before Aaron could get out of bed at sunrise without a problem. Two and a half weeks passed before he could fall into bed without groaning in pain. He thought he was losing weight, then he realized as his tshirts began to tighten that he was gaining muscle. He would inhale the delicious breakfast Olivia made, then hurry out to the barn to work with Nelson. Matt had finally quit, and Aaron worked under Nelson’s careful eye until he was satisfied that Aaron would be okay alone with Josh.

Josh was nice enough, and at times he reminded Aaron of Nick. But Josh had never even been out of the small town he had been born in, and his views were sometimes a little narrow-minded. But he loved hearing Aaron’s stories of the road, and seemed envious at times.

“You’ll have to come out to Florida to visit me sometime,” Aaron said one Thursday morning as they struggled to fix the old tractor. Nelson had caught a cold and Olivia ordered him to stay in his apartment. “We could go to the beach…check out all the girls in their bikinis.”

“That sounds awesome,” Josh said wistfully. He was two years younger than Aaron. “I’ve never been to a beach.”

“It’s SO beautiful. I love the ocean…I’m gonna study it in the fall…marine biology.”

“Wow. Impressive.” Josh leaned over and got a wrench from the toolbox. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Nah…never have, actually,” Aaron said shyly. Josh actually stopped working to stare at him.

“What?”

“I never have. I’m never in one place long enough to get to know someone. I’ve kissed a few…went on a few dates with this dancer we had for a while, but I wasn’t into the groupie thing.”

Josh shook his head. “Dancers…groupies…it sounds like another world.”

“It is, I guess.” Aaron sat up and leaned against the tractor. He looked at the sun. “I guess it’s almost lunch time…wanna go back?”

“Yes…this thing is pissing me off.” Josh got out from inside the tractor’s motor and kicked a tire. “Damn piece of shit.”

They chatted some more as they wandered back to the house. Nelson was at his place, looking quite the worse for wear. Olivia was ladling out soup. “I figured it would be good for Nelson, so we’re having soup today.”

“Yum,” Josh said enthusiastically, slipping into his chair. Olivia handed him a glass of milk and smiled at Aaron.

“For a Florida boy, you’re sure getting a good tan,” she commented.

“Well, I’m never out in the sun much during the time I’m home. This is a real treat for me.” Aaron dug into his soup.

“No…the treat is tomorrow,” Josh told him. “The girls are gonna flip over that beach boy tan and bright smile of yours, dude.”

Aaron stared at him. “What girls?”

Olivia slapped herself in the forehead. “Oh…Aaron…I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you. There’s a dance in town tomorrow night…nothing big and exciting, country music mostly…I was planning on letting you boys finish up a little early tomorrow so you can get ready. There’s a barbecue and everything.”

“And ALL the girls in town will be there,” Josh added.

“Even the old ones like me,” Olivia said, laughing.

“You’re not old, Mrs. Norris,” Josh told her, and she smiled her pretty smile at him.

“Thanks, Josh.” She turned to Aaron. “I figured we’d drive over together, and then if you were having a nice time and I wanted to leave, you could catch a ride back with one of the kids from town.”

“That sounds great,” Aaron said softly, returning his eyes down to his soup bowl. Olivia looked at him in confusion, then continued talking to Josh.

Later that evening, she stopped in his doorway and knocked on his door. He was seated at the small desk, writing a letter to Nick. “Hey,” she said. “Busy?”

“Nope.” He put the pen down. “What do you need?”

“Just wondering why you didn’t seem too thrilled about the dance.”

“Well…I know everyone in town knows about me…when you send me in on an errand they all stare at me. I’m like a freak here…and I’m afraid I’ll make an ass out of myself.”

“Oh, Aaron.” Olivia came in and sat on the edge of the bed. She impulsively put a hand on his arm. “You’re a very handsome young man. The girls will love you.”

“They won’t talk to me. It’s not like you guys live in a vacuum here. Not to sound egotistical, but I’m somewhat of a celebrity. They’ll point, they’ll giggle, but they won’t talk to me. Trust me, Olivia…been there done that.”

Olivia gave him a sad smile. “Aaron…take a chance. You don’t get too many…and sometimes the ones you do get don’t last long.”

Aaron got brave. “How did you meet him?”

“At a dance like this…but at college. It was one of those “get to know you things,” and my roommate and I went…and he was there with his friends goofing off…and next thing I knew our eyes met and he asked me to dance, and a year later we were engaged, and two years later we got married.”

“Asked you to dance…” Aaron groaned. “I can’t dance to this stuff. I’ve never even slow danced with a girl…I mean…when would I?”

“C’mon.” Olivia took Aaron’s hand and led him down to the living room. She turned on the radio to a country station. Luckily for them, a slow waltz ballad was playing. “Here. Put your hand here…then hold mine.” She moved their arms and hands into the right position. “Now, all you have to do is count to three. Most country love songs seem to be in this waltz time.” She slowly led him around the room until he had easily caught on. “Now you lead.”

“Me?”

Olivia smiled. “You ARE the man, Aaron. You lead.”

Aaron slowly put pressure on her back and before he knew it he was leading her around the room. She was smiling up at him, wisps of hair falling around her face. Her hair was down from its normal braid, and strawberry strands spilled over her shoulders. He was suddenly very conscious of her closeness, and of the way his hand settled on her waist. He felt the sudden need to pull her closer, and to his relief the song ended.

Olivia looked up, blue eyes shining. “See, Aaron? Was that so hard?” Her voice sounded strained.

“No, ma’am.” For once Olivia didn’t correct him. “I’m off to bed now. Thank you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek. She meant the move to be reassuring, but it was a gesture that made them both shiver. “Good night.”

‘Til she came to me one evening, hot cup of coffee and a smile…In a dress that I was certain…she hadn’t worn in quite a while…there was a difference in her laughter, there was a softness in her eyes…and on the air there was a hunger…even a boy could recognize…

Aaron studied himself in the mirror, turning from side to side. He frowned at his reflection. No matter what, he wouldn’t fit in.

“Hey,” Olivia said from the doorway. “Almost ready?”

“Yeah, I guess so. I just…” Aaron turned around and looked at her, forgetting how to speak. “Um…wow.”

“What’s wrong? Oh.” Olivia blushed prettily as she smoothed down the skirt of her flowered dress. The dress came to her ankles, yet accentuated every curve of her body. The neckline dipped low enough to be tantalizing, but revealed nothing. Tiny heart-shaped buttons ran from her breasts to her waist, and the sky blue that lay below the floral pattern brought out her eyes. The sides of her hair were pulled back by blue barrettes.

“If all the girls tonight look as good as you, I’m in trouble,” Aaron said finally. She laughed and blushed again.

“Aaron, you’ll do fine,” Olivia replied, walking over to adjust his shirt collar. As she fussed with it, Aaron could smell her perfume. “You look very handsome.”

“Thank you,” he whispered. Olivia’s fingers lingered at his neck, then she stepped back.

“Okay then…let’s go.”

“You look beautiful,” he was finally able to say as they were driving down the road.

“Thank you. I feel kinda silly…I haven’t worn this dress in forever. Actually…I haven’t been out like this since…well…” her voice faded away.

“Really? What made you decide to go to this thing?”

Olivia glanced at him. “I didn’t want you to have to walk in there alone.”

Beat up pick-up trucks and cars covered in dust filled the parking lot of the small city hall. Aaron couldn’t help but smile, remembering the Mustang convertible that Lara drove, the two or three SUVs that were Nick’s pride and joy, and his own black BMW in the driveway in Florida. He studied a piece of lint that dropped onto his black jeans.

“Ready?” Olivia looked at him as she put the car in park. “They won’t bite…I promise.”

“I just feel…”

“Like an outsider?” Olivia asked. He nodded. “I understand. I didn’t live here forever, remember? Some of them STILL don’t accept me. They don’t like that I’m trying to run that place on my own. I’ve learned that deep down they’re good people, just a bit…nosy.” She smiled and squeezed his knee. “Just be you. You’re way more than good enough.”

“Thanks,” he said. He flipped down the visor and checked himself once more. His hair was standing up all over, but that was usual for him. The dark green shirt made his eyes seem even darker, and that looked good, too.

“C’mon or they’re gonna think all you do is look in the mirror,” Olivia gently teased, getting out of the car. Aaron sighed and followed her.

Olivia was greeted with squeals of delight from many of the women by the door, and Aaron realized that what she had said was true…she didn’t get out much. They were all so happy to see her, playfully yelling at her for hiding herself away. She introduced him to them all, and while most of them were polite and shook his hand kindly, a few of the younger married women gave him an approving glance that gave him the shivers. He knew they weren’t much older than Olivia, but they were married, and they were looking at him as if he were a piece of meat. Olivia hooked her arm through his and slowly led him to another corner to introduce him to the husbands.

“Feel like a centerfold yet?” She asked. He stared at her, then realized what she meant. He blushed.

“Yeah…what was up with that?”

“They get lonely. The men around here aren’t the most…romantic…individuals in the world.” She introduced him around again, and his hand got shaken a lot harder.

“Hey, Aaron!” Josh walked over. “C’mon. I want to introduce you to…”

“Are you really Aaron Carter?” Three girls came hurrying up behind Josh.

“This is so cool! I love your CDs,” a second girl gushed. A third girl weaseled up between Aaron and Olivia.

“Let me get you something to drink,” she said, giving him a flirtatious smile. She put her arm through Aaron’s and began to drag him to the buffet table.

“And you thought you wouldn’t make any friends,” Olivia teased, laughing as the girls dragged him away. He rolled his eyes, mentally groaning.

Aaron made lots of friends that evening. Girls surrounded him, and he finally excused himself to go to the bathroom. Josh had introduced him to some of the boys, but they seemed jealous of the attention he was getting. He knew it would happen this way. As he returned from the restroom, he was happy to see that a slow song was starting, and one by one the girls were getting led to the dance floor by the boys. He leaned in the doorway, watching the couples gracefully move across the floor. He looked across the room. Olivia was leaning against the wall, laughing at some of her friends as their husbands unhappily moved them around the floor. He squared his shoulders and walked over to her.

“May I have this dance, ma’am?” Aaron asked, smiling. She smiled back.

“Are you sure you want your fan club to see you dancing with an old lady?”

“They’re not my fan club. And you are NOT an old lady.” He offered her his arm and she took it, smiling up at him. He took her in his arms and slowly began to waltz her around the floor.

“You’re doing very well,” she told him.

“I had a good teacher,” he said softly, and he felt her breath catch. She looked up at him, swallowing deeply.

“I…uh…bet everyone is watching us,” she whispered.

“Do you care?” Aaron asked, and she slowly shook her head.

The music suddenly stopped and they looked around the room curiously. One of the older men went to the microphone. “Hate to do this to ya, folks, but there’s a bit of a crisis. There seems to be a fire at the mill…and it looks like it’s gonna spread. I need all your help out there.”

The mass of people turned as one and headed for the doors. “What can we do?” Aaron asked Olivia over the voices.

“Just get to our car. I’ll drive us down and park. Then you just do what people tell you to, okay?” Olivia shouted.

They ran to her car and she squealed out of the parking lot. She parked in an alley a few blocks down from the mill, and they once again started to run. She yanked off her low-heeled sandals and ran in bare feet. Aaron stopped short as he watched the flames lick the sky. This was a lot worse than the man had hinted at. He squinted, trying to see what he should do. Olivia had disappeared.

“Hey, Aaron!” Josh yelled. “Over here! We need to stop it on this side!” He motioned Aaron to come to the back side of the mill, where a group of the young men were dumping washtubs of water onto the building and the outbuildings.

“Don’t you have a fire company?” Aaron said, yanking off his shirt.

“Yeah…but they need to work on the front. If we don’t work on the other parts, it could spread,” Josh said, coughing. Aaron looked around. Josh was right. There were businesses on either side, dangerously close to the flames.

Aaron worked harder than he had any of his days on Olivia’s farm. He lifted tubs and buckets of water until his arms burned as hot as the fire. He choked and coughed until someone brought him a damp doctor’s mask to place over his nose and mouth. Pieces of burning wood fell all around him, and twice he felt small sparks hit his back. But after about an hour, the fire was finally contained. People finally allowed themselves to smile and be proud of their hard work. The owner of the mill walked around, shaking hands and thanking everyone. Aaron heard someone say that one of the teenage boys in town had been behind the mill smoking a hidden cigarette, and this cigarette had caused the fire.

He wearily walked back to the car, hoping Olivia would think to meet him there. She was already waiting when he arrived. “You okay?” She asked tiredly. He nodded. He slipped into the passenger side and sat down. He flew forward with a hiss. Olivia’s eyes widened. “Aaron, your back! It’s burned pretty bad. Let me take you to the doctor.”

“No,” he said, so tired he could hardly speak. “I want a shower. I want my bed.”

Olivia smiled gently. “Okay.” She slowly pulled through the crowd and out onto the road.

“Is everyone okay?” Aaron finally asked. She nodded.

“We think so. The place was empty when it started.” Olivia looked at him. “You didn’t have to help like that. Thank you.”

“Of course I did.” Aaron looked at her and smiled. “You have soot on your nose.”

She self-consciously wiped it off, then grinned at him. “You have soot all over.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

They pulled into the driveway of the house and slowly got out of the car. “Why don’t you go up and shower…and I’ll make some coffee or something. I don’t know about you but I’m too wired to sleep,” Olivia said.

“I know what you mean. I’m worn to the bone, but not tired.” Aaron slowly went up to take a shower.

He came back down twenty minutes later, wearing a pair of cutoff jeans. Olivia was still in her blackened dress. “Here you go,” she said, handing him coffee. “I’ll get the first aid kit and we can dress your burns.”

“Go shower,” he ordered. “I’ll survive until then. Besides, you reek.” He made a big deal of holding his nose. She smacked him and trotted up the steps.

Aaron was deep in a daydream of their dance when she returned. He jumped when he felt her gentle hands on his back. “Relax,” she said softly. “It’s just me.”

He groaned gratefully as he felt her hands rubbing a soothing lotion on his burns. “Thanks,” he said gratefully.

“You’re welcome. Anything on the front?” Olivia asked. Aaron stood and turned around so she could see. “Nope. It looks…fine…” Olivia’s voice faded away as her eyes met Aaron’s. There was a huskiness to her voice that surprised them both.

“You’re a good nurse,” he replied softly, and she laughed in a tone that seemed foreign to her.

“It’s in my blood, I guess…my mom is a nurse.” She ran a finger over a scratch that ran from his right collarbone to his right nipple. He gasped unconsciously. “Does that hurt?”

“N-no…” he whispered, mentally begging his erection to go away. The shorts were thin, and he knew the bulge was obvious. Olivia wore a halter-top and shorts, and he allowed his eyes to roam over her body. “You know…” he swallowed deeply.

“What?” Olivia whispered.

“Nothing. Nevermind,” he replied quickly, knowing he could never say what he had been thinking.

“Tell me,” Olivia whispered again, cupping his cheek in her hand.

“I was just gonna say that whenever my mom would clean me up after an accident or something, she always kissed where it hurt…to make it feel better…” Aaron couldn’t believe the words that left his mouth.

All oxygen left the room when Olivia pressed her mouth to his chest, her lips tracing the scratch carefully. He reached back and put his hands on the table to steady himself. He met her gaze, and it seemed perfectly natural to cup her face in both of his large hands. It seemed natural to bend his head to hers…and it seemed perfectly natural to kiss her sweet upturned lips.

She had a need to feel the thunder, to chase the lightening from the sky…to watch a storm with all its wonder raging in her lover’s eyes…she had to ride the heat of passion like a comet burning bright…rushing headlong in the wind out where only dreams have been burning both ends of the night…

Aaron was first to pull away. “Oh…God…Olivia…I’m sorry…” he stammered, though in actuality he wasn’t sorry at all. “I shouldn’t have…I’m…”

“It’s okay…” Olivia whispered, pressing a finger to his lips.

“I just…I’ve wanted to do that for a while, and…” Aaron realized he was babbling and tried to make himself shut up.

“You have?” Olivia’s blue eyes looked up at him.

“Um…yeah…I mean, hell, you’re beautiful!” Aaron blushed furiously. She giggled a little.

“You’re not too bad yourself,” she whispered. “But it shouldn’t happen again.”

“Right…because I’m your employee,” Aaron said, nodding.

“And I’m too old for you.”

“No way,” he argued. “You are NOT old.”

“But we agree it shouldn’t happen again,” she said, and he nodded once more.

“Right,” he whispered even as he bent his head down to capture her lips once more. She moaned and pressed her body against him. Olivia’s fingers lightly trailed down his back, carefully avoiding the burns. Aaron’s lips moved from her mouth down to her neck, lightly kissing a line down to her shoulder. She gasped for air.

Aaron had kissed a few girls, but no one had tasted this sweet. He couldn’t get enough of her skin, and the way she was pressing herself against him was driving him crazy. He had never felt this way before. “Aaron…” Olivia moaned, running her hands up through his hair. She brought his mouth back to his and he shivered as she sucked on his tongue. She was first to pull back this time, her eyes meeting his, asking a question she couldn’t bring herself to say out loud. He must have given her the answer she was looking for, because she took his hand and led him up the steps to her room.

The window was open and a gentle breeze made the curtains dance. She turned on a small lamp and looked at him as she unpinned her hair and let it fall to her shoulders. Olivia reached behind her neck, untied the halter, and let it fall to the floor. Aaron stared, swallowing hard. She wore nothing underneath. She walked towards him, pressing her chest against his. He drew his breath in with a hiss.

“Olivia…I…um…” Aaron’s brain had left his head and settled down somewhere between his legs. “I’ve never…I haven’t ever…” God, this was embarrassing.

“It’s alright,” she whispered. “I just want someone to love me…I want to love you…” She pressed her lips against his chest and he closed his eyes, letting his hands learn her bare back. Her hair was like silk as he ran his hands through it, and when he finally got brave enough to trace her breast with one finger, he was rewarded with a longing sigh from Olivia.

Aaron carefully lay her back on the bed, his lips tracing her mouth even as his hands caressed her full breasts. She was soon arching up towards his touch, her body out of her own control. He lay over her, his body moving against her as he kissed her. She slightly pushed at his chest until he lay back beside her. He watched as her hands slid down his chest. He brought the hands to his mouth, kissing each worn fingertip. These hands knew nothing but hard work and tireless labor, yet they touched his body as if they were made of soft satin. She smiled up at him, then slid her hands down his chest once more. She slipped a hand down into his shorts, and Aaron’s eyes rolled back into his head. “Oh…” he managed before she took him in her slender hand and began to stroke him. “God…Olivia…”

When she pulled away he whimpered. She kissed his forehead, then slid down his body, taking his shorts with her. When he was naked, she slowly stood and took off the rest of her clothing. Aaron could only stare at her. She was beautiful. He wanted to take hours learning the sweet secrets of her gorgeous body, but she seemed to have other ideas. She lay back down next to him, and when her nakedness was pressed against him, Aaron thought he was going to explode. She whispered in his ear, telling him how much she wanted him, how much she needed him. Aaron nervously moved above her, but she guided him inside of her as if they had done this act a thousand times.

He had never imagined it would feel this good. She moaned beneath him as he thrust inside of her, raking her nails down his arms so she wouldn’t injure his back any further. He bit down on her neck, whispering his name as he felt himself come so close. He tried his best to hold back but she felt like heaven…and she had barely shuddered in his arms before he moved inside of her one final time.

Aaron moved to lay beside her, wondering what she was thinking. Was she angry? Ashamed? Regretful? He would never know, for she snuggled close, put her head on his chest, and simply said, “Sleep.”

That summer wind was all around me, nothing between us but the night…When I told her that I’d never…she softly whispered, “That’s alright”…And then I watched her hands of leather turn to velvet in a touch…There’s never been another summer when I have ever loved as much…

Three Months Later

I often think about that summer…the sweat, the moonlight and the lace…and I have rarely held another when I haven’t seen her face…And every time I pass a wheat field and watch it dancing with the wind…Although I know it isn’t real I swear inside I feel her hungry arms again…

“Hey, Aaron, you coming?” One of the guys lightly slapped Aaron on the back of the head. Aaron looked up from his geography book.

“Huh? Oh, Nate, hey. No…I think I’m gonna work here. I have a lot to catch up on.”

“Okay…see you in the dining hall?”

“Yeah…see ya.” Aaron looked back down at his text book, not really seeing the words. It was his second week of college, and already he felt far behind. His tutor had been good, but some of the “lesser” subjects, such as geography, weren’t something he had studied much. So he was working with tutors to catch up.

Aaron loved the school he attended, loved that he was able to work part time at the aquarium on campus. He had already made a handful of friends, and no one seemed to even notice that he was once famous. He had sold his BMW, and instead drove a new Chevy truck around town.

He sighed and looked down at his book. He didn’t like geography at all. He flipped through the book and froze. There on a page in the middle was a picture of a beautiful wheat field. Aaron stared at the picture, smiling as he closed his eyes. He could smell the sweet smell of the breeze, feel it kissing his skin and rippling through his hair. When he opened his eyes again, it wasn’t wheat fields that he saw. He saw a pair of blue eyes smiling up at him, red lips whispering his name in ecstasy, a beautiful body asleep next to him night after night…

He closed his eyes again, willing the idea of Olivia out of his mind. They weren’t meant to be, though those stolen nights over the summer would stick with him forever. He had left early on the last morning of his summer job, making himself look away from the tears she was trying to hide. He climbed into Sebastian’s car and they left for the airport. Aaron had watched in the rearview mirror, smiling a bit as he saw Olivia turn and enter the big empty farmhouse. He knew she’d go into the kitchen and see the strange envelope on the table, her name written in his handwriting. She’d see the strange key, and the address of the company in town. She’d get in her car and drive to town, and then she’d find that the key started a brand new tractor, purchased with the money she had paid him, the rest funded from his own ample savings. And tucked into a pillowcase in her bedroom was a long letter saying goodbye.

She had a need to feel the thunder, to chase the lightening from the sky…to watch a storm with all its wonder raging in her lover’s eyes…she had to ride the heat of passion like a comet burning bright…rushing headlong in the wind out where only dreams had been burning both ends of the night…

“That Summer”—Garth Brooks

The End

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