Mountain Storm

Chapter 9

Malik's POV

We were walking back to the car when all of a sudden I saw Lisa start to buckle at her knees. I ran up behind her and caught her just before she hit the ground.

I sat there with her head on my lap. Logan knelt beside us. "Oh my God, Leec," Logan said.

"Logan, go to the limo and get a bottle of water." I said.

People started to gather around us. Logan came back with two bottles of cold water. We placed one under her head on the back of her neck to try and cool her down. Lisa had passed out from heat in the past. Some of the other friends used their fans to create a breeze to try and cool her down.

"Hey there girl, you gave us quite a scare." I said to her as she slowly opened her eyes.

"What happened?" She asked as she started to look around.

"You passed out." I said.

Lisa started to sit up. "I haven't done that since I was young, it must have been a combination of heat and stress."

"No, just stay there for a few more minutes, get your bearings before you try to get up."

"I'm fine." She said as she slowly sat up. She took the water bottle from me and started to sip it. "Thank you everyone." She said as she looked around at the crowd.

Everyone started to disperse and walk away.

After a few minutes, I helped Lisa get to her feet and brushed the grass off her back. I took her arm and placed it into the crook of my elbow and walked her back to the limo. Logan slipped inside, turned around, and put his hands out to take hers as she bent over and got inside. I placed my hands on her hips to keep her steady.

Lisa POV

I awoke in Malik's arms, as I lay on the ground. I don't remember what happened. I was walking, my ears started to ring, my head started to spin, and I felt my knees give out. I haven't passed out from heat in years and thought that I had finally outgrown it, but I guess not.

We walked back to the limo, and they helped me get in. I kept sipping my water as we rode back to the funeral home.

"I think you should go to the hospital, Leec." Said Logan.

"No, I'm fine, you know me, I had trouble with heat in the past, and I think the stress isn't helping either. Let's just go to 'Boots'." They both looked at me with worry in their eyes. "I promise to take it easy and keep well hydrated."

"OK" said Malik, "but, first sign of trouble, and it's a trip to the ER."

"Yes dad." I said mockingly, rolling my eyes.

He playfully slapped my knee.

"Alright you two, am I going to have to separate you?" Logan joked.

"No Mom." I said, laughing at him.

We arrived at the bar and Malik wasn't joking, his employees had everything set up so nicely. They covered the pool table with a large board and had the food set up buffet style on it. There were pitchers of soda, tea and carafes of coffee. All the tables were covered with tablecloths and there was a bud vase with a rose on each. The recessed lighting was turned on and all the neon was turned off. There was soft background music playing, so it wasn't awkwardly silent.

We all talked, told stories, laughed, and cried about Gram. She always had a sense of humor, and would come back with a pun or joke when someone said something.

Frank Zimmermann came up to us before leaving. "Would it be too soon if we got together tomorrow afternoon for the reading of the will?" He asked

"Tomorrow should be fine." Logan and I said in unison.

"OK," He looked at the three of us and said "It will need to be the three of you and Peggy, her neighbor, if she can make it."

I motioned for Peggy to join us, and she agreed to meet us there at three.

After everyone left, we piled back into the pick-up, and headed back to the house. After we got there, Logan said he had something to do and got in his car and left without explanation. Malik and I just looked at each other with a puzzled look, but then went into the house.

"Did he say anything earlier about having plans this evening?" Malik asked

"Nope, not a word."

I pulled my hair out of the ponytail and let it fall around my shoulders. I went to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of Moscato and two wine glasses. We sat on the couch in the living room sipping the sweet red wine.

"How about a movie?" Malik asked.

"Sure."

He turned on the television, and we found 'Murder on the Orient Express'. I sat back and placed my feet on the coffee table. "If Gram could see me, she would yell at me for putting my feet up there." I said with a laugh.

Malik POV

After Logan left, I was still feeling like I needed to keep an eye on Lisa, so I walked her in and offered to watch a movie with her. I did not want to leave her alone, and being around her was intoxicating.

We sat there in silence watching the movie. I looked over, she was still holding onto a half-filled wine glass, but she was asleep. I carefully removed the glass from her hand and placed it on the table. She stirred, pulled her feet up beside her on the couch, leaned over and curled up against my chest. I sat back and left her to get comfortable.

I placed my arm around her and stroked her hair as I took a deep breath and inhaled her sweet scent. Her hair was so soft and long. I stroked her arm with the back of my fingers as she slept.

She moaned and curled up tighter to me, wrapping her arms around me.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"Anything for you baby." I whispered back.

I pulled the hair gently from her face and placed it behind her ear. I stroked her cheek with my fingers. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She opened her eyes, and looked up at me. We sat there staring at each other for a moment. I cupped my hand under her jaw to the side of her neck and stroked her cheek with my thumb. I tilted her head up and leaned down, kissing her softly.

We broke our kiss and separated as soon as we heard the front door open.

"Hey guys, I'm back." Said Logan as he entered the house. "Sorry I was gone so long, I brought back some ice cream pints." He put the containers on the bar. "I got all our faves."

I jumped up and yelled "I want Tin Roof Sunday!" As I grabbed it off the bar. I ran to the drawer and grabbed a spoon.

"Hey now, let me have a taste." Malik said as he was coming at me with his spoon.

I turned around and bent over, using my butt to keep him away. He grabbed my waist with one hand and brought his spoon around with the other to try and steal a bite.

"Help me Logan!" I yelled.

"Nope, this is all you Leec, I'm going to go out on the deck and enjoy my Butter Pecan while you two fight over that one." He said as he opened the patio door. "Although there is also a pint of Rocky Road too." He said looking over his shoulder at us.

We both stopped, looked at each other and ran to the bar to see who would get there first.