Weeping Willows

Chapter 15

A Feast for the Eyes

                As the car pulled up alongside of the already parked truck, they could see the men busy setting up blankets and getting out coolers.  While the other three women exited the car to join them, Elizabeth reached into her bag and pulled out her SPF 90, supposed to be waterproof but must be reapplied hourly, sunscreen.  Squirting a generous glob of the stuff into her hand she proceeded to slather it on like a thick layer of paint.  The substance made her skin appear pastier if that was at all possible.  In the middle of her ministrations the car door opened revealing a smiling Ryan as he leaned down inside bracing himself on the top.

                “Were you planning on joining us sometime today?”  He joked making her glower in his direction as the bottle farted out more goo onto her palm.

                “Once I’m properly protected from the sun I will.”  At his inquisitive look she elaborated.  “I burn like bacon in a frying pan if I go out in the sun without sunscreen.  Believe me being unable to move for a week only to peel your entire body like a shedding snake the next week is no one’s idea of a good time.” 

                “Need some help?  I could probably reach you neck and back a lot easier than you can.”  He stood there holding his hand out for the now slippery bottle waiting patiently for her to give in.  With a put-upon sigh she handed it over while turning around and lifting her light shirt.

                “Make sure you put it on thick.”

                “Grease you up like a pig at a rodeo?”

                “Exactly.”

                “Yes ma’am.” 

                Elizabeth sat there getting antsy the longer it took him to start.  She had almost turned around to take the bottle back to do it herself when he finally moved.  She couldn’t help the small shiver when his strong hands spanned her exposed skin gently working the sunscreen across like an expert masseuse.  She told herself it was only because the substance was cold on contact nothing more.  He made quick work of his task since she didn’t have much skin to cover anyway due to her outfit.  When she heard the lid snap shut, Elizabeth dropped her shirt back down and took the bottle back.

                When Elizabeth exited the car, she was stopped by Ryan’s strong arm in front of her.  He had it bent at the elbow offering it for her to take.  He bowed slightly looking at her with a sparkle in his too blue eyes and a small smile tugging at his pale full lips.  He swept his other arm out playfully.

                “My lady if I may?”  Elizabeth chuckled placing her hand lightly through the crook of his to rest upon his forearm and played along.  She sent him a coy smile in return over exaggerating batting her eyelashes at him.  He smirked down at her while flexing the arm she held over and over causing her to outright laugh at his antics.  She had no idea what had gotten into him but found herself in a better mood then she had been.

                 As they approached the group everyone started bustling about making themselves busy pretending that they hadn’t just been watching them.  Elizabeth rolled her eyes at them but started laughing when she looked to Jan and Addison who were the only two still blatantly staring at them with big cheesy smiles.  Ryan took her over to the two women then bowed low while giving her back her arm with a wink, then wandered off to join the other men.  Jan and Addison giggled pretending to dramatically swoon while sighing with embellishment.  Elizabeth blushed hoping there was enough cream on her face to hide it.

                “Who said chivalry was dead?”  She uttered flippantly causing the other two to laugh.

                “Anyone who’s never seen Ryan trying to flirt that’s who.”  Jenny added as she came and sat with the rest of them.  Jan and Addison chuckled at the declaration, but Elizabeth raised her eyebrow.

                “He wasn’t flirting he was just trying to make me laugh.”  The three of them stared at her making her feel self-conscience under their scrutiny.  Addison reached over and patted Elizabeth’s arm where it lay on the arm of her folding lounge chair.

                “Whatever you need to tell yourself dear.”

                “Denial is not just a river in Egypt you know?”  Jan quipped after.  Elizabeth choose to ignore the two of them but then Jenny had to get her pennies in.

                “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

                About that time the guys came over and flopped down on the blanket next to the chairs the girls were all sprawled out in stopping Elizabeth’s retort.  Not that she had one anyway though, later when she was home a ton of them would fill her brain, but rarely would they appear in the moment when she needed one.

                “So, Elizabeth, what are you wearing exactly?”  This came from Clayton as he sprawled out lazily plucking blades of grass as he waited for her answer.  She looked down at herself not seeing the problem.  She had on a hot pink exercise tank with a light almost see through white t-shirt on top.  Her long board shorts reached to her knees and had penguins with shades hanging ten across the patchy blue background.  Her worn out grey converse covered her bare feet which was the only place she hadn’t slathered sunscreen yet.  Her mess of wavy auburn colored locks shone dark copper in the sun’s bright rays as it tumbled to her back where she had pulled it through the hole of her faded black cap. 

                “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

                “Is that really how you dress for a day in the water?”  His words weren’t incredulous.  Clayton was genuinely curious.

                “Well, yeah.”  Elliot snorted rudely causing Addison to stop running her fingers through his copper hair to smack him across the back of the head.

                “HEY!”

                “If that’s what she’s comfortable wearing who are we to judge.”  Elizabeth smiled gratefully towards her glad Addison seemed to have gotten over her own earlier shock at seeing the outfit.  Jenny rolled her eyes and turned to Elizabeth.

                “Don’t you want to show off your figure a little?  You know catch a bit of attention?  What’s the saying, if you’ve got it flaunt it?”  Jenny’s words caused Elizabeth to burst out laughing as she began to wave her hands up and down her prone figure.

                “If you hadn’t noticed yet I have nothing to flaunt.  Flat as a board front and back.  Besides why should women objectify their bodies just so men can ogle our goods.  It’s degrading.”

                “I didn’t mean to upset you.”  Jenny tried to pacify her temper.  Elizabeth waved her panic away blowing out a breath.

                “Not your fault.  Just years of jeering from teenage boys resurfacing.  It’s not easy being friends with women who are shaped like goddesses.  When others pick on you for something you’ve never liked about yourself it just makes it that much worse.”

                “I know what you mean.”  Addison sighed in sadness.  Elliot leaned in and kissed her sweetly on the cheek.

                “Babe, I’ll always think your gorgeous no matter what.”  Addison smiled at her husband making her face light up with her feelings.

                “I couldn’t agree more.  As an artist, and I’m sure Jan can back me up on this, the outer appearance isn’t what makes something beautiful or ugly but the emotions that shine through the outer package.  It’s what makes an average person breathtaking or the hottest person around less then desirable.  It’s what makes a picture of a natural disaster tragically beautiful.”

                “I know what you mean.  It’s the same thing I try to capture every time I snap a photograph.”  Jan and Elizabeth nod at each other in understanding of what they were trying to convey while the rest of the group remained thoughtful.

                “Instead of ogling you fine ladies today how about you enjoy watching these sexy beasts.”  After Elliot finished his little announcement all four guys got up and stood in a line before them striking ridiculous poses.  It wasn’t until they were all standing there that Elizabeth noticed they were all dressed alike in windbreaker pants and light jackets.  Glancing at the other three women she saw looks of confusion identical to her own.  Taking a remote from his pocket Elliot hit a button switching the song on the truck’s speakers.  YMCA by the village people started to blare out as the four of them ripped off the breakaway pants tossing them over to the chairs.  Elliot having a wardrobe malfunction had to tug at his two or three times before they came off.  Holy crap!  Elizabeth thought to herself hoping they weren’t about to do what she thought they were. 

                As the first verse rang out, they unzipped the jackets shrugging them off and swinging them over head before they were thrown to join the pants on the ground.  Elizabeth covered her mouth with her hands trying in vain to control her laughter as they began the dance for the chorus.  Each one danced the familiar moves while wearing outlandish swim trunks and nothing else.  Elliot’s were neon pink with a big bright yellow sun positioned dead center in the front.  Clayton’s were black and plain until he turned around to show off the fire engine red lips across his rear.  Dan’s were a cartoonish sunset with little mounds of sand that held a palm tree each printed all over them.  Ryan’s made her snort in amusement as cartoon sharks wearing shorts and shades danced across a white background. 

                The other three women hooted, and cat called as the guys did random mock sexy dances in between the choruses.  At one-point Addison started ordering that someone bring her purse so she could dig out some ones to stuff in her husbands shorts.  Elizabeth gave up all pretense of trying to hide her laughter.  She began cheering and clapping with the other ladies.  At the last chorus the boys danced over to them trying to coax them all into joining them.  Elizabeth decided to hell with it placing her hand into Ryan’s allowing him to pull her to her feet.  Looking over she found Jan dancing with Clayton thoroughly enjoying herself as her laugh rang out.  Dan had just managed to wheedle a shy Jenny out with him, but Elliott was now on his knees playfully begging his wife while she sat with her arms crossed atop her round belly shaking her head at him refusing to budge. 

                The three couples danced away to the song and Elliot rejoined them sans partner.  He didn’t let that detour him however as he strutted around trying to do a sexy dance for his wife showing what she was missing.  Addison pretended to pat away a yawn from her mouth as she waved him away with her other hand.  The six of them laughed at the couple’s display.  Elizabeth’s attention snapped back to Ryan as she felt his arm snake tightly around her waist.  As the end of the song sounded out, he dipped her way down making her squeal and fling her arms around his neck.  She could feel the ends of her hair catch on blades of grass as she hung there in his arms.  With a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows and a bright smile he brought her back up steadying her on her feet.

                A loud clapping accompanied by whistling drew everyone’s gaze to Addison.  She was now standing applauding the show as Elliot was taking his bows.

                “I’m sure those lovely ladies over there quite enjoyed your display.”  She said while thumbing over her shoulder.  With a squeak and a dive Elliot flew across the blanket grabbing the jacket at his wife’s feet to cover his chest with as he glanced around in a panic.  Everyone burst out laughing knowing there was no one out there with them.  Elliot glared at Addison playfully when he realized she had been joking.  He growled at her as he lightheartedly attacked her making Addison squeal in delight.  Elizabeth looked away from them and back up to Ryan only realizing she was still wrapped around him.  She cleared her throat in embarrassment dropping her arms unable to meet his eyes.  Her cheeks blazed with the heat of her blush as he chuckled in amusement.  Releasing her waist Ryan took her hand in his forcing her gaze back to his.  With a twinkle in his eye he leaned in close whispering into her ear.

                “I have something to show you.”  Elizabeth raised her brow in question but didn’t fight him as he gently tugged on her arm.  She allowed him to lead her further and further away from the group.  She just started wondering if it had been such a good idea when he let go of the hand he’d been holding.

                “It’s a bit of a hike up but I’ll make sure you don’t fall.”  Elizabeth nodded her head dumbly watching in intrigue as he began to hike up a bit of a steep hill into the woods.  Ryan turned back to her waving her to follow causing curiosity to get the better of her as she climbed.  He led her on a skinny dirt path through the trees helping her over the more treacherous spots.  At the end of their climb she stood in awe trying to catch her breath. 

                The scent of sulfur was heavier in the air but not unbearably so as it wafted up from the bottom of the small waterfall they now stood at the top of.  Looking over the edge Elizabeth would guess they couldn’t be more then fifteen feet up as she watched the water ripple away from the base.  The spring wasn’t overly large maybe more like a pond with the clearest water allowing you to see the rocks below before the bottom became to dark to see where it obviously went deeper.  Large oak trees walled the little paradise in with their twisted branches appearing as if they were hands sprung from the ground reaching towards the sky.  Strands of moss drifted lazily in the breeze resembling the willow trees on her own property.  Brightly colored flowers dotted the deep green grass between the trees and the pool.  Birds took flight up into the sky while their songs filled the air.  Large white boulders ran down both sides of the fall and moved out a little way along the edge of the spring.  The place was truly a hidden gem.  It was so stunning in its tranquility.

                Ryan reached down his hand next to her head in invitation and without thinking she let him pull her up.  Smiling he closed his eyes taking in a deep lungful of air.  Elizabeth watched as the light sparkled in his white blonde hair and his tanned, toned chest inflated with his breath.  Opening his sparkling blue eyes, she realized he wasn’t wearing his glasses today.  He smiled at her as he led her to the edge.  He motioned his hand out to encompass everything before them.

                “Would you like to go first?”  It dawned on her then that Ryan had brought her up here to cliff dive.  She looked over the side in excitement then back to him.

                “Do I need to get a running start first or just jump?”

                “I would work up a little jog so you can jump out away from the falls.”  At his instructions she let go of his hand and walked a few paces back.  Taking her shoes off and setting them off to the side she bounced on her feet like a runner getting ready to race.  She took off at an easy lope making her way back to the edge.  As she hit the end of the ground beneath her feet she pushed off with her legs.  Soaring through the air she let out a shout of pure joy at the rush.  As she began to plummet downward Elizabeth tucked her legs cannon balling into the naturally warm water.

                She released her legs once submerged, opening her eyes with a triumphant smile.  She marveled at the clear underwater world around her.  Treading in a lazy circle she watched the water flow in from the falls.  After coming full circuit, she was about to go up for air when she saw someone swimming towards her.  Thinking it was Ryan she began moving in his direction.  Her smile slipped as she took the sight in.  His raven black hair was cropped short and close to his head.  His Broad shoulders and sturdy arms bulged with the flex of his bulky muscles’ movement underneath his velvety olive skin as he cut the water with ease.  His chiseled square jaw and full lips were set in determination.  Elizabeth’s eyes traced a path from the straight line of his strong nose to the cut of his high check bones until her gaze was ensnared by a pair of whisky amber eyes staring intensely back at her.  When he moved into the light that dappled through the pool his irises lit up shining like liquid gold.  Elizabeth found herself transfixed in place, her lungs burning for air.  The stranger was nearly upon her now and she was far too mesmerized to leave.