George
Iapplied the brake as Sarah had taught me and stepped off my new bicycle at the edge of the park. “You let me win,” I said with a laugh.
Sarah zipped past, pale hair flying, and dismounted in one smooth motion. “You know I would never do that, my dear,” she said, pushing her bicycle along the path. “You won fair and square, although you wobbled a bit on the curve.”
“Some things are worth the risk of falling.”
Bees droned among the beds of black-eyed Susans, phlox, and other flowers whose names I still didn’t know. The park teemed with color and life, even in the heat of August. “I like riding with you,” I said, walking my bicycle beside her. “And I love you, Mrs. VanMartin.”
“Love you, too, my husband.” She lifted her lips for a quick kiss.
I cupped her chin and captured her mouth for more of a kiss than she likely anticipated. I simply couldn’t help myself. Surely the bees weren’t too scandalized by my boldness.
“You’re making me blush,” she said. “Again.” Her cheeks flushed deep pink. “If only there were a breeze.” I puffed out my cheeks and blew a gentle whisper of air across her face.
She arched brows over dancing eyes—more olive than brown today—and nodded as if counting time. I emptied my lungs with a silly flourish of my head.
“Impressive, my love.” Ah, there it was—her lovely smile.
I sucked in a ragged breath. “Yes,” I said. “You are.”
She rose onto her tiptoes to brush her lips lightly across mine. “It’ll be dark soon. Race you back home.” And with that, she pushed off and pedaled away.
I rushed to follow, but let her win.
We propped our bicycles outside and soon sipped ice-cold lemonade in the parlor.
A slight breeze reached us through the wide-open windows as we lounged comfortably side by side.
I shifted to rest my head on her thigh, inhaled the sweet scent of her almond soap, and draped my feet over the arm of the couch.
Her fingertips raked slowly through my hair. Paradise.
She beamed down at me. “You’re much better than a yappy little dog.”
“Mipsy’s long-lost cousin…” I traced my finger along her cheek. “You’re much better than… everything.”
Dusk turned to night, and the first stars appeared as cricket song floated in from the dark.
My gaze drifted to the vase of silk peonies on the long side table and the little bowl of fourteen Indian Head pennies.
Three framed photographs nestled around them.
The first was from Viola’s wedding, the second a group shot from our own.
The third was my favorite. In it, I held her in my arms as if we were waltzing, but with no air between us.
We stared into each other’s eyes, our smiles jubilant.
Sarah followed my gaze to the photos. “We can have Timothy take another for our collection the next time we visit Harmony Lake. Viola mentioned his business is going well. Today’s letter invited us for a visit at the end of the month.”
“Very tempting,” I said. “Swimming, fishing, strolling about the countryside, visiting those dear to us. All with you.”
“Don’t forget Jo’s pies and Viola’s bread. Apparently, Jo is planning some sort of plum-picking party. A jamboree. Let’s go, please?”
Lazy as a cat, I stretched and shifted to sit beside her. “I’ll make the arrangements tomorrow.” She replied with a lingering lemony-sweet kiss.
“Mmm. I should make travel plans more often if this is my reward.” I pulled back from her velvet-soft mouth to rest my forehead against hers. “Want to go outside and look for shooting stars? The Perseids should be visible tonight.”
The gold flecks in her eyes glowed in the dim light. “No need for shooting stars, my dear. All my wishes have come true.”
My heart swelled so fiercely I thought it might burst right out of my chest. “Me, too, Goldie. All my wishes and more. I’m so much luckier than I deserve… forever in love with my bewitching best friend.”
She murmured, “Lucky in love, my thoughts exactly.”
Even Knightley couldn’t love and be loved more completely.
I tilted her chin, and we melted into a kiss that sparkled through me, brighter than any shooting star. We tumbled sideways onto the couch, wrapped around each other, laughter trembling between our joined lips.
A wish come true.
More, please.