It Happened on Maple Street

She didn’t look happy.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“No!” Her voice was cheerful. “I’m fine. How about you? You’re looking good!”

“You seem far away.”

“I’m just settling back in after graduation, figuring out what to do with my life for the next two years. Let’s go sit down so we can talk.”

He went into the kitchen with her. Sat at the same table they’d been at so many times before.

In the past they’d been holding hands—except that last Christmas. Then he’d only wanted to hold her hand.

He wanted to now, too.

She asked about his classes. About his job. About Eaton and his mom and Steve, his old carpool buddy.

She didn’t ask about Emily, and he didn’t bring her up.

“Sure seems like a long time since the old Wright State days,” he finally said, looking for a way in to his Tara.

She shrugged. “Do you have any idea what you want to do when you graduate?”

“Something in auto parts. How about you and your writing? Remember that night I went with you to the Vandalia city council meeting?”

“Yeah. Why auto parts?”

“Good job opportunity.”

She didn’t ask why he’d switched his major from geology. Didn’t talk about Wright State, or ask why he’d stood her up. She didn’t bring up the past at all.

The old Tara would have asked. He was crushed. He didn’t know this woman.

“I guess I should probably get going,” he finally said, when nothing he said got through to her. It was as though the relationsh

ip he remembered, the intense love he’d shared, had been in another lifetime. With another woman. Tara didn’t seem able to connect to it at all. To remember him. Or them.

“Thanks for seeing me.” He stood. “You look great.”

She led him through the foyer out to the front porch and stopped there, toe to toe with him. It was the closest they’d been all day.

And then, out of the blue, with no notice at all, she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him as though she’d never let him go.

Her body was pressed tightly against his, and without thinking his arms were around her, too.

He wasn’t sure who moved first, but before he knew what was happening their lips were locked together. The feel of her tongue against his shocked him. He returned the kiss for all he was worth. And then it was over.

Tara turned back toward the door, not saying a word. She stepped inside. Completely shocked, Tim told her goodbye and left.

The drive home was pure hell. Why had a woman who was engaged to another man kissed him like he was her lover? Her man?

And then turned her back on him?

He’d lost her forever. To another man who she must love more than she’d loved him.

So why had she kissed him like that?

What was he lacking that she needed? He could feel tears forming in his eyes and thought how crazy it all was. He had Emily. She tended to him. Cared for him.