Forgotten First Kiss

Danica let out a heavy sigh. “I do appreciate the way you’re not trying to force-feed me my past life.”

“Is someone doing that?”

“Just my mom. I’ve been her family photo album hostage all week, with questions like Don’t you remember Uncle Jim? He was your favorite uncle. And here’s your second cousin Veronica. You two used to go fishing all summer. You love fishing. Remember fishing? It’s sweet of her. I know she’s really trying.”

That sounded like torture. “Do you still blank fishing?”

“I don’t know.” She watched the nighthawk’s soaring hunt for a bit. “Probably love? It sounds peaceful.”

I turned us around to head back toward Aunt June’s. We’d gone about a mile in our wanderings, and we’d almost come to the edge of this street’s extent. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you.” I needed to tell her the truth.

“Oh.” She seemed so peaceful, too happy for what I’d originally planned to say. “What’s that?”

I took her hand, and I laced my fingers through hers. “Your hand is small. Petite. Delicate. But it’s also strong enough to do physical feats like gymnastics.”

“That’s what you wanted to tell me? Something about my hand?”

No. But it’s what I’d said. I pressed my palm flat against hers, and we walked on. “You can look beyond the surface appearance of things and find the true strength.”

“You’re being a sphinx.”

Actually, I was being a coward. What I wanted to say was that I was falling in love with her. With the Current Version of Danica, and that I suspected she was falling for me, too. “Answer my riddle, then, O traveler.”

Danica gave a little laugh. “Pose thy riddle, O sphinx.”

“What wilt thou cook first when I give thee thy lesson in thy kitchen tomorrow at lunchtime?”

“I’ll text you after I look through my recipe books.”

Perfect. Ideal. “O be wise, what can I say more? Yes, I know what I can say more: nothing with truffle oil.”

“Agreed.”

“I’ll try to clear my calendar.” It was clear, or I’d clear it—other than my Army Reserve weekends. I couldn’t wait.