I got a head start out the door, knowing Dean would shadow me quietly. He was my bodyguard after all, but I was going to pretend like he wasn’t there and he was going to let me. It felt a weight lift off my shoulders as I stepped out of the main lobby and into the spring sunshine.
It only took a minute to walk down to the river, following a path towards a forest of flowering trees. I could see bikes and runners working their way around the lake across the street, everyone smiling and waving in the spring sunshine.
I walked slowly, letting the sunshine warm my bones. The air was cool, but with a heat of something warmer coming, the sweet scent of apple blossoms filling my mind. The river gurgled gently as I walked, singing of the end of winter and the journey to the sea.
The path diverged from the river and headed towards the pink and white blossoming trees. I could see small flowers dancing on gentle breezes, twirling and spinning from their branches onto carpets of pink and white. Birds chirped in the trees. The world was quiet and peaceful.
I walked slowly through the trees, absorbing the sweet perfume of the flowers, and soaking in the warm sunshine. For the first time in days, I felt like things might get better. I could survive this. I didn’t need Jack Saunders. In the sunshine and falling petals, I could almost believe the lie.
I wandered off the path, traipsing through the fallen petals and grass to a tree in the corner of the park. I sat down, feeling the rough bark pull at my jacket as I leaned back against it. I wished I knew how to paint, because this was something worth painting. The trees danced in swirls of pink and white, contrasting the pale blue of the sky and the dark blue of the river. Green grass peeked up through the fallen flowers and thick brown trunks rose from the ground. A gosling tottered behind its black and gray mother, trying to mimic her wobbly gait.
“You always seem to pick the spots with the best view,” a deep voice said from the other side of the tree. My chest tightened and for a moment I couldn’t breathe as I dared to hope. A sandy head peeked around the low gnarled branches, hazel eyes bright against the blossoms.
“I don’t pick them. They pick me,” I said softly. I was surprised I could speak at all. A war of emotions was waging within my head. Part of me was still angry at the hurt he had caused, part of me was afraid this was all in my mind, but most of me was lost in love. He sat down next to me, leaning against the rough tree bark.
The universe seemed to hold its breath. He was close enough to touch, our knees and shoulders barely inches from touching, yet far enough that it would require movement. I knew he was there for me, there was no other reason for him to be at Water Works Park in Iowa, but I still couldn’t believe it.
“I need to apologize,” he said softly, staring out at the river. A pink blossom floated down gently and landed in his hair. “My mother told me you tried to return the money when she first gave it to you. The things I said, they were cruel... and untrue.”
I nodded, barely daring to blink for fear he might vanish. I couldn’t speak, the words too big to even fit in my mouth. He took a deep breath.
“You’ve been gone less than a week and I can’t get you out of my head. I can’t concentrate and I don’t sleep without knowing you are safe and nearby. I miss you at dinner. I can’t concentrate at work because I know you won’t be there.” He played with a flower at his feet. “I have always been alone, but I don’t want to be alone—I can’t be alone without you anymore.”
He turned and looked at me, his hazel eyes almost green today. They captured me, held me in their depths so that I didn’t need to breathe. His hands reached for mine, and I wasn’t sure which one of us was trembling more, but together we were strong.
“I love you, Emma.”
I didn’t think. I leaned forward and kissed him. I kissed him like it was the only thing that mattered in this world, like we were the only people in all of creation and we existed solely for this kiss. Time stood wondrously still and somehow flew by at the same time as our lips connected and my world righted itself.
“I love you too,” I whispered as we broke apart. His smile rivaled the sun. I would have traded the moon and the stars for that smile. He brushed a blossom from my hair, letting his fingers then trace the line of my jaw before bringing me to him for a second kiss. If the first one was good, this one blew it out of the water. Every fiber in my being trembled with happiness.
He pulled me close to him, our bodies touching as he held me. Pink flowers floated gently to the ground, dancing around us with joy at our reunion. The sun was brighter and the sky bluer. His arms wrapped around me, filling me with warmth and joy. I leaned into him and he softly kissed my head as we looked out at the lake and the falling blossoms, the world falling back into place.
Epilogue: