sun-heated rock. She gazed at the movement of the tree branches overhead as they bent and swayed in the wind. The leaves were a patchwork of green, yelow and orange. Fal was near and creating a beautiful scene. She wished she had a camera to capture it, or the talent to paint it. The breeze whispered on her cheek, the sun warmed her skin. Her thoughts returned to Peter and how wonderful her life would be if he were in it.
A shadow moved over her and blocked the sun. She jerked onto her elbows to discover the intrusion. People rarely came to this part of the preserve.
“Are you cutting class?” Peter stood before her, a broad smile on his face and the familiar hair faling in his eyes.
“Oh my God.” Libby popped up from her spot. “What are you doing here?”
She never thought she’d see him again. Hoped, yes, but not in her wildest dreams did she believe it could happen. She stared, her mouth agape. Was he real? Perhaps she’d lost her mind after al.
His t-shirt hugged him snug across the chest and shoulders, revealing strong arms. His jeans hung low, his thumbs looped in the top of his pockets. She looked at his handsome face. His eyes sparkled with mischief as the breeze tossed his hair.
“Mom realy likes this spot, and now, so do I.” He grinned and a gorgeous dimple appeared. “We’re heading up to Minneapolis for some taping.”
“Guess it’s my lucky day,” she bubbled.
“Guess so.” With a devilish grin, he raised an eyebrow.
Imaginary gymnasts did flips in her stomach. She thought Peter would be a distant memory, like so many others she stashed safely away. Now here he stood, in the flesh. He couldn’t be more real.
“How much time have you got? She wiped her dusty hands on the back of her jeans then slid them into her back pockets. She stood a few feet away, hopeful he would stay forever. She wasn’t sure what to do.
“As long as we want,” Peter answered.
Her face beamed.
“Wel, an hour, at the most,” he corrected, another cute smirk in the corner of his mouth.
“We better not waste time then.” They faced each other, a momentary pause and an instant of awkwardness. Libby refused to let this opportunity fail. She broke the silence. “Have you seen the rock formations at the back of the glen?”
“No, but I’d love to.”
His smile touched her heart.
“It’s this way.” She tilted her head toward the trail, and fought the urge to squeal with joy.
They folowed the trail through the rocky ravine, the wals progressively greener with rich moss. Every so often water trickled down the sides, flowing into the stream they walked along. Peter moved next to her in al his glorious beauty. She tried not to look at him too often.
“You never answered my question,” Peter said, stepping over a sharp rock.
“What was that?” Libby glanced up.
“Are you cutting school? It’s a Wednesday afternoon, and where I come from we go to school on Wednesdays.”
“No, it’s teacher in-service. We get a Wednesday afternoon off once a month, so the teachers can meet and talk about how horrible today’s youth is.” That’s about al they did too, lots of talking and not much action.
“You must be at the top of their list.” He grinned, and held his hand out to help her over the large rocks.
“You have no idea.” She placed her hand in his, reveling at his warmth in the cool ravine.
Gravel crunched beneath their feet as they made their way along the crooked path. Occasionaly, he bumped her shoulder playfuly with his, as if he wanted to make sure she was stil there.
Something about him fit. He didn’t ask too many questions or judge the things she told him. It had been a long time since someone accepted her.
“Tel me again, why your family comes here?” She wanted him to say it was so he could see her and then promise they would be here every day.
“They like this spot. It’s close to the interstate and we pass this way a lot when we’re traveling between Chicago and Minneapolis. Mom is always trying to make us feel normal and keep us grounded.” Peter jumped easily from one boulder to another, as though he’d climbed them his entire life.
“But you are normal.”
“Are you kidding? We’re far from it.” He gave her a look of disbelief.
“But, you’re together. You have a Mom and Dad and a big family that spends lots of time together.”