"Hi!"
"Hey, are you ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, I packed lunch," she said.
"Cool! I'll be there in five minutes."
Walter and Louise had hiked the Evergreen Creek trail on their second date. They called it a 'day date'. The trail followed a creek through open meadows and alternating patches of pine and oak forest. The mild grade was accessible but climbed high enough to offer sweeping views of the countryside. Evergreen Creek was popular with couples - Walter often joked that the first mile should be renamed "Lover's Lane."
The morning was dry and pleasant with a refreshingly cool breeze. Sunlight filtered through the leaves; spring flowers bloomed everywhere.
They stopped at the first overlook for a drink and took in the view. "I don't know if anything that I say could really matter at this point," Walter began, "but I am sorry. I'm really sorry about what happened."
"It matters to me," Louise confirmed, "Thanks for saying that."
"Thanks for giving me a chance."
"Yeah, well, don't go all gushy on me," she said walking back toward the trail. "It's a long way to the top."
They hiked through sunlit meadows and thick groves of pine where needles all but covered the path. At a bend in the creek dotted with ferns, Walter stopped to scamper on some rocks that jutted out over a modest cascade. Louise sat comfortably on weathered sandstone and snapped photos of Walter's climb. Mist from the rushing water and a thick canopy of leaves kept this section of the trail cool.
"Okay, Jungle Boy," she called when it was time to move on. "I'd like to have my lunch sometime today."
They slowed to a more leisurely pace as the final ascent neared. At one point Louise reached toward Walter's hand. He felt her fingertips and intertwined them with his own. Her gesture sent a message - it would be okay. Some time would need to pass, and it would never be the way that it was before, but it would be okay.
The last part of the trail ran adjacent to the ridge and a brightly sunlit field. They spread their blanket in the shade of a large leafy oak. Louise unpacked the sandwiches that she had prepared - turkey, swiss, and hot mustard for Walter; tomato, pesto, and fresh mozzarella for her.
"Thanks for what you said before," Louise began.
"You're welcome. Thank you for even coming here today," he said. "I wan't sure..."
"I was glad when you called," she said. "It's a nice day. We might as well enjoy it."
"It is a great day," he confirmed.
She took a drink from her water bottle and soaked in the view.
"I'm sorry I was so hard on you the other day - at the park."
"Don't be sorry," he said. "Everything you said was true."
"Well, true or not, I shouldn't have said some of those things."
"I made a mistake, Louise," Walter said, "one that I'll never stop regretting."
"Ah!"
"I don't blame you for being angry."
"You could have told me, Walter," she said. "It was a shock to hear it from her."
"Do you really think that it would have been easier if I had?"
She continued to look into the distance. "Probably not," she admitted. "I'm not sure how I would have taken it."
Louise felt a wave of deep remorse. "I'm sorry!" she exclaimed.
"What did I say?"
"Nothing!" she clarified. "I just..."
She paused for ten seconds. It seemed like ten years.
"I'm sorry, Walter."
"What are you sorry for?" he asked with surprise in his voice.
"For not being there when you needed me," she said. "For making you feel like you needed to go somewhere else."
"Hey, it's not your fault!" Walter said emphatically. "I'm the one who made the mistake..."
"I should have spent more time with you."
"Louise, it just happened," he said, "and it's not going to happen again."
She leaned toward him and hugged him placing the side of her head against his chest. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm sure," he replied in a calm tone.
"Because I can't go through this again."
"You won't have to," Walter assured her.
"I'm sorry," she said while wiping a tear from her cheek.
"Hey, it's okay," he said. "It's going to be okay."
"You want it to be okay, right?" she asked.
"Yes, I want it to be okay," he said. "And I'm going to work hard to make it okay."
"Thanks," she said with a sniffle. "Me, too!" She continued to hold him. He held her gently but firmly and caressed her back. For one moment, she squeezed him hard.
"You can't see her," Louise demanded. "Unless I'm with you."
"Don't worry."
"I just couldn't take that."
"It's okay," he said. "Don't worry."
"I do worry," she said.
"Well, you shouldn't," Walter assured her. "I don't want anything to do with her."
"Are you positive?" Louise asked.
"I am absolutely certain," he said. "I only want to be with you."
"Okay," she conceded.
"I'm not even attracted to her," Walter added. It wasn't an advisable admission.
"What?" Louise shot backward out of Walter's embrace.
"I mean..."
"You screwed her, you freaking dog!" Louise said with mock disgust. She was regaining her composure and relished this chance to put Walter on the defensive.
"I was drunk!" Walter blurted out in his defense.
"So, let me understand this," Louise continued. "You cheat on me, and you claim that she isn't even attractive to you."
"No," he said, not sure what to say. "I mean..."
"Oh, don't bother to explain!" Louise continued to put on the pressure. "I can see where I rate on your list."
"You're at the TOP of my list!"
"I should be the only one ON your list, douche bag!"
"You know what I mean!" Walter protested.
"Yes, I think I understand you much better now, Walter!" she said.
"That is so not fair!" he argued.
"Not fair?" she asked.
"Not fair."
"Not fair?" she asked in a voice full of exasperation. "You don't even like her, and you chose her over me!"
"I did not choose her..."
"Oh, so you stumbled into her apartment building by accident?"
"No..."
"You dick head!"
Walter realized that anything he said in his defense would only get him into more trouble.
"So, tell me something, Walter!" she continued. "When you were over there doing nasty things to my ugly friend..."
"Louise!"
"Did you, like, you know... catch something?"
"No!" he protested. "I did not CATCH anything."
She glared back at him.
"Why?" he continued cautiously. "Does she HAVE something?"
"Don't look at me, shit head! You're the one who spent the night with her."
"It was more like an hour," he admitted.
"What?"
"I..."
"You just took off? Oh, my God, Walter! You're a bigger jerk than I thought you were."
"Hey!"
"She must have been crushed!"
"I don't know. What you do care, anyway?" he demanded.
Louise thought for a moment. "You're right," she said. "I don't care. I hope you made her feel like crap."
"That's the spirt!" he said. They smiled at each other.
"Dick head!" Louise's dry sense of humor and their playful banter had weathered the storm. The healing process had begun.
"Okay, Casanova!" she commanded. "It's time to pack up the picnic."
"Yes, boss!"
"I AM the boss. And don't you forget it!"
"How could I?"
"Pig!" she exclaimed.
They packed their things and hiked back down "Lover's Lane" occasionally walking hand in hand.
'The Horse Farm'
Copyright © 2013 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
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