by V. M. Burns
I felt a flush of heat rise from my neck because I knew I had gone back on my word. I searched for some way to get out of the mess, but nothing came. I forced myself to look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”
He stared at me. “That’s it?”
I nodded. “I shouldn’t have lied, but…I heard Aggie barking and when we opened the door she flew out and that’s when I realized that almost everyone I cared about was out there and in danger.” I looked up at him.
He leaned close. “Everyone?”
I smiled. “Almost everyone. Rex, Aggie…” I gazed into his eyes. “And you.”
He pulled me close and kissed me. When he released me, he stared into my eyes. “Lilly Ann Echosby, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
I smiled. “When you jumped into the river to save Rex and Aggie, I knew that I loved you.”
He wrapped me in his arms and kissed me hard. When we finally came up for air, we stood there in the night air and held onto each other.
He nuzzled my neck. “You know, that little Aggie is something else. I couldn’t believe it when she leapt into the water. That’s one amazing little dog. She’s fearless.”
I smiled. “She takes after her namesake.”
He shook his head. “No, I think she takes after her owner.”
I looked up at him and traced the scar that ran along the right side of his face. “I’m not fearless. I was very afraid for you.”
He took my hand and kissed me again. When we separated, we held each other and gazed at the sunrise over the Tennessee River. I thought of my family and friends and my heart was filled with love. I said a silent prayer of thanks for love and new beginnings in my happy place.