“No. But I always meant to come.” It took an out-of-towner like Michael to finally get me there.
“This place is awesome. I like the peacefulness of it. If you’re real quiet, birds land on your shoulders and sometimes, if you don’t spook them, the deer will eat right out of your hands.”
I trailed after him trying to keep pace with his lengthy strides. “Apparently, you’ve been here.” We wandered onto a secluded pathway where a dense range of soldiering trees and pines carpeted the preserve. Even though the trees stood leafless, the abundance of conifers made up for their loss, and the forest looked impenetrable.
His boots scuffed up pebbles as we clunked over a wooden bridge. He stopped, hooked his thumbs in his pockets and leaned his back against the wooden rail.
“Sorry,” he said, “but I had to see you.”
“I’m glad to see you, Michael. Is everything all right at home? With your Aunt and Uncle?”
“Ray’s regrettably still in the picture, if that’s what you want to know.” His eyes skated over the region and landed on me. “I had to meet with some college folks back home. I’m just not prepared to make that decision.”
My voice had an unsavory pitch as I stated like an over-achiever, “It is a wonderful opportunity.”
“Now you sound like them.”
Unhooking his thumbs from his pockets, he stepped closer. He brushed his hands over his hips as if he didn’t know if he should touch me. Every ounce, fiber, and muscle in my body was screaming for him. I had to crane my neck to make eye contact.
Then, bit-by-bit, Michael raised his hand, and his thumb skimmed my chin then outlined my mouth. Bowing closer, he skimmed his mouth over the bridge of my nose and then my cheek.
“Michael…” I breathed his name, and craved to feel him, to glide my hands underneath his jacket.
As if he knew what I wanted, he unzipped his jacket, and said, “You understand…” He paused. “I’ll be gone at the end of the year?”
“Mmhm.”
This time his fingers, slow and affectionate, caressed my neck and twined into my hair. I closed my eyes as his lips captured mine. Sparks kindled within my chest, blistering through my veins and down to my toes.
Burying my arms inside of his jacket, I smoothed my hands over his warm muscly skin, and he shuddered. As we kissed, he explored my mouth, and I explored his. We remained like that until our breathing sounded loud in my ears.
He drew a sliver away, and we gazed into each other’s eyes, our unfurling breaths mixing together in a misty cloud.
“Mary, I don’t want to hurt you. You have one more year of high school,” he said huskily. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“Yes. I think I do.”
“You’ve gotten under my skin, and I can’t seem to get you out of my mind. I want you. Too much.”
“I like you too, Michael.”
He moaned, and his mouth surrendered to mine.
Between kisses, I whispered, “We have seven months.” As he embraced me, my thumbs found his belt loops, and I pulled him snug against my hips.
In the distance, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds blasted from a passing car, and the song reverberated through the nature preserve.
I loved the passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes:
There is an appointed time for everything and time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Incense and Peppermints Page 24