supposed to tell each other one of our dreams,” Frank said as they walked.
“You first.”
“An end to all wars. If men disagree and want to settle things with their fists, that’s their business. But don’t make other men fight your quarrels, and especially don’t drag innocent women and children into it.”
“World peace?” Aimee smiled.
“Exactly! But I think Edwina actually meant something a bit more personal. I’ve never been much of a traveler or wanted to live in a mansion. My real dream is just a family and home of my own, but for a more frivolous wish, I’d like a piano.”
“You like playing piano?”
“Yes. There’s one at the church, and I’ve borrowed it a few times when no one was around. I’m not very good, of course, since I haven’t had any lessons.”
“My mother used to teach piano to make some extra money!” Aimee said. “I used to go in my room, put on headphones, and crank up my radio so I didn’t have to hear another attempt at ‘Für Elise!’”
“You must play really well.”
“I haven’t touched a piano in years. But I could teach you the basics,” she offered. When his face lit up, she added, “If we can find a place with a piano we can use.”
“That would be great. What about you?”
“I’ve always dreamed of opening a business,” she said. “When I was little, I wanted my own toy store, so I could have all the stuffed animals and My Little Pony toys I wanted. Later, I wanted a music store or a clothing boutique. Now I’d like to do something food-related, like Lucy’s snack shop.”
“Why don’t you do it? You’re obviously talented at cooking.”
“It’s not that easy. It takes a lot of start-up capital, for one thing. For another, I’ve never quite figured out what type of food I’d want to work with. I used to think a bakery, but I don’t like the idea of having to go in at the crack of dawn every morning to make bread. Plus, I don’t really want to go it alone.”
The path had reached the other side of the island and led toward a picnic table where they could see the silhouette of a couple entwined in each other’s arms. By mutual agreement, Frank and Aimee turned back the way they’d come.
“You’ll figure it out,” Frank said. “When the time is right.” He squeezed her arm, and Aimee edged closer to him.
“Thanks.”
Back at their table, Frank paused beside Aimee. The lantern was burning lower, a light breeze lifted her hair, and the stars twinkled at a discreet distance, providing a backdrop to a moment that filled Aimee with anticipation. What better place to share their first kiss?
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. She leaned towards him.
“Then let’s go.”
He picked up the picnic basket and started down the path towards their paddleboat. Aimee waited. He wasn’t really leaving, was he? But when he didn’t turn around, she wrapped her arms around herself and followed him to the boat. Maybe the date wasn’t going as well as she’d thought.
Chapter 10
The return trip wasn’t nearly as easy as the trip to the island had been. Aimee’s legs started to ache from pedaling. She knew if she spoke up, Frank would offer to do all the pedaling, but she refused to let him know how uncomfortable she was becoming. By the time the boat bumped against the dock near the boathouse, Aimee’s legs were cramped, and when she tried to stand up, they wobbled beneath her. She avoided Frank’s outstretched hand and took a step towards the dock. Her leg buckled, and if Frank hadn’t grabbed her, she would have tumbled into the water.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
She knew it was childish to feel so hurt and rejected by the missed opportunity for a kiss, but she didn’t want to be logical. She just wanted the date to be over, so she could go home, wrap herself in a blanket, and wonder why she ever bothered with men.
“Where are you going?”
Aimee didn’t turn around. She was heading towards the parking
“You first.”
“An end to all wars. If men disagree and want to settle things with their fists, that’s their business. But don’t make other men fight your quarrels, and especially don’t drag innocent women and children into it.”
“World peace?” Aimee smiled.
“Exactly! But I think Edwina actually meant something a bit more personal. I’ve never been much of a traveler or wanted to live in a mansion. My real dream is just a family and home of my own, but for a more frivolous wish, I’d like a piano.”
“You like playing piano?”
“Yes. There’s one at the church, and I’ve borrowed it a few times when no one was around. I’m not very good, of course, since I haven’t had any lessons.”
“My mother used to teach piano to make some extra money!” Aimee said. “I used to go in my room, put on headphones, and crank up my radio so I didn’t have to hear another attempt at ‘Für Elise!’”
“You must play really well.”
“I haven’t touched a piano in years. But I could teach you the basics,” she offered. When his face lit up, she added, “If we can find a place with a piano we can use.”
“That would be great. What about you?”
“I’ve always dreamed of opening a business,” she said. “When I was little, I wanted my own toy store, so I could have all the stuffed animals and My Little Pony toys I wanted. Later, I wanted a music store or a clothing boutique. Now I’d like to do something food-related, like Lucy’s snack shop.”
“Why don’t you do it? You’re obviously talented at cooking.”
“It’s not that easy. It takes a lot of start-up capital, for one thing. For another, I’ve never quite figured out what type of food I’d want to work with. I used to think a bakery, but I don’t like the idea of having to go in at the crack of dawn every morning to make bread. Plus, I don’t really want to go it alone.”
The path had reached the other side of the island and led toward a picnic table where they could see the silhouette of a couple entwined in each other’s arms. By mutual agreement, Frank and Aimee turned back the way they’d come.
“You’ll figure it out,” Frank said. “When the time is right.” He squeezed her arm, and Aimee edged closer to him.
“Thanks.”
Back at their table, Frank paused beside Aimee. The lantern was burning lower, a light breeze lifted her hair, and the stars twinkled at a discreet distance, providing a backdrop to a moment that filled Aimee with anticipation. What better place to share their first kiss?
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. She leaned towards him.
“Then let’s go.”
He picked up the picnic basket and started down the path towards their paddleboat. Aimee waited. He wasn’t really leaving, was he? But when he didn’t turn around, she wrapped her arms around herself and followed him to the boat. Maybe the date wasn’t going as well as she’d thought.
Chapter 10
The return trip wasn’t nearly as easy as the trip to the island had been. Aimee’s legs started to ache from pedaling. She knew if she spoke up, Frank would offer to do all the pedaling, but she refused to let him know how uncomfortable she was becoming. By the time the boat bumped against the dock near the boathouse, Aimee’s legs were cramped, and when she tried to stand up, they wobbled beneath her. She avoided Frank’s outstretched hand and took a step towards the dock. Her leg buckled, and if Frank hadn’t grabbed her, she would have tumbled into the water.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
She knew it was childish to feel so hurt and rejected by the missed opportunity for a kiss, but she didn’t want to be logical. She just wanted the date to be over, so she could go home, wrap herself in a blanket, and wonder why she ever bothered with men.
“Where are you going?”
Aimee didn’t turn around. She was heading towards the parking
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