Unlikely Lovers by Anna Kristell Page B

post office. The building was sort of built into the mountainside and didn’t look like much.
    “Don’t let the looks of the place scare you off, babe. The burgers here cover the whole plate. They cut them into quarters. And they have the best fried okra you’ve ever tasted. You’ll love the pies too, I’m sure.”
    “Okay, if you say so. I’ll take your word for it,” she said, glancing around.
    Exactly as he had predicted, the food was excellent. They lingered over the iced tea served from canning jars as they easily talked and joked until it was time to drive back down the mountain.
    “Could we stop at the lake for a few minutes and take a stroll?” Jessica asked as they were nearing the place they had gone on their first date.
    ”Sure, I think that’s a great idea,” he agreed and swung his truck into an open parking spot.
    They were alone. February wasn’t the time most people would take a walk at the lake. But then again, Cody and Jessica weren’t most people. He took her hand as they strolled silently, lost in thought.
    Much too quickly, the afternoon was over and it was time to go home. Remembering he had driven her to his place last night, she knew he’d be planning to drive her home. How am I going to get around this? He can’t know that I live in quarters on post.
    “Why don’t you drop me by Missy’s?” she suggested when he started the truck. “She probably needs help getting ready for her move. She’s always so organized, she probably already started packing.”
    Missy lived off post in a small rental. There had been nothing available on post when she’d arrived and when something did open up, she’d opted to stay put.
    “I can do that. She’ll give you a lift home then?”
    “I’m sure she won’t mind. I want to spend a little quality time with her anyway. This will give me a chance.”
    He drove her to Missy’s and went in with her to talk to Andy and Missy then kissing her goodbye told her he’d call her later.
    “I take it since he brought you here, you haven’t told him?” Missy accused.
    “We talked some last night, but it didn’t get as far as that. We discussed our feelings but not quite everything. We’re planning to continue the way we are for now and see what happens.”
    “Jess!” Missy was obviously upset with her.
    “Don’t lecture me, this is hard enough for me. We got part of the talk out of the way. I’ll tell him the rest. I told him there were things he needed to know about me before we made any decisions about any kind of future together.”
    “Well, that’s a start, Jess. But please, don’t wait too long. I’d hate for him to find out some other way before you tell him yourself ,” Andy added his opinion.
    “That’s right, honey. You can’t keep putting it off ,” Missy added as she packed another plate.
    It wasn’t long before Missy called it a night and offered her a ride home.
    “ See you in the morning,” Jessica said, getting out of the car.
    “ Okay, have a good night.” Missy waved and drove off.
    She walked into her bedroom, lay down on the bed and began to cry. What the hell am I going to do? she asked herself for the millionth time, falling into a troubled sleep.
    When morning came, she methodically dressed for work and somehow made it through the day. When it was finally over, she drove to her apartment and spent most of the evening pondering her situation until Cody called at nine. They talked for a long time, easily and jokingly. She was just as confused as she hung up the phone and got ready for bed.
    She slept fitfully, dreaming of Cody and a wedding. He appeared to be the groom, but she couldn’t quite make out who the bride was. Was it her? Or had he moved on?  She never saw the face of the bride in her dream. She awoke and went through the same ritual of the day before.
    That night, Cody didn’t call , but the next night he called and told her he missed her.
    “Want to come over for some late night loving?” he