Page 42

lowered myself to his lap, the move taking him by

delightful surprise. He laughed, moved to make me

comfortable, and began to stroke my hair.

"You grew up in a very beautiful place. Honey.

I'm jealous. I wish I had a place like this to run to

when I wanted to be by myself, instead of just closing

my bedroom door or putting on my headphones and

turning up the music. It's all in you: the water, the

fresh smell of wild grass and wildflowers, the

sunlight. It gives you your glow, makes you blossom." "Funny you say that. Uncle Simon thinks of me

like he does his precious flowers."

"He's right."

He touched my lips and I kissed the tip of his

fingers. He smiled.

I lowered my head gently from his thigh to the

floor of the dock and spread out beside me so we were

face to face. Then he kissed the tip of my nose. "I might come to you someday," he said. "and

remind you I've touched your naked feet. Then I

might ask you to marry me. Honey."

"I don't know if I'll ever get married."

"Sure you will. If anyone might not. it's me." he

said. "I haven't had good examples. My parents aren't

exactly poster children for the institution. But," he

continued, running his finger down the side of my

face and under my chin. "with you. I'm sure it would

be very different. You're real.

"Although," he added. "sometimes I think

you're too good to be true and you really are just a

dream. The only way I'm sure is when I do this." he

said, and leaned forward to kiss me.