Marg decided to do some light cleaning of her house then, but by the time she was finished, it was time to take a shower and get ready for her date with Ben. She made her way back downstairs just as the doorbell sounded, and she crossed the foyer and opened it.
“Hi,” Ben greeted with a broad grin that caused his green eyes to sparkle.
“Hi,” she greeted back with a smile of her own, thoughts of the conversation with her mother disappearing.
“You look beautiful, by the way,” Ben complimented, giving her an approving stare as he took in her appearance.
“Oh, you like?” she asked, playfully twirling. The blue flared dress swung daintily around her frame.
“I do. Very much,” Ben responded with a smirk which caused Marg to blush as a tingle ran up her spine. “These are for you,” he said, holding up a bouquet of pink and purple water lilies.
“These are beautiful. Thank you.” Marg brought the flowers up to her nose and sniffed their flowery scent before casting her gaze on Ben and smiling at him.
Ben reached out and tucked a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “Perfect,” he spoke reverently as his eyes shone with affection.His head lowered to hers, and Marg’s eyes closed in anticipation. The moment their lips touched, it sent a spark throughout her body, and she welcomed the deepening of their kiss as Ben’s lips pressed more firmly against hers.
When they finally separated, they were both flushed.
“I’m going to set these in some water, then we can leave,” she informed Ben.
“Okay.” He smiled, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
Fifteen minutes later, Ben backed out of her driveway, and they were on their way to the beach for a nice picnic and some alone time. Ben chose a secluded spot along the coast where they could see the Cascade Mountain Range in its grandeur. The two picked their way along the sandy beach, kicking away debris as they tried to find the perfect spot to set up. Soon they were seated under a beach umbrella and sipping on the wine Ben had brought.
“So, I was thinking…”
Marg looked over at Ben, who was lying down, propped up by the throw pillows they had brought and looking out at the vast ocean as the waves crashed over each other. Marg continued to take in his features until he looked up and smiled at her.
“What were you thinking?” she prodded when it didn’t seem as if he would continue.
Ben eased himself into a sitting position and turned to face her. He took her left hand in his. Marg’s heart slammed against her chest, and her mouth parted slightly in a gasp.Was he about to…
“I was thinking that since we’ve already established that I love you and you love me, my children love you, my whole family loves you…”
“Yes?” Marg asked almost impatiently.
Ben chuckled. “I think it would be a good idea if we—”
Her heart beat erratically against her chest, and her breath lodged in her throat as she waited.
“—move in together.”
“Oh.” It felt as if someone had just thrown a bucket of ice water on Marg.
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound promising.” Ben laughed nervously.
Marg turned her head to look at the water. She wasn’t sure why she was so disappointed. Maybe her mother’s words now echoed loudly in her head. She knew Ben loved her, there was no question about that, but his request just now made her wonder if his asking her to move in with him was a way to avoid the other commitment.
“Marg, what’s wrong?” he asked in concern, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Marg turned to face him, a sad smile on her lips.
“I’m sorry, Ben, but I can’t move in with you.”
ChapterSix
Erin’s feet hit the dirt path with force; the muscles tightened in her legs almost unbearably, and the breath rushed through her lips in harsh gasps as her chest expanded and deflated, trying to get enough oxygen into her screaming lungs. Her arms moved back and forth, helping to open up her chest cavity while pushing her forward through the forested trail of Joseph Whidbey Park.
The leaves swayed and rustled to the beat of the wind as the branches squeaked like an unoiled door. Within the thick vegetation, she could make out the birds singing their lovely spring songs. She swiveled her head to the right in response to a rustling sound, just in time to see two squirrels dart out from under a bramble and cross the trail before zipping up the mossy trunk of a birch and out of sight. Erin inhaled deeply, taking in the rich, earthy aroma of the forest combined with the smell of decaying wood and leaves. As she continued her jog through the landscape, she was constantly swept by shifting light and shadow patterns.
