The park was cool, quiet and serene as Alex laid the quilt on the ground. He’d picked a shaded spot under a large oak tree not far from the little creek that snaked throughout the park. There was a playground in the distance and she could occasionally hear the laughter of the children floating in on the breeze. The birds were singing. It was like a storybook setting. Alex brought a large basket out of the car and began spreading out a surprise picnic. This is what he had done while she was busy with the alarm technician. It seemed he would never fail to amaze her. The wicker basket seemed bottomless as he arranged the items; a bottle of white wine and two sparkling glasses, brie and camembert cheese, a variety crackers, prosciutto, grapes, and white chocolate dipped strawberries. He hurried back to the car and returned with two large square pillows. She smiled at him wondering if he always thought of everything. She leaned back on the velvet pillow watching him as he poured her a glass of wine.
“Tell me about your home. Moscow, I mean,” she requested, taking the glass from his outstretched hand.
“Moscow is beautiful city,” he told her with a smile, handing her a plate with a variety of food. He lay on the quilt and leaned back on his elbow over his own pillow. He picked at his own plate as he told her stories of growing up there. He told her about his family. She studied his face while he spoke. He always smiled, but talking about home brought out a softer emotion in him. He looked far away, lost in memories. His voice even took on a gentler tone, his accent became thicker. He laughed softly, relaying a story about his brothers. It made him all the more beautiful. She was enchanted with him.
He caught her smiling at him. “You would like Moscow. Maybe I take you one day.”
She raised her eyebrows at the suggestion. The idea of going to Russia with him was incredibly appealing. It would be a relief to leave all her cares behind and run away with him for a while. They were distracted by a little brown squirrel who wondered close to them. Alex tossed a bit of cracker to him and he scurried backwards, tail twitching, but advanced hesitantly a moment later sniffing at the morsel. Alex laughed and tossed a grape near him as well.
“He won’t eat that,” Sophie said and then looked at Alex in amazement as the squirrel picked up the grape and nibbled on it. Alex raised his eyebrows at her. Alex moved closer to the squirrel tossing a bit of cheese to keep him from scurrying away. He held a bit of cracker in his fingers moving closer again.
“No, Alex, he’ll bite you,” she protested.
“He no bite me, I bigger than him.”
The squirrel snatched the cracker from his fingers and scurried away. Alex turned back to her, his blue eyes sparkling. She was suddenly reminded of the dream about the bear. She’d forgotten all about it. She caught her breath as he came and sat back down beside her on the quilt.
“You always live in Baltimore?” he asked. Now it was her turn to share. She brushed the hair back from her shoulder and smiled.
“No, I have been here for about 10 years. I grew up in the country before my family moved here. We had a little farm a few hours south of here.”
“Farm? You have chickens?”
“Yes, they were nasty. Mean, you know. I had to collect the eggs every morning. They weren’t happy about it. I still have peck-mark scars from it.” Alex took her hand and turned it over in his own. He discovered a couple of small marks and he kissed them softly. Sophie took a deep breath. She loved the way he looked at her, loved how gentle he was.
“And what else? You have cows?” he grinned at her.
“Yes, a few.”
“You cowboy? Ride horse?” he asked in disbelief. She grinned wide at his dismay.
“Yes, we had a couple of horses. I rode everyday when I was young. Then we moved to Baltimore when I was in high school and left all that behind.” Her voice held a note of regret that he picked up on.
“You ever ride now?”
She shook her head no. “Baltimore is a great city though. It has lots to offer. The university is one. I love working there.”
The breeze held a chill as the sun disappeared behind a cloud. Alex lifted a chocolate-covered strawberry to her lips and she took a small bite. He watched her close her eyes and thoroughly enjoy the combination of flavors. She in turn, watched him finish it, unable to take her eyes off of him. Then the rain came. It was a small shower, but she jumped up from the quilt and put the pillow over her head. He laughed at her.
“It is just little shower. No panic.” He stood and spread his mighty wingspan, palms up to the rain. He lifted his head and opened his mouth to catch the raindrops, laughing. He was such a big kid. He shook his head and looked at her with a huge grin. She was overcome by his jubilance. She dropped her pillow and reached out to catch the rain herself. He swept her up in his arms and swung her around. She linked her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. He was caught slightly off guard, but quickly recovered opening his mouth to hers and accepting her passionate kiss. She felt his arms tighten around her as his kiss became deeper. His lips were so soft. He tasted of strawberries and chocolate and a flavor that was all his own. She was intoxicated. He explored her mouth with his tongue, grasping her cheek in his large palm keeping her close as he set her feet back on the ground. He lingered close to her face, brushing his nose across hers, breathing her breath, and gazed into her amber eyes.
“Was worth waiting for,” he murmured and buried his face in her neck and hair.
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