"I know that look," he said resting his hand on her arm. Her gaze went to his hand as heat raced to her face coloring her cheeks. She refused to look his way as he continued to speak. "Nothing good is ever easy. You won't do it alone, sweetie." She glanced up at him and they stared deeply into each others' eyes. He caressed her arm a minute too long, and quickly pulled away and stood. With his back towards her she shook her head.
Disappointment sounded in the single breath she exhaled. Not even the Blue Ridge provided joy and comfort this time. Who would help uncover the true man hiding behind the diligent and determined exterior? When a leaf hit her leg, Caitlin knew how to turn his sour mood around. She snuck behind Garrett and dumped the handful of leaves on top of his head. Her long strides were no match for his. When he caught her, they tumbled to the ground.
Caitlin laughed, her chest heaving from exertion, until Garrett stared deep into her eyes. She swallowed hard and licked her dry lips. Refusing to blink, for fear of breaking the connection, she looked deep into his eyes. They moved closer, their lips almost touching.
As he picked leaves from her hair, Caitlin gulped. She had been waiting for this moment since her sixteenth birthday; the day when they finally kissed. He leaned in, but raindrops fell hard and fast. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed the basket. "Why are my dreams on hold? Where's my customer satisfaction?" Caitlin yelled inside her head, hitting the ground with her fists. "Getting washed away with the raindrops," she muttered under her breath.
She scrambled to her feet and ran to the small shelter near the pond where they took refuge from the soaking rain. Quiet engulfed them like trees in a line of fire. Silence begged for speech, but raw hurt and unbidden love kept words locked away. These things would keep them from moving ahead together. "Help me find a way to stop it from happening," she said to herself.
Glancing sideways she saw a puzzled look on Garrett's face. They needed to talk, but his clenched jaw said, "Not now." One word, one touch, may destroy the future and it kept Caitlin silent. The tender moments we share say we do have a future. If he refuses to let me in, then it can't happen. The rain let up and they left. Garrett took the lead, looking back every so often. Caitlin kept her focus on the ground. It hurt too much to see the confusion in Garrett's eyes. "I really hope this doesn't ruin our friendship."