It was a Saturday morning, one of those overcast but warm, balmy days. I was lounging on the sofa reading the paper, still in my dressing gown, when Tim came in and flopped down in the armchair opposite.
"Chloe? How do you fancy a walk and a picnic in the wood?" he asked. I looked up from the paper.
"And what's brought this on?" I asked going back immediately to what I was reading.
"Nothing really," Tim answered, "just fancied some fresh air and a little exercise."
I mulled it over. It would be nice to get out into the open and the woods would be lovely at this time of year with the leaves just starting to take on their Autumn hues.
"I'll pack a bottle of your favourite wine," Tim said pleadingly.
"Oh, okay. Let's do it"
"Great! You go and get ready and I'll pack the rucksack."
I headed upstairs to get dressed. I brushed my long dark curls into a ponytail and considered what to wear. I quickly threw on some old jeans, a T-shirt and my walking boots. By the time I arrived back downstairs Tim was carefully storing the wine, in its cooler bag, into the well-packed rucksack.
"Ready?" he smiled.
"Yup! Lets go."
The woods began directly where our garden ended but to get to the path we had to make a rather circuitous route around the houses. A couple of neighbours, out cleaning cars or doing a bit of gardening waved as we went by. Kids were out on their bikes or roller blades. Once onto the path, however, it was like being in a different world. The trees were old and tall. The undergrowth thick and lush. It was so peaceful.
"Why don't we come here more often?" I asked, "It's really relaxing, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is" Tim replied and squeezed my hand. We walked for about an hour and saw only one other couple, walking in the opposite direction. We nodded at each other, said "Good morning" and carried on.
"Mmmm, he was cute!" I laughed.
"Oh you like them old and grey now do you?" Tim said punching me playfully on the arm.
"He wasn't old! And anyway I like a bit of grey in a man's hair, makes them look distinguished. I can see quite a few in yours from here!"
"Well she was stacked! Curves in all the right places!"
"Hey! Watch it!" I said punching him this time. We carried on walking and about ten minutes later Tim veered off the path and led us through a little opening in the undergrowth and into the trees.
" Where are we going?" I asked.
"To find somewhere to have our picnic – you want to have it sitting on the path?" Tim laughed shaking his head.
"Lead on McDuff!" I laughed back. It was a hard going in the tangle of the undergrowth but eventually it thinned slightly and we came to a little clearing with a beautiful, copper coloured tree.
"Ah," he said, "this looks like a perfect spot. Yes?"
"Yeah, great!" Tim put the rucksack on the ground and turned to me. He was looking straight into my eyes as he took me in his arms. He put his lips to my ear and whispered,
