The woman strolled along the sidewalk dappled with morning sun and shade, enjoying the scent of flowers, trees, and earthy things. The sky was a deep blue behind the Flatirons, and the fine spring day promised to be a warm one.
She had taken the day off work to enjoy just for herself and to think about things. She decided to get a latte and walk around the neighborhood, letting her feet choose her path.
A block or two away from the coffee shop, the throaty, low rumble of a motorcycle caught her attention as the rider slowed, looking for a parking spot up ahead. He stopped and backed in at an angle into the curb in the shade of a big oak. Her eyes lingered on him as he dismounted and removed his helmet and faded brown leather jacket.
She found herself standing still, puzzled, as something about him was familiar, but she couldn't place him. Maybe something about the broad shoulders under his t-shirt, or the cute butt and lean muscled legs under his jeans. His close beard had lots of silver in it, but it was his eyes that finally gave it away.
He must have felt her looking at him, because his blue eyes swiveled to hers, his own puzzled smile matching hers. The crinkles of his eyes deepened as he searched his own memories, and then they widened, and she knew he remembered.
She stood, unable to move, as his eyes were locked onto hers, and he strode purposely to stand in front of her.
He shook his head slightly as if shaking off disbelief, and she asked, quietly, "Do you remember?"
The years had gone by so quickly. Her son had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to a road trip with his buddies before heading to the mid-west for his first year of college. She kept herself in good shape, though she unconsciously sucked in her tummy just a little and smoothed the pretty yellow sundress over her hips all the same. Her dark brown hair was shiny, almost black, matching the deep brown of her eyes.
He nodded, "Of course I do," and took a half step back and letting his gaze finally take in the rest of her. "And if I may say so, you are even more beautiful now, if that's possible."
He ran his hand through his short brown hair and she noticed the absence of a ring on his finger.
"Not married?" she asked, direct.
"Divorced."
"Happy?"
"Absolutely. We're so much better not being together," he said. "I didn't like myself much back then or the person I was becoming." Gesturing to the ring he saw on her finger, he asked, "You?"
She looked down, suddenly awkward. "Widowed." Seeing the look on his face, she added softly, "Killed in the line of duty, five years ago. I like keeping the ring on."
"I'm sorry to hear that. It can't be easy." He nodded slowly, looking around at the old houses and big old trees, and then finally back to her beautiful brown eyes that fought to hold the tears in.
Tilting his head to one side, a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, he unconsciously cracked his knuckles and asked almost teasingly, "So...I have a proposition for you."
Unlike the first time she had heard those words from his lips, without hesitation she smiled and said, "Yes." And again, "Yes, I'd love to." She had no clue what she might be getting into but nonetheless had no reservations.
She thought back to that night years ago and decided that their paths had crossed today for a reason. No matter what, today was a beautiful and wondrous day that would stand apart from the rest of their lives.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
Holding out his hand, he said, "Tell you what. Let's go grab a cup of coffee and we can talk. I haven't been here in a very long time."
Hearing his voice and feeling the strength of his hand in hers brought back a flood of memories, and she relaxed, smiling, as they continued together to the coffee shop. As they stepped through the door onto the creaky wooden floor of the old place, the smells of roasting coffee, nutmeg, used books and clove cigarettes washed over them.
Sitting at the little wooden table, she was struck by how handsome he had become while at the same time he looked just like he had before. A little heavier, maybe, a little beefier in some places, but somehow just the same. She was glad she had gotten her nails done last week and that she had paid attention to her dress today. She wondered if he noticed the few extra pounds she had put on even though she knew that she was in much better physical condition than she used to be, thanks to her routine gym workouts.
He explained that he had just had a feeling seemingly out of nowhere and decided on a whim to ride over to spend the day, and cruise down memory lane so to speak. He was completely surprised to have seen her. He added that he was glad that she stopped, and he had an idea.
"Let's go on a ride, get up in the hills for awhile and then come back. I would love the chance for both of us to feel, well, maybe to feel a little of what I think we felt back then, at least for awhile. What do you say? For the rest of the day it's just the two of us."
She just smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Hey, eyes up here mister," she teased.
