John and Mary had been neighbors for years but the extent of their interactions were simple friendly waves. Their backyards abutted but they never went out of their ways to speak.
The opportunity to speak to each other presented itself constantly. John spent countless hours tending the garden that occupied the rear quarter acre of his lot. While in the garden he had a clear line of sight to the back of Mary's house. He enjoyed watching as Mary would tend to her yard and plants in her sundresses and tank tops that hugged tightly to the curves of her body. The brown skin that Mary had inherited from her Mexican heritage provided the perfect contrast to the light color clothes that she loved wearing.
Mary had also noticed John while he worked in his garden. He was usually covered in clothes that prevented the sun from beating down on him, but she would still get the occasional glimpse of a body toned by physical labor. But even with her attraction to John, Mary never attempted to connect with her neighbor.
John was a widow by 31 due to an auto accident and since the death of his wife he was awkward and unsure around women that he was attracted to. Mary on the other hand had been divorced for 2 years and was beginning to test the waters of the dating world now that she was no longer in mourning over the death of her marriage.
One day while Mary was out cutting her grass, she noticed John working in his garden and they exchanged their normal wave. Yet when she turned to make the next pass with her mower she noticed John walking towards her with baskets full of vegetables.
The neighbors first exchange was brief but very enjoyable for both John and Mary. John was struck by the blue eyes that seemed to be a more brilliant blue against the brown skin. The glasses that she wore framed her round face perfectly bringing out not only her eyes but also her lips. Mary was about 8 inches shorter than John and that provided an excellent vantage for John to appreciate the curves of Mary's body.
Mary was surprised at the size of her neighbor when she saw him up close for the first time. Not only did he tower over her, his large frame also made her feel more feminine than her ex had ever made her feel. Mary was self-conscious about the curves that had developed
around her hips and mid section, yet while she stood so near John she felt beautiful for the first time in recent memory.
The evening after their first meeting was the setting for their second. John was sitting in his garden among his zinnias and marigolds when Mary realized that this would be a good time to return the basket that John had delivered the vegetables in earlier that day.
It was still warm so Mary was wearing a white flower patterned sundress with no shoes. As she approached John's garden she noticed that he seemed to be lost in thought. She was contemplating returning to her own house when he turned and saw her approaching. As he turned and stood to greet her, Mary's knees began to feel weak as John flashed a large smile and his eyes seemed to glow at the sight of her.
John gave Mary a tour of his garden and the neighbors started telling each other their stories. Mary's heart broke as John told her about his late wife but she was also struck by the kindness that radiated from him even after such a tragic event.