It's foraging season. The trees are full of fruits and nuts, and the ground is littered with edible flowers and roots--as long as you're smart enough to find them.
Not everyone appreciates good forage, my husband being one of them. He would rather have a classic dinner, served without much talk and always with a TV show or video game on in the background during the meal. As a farmer, fresh produce isn't hard to come by; however, I find myself getting bored of it. It's exciting to mix the meal up every once in a while, with foraged leeks or even found chestnuts! But that's my husband... boring, distracted, and predictable. Always the same old thing.
Imagine my excitement, then, when a familiar voice pipes up from around the corner while I'm out picking flowers for a salad.
"Isn't it a beautiful day?"
I turn and see our neighbour Leah walking over. Her sandy blonde hair is pulled back in a braid, and her hands are brushed with dust from her latest carving. I always feel tongue-tied around Leah for some reason, and today is no different. I smile and nod.
"Doing some foraging?" She asks, green eyes twinkling. "It's the perfect season for it!" Leah loves foraging--it's no secret; in fact, she was the one who taught me!
"I'm trying," I smile. "No one will eat it but me, though."
"Seems a waste," Leah says. "It's such a good way to introduce some excitement to a meal."
"Know any better spots?" I ask, knowing she will. She grins and takes my hand, leading me off toward the Old Woods.
"The old apple tree is bursting right now," She says over her shoulder, dropping my hand but staying close.
To my surprise, I find my eyes drawn to the curve of her waist as she leads me into the waving grasses. The tip of her braid swings with her gait and just brushes the tip of her butt through her jean shorts. I surpress a shiver. It's hardly my fault. The last time she'd taken me to the apple tree, we'd gotten closer than ever before... we hadn't kissed, but it had been close, and the memory of it has my stomach tightening in knots.
"Tada!" She says, spreading her arms and geaturing to the full tree when we arrive.
We set to work, and in no time, have a full basket. Once we're finished, we sit side by side against the base of the tree, apples in hand. Leah exhales and closes her eyes, lifting her head. Her tank top leaves little to the imagination, and I try to focus on other things.
"So Seb really won't eat these?"
"Probably not," I admit.
"Why do you do it, then?"