Golden Hour

Chapter 26 (Epilogue)

A/N: Today is a double update, so please be sure to read Chapter 25 first, or you will be very confused. ☺️

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Four months later...

Neil picked me up in his gray convertible wearing cool shades and hiking gear just like me. When he rang the doorbell, I opened the door and sprang into his arms.

We embraced, holding the passionate hug. Pressing me close, Neil slid his hand down to my mid-back.

A contented sigh fell from his lips. "Hey, my love..."

"Hey..." When Neil pulled back, I smiled, super excited to go on our first hike. "It's so good to finally hug you at last."

"Yes, it is." He offered to take my backpack. "All ready to climb up your first mountain?"

"I sure am."

"Let me put your bag in the boot."

Once we'd hit the open country roads, we drove through an avenue of beech trees. A slight detour, but totally worth it. They'd planted three hundred and sixty-five trees on each side, which went on for a glorious eternity.

Such beauty! Such freedom! 

Neither Emily nor I had left the house since the day I'd retrieved my things from my ex. It was annoying as hell, but it had kept all of us healthy so far. Neither one of us had gotten COVID.

Nor had Neil.

Our safety mattered above all else. But now that we'd realized COVID didn't spread well outdoors, we'd decided to take this opportunity to explore. To grow closer. To hold one another.

After all, we'd both self-isolated for months and they'd already lifted the severe restrictions. 

With a whoop of joy, I threw my hands up into the air. Relished the warmth of the summer sun and the cool breeze. Neil turned to me with that signature tender expression before chuckling under his breath. 

"Sure beats Skype, doesn't it?" he asked. 

"I thought lockdown would never end! It's so good to be here. With you. For real." I squeed with pure joy. "It's so good to be alive!"

Durdle Door attracted visitors from all over the world, causing traffic congestion and parking problems. But today the effects of COVID had made themselves all too clear. We found plenty of spaces. Lockdown might have lifted in England, but that hadn't made international travel any easier. 

"My suggestion is that we do the six-mile loop to start," suggested Neil. "There's a nine-mile version too, but it only adds a longer section on the flat."

"Good idea. Let's do that."

"We have plenty of daylight." He gazed up at the heavens. "Not a cloud in the sky. Funny how the lack of air traffic has changed the weather patterns."

"Yeah...probably don't need my waterproofs."

"Nope, you can leave them here," he agreed. "Take a fleece just in case. And plenty of water."

"Got it."

Neil grabbed the sunscreen. "I don't know about you, but I always put this on."

"With this fair skin?" I chuckled. "Yes, please."

"That's wise." He lathered some onto his arms, hands, face, and neck. "Can't ever be too careful. My sister had a health scare. Don't worry. It has a happy ending, but one of her moles turned malignant."

"Oh, my God!"

"They got it early," he said. "Stage one. It was five years ago, so it appears to have been a one-off. But as you can see, I have a fair number of moles myself."