The Hourglass

Nine

We drove separately to the park in town and met at the sandwich shop across the street. He paid for my order like a gentleman, which makes me feel like this is now officially an unofficial date. We're sitting on one of the benches near the fountain now, eating our sandwiches and watching the birds. 

"Do you like nature?" I ask him. 

"Yes." He says, pausing. I watch him watch the birds play in the fountain. "There's something beautiful about it all. 

"I agree. I love watching the wind rustle in the leaves of the trees. I enjoy the warmth of the sun on my skin. I could watch these birds all day and not tire of it." I respond. 

He watches me fondly. "That appears to be rare these days," he responds. 

I look back at him knowingly. "Yes, it does seem that way. Everyone is always in a hurry." 

We finish our sandwiches and begin to walk the path through the park. The shade from the trees is nice, and I enjoy the smell of the fresh air.

I hear him chuckle and realize I have stopped, closed my eyes, and inhaled deeply.  I startle and open my eyes. "Oh, sorry." I gush, embarrassed. 

"Don't be. I think it's sweet," he says as he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. My heart races, and my face is warm. 

He removes his hand from me, watches me for just a moment, and then turns to start walking again. I inhale, not realizing I had been holding my breath. 

"So, are you here by yourself?" I question.

"Yes." is all he says. A pause, then, "Do you have family?"

"Just my dad," I tell him as I walk in step next to him. I dread this conversation and try to redirect it back to him. "Do you have a large family?" I ask. 

"Just my dad." He says, copying me. He glances over at me with a sad, almost-knowing smile. 

I want to pry, to find out what happened to his mom. But that would open the door for him to ask me about my mom, and that's a door I'm not ready to open yet. So I say nothing. 

We're quiet for a few moments when I ask, "Will you be staying in town indefinitely if you're going to oversee the Atlanta branch?" 

"Hmm?"  My question startled him from his thoughts. "Oh, yes. It appears so." He smiles down at me then. 

He turns to me as we near the end of our walk and stops. "I'd like to see you again," he says simply as he looks down at me. 

A warm feeling grows inside of me. I smile up at his handsome face and look into his brightly lit eyes. "I think I'd like that, too," I respond. 

He takes my number and tells me he'll get ahold of me this week before we part ways. I have butterflies as I watch him walk away from me.