HEATH AND KATHY

‭ They finished the meal and talked about the future. The waiter returned with the busboy and took the dishes away, he asked about dessert. She shook her head no, but Heath ordered a dessert box of cherry Chocolate, and headed back towards her place.

‭ He parked in front of her little house, and they went in. "This is my Gramma's house, she's in a retirement home now." They looked around together and lingered at the door. "Cathy, I would like to see you every night this week, if possible. Six PM is good for me, how about you?" She smiled, "Yeah, it's fine with me. I'll look for your car tomorrow evening." He held her and kissed her fervently, then went out and waved as he disappeared from sight. She sat in the kitchen for over an hour, staring at the ring on her finger and thinking how her life had changed almost overnight.

‭ She didn't see him the next day, but he emailed her, "Cathy, I find myself missing you when we are apart even a few hours. Your unforgettable face and your haunting voice reach out to me from my memory. I have a large vocabulary, and yet I quickly run out of words when I try to describe my observations of your beauty, and my emotions at your nearness. Now I know what those lonely poets were up to when they tried to describe human female beauty and the pangs of loneliness when she is far off. Yet it is my recollection of your words that draws me the closest to you. I am in love with as much of you that I know, and it is overpowering, but I know that the physical joining will complete my journey into a love that burns with an incandescent fire. We will light up the night and drive the shadows from our hearts, I promise and know this. Heath." She sat in American History 101 class, listening to a lecture, and reading his free verse poetry on her laptop screen. She was wiping the tears from her eyes, and wishing for six o'clock when she would see him.

‭ At four twenty PM, she was at home, just getting out from the shower. She got ready to see him, got dressed and then sat at the laptop and wrote him an email poem, "Heath: I am thinking of the part of you that is known to me. I am also wanting to explore the hidden part. What wonder, what joys await? The journey will be surprising and sweet; the unknown vistas rise out of the mist in looming expectation. Unknown lands and pleasures welcome our souls. Disappointments surely will dim our views with tears, but the sweetness of knowing more and more will surpass all. We will share our love till there is no more us to discover. Cathy." She sent it and then thought of a little diner that he would probably enjoy. At six oh eight, she ran out and kissed him in the street and they headed for Dianne's Diner.

‭ All that week they went to a different restaurant every night. They were very happy, writing poetry and sharing their lives. That Saturday, he came over at two PM and their kissing on her couch almost got out of hand. They decided to go to an early dinner at Jardin's Hearth, to defuse the situation. He called ahead, and they got an excellent table with a lake view. The colored sailboats on the lake made for an unforgettable afternoon. The waitress took their orders and brought their ice tea. She looked him in the eye and gave him the ring off her finger. His countenance fell, "Cathy, I thought you wanted to wear the ring?" "I want us to talk about our future, it's not you, it's me. I want you to take the initiative. When I say kneel, I want you to bow the knee. Now get down on one knee." He grinned, Oh, I see, are you sure about this, Cathy, my love?" She nodded and smiled at him.

‭ He pulled a side chair out from the table and turned it around. He took her hand, then she rose and sat on the chair. He dropped down on one knee and looked her in the eye, " Cathy what is your middle name?" "Jean." "Cathryn Jean Littleton, would you give up your total identity, every shred of decency, and all you hold dear, so you can sleep with me and be the butt of my jokes?" "Uh, NO." "How about if we just hang around and have some fun together." "You're getting warmer." "OK, final offer; would you be my wife, the treasure of my soul, my sweet lover and the mother of my children, forsaking all others, as long as we continue to breathe?" "Yes I will, Heath Browning." "OK, that'd be cool." She laughed and he put the ring on her finger, she rose, they embraced and kissed passionately. She sat back down; he moved the chair back under the table and sat down. Some of the people at nearby tables chuckled at their little comedy.