One Chance

Chapter 8

The car stops near the lake a little outside of town. I look out and see it completely empty but there are a few decorations and I look at Toby and tell him, " I guess someone is celebrating here. There is no one but it is decorated so beautifully."

He just nods and asks me to come out while he steps out of the car himself. We start walking towards the decorated area. Toby asks me to wait while we walk back to the car.

I decide to take a look around and walk to the lake. The lake is just as I remember when I was a kid. My family and Amanda's family would come here a lot on weekends when we were kids. After a while all of us got busy with school, work and we never made time to come here again.

I spot the little boat on the side and walk towards it. All the memories of fishing with my family comes rushing back. I smile at the happy times and how I never was able to get a fish. I am almost lost in my thoughts when a hand taps on my shoulder.

I jerk in reaction and look back to see Toby. Behind him is a complete picnic set up right near the decorations and a huge smile forms on my face. He surprises me by taking my hand and leading me to the spot and we both sit down.

" I can't believe you did all of this. It's beautiful." I say looking right at him with a huge smile on my face.

" I have been planning for this for a few days. I wanted to ask you out a while ago, but I wanted it to be perfect. I have only been in town for a short while but the people here are nice. I asked the flower shop owner down the street from the book shop about the places around the town and he told me about this lake. I came here yesterday, and I knew it right then what I wanted to do." He says also looking at me with so much warmth in his eyes that I almost couldn't keep looking at him without tears.

Gosh why am I so emotional. I look away from him and stare at the lake for a moment and when I turn back Toby hands me a bunch of red Tulips and says "I saw you the first time you came to my store, it was only a glimpse but it was enough for me to want to see you. It was probably very surprising when I walked into your office the next day. I didn't know what to say so I chickened out. Then when I got to meet you a few more times I just knew I wanted to get to know you and spend time with you. This is just the beginning."

I look right at him and take the flowers without losing eye contact and say " This is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. I am so happy right now. Thank you for the flowers and this picnic. It's perfect."

We start eating and talk for a while. Then he takes my hand in his and we walk to the lake. " Do you want to go fish?" He says.

" Sure." I say, " but I am not very good."

" Well, maybe this time you'll be lucky." He says.

" So, are you experienced? When was the time last you went fishing?", I ask while we get in the boat.

" It's been three years, I think. The last trip I took with my dad. It used to be something we did together. I couldn't even think of fishing after that. He passed away a week after that trip." He says looking into the water.

" I'm so sorry. We don't have to go fishing today. We can do something else." I say while I hold his hand.

" No, it's okay. I want to do this with you. I picked this place because after so long I finally felt like I can do this. I really miss fishing too." He says giving my hand a squeeze.

We then quietly sit on either side of the boat and start fishing. He quickly gets two, while I struggle.

" We can go back now, I don't think today is my lucky day either ", I say disappointed.