Summer Dreams

Days Like Today

"I love days like today," Linda smiled as she and Danny sat on a picnic blanket. He was supposed to be helping her with..... something. He had forgotten exactly what it was; she had been flying all over The place, and finally she convinced him to have a picnic in The park with her.
He looked to the sky. "Hot? Humid? Sticky?"
"There are days where I don't have to be prim and proper. Days where there are no rules. No expectations. No lessons. No 'yes, ma'am, Miss O'Shea'. No 'right away, Miss O'Shea'. No, 'yes, Miss O'Shea, but I think....'. No 'ladies do not' or 'a lady only...'. Days like today, I'm completely free. Days like today, I can go wherever I want. Be wherever I want. With whoever I want." She easily jumped to her feet, surprising Danny. "I could go running. And racing. And dancing. And chasing. And leaping. And bounding. Hair flying, heart pounding. And splashing. And reeling. And finally feeling I am completely free!"
Danny chuckled as Linda started dancing in the park. She twirled and swirled, and turned a cartwheel, again surprising him. (He didn't know how anyone could dance in heels like the ones she was wearing).
She bounded over time him, grabbing his hand. Despite his weak protests, she managed to pull him to his feet. She gripped his hand and ran with him through the park.
Danny couldn't stop laughing that afternoon. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the breeze was blowing.... and he kept sneezing. Damn my allergies.
"Are you sure you're okay, Danny?" Linda looked behind her. "You've been sneezin' an awful lot."
"I'm fine. I have... allergies." He coughed then sneezed.
Linda frowned. "I got an idea," she softly stated. "Let's go get the blanket and picnic stuff, and go to the ice cream parlor down the street. It's cold in there, and you wouldn't be so sneezy."
Danny shook his head, "Linda, no. You wanted to be outside, so we'll stay out-" he sneezed loudly, "-side."
"And I'll gladly trade sunshine for a soft serve with chocolate sauce and sprinkles, so you won't be uncomfortable...." quietly and shyly, she added, "especially so you won't be uncomfortable."
He suddenly wanted to kiss her, but he knew he couldn't. She didn't like him that way, and even if she did, he'd be fired in half a second. "You're a good person, y'know that?" He held out his hand and when she took it, a warmth came over him. Was he falling for the boss' daughter? He couldn't be, especially not when she was.... he shook his head. He wasn't even supposed to hear that conversation, but he had. He sort of hoped they'd run into Remington and Laura- or even Brie- just so he wouldn't be alone with her.
"I don't mind, you know."
"Huh?" Danny looked up from gathering the empty Tupperware.
"Going inside; eating ice cream. I especially don't mind eating ice cream!" Linda folded the checkered blanket. "Every other year or so, a certain type of pollen comes around, and I'm sneezing my brains out. So I sympathize with you. And again, I will sacrifice anything come what may, for the sake of having ice cream."
Danny chuckled, "I believe the lyrics are 'for the sake of having you near'."
"Yeah, but Sinatra was singing about his lady love. Not yummy, sugary goodness."
He smiled, "come on, Toot Sweet."
Linda grinned, "coming, Sneezy!"
It took them about three minutes to walk to the ice cream parlor. They stood in line for a few minutes, then received an ice cream sundae for Linda, and a simple double scoop for Danny.
Linda was scanning through tables, trying to find a good one, when she saw a familiar face. "Robert?!"
Robert? Oh no, Danny thought, this can't end well.