CASCADING

ENCOUNTER CHAPTER 8

Outside the rain tapped on June's window softly drumming a lullaby. She pulled the covers closer as the melody swayed her to a calm. Her mind drifted back to her encounter with Steffen yesterday in the supermarket and then the food court. She buried her face in her pillow as the feelings of embarrassment crept up when she remembered how she tried to get away from him. After making a complete idiot of herself she had hope to fool Steffen that she needed a bottle of rectal dysfunction medicine for period cramps. 'How embarrassing, ugh..' She whimpered softly and hugged Mindy tightly.

"Steffen must think that I am a huge joke, he probably laughed at me behind my back." She told Mindy and turned on her side hugging her trusted friend. "Why did I reacted that way? Why does he make me feel so exposed? How bold, to even ask me out so subtly." She mumbled then yawned. 'It's as though he sees me and there's no where for me to hide.' She thought, as her mind began to drift and her eyes became heavy. 'Why is it like this? I can see his eyes, his nose, his lips...Why?' Darkness covered her as she fell asleep with the sound of rain.

* * *

The rain fell all night and into the early morning leaving puddles of water along the footpath. Humming Birds came out to get their first dew as hibiscus opens their petals. Butterflies played a game of tag; the sun peaked through the clouds and dew drops glistened on new grass. On a hill not too far away the mist goes down the valley. The echoes of roosters are heard as they command the start of a new day.

Steffen leaned against the column in the veranda soaking up the essence of a new day. He enjoyed the picturesque view of the country side as he sipped a cup of coffee. "This is the glory of God." He whispered and took a deep breath of the cool fresh air. He turned when his grandmother came through the door.

"Oh goodness, you startled me." Miriam held her chest.

"Hi, sorry about that grandma, good morning." He went over to her. "Are you ok?"

"Oh I'm alright, good morning, I'm just surprised to see you out here so early. Is everything alright with you? Usually I am the one up early or can't sleep especially if I have something on my mind." She paused and looked at her grandson suspiciously. She squinted at him and smirked.

Steffen looked guilty and tried hard to cover up the real reason he was up so early. "Grandma it's nothing to worry about, trust me. I was just here meditating on the goodness of God and his creations that's all." Which is true he nodded.

"And what about that June girl, isn't she one of God's creations?" She teased.

"Well, yes she is." He replied. 'A very beautiful one at that.' He smiled at the thought of seeing her later for dinner and his heart picked up its pace.

Miriam threw breadcrumbs on the front lawn and birds hovered around for their portion. "I bet she must be very pretty to have you up so early, hmm...?" She kept her back to him.

Steffen rubbed the back of his neck and grinned unconsciously as he pictured June sitting restless in her chair when he asked her out.

"Well look at you skinning your teeth so. She must have you so good." Miriam was a master at reading people and she knew her grandson was completely smittened.

"Ah...well I think it's more like she is smitten with me." He smiled confidently.

"Eh hey! Look at you blowing your own trumpet. So aren't you interested in this young lady? I see you grinning all the time." She stopped to look at him.

"Yes I am interested in her, too interested. I don't know grandma when I am around her it's like all my senses are heightened. I see her, sense her, hear her and it's scary. I loved Annabel deeply but she always remained a mystery to me. I thought maybe that's what was exciting about her you know, but..." He paused searching for the words to explain himself.