In My Life I Love You More

Chapter Three

The evening air enveloped the quaint house, its warmth complemented by the soft glow of outdoor lights. From beneath the front stairs, two spirited cattle dogs, Cagney and Lacy, burst forth, their excited barks echoing as they bounded toward the car, noses twitching as they caught the scent of the evening.

"Thank you for such a delightful evening, John," Josephina said, clutching her bouquet to her chest with shy affection. "It's been a long time since I've had this much fun."

"I've enjoyed it too, love. Might I hope to see you again before I head out?" John asked, lighting a cigarette and offering it to Josephina. She hesitated but took it, mindful of the consequences of returning home with the smell of tobacco on her.

Living under her parents' roof meant adhering to their rules, and while a cold beer was acceptable in her town, smoking was a secret indulgence shared among the local youth, kept hidden from their unsuspecting parents.

"I'd love that," Josephina said, pulling a small notepad and pen from her purse and handing them to John. "Here, give me your hotel room number. We could explore the coastline together, discover the hidden gems of our town, and check out the boardwalk."

"That sounds enchanting," John replied, smiling as they lapsed into a comfortable silence, broken only by the faint murmur of the car radio.

"Well, goodnight, John, and thank you again for a wonderful evening," Josephina said, preparing to leave. She was surprised when John gently closed the car door, his playful grin catching her off guard.

"But you promised to share a certain middle name if our evening went well," he teased, making Josephina's heart flutter with a mix of amusement and anticipation.

Summoning her courage—perhaps bolstered by the evening's wine or the stirrings of her own heart—Josephina leaned in and placed a tender kiss on John's cheek, her hand lingering against his skin before she turned to leave.

With a final exchange of smiles, Josephina headed toward her home, the eager cattle dogs trailing behind her. She glanced back as the car faded into the darkness, its taillights disappearing into the night.

Her reverie was interrupted by Gabriella's voice, breaking the silence with a knowing tone.

"Well, you certainly seem to have had a splendid time," Gabriella remarked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Josephina jumped, her heart racing as she turned to face her older sister, who wore a knowing smirk.

"Gabriella!" Josephina chided, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at being caught in a moment of vulnerability.

"Oh, but you're positively glowing with happiness. It's written all over your face," Gabriella teased, coaxing a reluctant smile from Josephina.

"It's not what you think," Josephina retorted, brushing past her sister and heading into the house.

Unfazed, Gabriella followed her into the kitchen, where their older brother Colt sat nursing a beer, their faithful hound dog, Copper, by his side.

"So, heard you had a date," Colt said, taking a swig of his beer before turning his attention to his sisters.

"What kind of bet did the poor bloke lose?" Gabriella added, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Why are you even in here, Colt? You smell like a calf after birth," Josephina quipped, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"A man deserves a beer after witnessing the miracle of birth, even if it was a cow," Colt replied with a grin, raising his beer in a mock toast before taking another sip. The sisters rolled their eyes and left him to retire upstairs.

"I need to know who this guy is, so I can gauge how I feel about him. Right now, his romantic gestures and the way you're going gaga over him make him sound like he's Elvis or something," Gabriella chuckled, her face suddenly horrified. "Oh God, it's not Elvis, is it? Josie, he's married and way too old for you!"

"No! It's not Elvis! Ugh, I've never found him handsome. That's Ma's crush," Josephina said, laughing along with Gabriella, relieved and amused by the misunderstanding.

"Well, spill the secret, baby sister," Gabriella said, propping her head on her arm with a raised eyebrow.

"It's John Lennon," Josephina confessed, her tone a mix of excitement and nervousness.