Page 32 of Her Surprise Vacation Date

I trace my finger down the side of her face, taking my time to savor her soft skin, before tucking it under her chin. We dip our heads in the opposite direction and lean in closer. We’re mere inches apart, but the distance feels like a journey that took a decade to complete. I’m no longer her best friend’s kid brother pining for the older, sophisticated woman who was so out of reach. We’re equals now. A man and a woman who are seeing each other in a whole new way. I feel like Tarzan, discovering the wonder and beauty of someone so like him but distinctly different. This also must have been how Adam felt when God brought him Eve. I feel like declaring to the world that I’ve found my other half. But first, I’ll treasure the opportunity to show Hope this very truth.

My mouth is finally on hers, moving gently and lightly at first, then with a firmer pressure as our lips dance to a rhythm of their own. This is all that I’ve dreamed of and more. I want to memorize everything about this moment. How Hope wraps her hands around my neck and weaves her fingers into the hair at my neck. The soft sounds of delight she makes as I deepen the kiss. And how she tastes as sweet as she smells, like honey and the ripest strawberries of summer.

This kiss—it’s too good to be true. I want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not sleeping and in the middle of a dream. My senses tell me I’m fully awake, though, and totally and completely at this woman’s mercy. If Hope O’Connor is the only woman I ever kiss on this earth from now on, I’ll be a very, very happy man. If only this kiss could go on and on?—

Scree! Scree scree scree!

No, not now!

“Shaney! Do you hear that?” Hope’s out of my embrace and her seat quicker than I can open my eyes. “It’s my luggage! Let’s go, let’s go!”

I barely have time to groan before Hope pulls me to myfeet in one swift move. Her show of strength has my mouth gaping. “Have you been working out?”

“Not a chance! It must be the adrenaline! Come on! We need to stop her before she leaves!”

Twenty seconds later, we’re back on the first floor and running across the parking lot towards a little old lady. She’s pulling a rolling green suitcase toward a car in a similar shade of green.

“Stop, please!” Hope calls out. “We need to ask you a question!”

The woman stops and turns around to face us. She looks surprisingly like a white-haired version of Edna fromThe Incredibleswith her shortcut bob and bangs. Piercing dark eyes glare at us through thick, round frames as she places her hands on her hips. She purses her lips in annoyance. “Yes, what is it?”

Hope is out of breath, so she holds up a finger to ask for a moment.

I quickly jump in and try to explain the situation as best as I can without sounding like Hope gave her luggage away to a complete stranger. When I’m done, I ask expectantly, “Can we ask where you got this suitcase from?”

The first thing out of the woman’s mouth is, “You let a stranger take your luggage?”

“Um, yes.” Hope winces. “It’s been a crazy vacation, let me tell you. Not all bad, though. I got reunited with my best friend’s little brother and he’s now my boyfriend.” She laces her fingers with mine and holds our hands up in the air. “See?”

Ms. Edna Mode 2.0 looks me up and down. “You have good taste, at least,” she remarks to Hope. “You can keep the boy, but this luggage is mine,” she adds in a firm tone. “Ibought it fair and square at the flea market near the edge of town.”

Hope frowns. “The flea market—I knew it. Were there candles there, too? They were inside the suitcase.”

“Candles? I don’t believe so. The only thing the seller had were suitcases. Big ones and small ones, tall ones and wide ones,” she states rhythmically, as if reciting a Dr. Seuss poem. “Most of them were a plain black or blue color besides this green one and a yellow one. This one’s a whole lot snazzier, so I snatched it up as quickly as I could.”

“Snazzy’s the perfect word to describe it.” Hope sighs as she looks longingly at the forbidden piece of luggage. “Green’s my favorite color.”

“Mine, too.”

“Really? That’s so rare. I don’t know anyone else who likes the color green. Everyone always says it reminds them of Ker?—”

“—mit the Frog!” Ms. Edna finishes for her with a toothy grin.

“Yes!” Hope perks up for a moment when Ms. Edna offers her a high five. “Kermie’s a beautiful color! What’s so wrong with liking green, am I right?”

“Absolutely nothing at all,” the older woman agrees.

“Sorry to interrupt your mutual appreciation for amphibians,” I jump in, trying to get the conversation back on track, “but about the luggage. Do you remember anything about the person you bought it from? Was it a man or woman? Age, height, clothing—does anything come to mind?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t help you there, sonny. My visual memory’s not all that great. I have what’s called aphan?—”

“—tasia?” Hope exclaims with anticipation. “Don’t tell me you have that, too!”

“You, too?” Ms. Edna’s eyes grow as round as her frames. “I knew I liked you the moment I saw you.”

“Me, too!” I declare, earning my own high five from Hope’s new friend. “She’s quite likeable, isn’t she?”

“Aw, shucks.” A pretty pink colors Hope’s cheeks as she ducks her head. “You guys are too kind. You’re totally making me blush.” She offers Ms. Edna a bittersweet smile. “I guess I’m thankful that out of everyone who could have bought my suitcase, it turned out to be you. You’re kind of like a kindred spirit. I’m Hope, by the way.”

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