Page 71 of How You See Me
I already know how I’d paint it. The waterfall in bold strokes, the pond and floating mist in pastel washes, the wildflowers in quick, playful flicks of color. Every corner of this place feels like a secret someone whispered only to us.
I take another round of photos, catching Hayes in a few of them (I’ll enjoy those later in private). By the time I sit next to him on a dry rock near the falls, the sun has dippedbehind the hills, the twilight hour for photos coming to an end.
“This is so peaceful. After living around concrete, noise, and smog all my life, I think I could get used to the country.”
Hayes stares out over the water, still and mindful.
“What about you?” I ask. “After your service where will you settle down?”
Like Jordan, I assume he has a plan for retirement. Dreams, ideas, places to see, things to do.
“I don’t know.”
“You haven’t thought about it?”
He shrugs. “I’ve never had a reason to. I always go where I’m needed, and that service was supposed to be my lifelong career.”
“That’s noble.” I pluck a daisy-like wildflower and tuck it behind my ear. “But let’s pretend everyone in your family is happy and thriving. I’m not saying they aren’t,” I backtrack when he flinches. “Just trying to get into your head.”
“Too late,” he murmurs under his breath, so quiet I almost didn’t hear him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re already in my head, making me think about things I usually don’t. Like whether I should wear a cowboy hat out in public.”
I laugh, though my heart clenches at the confession. “That’s ayes, by the way.”
“Noted.” Something passes between us, hovering there like a dangling thread neither of us wants to pull.
“Anyway, back to the question. Would you want a house in the country or something in the city?”
“I’ve always wanted solitude.”
“You can’t have that with a wife and kids. Are you imagining that you’re alone in your future home?”
“Before this trip . . .” He pauses, glancing out over the stream. “That’s exactly what I pictured.”
“And now?”
“I’m thinking that sounds . . . lonely.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Some things my Mom said today.” His lets his thoughts take over again before he plucks a flower from the grass and holds it out to me. “And you.”
“Me?” I take the flower, heart fluttering from his unexpected sweetness and fingers brushing mine. “How?”
“You force me to see life differently.” He takes in a long breath and leans forward to rest his elbows on his thighs. “I love what I do, but I’m starting to realize it may not beeverything.Maybe I want something else to live for. Something more for me.”
“Hayes Montgomery, are you finally realizing that you take life too seriously?”
The tight lines around his eyes loosen, along with his muscles. “I think I am.”
Reaching up, I tuck the flower stem behind his ear. And dang if it isn’t the cutest thing ever. “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s do something spontaneous.”
