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At the classic truck, Kendall asked us to take a picture in front of the door. It was surrounded almost completely by tall sunflowers. We had to dodge a few bees, but eventually, it was safe for us to stand together and snap the picture. When Kendall showed us the images, I wondered if she suspected there was something between us. We stood close in the picture, Mark’s hand ghosting over my lower back. It was innocent, but we looked happy.
At the lean-to that doubled as the storefront, we grabbed a couple of baskets and shears to snip the sunflowers we’d want. We took our time walking through the rows of wildflowers and then the fields of sunflowers. Mixed in between the flowers were antique toy cars, a bathtub, a mirror, a bicycle, and a desk. The props provided opportunities to take pictures. I was surprised when Kendall exclaimed over each one, asking for one of us to take a picture.
“You want me to send these to your mother?” Mark asked.
Something flashed over Kendall’s face. “Yeah, sure.”
She said it in a way that made me think she wasn’t sure if her mother would care if they were forwarded or not. I hoped that wasn’t the case.
Surely, her mother was planning on coming back. I didn’t think too hard about what would happen when she did.
“There are chickens, too,” Kendall said when she spotted them behind a fence.
“You can feed them. Just ask the lady at the front counter for food,” I suggested.
Kendall spun like she was going to take off in that direction. “Can I, Dad?”
“Sure. We’ll just be here, picking out sunflowers.”
Kendall kissed Mark’s cheek and raced off toward the chicken pen.
“I think that’s the first time she’s kissed me since I was discharged.”
“Her affection is harder to win now?” I asked as we walked down a new row of sunflowers, taller than the others. We couldn’t see Kendall.
“When she was younger, it was easy. She was always so excited to see me. Her love was freely given.” His tone was wistful.
“She still loves you. She just shows it differently.” I rested my hand in the crook of his elbow.
He smiled down at me. “I’m still going to treasure any kisses I get.”
I felt the affection and love for his daughter like the warmth of the sun on my face. The path narrowed. My chest rubbed against his arm, making my breath hitch.
Mark stopped. “We should get a picture.”
His arm wrapped around me as he held the phone out with his free hand. He took a few selfies of us smiling, and then he kissed me on the cheek.
“Take a look. Let me know if any are good.” He handed me his phone and resumed walking.
I scrolled the images he’d taken of Kendall. “These pics of Kendall are so good. You could frame them for a wall in your house.”
“That’s a good idea,” Mark said, but I wondered if he’d do it.
I sent the images to my phone, thinking I’d have them printed and framed and present them as a gift.
In the first few images of us, Mark was looking at the camera, then there was the one where he kissed my cheek. It was a sweet picture, but it was the last one that had my heart tripping over itself.
My cheeks were flushed as I smiled at the camera. He was gazing at me with so much love on his face. Did he know he’d fallen in love with me again? Or was it that he’d never stopped?
“Mark?” My voice broke on his name as I sent the image to my phone and added it to my wallpaper.
“Yeah?” he asked over his shoulder, stopping when he realized I wasn’t moving.
“Did you tell Kendall about us?” My heart was pounding in my chest.
Mark frowned. “I wouldn’t do that without talking to you first.”
“Do you think we should? It feels like things are getting serious between us, and I don’t want to keep it from her.”
