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“That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”
We arrive at the restaurant and I find out that Bradford was absolutely lying about not having any stories to tell from his trip. He just needed to loosen up a little before telling them. It sounds like he actually had a pretty good time, even if he missed me. The restaurant is delicious and we end up spending a good two hours chatting and brushing hands while reaching for the injera.
We’re getting back in the car when I say, “There’s one more thing I wanted to show you.”
“What is it?” Bradford asks.
“This one’s a surprise,” I tell him. “But don’t worry. I think you’ll like it.”
Bradford gets very cute and excited about the surprise, especially as I start driving on some of the dirt roads around the outskirts of Green Haven. It’s a little more than a half hour later when I finally pull the car to a stop.
“Do you recognize where you are?” I ask.
Bradford shakes his head. “No. Should I?”
“Maybe it’ll help to get out of the car.”
He opens the door and steps out. Immediately, when he hears the sound of water running, I can tell he understands. We’re by the river where we spent a day planting trees. All the trees that the two of us planted are still sitting there, and next to them, stretching the rest of the way to the next clump of forest, are ones I planted while he was gone.
“So this is what you did with Glenda?” he says, eyes widening. “This is wonderful!”
“Feels good to see the job done, doesn’t it?” I reply. “Glenda says the trees we planted could live hundreds of years. Isn’t that kind of wonderful to think about?”
Bradford looks at me, then back at the trees. “Oh, it’s a beautiful thing. A bit more sentimental than I took you for, though.”
I laugh. “Well, fine, maybe I can be a softie some time. But also, it feels like Green Haven has just done so much for the two of us. I guess it feels nice that we get to do something for it. Something that lasts.”
Bradford wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. “You did most of it.”
“Maybe, but do you think I would have done any of it without you?”
“Fair enough.”
The two of us kiss, a long, slow kiss. In the distance, the sun is just sinking away and the sky is starting to light up pink and yellow. I couldn’t have timed this moment better if I had tried.
“Someday it will be nice to come back here,” he says. “In a few years, or even a few decades. To see how big the trees have gotten.”
I see what he’s doing. He’s trying to introduce the idea of long-term commitment, but carefully. To feel out what I think about the idea.
Well, I’ll tell him what I think.
“We’ll come back here together,” I say. “We’ll sit under the trees we planted.”
23
BRADFORD
When I wake up, blinking against the harsh morning light, Ragnar is still there. He’s already awake himself, and I wonder how long he’s been lying there looking down at me with the softest gaze of adoration.
I never want this to end. Not again.
“Good morning,” he says with the raspy voice of someone who hasn’t spoken just yet.
I push myself up off his chest to stretch my back. “Good morning. Sleep well?” I ask.
“Never better,” Ragnar replies. He sits up himself and lands a kiss on my lips. “I keep having the nicest dreams when you’re asleep on me.”
“Oh?” I ask. “Like what?” I take another soft kiss for myself before he answers.
