As the sun shone through the sheer curtains that afternoon, she couldn’t help but wonder about whether or not things were meant to stay the same. For the last several months it had felt as though life would always be like this. An endless spring afternoon, the soft breeze rustling the bottom of her dress and tangling her hair, the sun beating down on the field across from her bedroom window, the everlasting day time only giving way to night at the last possible moment. A gentle and earned reprieve into cool, dark peace. It all seemed eternal, everlasting, steeped in a kind of sickly sweet inevitability.
She wondered if Adrian felt the same. She often wondered how thoughts moved through his head. He certainly did not say much about it, which only further peaked her interest. Yet, whenever she would ask, he would say something to the effect of “nothing in particular, ” or “only you.” Sweet, but routine. In a way that seemed just as inevitable.
As she waved to him from the fence where they met most afternoons, she felt a deepening sense of difference.
She clutched her basket, containing a small canteen of lemonade, and as he approached she felt her grip slowly relax. There he was. The tension leaves her body. All is right in the world.
He was filthy, the dust and dirt from the field he had ploughed over the last week had taken its toll, the usual off white of his rolled up sleeves now a gradient of brown.
She hated herself for preferring him this way. Surely it wasn’t proper. Of course, there was nothing undignified in his work, was there? Farm labour was perhaps the most necessary of anything. Certainly more so than whatever it was that her own parents did all day. Selling farm equipment from an office in town. Even they didn’t exist without the type of work Adrian did. That was what actually mattered. Perhaps it was business savvy of her to notice. That would help her when she inherited, certainly.
On top of that, he did not seem to mind. If anything he enjoyed the effect he had on her. It was the one area of his life where an expression could give him away, and he conducted himself accordingly.
“Grace,” he sighs, reaching his hand out toward her and clasping their fingers together. “I thought it might be about time to see you out here. I’ve been peeking over my shoulder all morning.”
She smiles, her cheeks running hot. You know, from the sun.
“You seemed like you could use a break.” She looks away, trying to hide her exasperation. “I thought you might be thirsty.”
She rests her basket on the top of the fence and he takes the canteen. He places the gentlest of kisses on her forehead as a gesture of his gratitude. He takes a swig, settling the canteen on the fence and holding it there. She places her hand on top of his. He smiles.
“You’re so good to me.” He nearly whispers, leaning ever so slightly over the fence and using his free hand to brush the wind tousled hair off her shoulder. “How did I get so lucky?”
He kisses her again, longer this time.
The heat in her cheeks turns to fire.
“I could say the same about you.” She laughs, “I’m only returning the favor.”
Their hands touch again. Grace lingers there for a time before looking up to meet his eyes. He sighs into her mouth and pulls her closer, letting the canteen and the basket tumble onto the grass.
“Adrian!” His older brother, Thomas calls, breaking their spell. Adrian pulls away hesitantly, clinging to the fading warmth of the moment.
“I should get back.” He murmurs, his eyes closed. “Will I see you tonight?”
“I would like that.” She says sweetly. “The barn door isn’t sliding properly, I think its the hinges. Maybe you could take a look?”
“ ’Course.” He replies. “I’ll clean up after Tom and I finish out here, then I’ll be over.”
“Don’t clean off.” She blurts, only realizing her embarrassment afterward.
He laughs, amused if a little taken aback.
“You’d like that?” he leans in.
She nods slowly.
He looks her over for a moment, curling his lower lip inward and making a mental note.
“Then I guess I’ll be there sooner.”
He pulls her toward him and places one more kiss to her lips before backing away and turning back into the field.
“See you later.”