David leaned down and picked up the dog slobbered stick. Hamish bounced around his feet, his eyes firmly on the prize.
“You’d better throw it before he rips it out of your hand.”
He launched it down the shore and held his hands up as the dog spun around scattering sand over the pair of them.
“He’s in his element. We love walking down here, and Hamish loves the water, too. I’m so glad we moved here.” April slipped a hand through his arm. “Take off your shoes and leave them on the path with my sandals. Roll up your trousers and make yourself comfortable. It’ll be fun, I promise.”
David glanced into her joyful face and found himself doing as she suggested. He slipped of his shoes, peeled off the socks and stuffed them inside and felt the sand between his toes. He dropped his shoes and wiggled his toes trying to get used to the feeling of grit on bare skin. A pair of flip flops might have been a good idea. He made a mental note to put a pair in the trunk.
“Don’t tell me you don’t ever do this?” April squealed as Hamish came bounding up and rubbed against her, Oscar right behind him. His fur dripped cold water against her bare legs and with a tilt of his shaggy head, he gave his whole body a rolling shake spraying water over the pair of them.
“Hamish!” David threw his hands out to try and protect himself, but it was no use. Sandy drops of water sprayed over him, soaking his clean shirt, dribbling down his face and spotting his glasses. Oscar yipped and spun around in circles, excitement getting the better of him.
A chortle of laughter burst out over his protests. He whipped off the glasses, reached into his pocket for a tissue to clean them.
“Oh, David. I’m so sorry. He’s a big goof ball and doesn’t understand what he’s done.”
Her blurry face came close to his. He could see she was struggling to hold back a smile and a quick flash of annoyance rose in his chest before he pushed it down, willing himself to be calm and roll with it. A grin surfaced before he could stop it. “It’s okay.”
“Here, let me.” She took his glasses and whipped the corner of her t-shirt from her overalls and polished the dirty water off the lenses before holding them out. “You have water all over your face and in your hair. You look like someone’s forgotten to clean you after a water balloon fight.” She handed him his glasses and took the tissue from his hand, dabbing at his cheeks and forehead.
“I doubt there’s much wrong with looking like this but I don’t think you’ll be that comfortable unless you’re tidy.” April ran her hand over his hair, brushing it back from his forehead and slid her hand over the back of his neck. A shiver went up his spine.
*
“There. That should do it.” She withdrew her hand and smiled.
He really was the cutest guy, and what had just passed between them gave her hope for the future. David was no more immune to her than she was to him regardless of their differences. Thank goodness for crazy dogs and opportunity. Who would have thought it would be her big goofball dog that gave her the chance to develop this odd friendship into a relationship? Hamish deserved an extra treat tonight.
She reached out and grabbed David’s hand. “Let’s walk for a while and work up an appetite. It might take the energy out of Hamish and Oscar, too, and that would give us a peaceful evening without them butting in. Hopefully they’ll fall asleep on the rug once we get back.” With his fingers twined in hers, they took a leisurely stroll down the shoreline. It only took a few minutes for her to notice he was losing some of his trademark stiffness and relaxing alongside her.
“It’s so pretty out here. It must be gorgeous in winter with the snow up to the water line.” April dragged her foot in the water, watching the small ripples spread out over its surface.
“It can be beautiful as well as a bit much when we get a heavy snow. I like it though; it’s so very peaceful in winter. Nice and white, it settles a blanket of quiet over the town, which I enjoy. That’s until it starts to melt and gets slushy underfoot. Not so pretty then.” He smiled. “Some years the edges freeze over but only on the shallow parts of the lake. Do you skate?”
“I certainly do. I even brought my skates with me.” April leaned into him. “I know I’m going to love living here, especially having my sisters nearby.”
“I gather you’re all very close to each other then?”
“Yes, we are. Some days I’m sure you wouldn’t know it the way we bicker and boss each other around but that’s just the way we are. We can pick on each other, but woe betide anyone else that dares try that. They won’t know what they’ve started.” She let silence blanket them for a couple of hundred feet. He seemed to enjoy the quiet between them. “You don’t have any brothers or sisters?”
He shook his head. “No. Only child, I’m afraid, much to my mother’s disappointment. I believe she tried but was only blessed with me.”
“At least she managed that. She must be very proud of you and what you’ve achieved.”
“She is but most of the credit has to go to both my parents. They made a huge sacrifice to give me the education they did.”
“Was it always your dream to follow in your father’s footsteps and be a doctor?”
He squeezed her hand. “Yes. From as long as I can remember, I wanted to do what he did, although I set my sights on
