“Is it true?” Amanda was beginning to get impatient for an answer.
Dunc lifted his head to look Amanda in the eyes. His uncertain expression amplified the frightened look in his steely blue eyes. He looked terrified.
“Amanda. I-” He stammered, unable to pull himself together. He lifted a hand to caress Amanda’s face. Her beautiful brown eyes, with their fiery glint, were toned down with a shadow of apprehension. It might be the last time he ever got to touch her or see her this close.
“I love you!” Amanda blurted out, unable to take it any longer. Dunc looked shocked and froze.
“Amanda, I love you too.” Dunc sighed with a crooked smile, letting the words flow. He relaxed and leaned toward Amanda, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. She met him, then broke off after a few minutes to snuggle into his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Amanda repeated with a smile. Then she yawned. “That was exhausting. Naptime?”
“Yeah.” Dunc grinned, laying back on the hammock and bringing Amanda with him. “We can talk later.” He kept an arm around her as she stretched out next to him and made herself comfortable. Dunc felt relieved to get it out, but at the same time, he still worried.
Amanda might change her mind. Dunc could never take those words back. Once they were spoken, they were permanent. He had put his heart into her hands.
They slept through lunch and well into the afternoon. Dunc ended up rolling onto his side so he could wrap his arms around her. Amanda curled up with her head buried in his chest. She had folded her arms under her neck and tucked her knees up against his stomach. It was the best sleep she had since falling asleep on him weeks earlier.
Nobody came looking for them, and Amanda could have slept until evening if allowed to. Her stomach had other ideas and began growling. “You hungry?” Dunc stirred and squeezed her gently.
Amanda took a deep breath enjoying where she was lying for a moment longer. Her stomach growled again and pinched tightly. “Yeah.” She sighed.
“Let’s see what we have. Mom’s been baking, so there should be fresh bread, pies, and some things she’s canning.” Dunc reluctantly shifted, pushing himself up. He stretched, and Amanda watched.
“I love you.” She whispered with a lazy smile.
“Amanda, I have always loved you.” Dunc returned, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Let me make you something to eat.”
They got up and made their way to the back door hand in hand. Dunc caught Amanda looking at his garden as they were walking by it, and her stomach growled again. “If you want, you can send Sallie and Dew over anytime to pick stuff. There’s too much in there for just me and my mother. We have plenty.”
“I’ll take you up on that.” Amanda grinned, thinking about her almost empty fridge and pantries. There was no way she was going to let Dunc find out about that. She knew he was the type of man who would immediately drive her to the nearest grocery store to fill them. She could see him filling several carts full of random food for her. Amanda didn’t want that. She needed a few more days for her next deposit. She would be fine, and he didn’t need to ‘rescue’ her.
***
“Thanks for ruining everything, Mother.” Dunc glowered at her as they entered the kitchen.
“What, Dear?” Hannah turned and smiled at them. It was one of those smiles that spread from ear to ear and was anything but innocent. “I’ve been in here all day.”
“You know what you did,” Dunc growled, leading Amanda to the table. He pulled out a chair for her, waited for her to sit, then pushed it closer. “What do we have for lunch?”
“Chicken salad in the fridge, and I even sliced the bread for you two.” His mother motioned to a plate that had four thick slices of homemade bread stacked on it. “I figured you’d be hungry. Your hair is all mussed up, Dear.”
“Mother!” Dunc snapped.
Amanda groaned and put her head in her hands as she realized what she was insinuating.
“That is very rude. Stop doing that.” Dunc grumbled as he opened the fridge to retrieve the chicken salad. “Would you like a drink, Amanda?” He asked in a far kinder voice. “Looks like we have tea, juice, and milk.”
“Tea is fine,” Amanda whispered, staring at the table, trying to hide the deep red blush on her cheeks.
“Why are you so embarrassed?” Dunc’s mother checked the oven. “It’s only natural. I mean, you’re 42, Dunc, you never have-”
“Mother!” Dunc slammed a fist onto the counter, making Amanda jump. “Stop talking!” His mother smiled at him. She could not stop smiling, and it was infuriating. “What Amanda and I do is none of your business. I will not have you speaking freely about it like this. We were taking a nap on the hammock. That is all—nothing else. There are not any grandchildren coming. No chance of that, so please stop doing that.” He laid into her, and she smiled at him.
“Just do what comes naturally, Dears.” She giggled and went back to moving pies around on the counter to make room for the ones in the oven. “No judgment here, but seriously, you don’t have forever.”
Dunc sighed and gave up. There was no getting through to his mother. Dunc made the sandwiches and brought the plates over to the table. “I apologize to her. You know how OLD people get.” Dunc mumbled before leaving to grab their glasses and returning.
“How do we get, Dunc?” His mother placed two plates with slices of apple pie and ice cream on the table between
