time.”
Ana flushed, There would be a next time, she thought. She followed his lithe body moving through a thicket and tried to pursue her guide. Chance seemed to sense her pace and slackened his stride allowing her to catch up.
They stopped often to take pictures, seeing something striking or unique. Ana used the excuse to take a photograph when she grew tired or felt out of breath. She wasn’t sure if he noticed her fatigue, but at the very least he hadn’t said anything. For that she was thankful.
The light was starting to fade when Chance recommended turning back. By the time they reached Ana’s rock, the sun was beginning its descent behind the Kaniksu Forest mountain range. They began taking pictures of the gleaming tree line.
A click beside her made her turn. Surprised by a camera directed at her, she met his eyes as he lowered the camera and grinned sheepishly. “The light-“
Ana blushed, returning her attention to the sun melting into the landscape and asked shyly, “Do you want to join us for dinner tonight? If you can…”
“Sure, I’ll give my mom a call.”
They walked back down the darkened path to the inviting blue house and emerged onto the yard, entering the back door. The smell of pizza engulfed them as they entered the warm kitchen.
“Ana? Is that you?” Melissa’s voice called from the living room.
Her mother was sorting through papers while Eva sat on the couch reading. When Melissa saw them together her face lit up and she got up to shake Chance’s hand.
“Mom, this is Chance, Chance, this is my mother, Melissa Hughes.”
Eva sat on the couch watching the introductions. Her eyes turned to the pizza sitting on the dining table, watching as curling steam rose from the beckoning dinner.
“You can call me Mel-everyone else does. I brought pizza home-it’s Eva’s favorite. Are you joining us for dinner tonight, Chance?” Melissa asked.
“Yeah, sounds great-Would you give me just a minute? I need to call my house.”
“Of course, go ahead.”
Chance looked down smiling and walked into the kitchen, pulling out his phone.
Ana’s mother turned to her eagerly, whispering, “He’s so handsome! And he has such a friendly smile-I like him.” Melissa reached out to touch her daughter’s arm.
Ana flushed pink at her mother’s optimism. She had often though Melissa would be happy if she brought the frog prince home or any yahoo for that matter, but it secretly pleased her to see her mother share in her excitement. Ana knew her mom worried because she never encouraged attention from boys or anyone, really. Simply put, Melissa didn’t want her daughter to be alone, without companionship. Or friendship. And she had told her so.
Finding someone who would look beyond the medical problems and uncertainty could be a challenge but Ana had no interest in going through the trouble. She considered it cruel to bring someone into her world. But here she was, skirting along the fringes of friendship with a boy she just met.
Seeing her mother’s brightened face, without any traces of concern, pleased her. When so much of their time lately was spent worrying, her day with Chance was refreshing.
Doubts about her upcoming doctor’s appointment were pushed to the side, along with the foreboding that smiles around the household were limited.
Chance wandered back into the room flipping his phone shut. Eva jumped up from the couch, resettling at the table before her empty plate, her saucer eyes willing everyone to the table.
“Mom appreciates your hospitality… She wants to invite Ana to our house… to return the favor. Could you come for dinner on Friday, maybe?” Chance inquired, looking down at the floor.
They joined Eva at the table as Ana sought her mother’s face to see if she had any objection. Without speaking, Melissa gave her an encouraging grin and wink.
“That’d be great. I’d love to come over,” she answered, beaming at him.
They all enjoyed each other’s company
Ana flushed, There would be a next time, she thought. She followed his lithe body moving through a thicket and tried to pursue her guide. Chance seemed to sense her pace and slackened his stride allowing her to catch up.
They stopped often to take pictures, seeing something striking or unique. Ana used the excuse to take a photograph when she grew tired or felt out of breath. She wasn’t sure if he noticed her fatigue, but at the very least he hadn’t said anything. For that she was thankful.
The light was starting to fade when Chance recommended turning back. By the time they reached Ana’s rock, the sun was beginning its descent behind the Kaniksu Forest mountain range. They began taking pictures of the gleaming tree line.
A click beside her made her turn. Surprised by a camera directed at her, she met his eyes as he lowered the camera and grinned sheepishly. “The light-“
Ana blushed, returning her attention to the sun melting into the landscape and asked shyly, “Do you want to join us for dinner tonight? If you can…”
“Sure, I’ll give my mom a call.”
They walked back down the darkened path to the inviting blue house and emerged onto the yard, entering the back door. The smell of pizza engulfed them as they entered the warm kitchen.
“Ana? Is that you?” Melissa’s voice called from the living room.
Her mother was sorting through papers while Eva sat on the couch reading. When Melissa saw them together her face lit up and she got up to shake Chance’s hand.
“Mom, this is Chance, Chance, this is my mother, Melissa Hughes.”
Eva sat on the couch watching the introductions. Her eyes turned to the pizza sitting on the dining table, watching as curling steam rose from the beckoning dinner.
“You can call me Mel-everyone else does. I brought pizza home-it’s Eva’s favorite. Are you joining us for dinner tonight, Chance?” Melissa asked.
“Yeah, sounds great-Would you give me just a minute? I need to call my house.”
“Of course, go ahead.”
Chance looked down smiling and walked into the kitchen, pulling out his phone.
Ana’s mother turned to her eagerly, whispering, “He’s so handsome! And he has such a friendly smile-I like him.” Melissa reached out to touch her daughter’s arm.
Ana flushed pink at her mother’s optimism. She had often though Melissa would be happy if she brought the frog prince home or any yahoo for that matter, but it secretly pleased her to see her mother share in her excitement. Ana knew her mom worried because she never encouraged attention from boys or anyone, really. Simply put, Melissa didn’t want her daughter to be alone, without companionship. Or friendship. And she had told her so.
Finding someone who would look beyond the medical problems and uncertainty could be a challenge but Ana had no interest in going through the trouble. She considered it cruel to bring someone into her world. But here she was, skirting along the fringes of friendship with a boy she just met.
Seeing her mother’s brightened face, without any traces of concern, pleased her. When so much of their time lately was spent worrying, her day with Chance was refreshing.
Doubts about her upcoming doctor’s appointment were pushed to the side, along with the foreboding that smiles around the household were limited.
Chance wandered back into the room flipping his phone shut. Eva jumped up from the couch, resettling at the table before her empty plate, her saucer eyes willing everyone to the table.
“Mom appreciates your hospitality… She wants to invite Ana to our house… to return the favor. Could you come for dinner on Friday, maybe?” Chance inquired, looking down at the floor.
They joined Eva at the table as Ana sought her mother’s face to see if she had any objection. Without speaking, Melissa gave her an encouraging grin and wink.
“That’d be great. I’d love to come over,” she answered, beaming at him.
They all enjoyed each other’s company
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