Jill leant against the door frame to her small balcony. She crossed her arms tightly around her as the cold spring breeze penetrated through her thin blouse, chilling her skin. The setting sun cast an orange glow over her, allowing her to gaze upon the pink and white heart shaped flowers of her dicentra, seemingly diminutive inside its large pot. It was the only plant she had taken from her garden in Elsinby; she was unable to leave it behind.
She sighed, her breath streamed out before her in the cold night, late frost threatening.
Some people call the plant 'Dutchman's trousers'. Others call it 'bleeding heart'…
Jill bustled around to and from her garden and kitchen, carrying plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery, and set them out on the blanket laid down on the grass. Thankfully, it wasn't raining and there was only a slight breeze, just enough to rustle the leaves gently. She bit her lip as she surveyed the arrangement, hoping he would like it. Absentmindedly, she brushed a blade of grass off her skirt, her heart starting to pound nervously as she awaited the doorbell that would herald his arrival. As if on cue, the chime rang through the house and out to where she stood. Swallowing in anticipation, she smoothed her skirt, straightened her blouse and practically ran into the house.
The reached the front door and just stopped herself from flinging it open. Instead, she opened it at a slower speed. Gordon stood in the doorway, a smile adorning his face as soon as he laid eyes on her. He looked incredibly handsome in his short sleeved, pale blue shirt, opened at the neck. His short hair flopped naturally onto his forehead and his blue eyes twinkled at her, framed by small laughter lines.
She stepped aside to allow him to enter and closed the door behind him. As yet neither had said anything, comfortable to just gaze at each other. Eventually though, he broke the silence.
"Oh! I brought this." He sounded almost as if he'd forgotten about the bottle of wine he held in his hands which he then offered to her.
"Thank you." She took it from him and then grabbed his hand, wordlessly leading him through the house and out into the garden. She glanced at him as he looked upon the spread on the blanket, his mouth slightly open.
"Wow. You've been busy… It looks amazing."
She giggled in response. "You go and sit down and I'll open this." She indicated the bottle in her hand and retreated into the kitchen.
Once she'd accomplished opening the bottle, she returned to Gordon and settled down on the blanket next to him. She was about to pour him a glass when she felt his arm wrap around her waist and his breath tickle her neck.
"I think you've forgotten something."
She turned to look at him, completely baffled as his hand met with her check and drew her face towards him.
"This." He murmured before their lips connected. She closed her eyes and brought her arm up around his neck, the heat rushing to her face. As the kiss deepened however, and she let the passion for the man consume her, she almost dropped the bottle she was holding, so she drew away from him somewhat regretfully to prevent any spillage.
"Sorry." She breathed, still inches away from his face. He smiled at her and she moved further away to pour the wine and serve the food.
They ate, sometimes chatting and sometimes in silence. The sun beat down on them but it wasn't so hot to be uncomfortable. Jill felt happy and light, not a care in the world as she allowed Gordon's soft tones and the feel of his body next to her fill her senses completely.
Later, after the food was eaten and the dishes taken inside, they lay on the blanket; his strong arms enveloped her as her head rested on his chest, her fingers playing with the soft material of his shirt. Murmuring to each other, they forgot the time until Jill became aware that the sun was setting. She moved out of his embrace and sat up, suddenly feeling stiff and aching from lying on the hard ground.
He rose as well. "I'd better be getting back to the children." He stood up, stretched, then reached down and pulled her up.
"Thank you." Jill slid her hand into Gordon's and entwined her fingers with his. They walked hand in hand through the garden. When they were almost at the backdoor, he stopped. She looked up at him to see him gazing at one of her plants.
"That's unusual." He crouched down next to it, bringing her with him.
"It's a dicentra. It's one of my favourites actually."
"Looks like a heart."
She smiled and gently broke off a stem. Taking her hand from his, she slipped the stem into a button hole on his shirt. "There. I'm giving my heart to you." She said it somewhat jokily, knowing how corny it sounded.
She felt Gordon wrap his arms around her waist. With her fingers still gently holding the stem, they leant towards each other and kissed.