Juliet woke up unreasonably early. Last time she was so excited about the upcoming day was probably ten years ago. This day was special. They were going to spend the whole day together and she really hoped that it would be more than just sharing the house with him, because that had been their only communication in recent weeks.

Trying to go back to sleep again was pointless, so Juliet decided to make something for breakfast. Cupcakes were the first that come to her mind and she smiled. It was some kind of symbolism to make the same thing she had made the day James fell from the sky. That day she awaited the meeting of the book club with fear, her life was harder, and she murmured her favorite song to raise her mood. Now, despite all the problems, she was not alone and she murmured the song just because she was happy.

You are my destiny
You share my reverie
You're more than life to me
That's what you are

-Good morning, little lady of the big house. What do we have for breakfast? It smells delicious. - James appeared in the kitchen, still desperately yawning.

-Didn't get enough sleep?-Juliet smiled sympathetically as she poured him juice and put bacon and eggs on a plate.

-I tried, but I could not resist the aroma from the kitchen. - He winked.

-I hope you will enjoy the taste, too-she smiled, putting cupcakes on a plate.

-How could I not? -He muttered with a piece of bacon in his mouth. -By the way, what are your plans for the day? -

-Maybe you'll finish with breakfast first? -

-Breakfast has to do with my mouth and not my ears. -

Juliet rolled her eyes.

-Okay. What do you think about a short walk? -

-I thought someone gave up with walking. - James smiled, recalling one of their first conversations after they left the island.

-I am not going to go camping, but I've heard that there is a nice lake. We could swim after our walk. -

-I'm beginning to like your idea. - He grinned, biting into a cupcake. -Mmm, delicious. Let's take them with us. -

-Okay. I'll just pack them.- Juliet jumped from the chair and began to wrap up the cupcakes.

James remained at the table, sipping his juice, but Juliet managed to catch him looking at her with eyes full of passion and love. However, when she finally turned to him, after finishing with the cup cakes, his expression was again calm and quiet.

-Give me a couple minutes, and we can go. - He said, getting up from the table and leaving the room.

Everything was good, but just a small burst of emotion, was what she missed, and his look, maybe she was seeing things. God, how much she wanted to see that look again, to feel his touch. His lips on her neck, chest ...

-Are you sleeping with your open eyes? -

She turned around and met with his mocking eyes. That's how he used to taunt her when they were still trying to be just friends and she desperately tried to ignore any thoughts about his smile, his voice, and his hands.

-Just wondering. Let's go - She pulled herself together.

He nodded, putting the wrapped cup cakes into the bag, where there were already a few towels.

The day was really wonderful. The sun was warm, and small groups of clouds prevented it from turning the day hot. The wind gently blew their hair. They went in the opposite direction from the one James went to the construction site, so he just followed Juliet who was more familiar with the path. They walked in silence, enjoying the peace and nature. James had a strangely dreamy expression, and Juliet was silent, afraid to ruin this moment.

-So, which language are you learning? -

She was stunned at his question. Juliet paused, looked at him blankly, not understanding the cause of his interest.

- We could combine business with pleasure. - He clarified.

Juliet was surprised that the only day they were together he wanted to talk about languages. But on the other hand, what else could they talk about? Maybe it would be better to have some neutral topic.

-Today, we could study German – Juliet said, feeling herself like a teacher.

-Imagine that you need to call someone to ask about something. What will you say?-

-Hey you – James supposed.

-An interesting option, but it is unlikely you'll get an answer.- Juliet chuckled.

-Well, what would you say, wiseass? -

-Well, what about "Excuse me"?- she smiled. –Entschuldigen Sie.-

-What?-

-It's in German.-

-Entschuldigen Sie-James repeated.

-Exactly.- she nodded.-Now when you managed to get their attention you can continue and ask if they understand English. Verstehen Sie Englisch? -
-They said "No, they don't". What else? -

-Nicht. They'll say "Ich verstehe nicht"-

-Okay, nicht. But you still didn't answer what you would do next? -

-For now all they suggested was to tell that I'm from the USA. Ich bin Americanerin. -

-Great excuse-James snorted.

- May be there is something else, but I haven't learned it yet.-

-Well, I'll wait until your knowledge is more extensive. By the way, it looks like we found the lake. -

Juliet followed his gaze. The water surface glimmered and shimmered between the trees. Hidden among the trees, with clear, clean water, the lake was an ideal place to spend some time alone.

-Let's swim-James yelled mischievously, throwing the bag and starting off his shoes.

-You obviously like to swim, cowboy- She chuckled, remembering the day when he came out of the water in front of her. The only person who had not abandoned her and was always around to have her back.

-Good day for a swim-

He dropped to his knees, breathing hard, and yet he smiled.But she had no strength to smile and she had no strength to ask him, why he suddenly decided to take a swim. Behind him there was the smoke all that remained of her dream to return home.

-What are you celebrating? -

-I'm not celebrating-

She remembered his eyes, full of despair and pain that are so familiar to herself. At that moment she saw the real him for the first time.

-I'm not against having company- he winked at her and dove into the water.

-Great – she heard him murmuring, when he finally emerged to the surface.

She watched as he disappeared and appeared on the surface, feeling completely at ease. He disappeared again and Juliet looked around the surface of the lake, trying to guess where he would appear.

-How long are you going to stand there? -James popped up to the surface, sprinkling her with his fingertips.-Are you scared to get wet? -

-Do you really care about that?-She asked dryly, wiping water from her face, and removing her clothes.

Having enough of swimming, they got to shore, and stretched out on the grass, letting the sun dry them.

-We should come here more often. -James said, putting his hand behind his head and staring at the sky.

-Yeah- she nodded, closing her eyes and enjoying the moment.

Tiredness from swimming, sun and buzzing of insects eventually overcame Juliet and she began to fall asleep. She was half asleep when she felt a light touch on her hand. Somebody's hand covered her and their fingers intertwined. James! She smiled and let dreams carry her away.

When Juliet woke up, the sun had sunk behind the trees and it was noticeably cooler. James was sitting nearby with a book in one hand and a cupcake in the other.

-Good afternoon - He smiled to her, putting his book aside.-Cupcake?-

She nodded, and he immediately threw it to her, so she barely had time to react.

Coming back, they noticed Martha rushing up the street.

-What happened?-Juliet immediately ran to her.- Bob?-

-No!- Martha shook her head.- Tom and Henry. They are nowhere to be found. -

James came up behind them. -What happened? -

-The kids are gone. - Juliet turned to him.

-Where were they last seen? - James instantly got the point.

-I ... – she shivered.

-Martha, look at me.- He said soothingly, taking her hand.-I'll find the boys, I promise. But I need your help now, okay? -

The woman nodded obediently.

-Okay. Why do you think that something happened? -

-They usually play with Arthur, Margaret's son and Hutchinson sisters. Now Mary, the eldest of them, ran up to me and asked where the boys were. She had not seen them since the morning. But if they did not go to her house, then where are they? – Martha sobbed.

-I see. - James still held her hand.-And what about Arthur? Is he at home? -

-No, he's missing, too. -

-So they are together-James nodded.

-And what does it mean? – She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

-I'm almost sure that they are alright. Guess boys just decided to hide from the girls. They are likely playing somewhere around. -

-You think so?-there was fear in her eyes.

-Yes. I do. - James turned to Juliet.-Give Martha some tea while I check a couple of places where I'd be if I was in their place.-

-Okay – Juliet answered briefly, but their eyes said much more.

"Find them, nothing should happen to children"

"I won't return without them."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

James left, and Juliet took Martha to the house.

-Come on, you need to calm down. James will find them. You don't want them to see you like this, do you?-

-Yes, you're right.-Martha said almost automatically. –Maybe I should call Bob, what you think? -

-No, why bother him for nothing? I'm sure James will lead them home soon. -

-It's entirely my fault. I should have kept an eye on them-she burst into tears.

-No, it has nothing to do with you. - Juliet hugged her, not knowing what else to say. The woman was in hysterics, and a reasonable argument would hardly help now.