44
Izzy's waiting for me when I pull up outside her dad's house. As she walks to the kerb where I wait, my attention is caught by movement in the living room window. Her dad's watching us. I lift my hand to wave, and although he returns the gesture, there's little enthusiasm in it. I wonder if he's sore at being asked to babysit, or if he has issues with me.
She smiles shyly as she slides into the passenger seat, briefly meeting my eyes as she says hi, and then busying herself with fastening her seatbelt.
She's the same and different all at once. There are things about her I could describe to a stranger, things that haven't changed at all. The color of her hair as it catches the early evening sunlight, the familiar pattern of freckles on her arms and sprinkled across her face, and the frustrated furrow in her brow as she struggles to clip the seatbelt in on the first attempt.
And then there are the things that have changed. She smells different. A subtle perfume floats gently around her and her face has changed shape ever so slightly with age, the definition of her cheeks and jaw changing.
Her eyes are the most altered. In the place of mischief, impulsivity and worldliness, are modesty, caution and restraint.
I force myself to look away. I could happily sit here in the car all evening, just watching her.
"You look nice," I say. I remember when she would have replied that she knew, or maybe just thrown me a wink. This time her cheeks glow a gentle pink and she looks down, tugging on the skirt of the blue cotton sundress.
"Thanks. You do too." She turns her eyes on me. There's nothing complicated or considered about my plain black v-neck tee and jeans. I smile at her and she smiles back, leaning back in her seat.
"I've not really driven out since I got back," she says. "It was a nice idea."
"It's been a while since I came out this way. I always loved it here."
"Yeah," she says. "I remember."
I feel her eyes on me and I risk a glance over at her. She looks deep in thought and I wonder if her mind is in the same place as mine.
~S~