Author's notes: You wonderful reviewers, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Teresa is dragging behind Patrick as they make their way to the bike rental shed. She's agreed to do this but she still not sure about it. He isn't forcing her to do it, but she can tell that he's very excited about the idea and she has been on a bike in the past, just, a very long time ago. Patrick puts down the picnic basket when he reaches the counter. He turns to Teresa, as she catches up with him.
"This is your last chance to back out."
"No, no, let's do it."
Patrick beams at her and turns to the man waiting to serve them.
"We'd like to rent two bikes for the day. One that will carry a basket."
Ten minutes later the bikes are chosen. Patrick straps the basket on to the back of his bike. and stands astride it. He takes his helmet off the handle bars and puts it on his head, fastening it under his chin. Teresa smiles once more at his choice, a black helmet with little lights all over it. He argues he's prepared, in case,
something happens and they're stranded all night.
Teresa took care in choosing her bike, making sure it wasn't too big. She straddles the bike and puts a foot on the pedal. She refused the helmet Patrick chose for her and straps on her plain black one.
"You go ahead Teresa and I'll follow behind, in case you have problems."
Teresa steels herself and then pushes herself off and starts peddling. The bike starts wobbling all over the place, she can hear Patrick calling to her.
"Pick up the speed Teresa."
She puts more pressure on the pedals and it starts moving in a straight line, she steers it back on the path. A voice of encouragement comes from behind.
"I knew there wouldn't be a problem, once you learn, you never forget."
As the minutes pass and Teresa keeps control of her bike, her confidence grows and she's beginning to enjoy herself. Jane sensing this, moves up beside her.
"You're a pro. Teresa."
On bikes they can cover more ground and the gentle trail is twelve miles long. They stop and admire the scenery a few times along the way. They don't encounter too many people, not even bikers until they reach their lunch destination, mirror lake. It's the perfect name for the lake as the surrounding trees and mountains are reflected perfectly in the water. They park their bikes in the designated spots and Patrick unfastens the picnic basket. Teresa takes a three hundred and sixty degree turn, looking all around her.
"Come on Teresa let's find a spot, I've never felt so hungry, it's all this exercise we're getting."
They walk towards the lake, Patrick spots a good spot for them to sit and heads towards it. It's away from the throng of people and the view across the lake, includes one of the giant rocks that cast their shadows around this haven. Half dome Patrick is sure it's called. He sets down the basket. Inside is a blanket that Teresa helps him to lay down on the ground. He hands her a plate and her sandwich, before settling down to eat his own. They eat in silence, looking at the scenery and watching the people as they walk past. Teresa is sure she sees the newly wed couple from their first day. She's only seen them from a distance before, but she's certain that it's them. They walk past arm in arm, bodies close, whispering and laughing in their own private world.
"That's an interesting couple"
"Who? The newly weds Patrick?"
Patrick looks over at her.
"That's your conclusion is it? Newly weds?"
"O come on, you're not saying differently are you, if they haven't married yet, they are very much in love."
"No, no I agree with you, they are newly weds, and they are very much in love, what else can it be when they have all this beauty around them and yet they barely see any of it. But there's something off about them, well about her. He's crazy nuts smitten, but she...she seems to be pretending, she's not quite as in love as she's making out."
"Really?"
"Yes really."
"Perhaps he's very rich and she's after his money?"
"That could be a possibility, but I'm not convinced. There's something more threatening between the two."
Patrick notes disappointment in Teresa.
"What? Have I dashed your dreams of true love?"
She scowls at him, a little embarrassed at being found out, that, for some reason, the couple had given her hope for the future.
"If you want to see true love Teresa, watch that couple over there. He's pointing to a couple with four rambuctious boys, all under ten. The man and wife trying to keep them under control as they run up and down the path."
"Why, that couple, there not even walking next to each other."
"No, they're attention's taken up mostly with the kids, but, they keep glancing at one another, their bodies are relaxed, there's no evidence of anxiety in the children, they feel safe in their parents relationship. That is a family where each member feels valued and important to one another."
"Sounds lovely."
Patrick notes her wistful tone.
"It does, it's an ideal a lot of families aren't given the chance to achieve, life gets in the way and things happen to make it harder, if not impossible. But they do their best with what they've been given."
He's finished packing everything away and is taking off his shoes.
"We may not have had 'ideal'..."
He turns to her with a teasing smile.
"...but I turned out all right."
She pretends annoyance and looks around for something to throw at him.
"Mmm seems it's a good job I packed the forks away."
"What are you doing?"
Jan's socks are now off and he's rolling up his trouser legs."
"I'm going to dip my toes in the water. Aren't you going to join me?"
"I think I'll stay here, you never know what's in the water."
"Teresa, this isn't Chicago, look how clear it is, I bet at night you can see the stars twinkling in it. Hey I bet that's quite a sight, perhaps we should come after dark."
"There's not much lighting around here it'll be totally dark, we would only end up getting lost."
"It will also make it look more incredible, and we won't get lost, we have my helmet. I think it's a great idea, we should do it."
Lisbon rolls her eyes.
"All right Jane I'll dip my toes in."
She kicks off her shoes. The water is warmer than she imagined, as they sit side by side with their legs dangling in the water. Patrick is amusing himself by kicking the water and watching the ripples still, to reveal the reflections of two people happy and relaxed together.