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Looking out across the apple orchard, you take in the morning bird songs and the glistening dew upon the trees and grass. A hint of fog lingers amongst the trees still. The sun slowly begins to cut through it. Everything else is still.
You start to wonder if perhaps you were stood up. You bet you look foolish. Who picks a first date at such an early time of day? You do, of course. You do not want to lose the day to something so stupid as a date, but maybe you are the idiot. You are the one standing here alone with a big bucket in hand. A shiver from the cool breeze causes you to pull your jacket just a little tighter to yourself.
"Am I late?" A voice calls from behind you.
You jump. A small squeak leaves your lips. The frustrated part of you wants to say yes, but that would be a lie. You got here a little early just to avoid being late. "No. Not at all."
Turning to see the man you promised a date with because you had accidentally spilled his coffee all over his clothes, you realize you never properly had a good look at him. Perhaps the mess of the coffee and the pure embarrassment of the event distracted from actually taking a moment to focus on the man who asked you out.
You recall blurting out “Sure.” at the request while scrambling to clean up the drink. It had only truly dawned on you what you had agreed to when he had asked for your phone number. At that point, it was beyond your pride to backpedal. Your best friend laughed at the story, and when this stranger proposed apple picking, your friend said it was a harmless activity and to just go for it. They thought of all the people this could have happened to, it was some cosmic joke on you. You did not laugh though. You thought it was ridiculous.
As you stand here now, you still find it ridiculous, but more at the fact that without the latte foam splattered over some black business suit, this strange man looks absolutely stunning. In a deep green knitted turtleneck, hanging plaid scarf, black puffer vest and indigo blue denim jeans, he could be a model for those expensive hiking gear catalogs. The way he carries himself and that backpack over one shoulder and bucket in the other, the posture is very regal and confident. It is something much easier to pull off when someone isn't pummeling you with paper towel. But the part that freezes you in place are those eyes. They are piercing and locked on you.
“Secondo… right?” You cannot believe this is the person who asked you out. It almost sounds like you are out of breath.
“Yes, my dear.” He smiles at you before saying your name. Even the sound of your name on his lips send shivers down your spine.
“Are you cold?” Secondo asks.
“Oh! Um, it’s just a little fresher this morning than I expected.” You deny that it was something else.
Secondo pulls his scarf off, wrapping it around you with one hand before you can protest. The warmth on it from him is complimented by the sweet and spicy aroma of whatever Secondo is wearing. You cannot help but close your eyes for a split second to take it all in.
“There. That seems better.” Secondo says to you with a soft smile across his face. “Shall we start?”
He offers his hand and you cannot help but take it.
"I hope you didn't mind too much that I chose apple picking." Secondo mentions as you both reach a tree.
Reaching for an apple, you look through the branches at him. "I don't mind it at all. Its quite nice to be out here in the early morning when it's still quiet."
"I agree. And I do appreciate you picking such an early start to the day. Never know how these dates are going to end." Secondo admits.
"Is this really that bad?" You ask. It is not as offensive as it feels more like a personal attack on how you view dates.
"Oh, no. Not at all. But you never know what someone is like when your only interaction is having a hot beverage poured onto you." Secondo answers.
"I'm so sorry about that, by the way." You tell him. Your face is flush for the overreaction.
"I know, dear." Secondo acknowledges. "I am pretty sure you said so a few dozen times when you tried to clean me up."
Secondo laughs. You laugh in return. It was not one of your finest moments and you are at least relieved he has found humour in it.
You change the subject. "So… what made you decide to choose apple picking?"
"A bagful of fresh apples are always good to have on hand. However this date goes, you'll have something to bring home." Secondo winks at you. "Besides, the nights are cooling. The apples may not last as long, but these ones will make an excellent, sweet apple pie for family."
"So, you bake?" You imagine this tall, broad man in the kitchen with a little apron on. A giggle slips.
Secondo finds you lost in thought amusing. You can see it in his eyes.
"Not often." He answers. "But if I can find the time, its therapeutic. And it gets the brothers together which is important to me. The youngest has an insatiable sweet tooth."
Caring for family is something you admire about him. You smile to acknowledge its importance. Time flies as you ask him about his family. As you two continue to pick apples, he tells you about them. He gets a few good laughs from you with some of his stories. You start to feel like you even know them. Suddenly you notice how full the buckets have gotten. Secondo's stories have been so entertaining. You admit to yourself that perhaps this was a well needed escape from the loneliness you normally live in.
Glistening in the tree, you spot the sparkle of dew on a gorgeous red apple near the top of one of the trees. It would be perfect for Secondo's pie you convince yourself. You grab the ladder from one of the nearby trees and move it closer to the apple that calls to you. Secondo watches as he continues to pick apples of his own.
Each step up the ladder brings you higher and closer to the literal apple of your eye. Your foot reaches the last sensible rung to stand on. The next step would be risky, but you debate whether you can balance on it just long enough to pull the apple from it's branch. You could ask for help from Secondo, but that would defeat the purpose of getting it for him, so you go for it. First step up and you take your time to steady your footing before you extend towards the apple. Fingers wrap around the fresh, cool apple as you mutter sounds of success, that is until your leg starts to wobble. The ladder is not on as sturdy ground as you expected.
It happens so fast that you barely have time to process the ladder tipping over. Losing your balance, you try to counter the fall only to overcompensate and fall back. You plummet backwards to the ground. Eyes closed with regret of trying to do things on your own. You don't even scream. You already know your fate.
That is, until you suddenly stop. A lot softer of an impact than expected. You are tense, but you open an eye to peak out at the suddenly still world. Your eyes water a little as you try not to cry from that scary moment.
"Ho te, topolino" Secondo whispers in your ear. "You're safe. But perhaps that was a little too much and we should call it a day."
You realize Secondo holds you in his arms. His embrace is tight and it dawns on you that you are in a tense ball and he wants you to know he has you. You start to relax. Letting out a nervous giggle, you look on your chest to see the flawless ruby apple sitting there. You hold it up. "I got this for you. For your pie."
Secondo lets out a heartfelt chuckle as he lowers you down to your feet.
You hand Secondo the apple. He takes it and admires its brilliant red sheen before looking back at you. Your cheeks just as red.
“I think this exquisite apple is only deserving of you and should be enjoyed fresh, my dear.” Secondo holds the apple to your mouth. You take it and laugh before taking a bite. It’s juicier than you expect, dripping from your mouth.
Before you can pull your sleeve up to wipe it, Secondo’s thumb brushes across your cheek.
“My apologies.” Secondo tells you.
“No. It’s alright. Don’t want your scarf to get dirty.” You respond.
“It’s just a scarf. My apologies because I didn’t ask.” Secondo adds.
“Oh… I didn’t mind at all.” You blush. “It was very sweet of you. In fact, I sorta liked it.”
You look away.
Secondo with but his index finger under your chin, tilts your head back to him. “Me too, my dear. Though be aware if I knew you any better, I’d devour you like that apple.”
The apple slips out of your hand, mouth agape.
Secondo catches it with cat-like reflexes and a teasing grin. His tongue licks across it, lapping up some of the juice before he takes an a chomp out of it. Teeth digging into its sweet flesh. Eyes close, a small groan escapes him as he savours it.
Secondo comments. “You sure know how to pick ‘em. This is divine.”
You try to restrain yourself upon seeing him this way. He is the one who is absolutely divine.
Secondo slowly opens his eyes to smile back at you. You are speechless.
“This has been an absolute pleasure, my dear.”
“Uh… yeah. It’s been good.” You respond. Mentally kicking yourself for not being able to say more. It’s been good? It was more than just good. But your words are not coming through.
“I’m glad.” Secondo reaches down to grab his bag of apples from his bucket, hoisting them into his arm. “Perhaps we should do this again.”
“Sure.” You timidly mumble. It irks you that you cannot muster the words you want to say.
Your hands fidget with the scarf as you watch Secondo walk away. “Oh. Wait. Your scarf!”
Running to him, you take the scarf and drape it over his shoulders once more. You even catch the moment he breathes in the new smell of the scarf. Are you really saying goodbye to this?
Impulsively you hold both ends of the scarf and pull him in for a goodbye kiss. His apples fall and spill all over your feet. You feel his lips curl with a smile as he returns the kiss. The taste of sweet apple and new possibilities dance upon your tongue.