Free Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury

his face growing hot. Now that they were alone he was terrified she would see the truth. That
     he’d been in love with her since before she could write her name.
    She leaned back, and the breeze played in her hair. “Know what my friend said about you?”
    “What?” Earl relaxed some.
    “She said I’m lucky you live across the street.” Anne batted her eyelashes at him. “And that you’re the best-looking guy she’s
     seen all year.”
    “That’s good, I guess.” Earl shrugged. “Of course, does she get out much?”
    Ripples of laughter spilled from Anne’s slender throat and she fell back against the grass. When she regained control she
     locked eyes with him. “So… you dating anyone serious?”
    “Nope. You?”
    Anne shook her head, her expression achingly innocent. “I’m too young.”
    “Yeah.”
    She bit her lip. “I turned sixteen last month.”
    Earl’s mind raced. Why was she telling him this? “Really?”
    “Really.” She hesitated. “That means I can date. But only guys I trust. You know, guys I’ve hung out with before. Guys my
     parents have met.”
    The lining of Earl’s mouth felt like paper. He swallowed. “Right.” Again he had no idea where the conversation was headed.
    “So…” Anne’s smile grew suddenly shy. “Maybe you and I can hang out this summer.”
    “Yeah.” Earl’s heart exploded in fireworks, but he kept his tone level. “Maybe we could.”

    T he memory faded and Earl blinked at the mission director. “After that we were inseparable. Spent the summer swimming and fishing
     at Lake Shasta. Every moment I wasn’t working, I was with Anne.”
    “She sounds like a wonderful girl.”
    Earl nodded. “She—She was.” Even now the past tense hurt—hurt as bad as the parts of the story yet ahead.
    The pieces of yesterday came into focus once more, and Earl continued.
    At the end of the summer, Earl and Anne took a walk through their neighborhood.
    “I’ve been thinking.” He kicked at a smattering of loose gravel on the sidewalk.
    “That’s good.” She elbowed him in the ribs and gave him an easy grin. “I wonder sometimes.”
    He chuckled and slowed his pace. “Actually,” his eyes met hers, “I was thinking how we’ve hung out all summer.”
    She stopped and faced him. Earl was certain she had never looked more beautiful. “We have, haven’t we?”
    “Mm-hmm.” He smothered a lopsided grin. “And I’ve met your parents.”
    “Several times.”
    “So maybe the two of us ought to…”
    Anne took a step closer. “I’m listening.”
    Earl exhaled and it sounded like a weary laugh. “What I’m trying to say is, Anne, would you go out with me Saturday night?
     Please?”
    As long as he lived, Earl would never forget the way her eyes lit up. “You know what, Earl?”
    “What?”
    “I thought you’d never ask.”
    Their first date was sheer magic. A picnic dinner along the shores of Lake Shasta and afterwards milk shakes at the A&W. They
     got home early and sat in the porch swing at her house. Before Earl crossed the street and went back home they shared the
     briefest kiss. With their faces still inches apart, Earl searched her eyes and brushed a lock of hair gently off her forehead.
    “When I was seven I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world.”
    She giggled. “When you were seven?”
    “Yep.” He brushed his lips against hers again. “I used to tell my dad that one day I was going to marry you.”
    Anne’s face softened. “Really?”
    “I was just a kid.” He drew back so he could see her better. “But, yeah, that was my dream.”
    “Well…” The moonlight reflected in her eyes, and Earl could see the depth of her soul. “My daddy used to tell me the best
     thing about dreams was this.”
    He waited, wanting to kiss her again.
    Her voice fell to a whisper. “Every once in a while they come true.”
    In many ways that night marked the beginning. Because after that there was no turning back for either of