Free Anonymously Yours by Shirley McCann

and leaned back against the tattered seat. I wasn’t about to let a bumpy road ruin my good mood. Justin and I had reached a major milestone back at his new house. The years apart had done nothing to diminish our love for each other. It was a great feeling, one I planned to savor as long as I could. For this one afternoon, I planned to banish all thoughts of Michael Black and Angelica Belmont from my mind. This time was reserved only for Justin and me.
    But when I opened my eyes, a dirt road loomed before us. It was flanked by tall trees and overgrown bushes. The old car rattled along the narrow road that wound its way through thick brush and steep hills. I held my breath when we approached a rickety old bridge.
    “You’re kidding,” I said. “That can’t be safe.” It had to be a hundred years old, I thought. I straightened and braced myself against the seat as Justin eased the car onto the bridge. The clatter of weathered boards beneath the tires sent icy shivers up my spine. I didn’t realize I’d clenched my teeth until we had exited the other side and I relaxed my aching face. I rubbed my jaws to lessen the pain.
    “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Justin joked.
    I blew out a long breath of air, then reached over and punched him. “Please tell me there’s another way home.”
    Finally Justin maneuvered the car close to a huge oak tree near the side of the road. “Okay,” he said. “We’re here, safe and sound,” he announced. “Now let’s grab the gear so I can show you the romantic little spot I’ve picked out just for us.” His blue eyes twinkled as he spoke.
    I followed him to the back of the car, thankful I’d worn tennis shoes. The rocky terrain made walking difficult.
    Justin raised the trunk lid and handed me two fishing poles and a tackle box. “Can you handle all that?” he asked.
    Before I could answer, Justin reached for a quilted blanket and placed it on top of a large cooler. With both hands, he hoisted the cooler from the trunk and elbowed the lid closed. “Be careful,” he said. “It might be a little tricky going down the hill. But I promise you it will be worth it.”
    He wasn’t kidding, I soon realized. Once we’d reached the bottom of the narrow path, my gaze settled on a huge maple tree centered on a grassy area next to the river. A slight breeze rustled the leaves while birds sang a romantic tune.
    Justin lowered the cooler, and spread the blanket on the ground, a few feet from the soft rippling water.
    I leaned the poles against the tree, while Justin set the tackle box on one corner of the blanket.
    “After you,” he said, motioning for me to sit down. He sat beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Now isn’t this romantic?” He eased in closer and nuzzled against my hair. “There’s no one here but me, you, and the fish. And we need to talk.”
    “Okay, you win. It is romantic,” I agreed. “And I love you for bringing me to this peaceful place for the day. I’m far away from all my troubles for the time being.” I looked at him pointedly. “But as far as my career choice, nothing has changed.”
    “You’re wrong, Denise,” he replied. He traced his finger lightly over my cheek. “Everything has changed. Your life may be in danger now.”
    “Through no fault of my own,” I quickly pointed out. I turned my face to his. “Which just goes to prove that no one is always safe, Justin. No matter what line of work they’re in.”
    He took my hand in his. “Okay, point taken,” he finally conceded. “Life is a risk. But it’s your life I’m worried about right now.”
    A gentle breeze rustled the tree’s leaves, and one fluttered onto the blanket. I picked it up, pretended to study it, then gently plucked away the green until only the veins remained. “I really do appreciate your concern, Justin,” I said. “And I also understand how you feel. After you left, I worried about you too. But we can’t try to control each other’s