He didn’t want to contact Melissa for anything. Not even that. He got tested the first chance he had after he got back. He wanted everything checked. The results came back fairly quickly, and thankfully he was clean, but he still needed time to prepare what he wanted to do for Grace. So here, it was two weeks later and finally it was going to happen.

The moment he saw she carried a good-sized tote when she walked around the corner of her building he jumped out of the car. He rushed over and took it from her, kissing her, the anticipation already multiplying.

“So can you tell me where we’re going now?”

“Nope. You’ll see when we get there.”

He smiled at her confused expression when she saw they were headed back to his place. “We’re stopping at your house first?”

“Something like that.”

She peered at him. “What are you up to?”

“You’ll see.”

They arrived at his house and he saw her trying to figure it out. He took her hand and he covered her eyes with his other. “Okay, close your eyes. Make sure you don’t peek.”

“What are you doing?” Her laugh was a nervous one and he was sure she probably expected to end up in the bedroom.

Instead, he headed to the backyard. When they were under the patio, he took a deep breath and prayed this wouldn’t backfire on him. He was sure she’d love it but there was still that tiny possibility it might depress her. The last thing he’d want to do today. “Ready?

She nodded, her smile widening. He removed his hand and she glanced around at his recreation of a campsite. His heart drummed when he saw the smile slowly dissolve. She stood there, taking everything in. The tent in the grassy area of his yard with a portable fire pit just outside and table set up with everything you’d need to roast marshmallows. The inflatable rowboat in the pool with the makeshift fishing gear. There were no fish in his pool but he’d bought a fishing game. The fishing poles were long plastic rods with big hooks on the end and he’d thrown in all the plastic fish in the water so they could pretend to fish.

Minutes had passed since he’d uncovered her eyes and she still hadn’t said anything but her eyes had gotten misty. Damn it. “I was uh… actually gonna take you camping but I wanted you to be able to go swimming and I figured it’s still too cold to swim in any river or lake this time of year so I improvised.”

She finally spoke but still didn’t look at him. She stared at the pool. “Isn’t the water in the pool cold also?”

He smiled slightly relieved that she didn’t sound upset. “It’s heated.” He walked her over to the picnic basket on the table and opened it. I got stuff for tortas. You’ll be starving after a good swim.” Their eyes met and she smiled.

“I can’t believe you did all this.”

He shrugged. “No biggie.” He wouldn’t mention the wrestling match he’d had with the tent he borrowed from his parents. It was old school and he’d forgotten what a bitch it was put up especially by himself. When they’d been kids it was hard enough to put up and that was between him, his brothers and his dad.

Grace leaned in and kissed him. “Yes it is a biggie. This is wonderful. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“Did you see the best part?”

Her eyes pinched and he pointed to the other side of the pool. Her head tilted not quite getting what it was. He’d gone to every damn toy store he could find until he found the biggest stuffed elephant made and placed it by the pool, its butt facing the water.

“You can look at that while you swim—an elephant butt.”

She laughed out loud when it finally sunk in, then wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist. It felt perfect to hold her like this. “What did I do to deserve you, Sal?”

“You have it backwards, Gracie. I don’t deserve you.” His gut wrenched as the reality of that statement sunk in. He kissed her desperate to push any negative thoughts away. He wanted this day to be perfect. After minutes of kissing her deeply, he felt a little better he pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers. “You wanna go get into your bathing suit? The water should be warm enough now.”

She nodded her head with those twinkling excited eyes that he loved so much now.

Once in their bathing suits, Sal jumped in the deep end of the pool and encouraged Grace to do the same. “The water’s perfect.” She stood at the edge, looking very apprehensive. “C’mon, baby. I’ll catch you.”

She pinched her nose with her fingers and jumped in. Sal’s arms were all over her the moment she hit the water. Just the touch of her excited every part of his body. His lips were on hers as soon as her head popped out of the water. He had to pace himself. He wanted to be the one that showed her confidence in her swimming. “Relax, babe. You’ll be fine, just go with it. I’m right here. I’d never let anything happen to you.”

After a while, she was swimming back and forth from one end of the pool to the other. Sal cornered her and she wrapped her legs around him. This wasn’t happening in the pool. He had something better prepared so he forced himself to pull away. “You wanna fish?”

Grace smiled, but her eyes smoldered. “Is that what you call it?”

Sal had to laugh. “What!”

Grace laughed too, but undid the hold her legs had around his waist. “Yeah, lets fish.”

They climbed up on the raft, but not before falling a few times and Grace falling in his arms all slippery wet. Sal was in heaven.