It’s Time Darlin’ : Part IV
By Leah Watkins
“Distance Griffy!” Faye shouted
She popped open the tin with the blueberry lemon squares and held one in her mouth, while rearranging the pillows on the blanket. It took everything in Griffin not to bust out laughing as she placed the pillows in a perfect cushion for two. When she finished, Faye patted the spot next to her, and he scooted toward her. Griffin took his own square in one hand and placed his other arm around Faye’s shoulder. She automatically leaned against his chest, making Griffin snort and shake his head.
“You were saying?” He asked, taking a bite.
“Mmh, these are so good, thank you for getting them. Ok, anyway, distance. We don’t live in the same town, we’ll have to commute to each other!” Faye said, with a mouth full.
“We live an hour and five minutes away. We lucked out by both of us going to college in our hometowns,” Griffin explained, gently.
“Yes, true, but that’s still over an hour!”
“That’s not bad at all. I’ve met some couples that live over three or four hours away. Besides, we’re used to the drive; we’ve done it before.”
“As friends!”
Griffin looked down at Faye and pursed his lips. Faye was still eating her lemon blueberry square as she looked up at him innocently.
“What?”
“Faye, what are you scared of?” Griffin asked in a serious tone.
“I’m not scared, I’m just—.”
“Faye.”
Faye looked down and let out a small sigh. She watched the shadows of the trees blow in the sunlight and let the cool air pass through her. Griffin noticed this and placed both arms around Faye, pulling her into him tightly. Faye relaxed in his embraced and took in his familier scent. She slowly opened Griffin’s hands and placed hers on top of his. Something she’d done their entire childhood. She never understood why, she always guessed it grounded her, even when they were young.
“I remember when your hands used to be the same size as mine. I also remember the day I noticed they were getting bigger. We were in middle school and going through puberty, so things were already changing at a lighting pace. At one point, I tripped and cut my knee when we were running around. It wasn’t bad, but you ran inside to get bandaids and rubbing alcohol. I was anticipating the burn so you laid out your hand for me, and when I placed it down your fingers could cover mine. I was shocked because I was expecting the same thing that always happened. It’s like… It’s like..”
“Like you knew me one way your whole life and then you had to let a part of me go?”
“Exactly!”
“You sound like someone else.”
Faye shrugged and looked up at Griffin.
“I guess I can kind of see where my mom is coming from.. a little…”
“A little? Really?” Griffin said, with a laugh.
“Fine, a lot. I guess my mom and I do have something in common. I mean, change can be a lot. That day with us was scary because I noticed it right when it happened. I noticed how I started to feel about you and I didn’t know what to do with all the emotions.”
“I guess kissing you that day also made it more confusing,” Griffin said, smiling.
“Ehh, no it just mostly made me feel like I ran through a sprinkler.”
“Ok, I told you I’ve gotten better! I am more than happy to show you!”
Faye let out another loud laugh making Griffin’s cheeks blush.
“I think what I was scared of then, and what I’m scared of now, is having to let go of you being my best friend. The thought of that makes me so sad because that’s the foundation of everything for us.”
“Darlin’, you will never lose me as your best friend. That’s a part of me you will never have to give up. It might look different, but all relationships look different over time. It doesn’t take away our history. You are the one person, outside my family that knows me fully. You’ve seen me through every awkward stage, bad day, and really uncomfortable first dates with girls who weren’t half as special as you. Why do think it was so easy for me to tell you I wanted to be with you? I don’t have to think with you, I can say whatever I want. Because you’re my best friend. Does changing your hair make you any less of your mom’s daughter?”
“No, of course not!”
“Then you being my girlfriend doesn’t make you any less of my best friend. In fact, it should make our friendship stronger. Does that all make sense?”
“Yes. It does. Especially the part about me being better than all the other girls,” Faye said, pretending to flick her hair.
“Hey, I know my type. At the end of the day it’s always gonna be Faye!”
“Booo! That will never be funny.”
Griffin chuckled and let his lips slightly graze Faye’s forehead, making her melt into him. The yellow swallowtail butterfly returned and fluttered onto wildflowers next to them.
“Griffy?”
“Hmm?”
“How did you know it was time? I mean, besides it being ten years, and having a fake contract.”
Griffin thought for a second. He watched as Faye began reach for the butterfly again, and gently grabbed her hand to reach with her.
“Well, that part was tricky. I think, for me, I was starting to realize that it was time for our first adventure to end.” Griffin explained softly. “You see, we’re lucky. God gave us three adventures to have. The first was our childhood, which was a lot of waiting…”
Griffin hovered their hands near the flowers and patiently waited. Like clockwork the butterfly slowly crawled onto their hands and rested. Its wings gently opened as Griffin brought it over to them. Faye’s face filled with joy, as Griffin continued, talking just above a whisper.
“Now we’re in our second adventure. Our childhoods are over, we just entered our twenties, and we can view each other as adults. Everything still feels kind of new though. We’re still learning, but we can understand what it means to love deeply and have a relationship.”
Faye watched as the butterfly moved across their hands and fingertips. She felt the tiny breathes of its wings. She giggled as it tiptoed across their fingers, its feet feeling like tiny kisses.
“Then, we’ll get to our third adventure. Where we spend the rest of our live together. But it all has to happen… at the right… time…”
As soon as Griffin spoke the last words he moved their hands up toward the sky. They watched as the butterfly flew away, zigzagging among the trees above them.
“We have a long way to go, but the only direction is up. Three adventures, one life time. Not even Tobias and Adeline get that chance.”
Griffin gently kissed Faye’s forehead and let his lips linger there for a while. When he let go, his eyes flickered towards Faye’s lips, and he leaned toward her slowly. Faye let Griffin move her face towards his. He kissed her gently, his own nerves coming to the forefront of his mind.
“Griffy, are you ok?”
Griffin Smiled.
“I’m ok, darlin’. When a man has a beautiful woman sitting in front of him, he’s bound to feel a little nervous.”
“Aww, Griffin, I’ve loved you for so long. Even when I was scared to love you. You make change and life so easy. I never have to worry, I can just coast with you. I can be free.”
Faye’s voice began to crack as she spoke.
“I’ve always loved you, too, Faye. I’ll give you anything you want, I promise.”
“Right now, I just want some sugar,” Faye said, with a small laugh.
Faye placed her hand on Griffin’s cheek and pulled him close. He kissed her passionately, and his touch felt like electricity in her body. Faye guided him down onto the pillows as Griffin carefully ran his hand through the coils in her hair. Faye blushed as Griffin pulled away and lay his head back in a daze. Faye rested her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat.
“Man! Whatta woman! I ain’t never had sugar like that before!” He said excitedly.
Faye laughed.
“Good Gawd, darlin’, where in God’s kingdom did you learn all that?”
“I had my own dates with lame men,” Faye said, laughing.
“Nah, you learned that somewhere else. You can’t keep kissing me like that or you’re gonna get pregnant real quick!”
Faye shot up and hit Griffin’s arm as he doubled over in laughter.
“Griffin Blanchard! Way to ruin the moment!”
“I’m just kidding! Come lie back down with me.” Griffin said as he motioned toward himself.
Faye rolled her eyes and lay back down on his chest. They looked at the sky together in silence as the mourning doves began to coo.
“You’re not slobbery anymore.”
“Told you! You could’ve been knowing that if you had of given me sugar earlier!”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Faye said, flipping her hand in the air.
“Man, this feels so much better. I mean you we’re always my darlin’ but now you’re my darlin’ darlin’ you know what I mean.”
Faye laughed “I do know what you mean, Griffy. I’m glad you mistook it for my name when we first met.”
“Me too, my mom was right you are just a little darlin’. I’m glad you couldn’t pronounce Griffin right when we first met.”
“My mom was right, Griffy is easier to say.” Faye said laughing.
Griffin looked at Faye with a serious face.
“I’ll give you all I can, I promise. I won’t ignore you, or make you feel small. I’ll try my best to get you a bookshelf like the one in the sitting room. With all the books? We can get a house near somewhere cool, and have a dog or cat, or both. No frogs though! Maybe we can even have a yard, with a bluberrry bush and lemon tree. So you can make your own squares. Then kids… I don’t know how to think about that but I know I want it with you”
“Griffin you’ll give me the best life. I’ll never worry about that. I trust you with my whole heart and you have all of me. It amazes me how change never scares you, you welcome it. It makes me feel safe and like I can face anything.”
“You can face anything. You’re strong Faye, you have to believe in yourself.”
Faye smiled and kissed Griffn’s cheek. Griffin stared at her in silence taking in the beauty of her brown skin and delicate eyes.
“Griffy?” Faye whispered.
“Yes?”
“You’ll stop calling me darlin’ right? No matter what changes we face?”
Griffin smiled. “That will never change, darlin’”
“Good, and I’ll never stop calling you Griffy.”
Griffin pulled Faye to his lips and held her close. They stayed in the forest until the fireflies came out. Dreaming of the adventures to come.
Thank you so much for reading and supporting my work! I hope to write more short stories soon. Until then Kyrie Eleison— Lord have mercy upon us
Loved it. So glad they got together ❤️