The Answers Only Nathan Knows

After our conversation in the movie theater I didn't push it, but that had been my policy since revealing I had feelings for Nathan. If I pushed it, he pushed back, usually in the negative which didn't help either of us. I figured when Nathan was ready to give me an answer he would give me one and in the meantime I continue to babysitting my writing,. I was currently working on a sequel to my 2013 novel Damage Control, a story I had written after Nathan had come out.

Things didn't get rolling until several months later. It was just on the cusp of summer when the weather was getting distinctly warmer and going out was a common past time for anyone in the Midwest and you could do something without freezing your butt off.

"You want to do something?" Nathan asked. "We could go for a walk in the park."

"Sure." I replied. I was always eager to do something with me whatever that was, even if that just meant talking.

Today was no exception and we just walked on a path in the park in companionable silence.

"So have you thought anymore about what we talked about?" I probed cautiously.

Nathan shrugged.

"A little bit, but I'm taking my time with it. Just don't bother me about it again, I'll tell you my answer when I'm ready."

For now it was the best answer I can get. I enjoyed the rest of the community my mind spinning with answer wondering what Nathan was thinking. Not for the first time I wished I could've read his mind.

Nathan's answer came on a Sunday afternoon a couple weeks later. It came in the form of a small box with a note attached.

It read:

Vivian you wanted an answer, here it is...Open for next clue.

The box was wrapped neatly (although not perfectly) inside the small box was another piece of paper and a map with a marker.

The piece of paper read:

The place where we walk and talk.

That was easy, I thought, the park where we had been the week before. The park had several hiking trails which we walked frequently when we had things to discuss. The map, as I expected had the park marked on it with a pushpin.

Oh he's going to make me work for it, is he? Apparently he was because Nathan never did anything the "usual" way.

Smiling to myself I close my computer and grabbed a totebag and some water. Placing the map in the notes in the totebag I headed out of the house only partially wondering what I was getting myself into.