AIDEN


    I looked down at the donut with veggies sprinkled over it and nodded, slightly impressed.


    The judges took their turn to take a bite of the snack. Then it was my turn.


    I picked it up, ready to take a bite. But I came to an abrupt halt when I heard a resounding ''No!


    I recognized the voice and so I looked up in her direction, my heart in my throat.


    Did something happen to her?


    Did she topple over and fell?


    Is she hurt?


    Several assumptions and heartbreaking images of Ana hurt shed through my mind before my gaze even settled on her.


    I found her widened, mortified gaze on me and my reflexive "Are you okay?" died in my throat.


    She was staring at me like she had just seen a ghost and just as our gaze shed, she lowered hers suddenly seeming embarrassed.


    She looked around her then she awkwardly pointed at me. "He''s allergic to sesame."


    The thought that was supposed toe to my mind was ''where is sesame? I should inquire about where it was so I could flee but instead, my heart red with warmth as it swelled with hope and I couldn''t help but smile at the thought that even after five years, she still remembered my only allergy.


    Maybe. Just maybe, I still had a chance with her. This was an opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding that had taken away my joy for so many years and finally talk to her. But not here, now. I told myself. My lips threatened to widen into a huge grin but I remained in control of my actions as I turned to the team members whose food we were currently tasting.


    On their admission that there really was sesame in their snack, I was finally able to turn to Ana with a smile and thank her.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    not


    With a smile, my.mind strayed back to the moment. I looked down at the potted nt before me for the umpteenth time and pondered whether or not she was going to like it. It had been years so I was not sure what she still liked and didn''t like anymore. So I relied on the Ana I knew from inside out so well and purchased the potted nt from the farm.


    "Thank you," the man smiled as he handed it over to me.


    "My pleasure," I returned his smile.


    I carried it to my chest like it was a treasured possession which it was. The moment I intended it for Ana, it became a treasure.


    As I walked to the lodge where our cabins were located, I admired the nt. First, I imagined the beautiful grateful, probably polite, smile that she''d sh me when I hand it over but I''d make her smile and Chapter 0302


    maybe make an opening for a conversation.


    Then I practiced a thousand ways I''d present it to her.


    "Oh Hey, Ana. I got you something, just a thank you gift


    I shook my head for the umpteenth time and muttered, "Too many words."


    "Ana. Here, I got you this. I really-"


    My words froze in my tongue as I bumped into someone. Or maybe they bumped into me.


    "I''m so sorry," I heard as I muttered one that sounded like some apology back.


    Ignoring the sound of something toppling over, I guarded the potted nt as I staggered back, ensuring that it didn''t fall off and break.


    When I was sure that the nt was safe, I looked down at the person who had crouched down, picking up small boxes.


    I carefully set the nt aside and stopped low to help.


    "I''m sorry," I said, sure of my words this time.


    The stranger who still had his head down as he gathered the boxes shook his head. "Its not your fault. I carried way too much."


    I said nothing as I continued to pile the boxes ontop of eachother.


    When we were done, we rose to our full heights, My brows furrowed into a frown as a pang of recognition hit me as I looked at the man. I just couldn''t ce my finger on how, why or from where I recognized him.


    "Have we met?" The man''s brows furrowed as he asked, his dark eyes roaming my face.


    "I don''t think so, I muttered slowly instead.


    The man was quick to shrug. "Oh well, it happens. You probably just look like someone I know." He apologized one more time and stretched out his hand for a handshake. "Thanks for the help." "It was nothing," I shook his hand.


    Just as we picked up our thingsb me cradling my pot and him picking up his boxes, the lodge keeper stumbled on us.


    "Oh, what happened here?" We both turned to him and when he got closer, he smiled, "Aiden, you''ve met Martin already?"