Sun On My Face, Wind in My Hair

Chapter Twenty One

Christopher’s mother came over to him, smiling, hoping he would remember her. She caressed Christopher’s face and hair lovingly telling him about his childhood. Chris listened intently to her stories, looking at pictures she brought with her. She began to sing a song that she sang throughout his childhood.

The song did spark a memory, and he saw his mother and him in his mind when he was a small child, and his mother rocked and soothed him with that song. He smiled widely at the woman Doris, his mother. He remembered her. Memories of his childhood began to flood his mind of his childhood. He looked at the bearded man standing beside her, remembering his father.

Chris reached out to them both and hugged them, saying that he remembered his childhood up to graduation. The memories were bits and pieces, but it felt good knowing that his memory was returning. Penny hugged Chris and his parents with tears of joy. He remembered his siblings and cousins when they were children, although he didn’t recognize them as adults.

Penny explained that it seemed his long-term memory was returning first, so hopefully his short-term memory would return soon as well. Monday, they planned to call Joselyn and let her know of this new development.

Jordan happily patted his friend on the back, congratulating him, and April hugged Chris and Penny both, happy for them.

After everyone ate and were playing games and singing around a fire pit, making s’mores, Jordan grabbed April’s hand and led her down a garden path into the woods to be alone.

“Jordan, where are we going? They will wonder what we are doing. I don’t want people talking about us,” April protested.

“Let them talk. As a matter of fact, let’s give them something to talk about,” Jordan said, trapping her back against a tree with his arms above her head on either side, looking hungrily at her lips and back up to her eyes.

April instinctively threw her palms up to his chest because his quick movement unraveled her composure. Jordan enjoyed the physical contact, and leaned down, taking the opportunity that her mouth was open in surprise to taste her tongue with his.

Struggling slightly against him, never having been kissed that way before, her own physical desire gave in, and she relaxed in his arms.

Jordan leaned back and stared at her beautiful, flushed face and neck. He grinned at her as she opened her eyes to look curiously at him.

“I think that did something to you, my little angel,” he whispered as he delivered soft kisses to her neck.

“Jordan, I…we better get back to the family,” April said, not wanting him to feel free to take things too far. Not that she didn’t secretly want more, she just had a conviction to stay chaste til marriage.

April had dated very few guys because her father was a pastor of a very disciplined church and school, so her dates consisted of sitting beside boys from her church group during services. Her parents were very strict, not allowing her on car dates in high school. If they couldn’t walk to their destination, then she was not permitted to go.

After high school, April had come to live with and work for her cousin Penny, and she had not had much opportunity to date anyone since because she stayed busy working and caring for them.

“What’s wrong, My Angel? Did I scare you? Don’t run off, please, sit on this log with me. I’ve missed you so much. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just wanted to kiss you, that’s all, Sweetheart. Come, sit down and talk to me,” he urged, gently taking her by the hand.

The sun was beginning to set and the orange hue reflected off the pond, giving it a beautiful light show as two geese swam lazily across the water.

“Talk to me, My Angel. What happened? Did you think I might force you to do something you didn’t want to do? I would never do that, I promise. You don’t ever have to worry about that, okay?” He said caressing her face.

“I just wanted to taste your sweet mouth, that’s all. But if you don’t like being kissed like that, then I won’t do that again. I don’t ever want you to feel uncomfortable around me, okay?” Jordan assured her, holding both her hands in his, staring into her sapphire blue eyes.

“I’ve never been kissed that way before, Jordan. I did like it very much, it just…I never felt like that with a kiss, and I guess it scared me a little,” April admitted.

“I’m not afraid of you. I trust you, Jordan. I’m sorry, Ive never had a real relationship. This is all unfamiliar territory for me,” she explained.

“My dad and mom were very strict. They didn’t let me date. That’s one reason I moved in with Penny after high school, to have a chance at a better life,” she explained.

Jordan smiled at her with understanding and kissed one of the hands he held.

“So, I’m your first boyfriend, My Angel? That makes me very proud,” he told her, kissing the other hand.

“I have not been in a relationship since my wife Danielle passed away seven years ago, so this is kind of new territory for me too,” he explained.