“Aerin, honey,” she said quietly, starting to sob, it sounded like.   She said nothing further. Words weren’t necessary. Yes, words were her stock in trade. But for us, for something like this, for the truly important thing that was happening to us right now, it wasn’t about words.

“It’s about Faith. It’s about Trust,” I sang to her.

“And kisses,” she answered, through her tears.

“What we have is strong and tender,” I continued to sing softly.

“So does my lawyer agree?” I asked her lightly after a beat.

“Mmm… she does. And looks forward to the next one,” she laughed.

We fell quiet again as I smiled into the phone.

I heard an audible kiss from her. I kissed her through the phone back.

With a light laugh, she changed topics and explained, “I was calling not only to check on how you were, Aerin, but to find out if you were open to taking a boat ride tomorrow morning with Annie and other girls from last night?”

Harley in a bikini? I am so there. I was quick-stepping already to the drawers where I’d folded my lingerie and bikini and other stuff after unpacking yesterday.   I asked excitedly, “do you think you’ll like me in a red or in a yellow bikini?”

She laughed, “You’ll be scrumptious in a yellow one, I imagine… but, no, honey, I can’t join you, unfortunately. Working girl and all that.”

I stopped rummaging through the drawer. What? No Harley? Sun, sea, and sky, and I only get to hang out with other people I’d just met?

“Wha-a-a-tt?” I whined. Yes, whined. “But it’s a Saturday! It’s the weekend!”

She was laughing again.

“And you called me “honey,” ” I added, feeling churlish.

Funny, I’d hated it when Dad had used pet names with me when I was growing up, during my pre-teen years. But now that I’m in my late twenties, plunging headlong into the mess of a life-altering romance, I was getting giddy just hearing these pet-names from her.

“Yes, I did. And I’ll want to call you other things,” she answered, with a smile in her voice, I could tell. My tummy flip-flopped again. “Especially during …”

“Sex?” I asked, too eagerly. I slapped my forehead.