Chapter Ten: Sweet Rain:

It’s been raining all morning. I smiled as I looked out the window. I have many memories about the rain. Yes, they do include my beloved Elizabeth. She always looked so beautiful in the rain. I have always believed that rain could take away the age of someone. Elizabeth sure proved me right there. I remember in that light ocean blue sundress dancing around so happily. Her ginger hair always seemed to be laughing at nature around us. I couldn’t help but to laugh along with it. Oh, I missed the good old days.

*Thirteen Years Ago*

Elizabeth and I went out on a little picnic days before her wedding. She had convinced her family that she needed to get out more on the benefit of her health. Yeah. More like getting out more on the benefit of seeing me. I didn’t complain, however. I was just happy to see my Lizzie again before she belonged to another man. We went out into the country side. Elizabeth led the way. By now, I shouldn’t have been surprised about what my love could do. However, Lizzie still managed to do so. I followed that mysterious back deeper into the country woods. I know I shouldn’t ask questions, but…

“Hey, Lizzie,” I spoke up. “Where exactly are we going?” I didn’t exactly get an answer. She just giggled at me like she normally did. I should have taken a hint there. Yet, my naïve innocent mind wouldn’t let me do so. I ended up asking her more questions.

“What are you hiding from me now?” I asked her. Lizzie didn’t turn around or answer me. She just laughed again. Now, I was intrigued. I wanted to ask more questions. However, my love stopped me in my tracks with them.

“You’ll see when we get there,” she said. “Haven’t you learned by now not to ask the questions and follow along.” I nodded in silence. She had a point there. So, I just stopped cold with my questioning and followed her deeper into the woods. We came into this beautiful meadow. I looked around amazed. My beloved turned to me smiling.

“Aren’t you glad you followed me all the way out here?” she asked me. I nodded at her, overjoyed. Lizzie smiled at me brightly.

“Come on, what are you waiting for?” she asked. “Let’s go!” My love raced further into the meadow. We picked out a nice little spot under a willow tree. I set everything up. Elizabeth watched me at first.

“Need any help?” she asked. I shook my head at her.

“Nah, I’m good!” he said. “You should probably rest, that’s what you came all the way out here for, isn’t it?” I asked. Lizzie kind of pouted at me.

“Bill!” she protested. “I am not a little child!”

“But still,” I said. “I can handle everything by myself!” She looked at me slightly odd.

“Are you sure about that?” she asked.

“Yes, I can do this part myself!” I told her. Lizzie just shrugged.

“Okay…” she said. My beloved sat down on the ground and watched me afterwards. I finished setting up our little picnic. I finished up in no time. Lizzie helped me get out the food and we started eating. My love did all of the cooking this time. She insisted that she do so. (“You’re always the one doing all of the cooking,” that girl told me. “Let me return the favor!” I didn’t put up an argument there.) Lizzie did me proud today. She made spaghetti, Shepherd’s Pie, Toad-in-a-Hole, mashed vegetables, and strawberry-cherry pie. I was amazed at the spread.

“Wow!” I gasped. “You did all of this?” My young love gave me a little shrug.

“I didn’t do all of it,” she admitted. “I *did* have a little help, you know!” I smirked at her some.

“Either way,” I said. “I can’t wait to try it!” Lizzie smiled at me.

“Well then,” she said. “Eat up!” I smiled as I picked up my spoon. I took a bite of the Toad-in-a-Hole. An explosion of flavor took place in my mouth that very second. Lizzie watched me the whole time.

“Well,” she said. I looked at her with surprise.

“Wow!” I said. “Are you sure you didn’t make this by yourself?” Lizzie looked at me overjoyed.

“Really, you mean it?” she asked. I nodded once at her smiling. That sent her way over the moon.

“Aw, I’m so glad you like it!” she chirped. I chuckled at her as a reply. We ate our lunch peacefully like that. But then halfway through our picnic, I felt a few drops on my right hand. “Huh?” I thought as I looked up at the sky. Huge drops of right came pouring down upon us.

“Oh, it’s raining!” I said out loud. I looked over at my beloved. I expected her to suggest that we for shelter until the weather cleared up again. Once again, I should haven’t known that little minx better by now. Lizzie looked at me with a wicked smile on her face. I looked upon her in confusion. Just what was she up to now?

Lizzie rose to her feet and walked off of our wool-knit golden and brown blanket. I watched her the whole time. I waited to see what she would do next. She began to dance around in the lightly pouring rain. At first, I thought that that girl had lost her mind. But the more I stare at her, the more I found her even more beautiful. The patterns of the summer dress played lightly amongst themselves in the raining afternoon. Her short ginger hair seemed to be laughing in the rain around it. I couldn’t help but to smile at that wild lass.

She then walked over to me and pulled me to my to join in her little rain dance. I resisted at first, but Lizzie insisted. I got up and we danced around in the rain as if making a sacrifice to the ancient gods. Oh, that was a great time! For one moment in my life, I forget that I was a doctor and Elizabeth was my patient. We were just two lovers dancing in the rain on a picnic. I was actually happy to be with her out in the open then.

*Present Day*

I came back to Earth with one simple little question behind me.

“Doctor, why were they shooting at us?”