The Better of Late...

We shared the moment in a leaning-inward-nod of mirroring gesture. She and I lazily collapsed in the shade of the towering trees by the shore of a cool pond on the outskirts of her father's property.

"...oh! and I suppose you have an explanation for everything!" She reached forward and playfully clasped lightly onto the skin near my ribcage. She spun around and shifted her legs under her and leaned into my ear. I pretended not to care and sat unflinching.
"I do. I do indeed."
"'I do indeed'" She mocked, rocking her head from side-to-side. "so, lets have it then mister!"
"Lets have what?" I laughed and pulled away.
"Lets have your thoughts on outer space and life beyond and..."
"And I think you're nuts!"

She smiled and paused and turned away from me.
She pulled her knees into her chest.
She sank her chin and mouth into the crook of one of her crossed arms.
She rocked back on her tail bone and pointed her toes in the air leaving her heels grounded while her mind seeped lightly into thought.

"Jimmy, when you gonna marry me?"
"Whoa, whoa! 'marry'? Who said anything about marriage?"
"Jimmy... you're a cad, you know that? A reeeeeaaal cad! My folks say you're never gonna marry me and that all you're doin' is draggin' your feet and lolly-gagin' the days away while I sit and wait and say nothin'! Well, let me tell you something James 'Jimmy' Corwell, I'm almost 22 and want to be done with this old place and these old people... I want us to have a big-to-do with music and cake and a photographer and all!"
"...a photographer?"
"A PHOTOGRAPHER!, yes. And you're gonna be the one to give it to me too!"
"Oh I am, am I?"
"Yes."

She smiled and so did I. We exchanged sideways contact

"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Well, say something you, you, you CAD!"
"Alright... that there water's 'bout 40 degrees still... you jump in stark naked and live to tell the tale and, well, you got yourself a..."

Before I could conclude my challenge she was stripped to the skin alone and was wading into the pond's water still chilly from the cool spring nights.
She walked out a waist-deep distance and never looked back to consider my observation.
She bent forward committed and dove in allowing the pond's sweet water to cover her flesh.

I dug the toe of my shoe into the bank and toyed with a buried rock as she put her clothes back on.
I watched her and she watched me.
The moment was a prelude to a life I wished could have lasted until the sun shone no longer.