MUFFINS IN THE MORNING DEW

Early the next morning Julie sat sipping her tea, staring out the window as the sun peeked through the low branches of the trees. For a good part of the night she'd lain awake, thinking about Robert, about how he described the events of the crusade. He'd have made a fantastic history teacher. But there was more to it somehow than that. She wanted to call him, to ask him to come back or if she could come to his house, but she had no phone number for him. Well, there was no help for it! She needed to see him. She'd just take herself over to his house, maybe bring some muffins as an excuse. She'd been up before the crack of dawn and had made banana walnut ones. Yes, that would do.

Quickly she popped about six muffins in a napkin-lined basket, stopped by the hall mirror to brush a stray lock into place, and with a slightly nervous smile, went out her front door. His house wasn't far, so she soon rounded the last clump of trees and stepped out on his lawn. Instantly her eyes were drawn to a form lying on the grass. It was Robert! Good Lord, had he fallen on his way home last night? The muffin basket slipped from her fingers as she ran to him, flinging herself to her knees on the dew-wet lawn. She didn't know why she didn't call his name; she just didn't. He lay quietly, his hands at his sides, his face tipped a bit toward her. He was breathing. The even rise and fall of his chest beneath the burgundy shirt was proof of that. Had he hit his head? There was nothing, though, where he lay but smooth lawn, nothing to trip over, nothing to hurt one in a fall.

Sitting back on her heels, she studied him. It looked like he was sleeping. Why in heaven's name would he be asleep on his lawn? That made no sense, none at all.
Perhaps he'd had some sort of attack, had passed out? She couldn't hold back any longer. Placing a palm on his chest, she leaned over. "Robert? Are you all right, Robert?"

His eyes flew open. "Geoffrey!" he called, still lost in some confusion of time and place.

"It's me, Robert...Julie. What happened?"

He looked straight up into her eyes. "Happened? I...I was walking home last night...from your house." He let his lids close again. The coastal road. He'd lain down, reliving the days along the road between Acre and Jaffa. "I must have fallen asleep."

"But on the lawn, Robert? Why would you sleep on the lawn?"

"I needed to think. I looked at the moon, then I just lay on the grass." His eyes met hers. "I needed to think."

"You're not hurt? You didn't fall?"

"I'm fine. A bit damp from the dew, but otherwise fine. Why are you here?"

"I brought you muffins, I...oh, dear...the muffins!" She looked back, seeing them scattered on the grass. "I dropped them."

"Why would you bring me muffins, Julie?"

"I...I just...I wanted to see you."

Her hair was hanging forward, brushing his cheeks, her eyes large, very close. My God, she was beautiful! One of his hands came up, sliding behind
her head, pressing her gently the rest of the way down so his lips could find hers. She needed to be kissed. He needed to kiss her.

Julie was surprised by his sudden smooth movement, but when his mouth closed around hers, she forgot the surprise of it, forgot the dew, forgot the muffins. Her breasts pressed against his chest and she yielded herself completely to his kiss. What if there were no poppies in the lawn? Muffins would
serve just fine. So taken up in his kiss was she that she even forgot to write the scene of it.

He kissed her for a long time and very thoroughly, then taking her by her upper arms, held her where he could look at her eyes. She seemed slightly dazed and he smiled. "You, Julianna, are a woman who should be kissed often...and well."

"Ok," she murmured, tipping her face toward his again despite his hold on her arms.

He chuckled and kissed her again before holding her up once more, needing to read what lay in her eyes. Had he said too much at dinner? Never...not ever...had he spoken so much to anyone about such matters. Her own enthusiasm for the time had drawn it out of him, made it all too easy. He was usually on his guard more than that. But Julie, she affected him differently.

Aware that he was studying her, she asked, "What? What are you looking for, Robert?"

"No matter," he breathed, and kissed her again.