They sit together on the front porch swing, Kelly's head on Ben's shoulder, his arm around her, gazing at the lake beyond. The late afternoon sun is still warm, and its reflection shimmers on the lake’s surface. It’s a sultry summer’s day. They sit there for awhile, enjoying their closeness, their private, woodsy surroundings, the scents of cedar and pine in the air.
They decide to have a picnic by the lake. They sit together, stealing kisses, feeding each other strawberries, chicken fingers, and Caesar salad, and sipping sparkling apple juice. The sun begins to fade and the sky becomes dark and ominous. They take their picnic inside just as thunder rumbles in the distance and the first drops of rain begin to fall.
They spread a cloth on the rug by the fireplace and lay out the rest of their picnic. Ben feeds Kelly the last of the strawberries and then traces her cheek with his hand and tucks a wisp of her raven hair behind her ear. He leans forward to kiss her soft lips and she pulls him close to her and then….a shocking explosion, as lightning strikes nearby, followed by a deafening blast of thunder, and then…the lights go out.
Ben pulls himself away from Kelly regretfully, and fumbles for a flashlight. He finds a book of matches, uses one to light candles on a nearby table, kills the flashlight. Kelly comes up behind him and puts her arms around his waist, kisses his neck. He turns to look at her, her eyes glowing in the candlelight. He kisses her, then takes the candles and leads her to the bedroom.
He puts the candles on a small table by the shaded window. They stand gazing into each other’s eyes, softly smiling. He takes her into his arms, holds her close as another blast of thunder shakes the cabin. She flinches.
“Shh. It’s all right,” Ben says as he runs his hand through her hair and down her back.
“Mmmm,” Kelly moans softly.
