Snow In Autumn

Written by: Phebe Fabacher

After the death of her mother, Milly finds herself under the pressure of inheriting her family's restaurant. Her childhood friend and boyfriend, Elliot, has other plans. Will the two of them be able to live a happily ever after as partners, or will Milly's family tear them apart?

She had been wearing plaid that day as they crunched the bottom of their shoes through the autumn leaves that scattered themselves across the ground. Not that it mattered what pattern it was, she was always wearing something nice. It was some sort of dress with a soft long sleeve turtleneck underneath. She looked warm, brown strands swishing back and forth in front of her face in the comparably cold air.
Her hands felt warmer though, softly intertwined with his own. So warm they caused his own to sweat, though that wasn’t an unnatural sensation for him. This did feel different though, as if the warmth stemmed from a different place altogether. Somewhere softer and cozier than the heat that inhabited his own body.
She’d been pointing to other things this whole time, in her usual jubilant excitement. Little things, like ducks in ponds and shop signs written in pink chalk. She always lived for the little things. She loved the little things, in fact. He wished he could just point to her sometimes and say, “why don’t you look at that?” She was a view in and of itself, one so full of life and vibrancy that he could never seem to match.

It was nice, autumn. Just the perfect temperature for a stroll with her wrapped around his left arm. He didn’t even mind the little crunching sounds the leaves made when they walked through them. He used to hate how they made it more difficult to walk through his front yard. But somehow, he loved them now. Enjoyed the little click clack when they brushed up against other leaves.
Everything seemed better when she was there. The seasons, the ducks, the leaves, the stars. She always had some sort of magic touch that left things better than he’d ever seen them before.
“Elliot, can I ask you something?” Her soft tone broke through the serene silence. She had stopped walking, causing him to jerk backwards since he hadn't realized.
“What is it, pink cheeks?” He had never got used to calling her by her name. Always sounded too formal when he tried, minus some rare moments.

“Do you ever get scared?” She asked, squeezing his hand a little. It seemed out of the blue considering all they’d been through, but he was never one not to give her a straight answer.

“Course I do. I’d be an idiot If I wasn’t scared.” This elicited a small laugh from her, one that made his heart do somersaults in his chest.

“You’re no idiot, I guess I should have figured,” She started, letting go of his hand and seating herself on one of the park benches. “You just never show it. I find it hard to smile sometimes when they look at me so helplessly.” It has been six years since the passing of her mother, many have moved on but sometimes she still felt like there was more left undone. She was thinking of setting out on her own now to make her own name for herself and not just be known as “mommy’s little girl”, and Elliot knew she wanted it more than anything. But he could sense the uncertainty in her little hand movements, brushing leaves off the bench and eyeing the ground. He sat beside her, curling his hand inside her own again.

“I get that. I don’t know if you’d want this, but nobody said you had to do anything alone.” She met his eyes with a soft tentative look.

“Well I know you’d help if I asked but, I can’t ask you to be there all the time, that’s unrealistic.” She rubbed her thumb over his in soft affectionate circles.

“Not if we worked together. I know about your passion for pottery, and I think it would be great if you could start something amazing with your talent. I don’t like being a damn sidekick but-” She gripped his hand and pulled it close to her chest, stealing his breath away.

“Then what about partners? How does that sound?” He couldn’t help but smirk at the idea. They’d always made a great team, even now she knew what he had been trying to suggest.

“Partners, yeah. How does ‘The Gravity Pottery’ sound?” Elliot's innocent grin made her rest her cheek on her free hand, lips twisted slightly. He quickly added, “Up to you, of course.” 

“No, I actually like it. It’s a bit different, but that’s what makes it good. It’s not just yours or mine, but-”

“Ours.” He finished, feeling her heartbeat through his hand, still clasped tightly to her chest. With a small nod, she rested her head against his shoulder. The way she had relaxed their hands to her lap told him she felt more certain now. He always watched for the little signs that she was comfortable, something else he picked up whilst around her.

Their breaths were starting to be visible, the sky darkening above their heads as the sun set. Even though it felt like their date had just started, it always ended too quickly. But not this time, this time he’d make it last. He leaned his head against her own, and closed his eyes. Maybe if he pretended to fall asleep, the two of them could lie there for all eternity. They almost sat there for a good five minutes before it got colder, the both of them finally sitting up and shaking off the chilly air.

“It’s cold, let’s get out of here,” He murmured, her fingers still loosely bound to his own. “You wanna go home?”

He stood from the bench, lightly pulling her up with him and bringing her hand to his lips. He plants a small kiss on her knuckles, eyeing her as he does so. He watched as her eyes widened, and she turned to avoid his gaze. She tried to hide her face in her hand, unsuccessfully. It was obvious to him she was smiling the kind of smile that made her mouth dimples crinkle.

“Let's go home, partner.” The way she said partner made him smile like a dork, something that to this day, he refused to do in front of anyone else. 

She swung their hands all the way back to their place. Her hands were warm, her hums melodic and pleasant. Her hair smelled like strawberries, some shampoo he could only guess.

As they entered, he only wished that when he closed the door, it didn’t have to reopen until tomorrow. That she could just stay with him after dinner, and keep her warm hands in his. Enjoy the stars out on the grass, and get leaves stuck in their hair. Neither of them afraid or uncertain. Just there, enjoying the little things together, more than they were before.

As partner and partner.