You know that sweet time when the how’s and when’s are just as important as the why’s?

“When did you know?” Shelagh asked Patrick as they strolled the length of the beach, arm in arm. Today was their one month wedding anniversary, and while Timothy was visiting his grandmother, they had decided a day at the sea shore was just the thing. The fact that the weather was damp and a bit misty did nothing to diminish their enthusiasm. In fact, misty days seemed to be a favorite of theirs.

“Know what?” Patrick smiled down at his wife.

“When did you know you…” Shelagh blushed and looked away.

A smile spread across his face. Shelagh should never play poker, he thought. Her face was as easy to read as one of Timothy’s comic books. He decided to tease her a bit. “Hmmm? When did I know I–what?”

“I was just being silly, Patrick. Never mind.” 

He laughed. “Shall I guess what you were going to say, sweetheart?” His head tilted to one side as he studied her face. “When did I know I loved you?” His voice grew tender as he said the words.

Blushing even more fiercely, Shelagh whispered, “Yes. We’ve never…”

“Talked about this?” He finished for her. His hands came up and cupped her face. “We never have, have we? Even now, there’s still so much for us to say.” He bent a kissed her slowly, his lips grazing over hers. Even though the beach was deserted, it wasn’t a private place, after all, and Shelagh was still uncomfortable with open affection in public. She seemed to be agreeable, however, as her arms slid up around his neck, pulling him down closer to her. Patrick’s arms tightened around her and his mouth became more demanding, coaxing her lips to open to him. Sighing, she matched him kiss for kiss for long moments before they came up for air.

“I knew that day in the Parish Hall kitchen,” he told her.

“Which day in the kitchen, Patrick? I seem to remember a lot of time in the kitchen.” Shelagh had a naughty smile on her face.

“Sly one,” he told her, kissing her lightly. “I had to requisition items for the clinic, and you were assigned the onerous task of assisting me. There were these old spirit lamps…”

“I remember,” Shelagh whispered. “I was trying so hard to be professional, but then I looked up into your eyes and I was lost.” She snuggled into his arms, her head resting on his chest.

“I couldn’t breathe,” he admitted. “I thought I could see right into your heart.” His arms tightened.

“You probably could,” Shelagh answered, knowingly.

“I couldn’t sleep at all that night. I kept thinking, “What an awful mess I’ve gotten myself into.” Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that we could be here today.”

“But we are.”

“But we are, my love.”

They stood like that, wrapped in each others arms for a long time. Suddenly, the mist changed into a driving rain, and they ran, laughing, back to the car. Catching their breath as they drove back home, they smiled at each other like the newlyweds they were. As they pulled up to the house, Patrick asked, “So when did you know?”

“Oh, dearest, is was well before the spirit lamps,” Shelagh giggled.

“Shelagh, when?” he demanded.

‘Oh, you’ll have to guess, Patrick.”

He slid over to her side of the car seat. “I like guessing games. What do I get if I win?” Her hair, curling from the rain, was soft in his fingers.

Shelagh smiled her bold new smile. “I think maybe we’ll both win.”