apology

The snow fell gently around him, as he walked slowly toward her door. He was nearly six foot tall by now, hair a light brown, shaggy and unkept. His blue eyes looked to the sidewalk and watched his feet shuffle. His black jacket was unzippered. A small bundle of flowers-two daisies and rose-was gripped by a gloved right hand, while the gloved left hand lingered between his chin and forhead.

He passed her door three times before mustering the courage to walk up and knock. Just three times, but with purpose, so that the door immediately opened. An older man stood there, staring. He was tall and imposing, wearing a plaid red sweater, his gray hair neatly combed back. He said nothing but looked at the young man with great indifference.

The two passed a few moments in silence. At last, the younger of the two took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Mr. Abney," the young man stated. "I need to speak to Alison." His voice was low but confident. The older gentleman still said nothing. "Please. I need to speak to Alison." Still nothing "Please, Mr. Abney." This time there was an air of pleading and his eyes began to show their weary deliberation.

"Who is it, dear?" came a softer, more cheerful voice somewhere behind Mr. Abney. He turned his head to the side.

"It's that Ethan, kid. Said he needs to speak to Alison."

"Well, let him in," she chided then appeared at the door. "Come on Paul, move aside. Let him in." She gently pushed her husban, to which he moved but did not take his gaze of Ethan. "Goodness Paul, he's not a kid. He's your daughter's husband. And he's clearly freezing. Let him in." She pushed the screen door open and welcomed the young man.

The wife was much more jovial than the husband, and Ethan wondered how the two put up with one another for such a long time. They seemed polar opposites, but maybe that's why everyone said opposites attract.

For his own part, he and Alison had been opposites from the start. He was timid, often too soft-spoken for his own good, but very intelligent and great with computers. He loved deeply, but was not often confident enough in himself to show it. Alison was bright, bubbly, outgoing. She commanded the attention of any room she entered and, drawn to Ethan's mysteriously shy nature, she took an instant liking to him.

Ethan realized in this moment that they were earily similar to her parents.

to be continued....