The nice thing about rain is that it always stops, eventually. (Eeyore)

There was a church picnic on Sunday afternoon and I wasn’t going to go: why would I? I had no family to tote along. But as I was getting in my BMW to drive myself home I noticed Christian standing in front of his Jeep with the hood popped. I debated driving away because I suspected I would look stupid if I tried to help or offer counsel. Christian was nice enough but I know how men get when their cars are acting up, tempers flare, it’s a fact of life. It seemed a shame because Christian was perfect in my eyes and I didn’t want that view changed. He gave me faith in the human race and made me believe there could be good in people.

Reluctantly, I turned off my engine and approached him.

“Hi.”

“Oh hey, Honey,” he said. “It’s so strange saying that.”

“My real name is Hope but no one uses it,” I shrugged.

“Hope,” he repeated. “That’s beautiful. Do you mind if I call you Hope?”

“Not at all.”

“So, as you can tell, I’m having a bit of trouble.”

I smirked, I’m not really sure why, it was just amusing somehow.

“Are you headed over to the picnic?”

I shook my head.

“Why not?”

I shrugged.

“You don’t like picnics? Who doesn’t like picnics?”

I laughed but it was muted.

“I was going hop in with you but I guess I’ll just find someone else.”

“What about your car?”

“It’s just overheated; I’ll come back for it with some antifreeze.”

I could see him scouting the parking lot.

“I can drive you over,” I quickly offered.

“Really? You don’t have too.”

“Maybe I’ll stay, see what all the picnic fuss is about.”

We started toward my car as he pressed, “So you’ve never been to a picnic before? I think that’s considered child abuse.”

I laughed as we climbed into my beamer.

“Where is the picnic?” I asked and he started rhyming off numerical street names and estimations. I regretted asking. “Do you want to drive?”

“Really?”

“You don’t have to– I just hate navigating through LA traffic.”

“You fly but you don’t drive. You are an interesting woman.”

We switched seats.