Love ~ a la mode
She spent a quiet, sinking sun hour in her kitchen slicing strawberries and braiding lattice. She slipped her engagement ring into the pocket of her cornflower blue apron. Her slender finger was bare; his token of love was protected from all this dough-rolling domesticity. What goes into the perfect pie for your betrothed, your special guy? Along with sifted flour and sugar bits, perhaps a midsummer’s day dream floats by loaded with snippets of hope and happiness as life together unfolds. She incorporates these goodnesses into the dough, rocking a pin back and forth, back and forth.
Full of anticipation, and wanting to surprise, he jumps into the car and winds down the lane to a market in the old part of town for a pint of vanilla bean ice cream.
Two perfect pairs.
With a pie spade, she painstakingly cuts and then hands him the first slice. A pin drops.
Their pupils dilate to let it all in. Sugar and spice and everything nice fills the air. This pie holds its shape nicely and it exudes a romantic red glow under its flaky crust; his fork tinks on the plate.
Side by side they sit as she watches him explore his first bite. He tries but can’t hold back a broad smile. With sweet satisfaction, she lays his heart bare by stating, rather than asking, “You just fell in love with me all over again.”