One Year

"Do you really want to talk about this right now? Right here?" Lucy asked, looking into Tom's eyes while making wild gestures with her hand to remind him that they were by the roadside.

"Yes, I want to. I'm not sure I'm ever going to be relaxed enough to talk about it later unless we talk about it now. So please tell me, Lu. What do you want?" Tom asked with pleading eyes, and Lucy sighed as she took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. 

"Honestly? I'm not sure I know what I want anymore," Lucy confessed, and Tom felt the first stirring of hope in his heart.

"You don't know?"

"Marriage has never been in my plans. I've never thought nor dreamed of getting married all my life. All I've ever wanted was to work, make a name for myself and live alone traveling around the world at my leisure. Maybe get a pet, and hopefully have a niece or nephew, or both to dote on. I've never thought of marriage, so I don't know," Lucy said, and Tom nodded.