Burning Memories by B.J. Daniels

Author:B.J. Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, short stories, short story, montana, bj daniels
Publisher: B.J. Daniels

Just Like Riding a Bike

By B.J. Daniels

Copyright 2011 B.J. Daniels

Smashwords Edition

“Are you listening to me?”

Tom smiled at his brother as they finished their lunch. “Yes, you said dating is just like riding a bike.” Except he hadn’t done either in years.

“Amy’s been gone for four years,” Johnny said as if Tom didn’t know that. “She wouldn’t want you to be alone.”

Tom knew that was true, but he also knew there was no one like Amy and for so long she’d been all he could think about.

“I appreciate your concern,” Tom told his brother. “But trust me, I’ll know when the time is right.”

What he couldn’t tell his brother was that he was waiting for a sign from Amy. He knew it sounded crazy, but he believed she would tell him when it was time to move on.

Later that evening, he was sitting on his front porch enjoying the cool breeze when he heard a familiar sound. Squeak, thunk. Squeak, thunk. Squeak thunk.

It surprised him because he realized he’d been hearing that annoying sound this time every evening for the past week but it hadn’t really registered.

Now he looked up to see a woman on a bike round the corner and start by his house. She had short reddish-blond hair and when she glanced in his direction there was a wariness in her gaze that he recognized.

“I can fix that,” he called to her surprising himself.

She slowed to a stop. “Sorry?”

“That noise your bike is making.” He motioned for her to wait a minute as he went into his garage and came out with a small can of oil.

She climbed off the bike, holding it up as he put a little oil on each pedal.

“There that should do it,” he said. “Try that.”

She climbed back on and took a couple of quiet rotations on the pedals before braking to look back at him. She seemed surprised.

“Silence,” she said as she walked the bike back to where he stood. “I didn’t even realize it was making that noise until it stopped. I guess I’ve had too much on my mind. Thank you.”

“I know that feeling,” he said smiling. She was about his age, slim and attractive, but it was her cautious smile that tugged at his heartstrings. Instinctively he knew this woman understood loss.

“I’ve been thinking about biking again,” he said into the silence that fell between them. “It’s been years.”

“For me too. My sister keeps telling me I need to get out of the house. That it would do me good.” She looked away as if embarrassed by revealing so much and he saw her left hand resting on the handlebars and the fading white line where her wedding band had been.

“Sounds like my brother who’s been encouraging me to… bike again.”

“You too?” She smiled then, her face lighting up at the knowledge she wasn’t alone. “I’m sorry, I’m Sarah. Sarah Branson. It was kind of you to fix my bike for me.”

“Tom Cross,” he said wiping his hand on his jeans before taking hers.

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