maple syrup。
No matter that he had done this before； his enthusiasm and genuine
enjoyment of the process were in no way watered down。
As for Anne； she was enchanted watching the thin； colorless liquid
bubble and thicken to a dense golden brown。 On impulse； she slid an arm
around his waist； happier in that moment than in any in recent memory。
Regardless of what the future held； she would cherish this memory。
He grinned down at her。 〃What？〃
She sighed her pleasure。 〃It's been a tin week。 This is a great finish
to it。〃 She was leaving in the morning。 As it was； she had stayed a day
longer than she'd planned； but he had asked her to。
〃I'd rather a more personal finish；〃 he said now。 〃Better still； I'd
rather no finish at all。〃
She basked in the tenderness of his expression； loving him and aching to
say it。 But she wasn't setting herself up for rejection again。 And
anyway； just then the sap gurgled wildly。
〃It shouldn't be long；〃 he said； lifting a large wooden spoon to stir
the solution and test for its thickness。 〃Should we have pancakes or
French toast for dinner？〃
〃For dinner？〃
〃I don't know about you； but I don't have the willpower to wait until
breakfast for this。〃
Anne drew a finger across the back of the cooling wooden spoon and
licked the sweet syrup from its tip。 〃Mmmmmm。 You may be right。〃 She
paused。 〃French toast。〃
〃French toast； it is。〃 Following her example； he tasted the syrup； then
ran his finger over the spoon and held it to her mouth。 The syrup was as
rich and sweet as the moment itself。 Anne thought she could go no
higher。
Suddenly； a faraway gleam ent