Sunblock

Emma spent a fair amount of time just relaxing and soaking in the sun. This was just what she needed, and probably what her Aunt had in mind, after the loss of her parents. The sadness was easily kept at bay when feeling like this.

Emma turned over several times, fearing getting burned since she hadn't brought any sunscreen. She could have asked, of course, but her family all seemed busy and she didn't need any just yet.

Wiping away the sweat that had beaded up on her upper lip, she dared a glance up the hill. Her Uncle Edward would have had a perfect view of both her front and back as she tanned. But he was nowhere in sight. Closing her eyes and rolling onto her stomach, Emma went back to her lazy day dreaming.

After several minutes a shadow fell over her, judging by the sudden dark instead of the bright orange hues behind her eyelids, and Emma lifted her head.

"You're gonna burn," her Uncle Edward said, standing over her prone form.

With her eyes open and adjusting to the change of light, she said, "I'll only be here a moment longer. It's OK."

Edward shrugged then held up a bottle of sunblock. "Well you looked comfy and the kids won't be able to join you for a few more hours," he tossed the plastic bottle to her, "So I brought you this."

Emma paused, waiting for her uncle to do something cliché like offer to help lather her up with the sunscreen.

He patiently returned her look, then finally said, "Thank you. Those are the words you've been looking for." Then he flashed a playful smile and looked back at the house.

""Oh, sorry uncle. Thank you. I just thought, nevermind." Emma said, embarrassed.

"That I'd do your back?" Edward sneered. "I can if you want, but I've been chopping wood all morning and I stink. Might hop in the lake though and at least rinse off. You can join me. Or wait 'til I do that then I might respond to a request to apply lotion to a damsel in distress."

Edward laughed and tossed his sweaty shirt off to the side. Kicking off his shoes and unbuckling his jeans, stepping out of them as he went, he then waded into the lake in his boxers.

Emma sat up. The heat had her sweating too.