The next several days passed peacefully. Although I missed spending time with both Cam and Mikhail, I was relieved that they were leaving me alone for now. I said hello or waved to them when I saw them in passing, but I didn't seek them out. Mikhail didn't come to the spring crop festival, and I kept my purchases at Cam's shop to a minimum.

A week after my birthday was the last cooking festival of the season—the first time all three of us had been together since that day. Cam wasn't one of the participants for Bluebell, opting instead to cheer for his village's team—though admittedly he didn't look very enthusiastic this time. Mikhail appeared on Konohana's side, but like Cam, he remained fairly quiet throughout the competition. The theme was desserts, and I brought a rich custard made with milk and eggs from my own farm and garnished with some early strawberries. My teammates were Nori, who brought a delicate tofu-based dessert, and Hiro, who brought strawberry mochi. The judge, Pierre, raved about my custard when he tasted it, and Konohana won the competition.

Afterwards, when everyone split up into little groups to talk and sip tea, I found myself chatting with Dirk, Kana, and Georgia. I spotted Mikhail a ways off, looking daggers at Dirk, who seemed oblivious to Mikhail's hostile glares. Cam likewise stood some distance away, with Ash and Cheryl. I saw him look over in my direction once or twice but didn't acknowledge his glances as they didn't seem to be directed to me any more than Mikhail's were. When I decided to head for home, Dirk offered to walk with me, and as I'd been enjoying his company, I accepted.

As we walked, he looked at me curiously, and asked if I had any idea why both Mikhail and Cam had been glowering at him all afternoon yet hadn't come over to talk to me even once. I sighed and explained, saying, "Well, basically things were getting to be too much with those two fighting all the time. So I told them to leave me alone—for a while, anyway—and to stay away from each other. So that's what they're doing... for now. I guess they were just a little jealous that I was talking with you."

Dirk looked enlightened, and grinned at me, saying, "Wow, they must be really crazy about you, if they actually did what you asked in spite of wanting to strangle each other!" I laughed and agreed that it did seem that way. Then we reached the town gates, and he went into his house while I continued on to mine.

A couple of days later was the last day of spring—the day I needed to harvest the last of my spring crops as well as prepare to plant my summer seeds. I ate a quick but hearty breakfast of a mushroom and herbed cheese omelet, toast, juice, and tea, dressed in my work clothes, pulled on my boots, and was just about to head out the door when someone knocked. I frowned when I opened it and found Mikhail standing on my porch.

"Mikhail... " I started in a tired voice, but he held up a hand to hush me.

"I'm just stopping by to... to say goodbye," he said, looking at me and then quickly away.

"Goodbye?" I repeated, stunned.

He looked at me again and nodded. "I... I just can't stay away from you. So if I'm to give you the space you need, I have no choice but to leave. I don't do well in hot climates anyway, so that is the excuse I'm using—that I need to find a milder climate. I plan to return in the fall. Maybe by then...." he trailed off.

I looked away into the distance for a minute, then looked back at him, saying slowly, "You know I can't promise... "

"I know," he interrupted. "I'm not asking you to promise me anything. I'm not even asking you to wait until I return before making a decision. But I have to go, for a while at least. And if you choose... if you choose someone else in my absence, I will do my best to accept your decision gracefully." He looked down for a minute, then looked back up at me and took my hands in his. "Whatever happens, however it may seem that I feel, I do honestly wish you the greatest happiness. Even if I end up not being a part of that happiness." He leaned forward and gave me a gentle kiss, then quickly turned, saying, "So farewell for now, my beloved. I will see you in the fall, when both the weather and my temper have cooled." And with that, he walked swiftly away, not looking back to see me watching him leave.

It felt strange and empty with Mikhail gone. He'd told everyone that he was seeking a cooler place to escape the oppressive heat and humidity for the summer, just as he'd said. I was the only one that knew the real reason for his sudden departure, though I think a few of my closest friends—including Cam—suspected the truth.

I didn't see any need to keep shutting Cam out once Mikhail had left. After all, Mikhail had been the greater problem. Even if he could be a little provocative from time to time, Cam had been far more restrained than his rival. So I decided that to fill him in on Mikhail's departure and let him know that he needn't avoid me any longer.

The first day of summer was, of course, far too busy for any social activities, and besides, it fell on a Monday when Cam was out of town anyway. Tuesday also was very busy, but I managed to find time to stop by Cam's shop to pick up some flower seeds. After I made my purchase, I told him I'd like to see him Friday, since Thursday was a festival day. He looked surprised, but merely nodded agreement as another customer approached his stall.

I also got in touch with Eileen to discuss having her help me to expand my farm. My farm was finally turning enough of a profit that I had been able to set aside some money specifically for renovations. The next day she came over, and we discussed what needed to be done. For the time being, she cleared out a section of the woods that had sprung up in the former fields, and she would tackle some of the other work as time and finances permitted. I spent the rest of the day tilling and planting my new fields, and by bedtime, I was completely exhausted.

Friday I awoke to the sound of rain pattering on my roof. I quickly turned on the radio to listen to the forecast, which said it would be rainy all day. I sighed—whenever there was heavy rain, none of the shops bothered to open. Business was just too slow then, and it wasn't worth the expense of staying open. Cam was the only exception, probably because he ran an open-air stall rather than a storefront and so had fewer operational expenses. But he wouldn't be open anyway as it was his day off. "At least," I thought ruefully, "I don't have to worry about watering my crops today."

I went to take care of my animals, then I went and checked the message board and stopped by to say hi to a few people. I returned home, showered and changed. Although it was pouring rain, it was still very warm, so I put on a floral camisole top, short denim skirt, denim jacket, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat before heading over to Bluebell.

I paid a few calls there, then went to look for Cam. He hadn't been home, so I went up to the river, as he often could be found there on his days off. Sure enough, there he was, standing under his big blue umbrella, watching the fish darting around in excitement from the drops of rain hitting the water. He looked up as I walked over to him, looking a little apprehensive.

"Hey," I said, stopping beside him.

"Oh, uhh... hi," he replied nervously.

"So... can we go somewhere? You know, to talk?"

"Yeah... sure. Where?"

"Well, it's maybe a little wet to stand around outside. Especially since I know you really don't care much for the rain. So... we could go to my house? Or if you'd rather... we could go... " I paused, trying to think of an alternative shelter.

"Your place is fine," Cam interrupted.

"Okay," I said, holding out my hand. "I think we have a lot to discuss. I'll even make you dinner, okay?" He nodded as he took my hand, and we walked back through the tunnel and on to my house.

Before we made it home, though, the steady rain all of a sudden turned into a torrential downpour. We ran for cover, but by the time we dashed in the front door, we were both soaking wet. I dug through my grandparents' old clothing that I'd washed and stored upon my arrival, and found a robe and a pair of boxers that looked as though they would fit. I sent him off to shower while I hung his clothing out on the covered porch to air dry. I also scraped the mud from his shoes and my boots and set them to dry on the porch, too.

I made some tea and sipped a cup out on the porch, to keep from dripping even more water onto my floors. When Cam came out of the bathroom, wrapped in the old flannel robe and toweling his shoulder-length hair dry, I poured a cup of tea for him and told him to make himself at home while I showered. I grabbed my robe and headed off to the bathroom, giggling silently to myself as I imagined Cam trying to find soap and shampoo that didn't smell too feminine among my collection of toiletries. Then I smiled as it occurred to me that Cam probably wouldn't mind anyway, as he loved the scent of flowers.

When I undressed, I found that even my bra and underwear were drenched. I showered and toweled my hair off before slipping into my robe, then I gathered up my wet clothing and stepped out of the bathroom, heading out to my porch to spread my clothing alongside Cam's. Returning inside, I found Cam sitting on the sofa, sipping a cup of tea as he flipped slowly through a slender volume of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. "Ready for a refill?" I asked, pausing on my way to the kitchen.

He looked up and glanced at his mug before shaking his head. "Not quite, but thanks."

I poured another cup of tea and joined him on the sofa. Taking a sip of the hot tea as I settled comfortably into the cushions, I mused, "Well, if nothing else, it's awfully hard to stay upset with someone when you're sitting together, nearly naked."

He choked a little on his tea, his cheeks turning red as he tried to keep his eyes from straying to my robe. "Umm... do you... are you... "

"I'm afraid so," I said with a sigh. "I was soaked to the bone, even my underclothes. So the only dry thing I had to put on after my shower was this robe. Everything I had on earlier is spread out on the porch, drying. Does it bother you?" I asked him curiously as I took another sip.

"Oh!" he replied. "Well, no... not bother exactly. Just... "

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I can go get dressed now," I offered. "I was going to before long, anyway."

"No, i-it's fine. I was... I was just taken by surprise, that's all," he said, regaining his composure.

I set my mug down and turned slightly to face him. "So, anyway. You know that Mikhail left, don't you?" Cam looked away and nodded. "He's told everyone that it's because he hates the heat, but you probably guessed that wasn't the real reason."

He looked at me again, saying, "I... did wonder. I wasn't sure, though. Is he coming back?"

I nodded, replying, "Yes, he said he'd be back in the fall. I warned him that I couldn't promise him anything. He... understood." I picked up Cam's free hand in mine and looked him in the eyes. "I haven't been very fair to you lately. Really, I know Mikhail was more of a problem than you. But I couldn't bring myself to go on seeing you and not him, and I definitely couldn't have the two of you anywhere near each other anymore. So it seemed best to just... take a break from it all." I sighed, looking off into space. "I guess as much as I hate having Mikhail gone, this time apart will be helpful. Having him away from me for a while should let me find out if absence makes my heart grow fonder—or forgetful. I think, too, that I have to think not so much about whether I love one of you more than the other—because apparently I don't—but rather with whom I'd be happier and whom I'd make happier. I... think I already know the answer to that question. But I... I want to wait a little longer. I want to be sure...."

Cam set his mug down and held out his arms to me. I scooted up closer, resting my head against his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around me. "I want you to take as long as you need," he murmured into my hair. "I want you to be sure, whatever you decide. A few more weeks, or months, or even longer if you need it, is well worth a lifetime of happiness."

I exhaled a sigh of relief, nestling closer into his embrace. We sat that way for who knows how long, until I finally remembered I'd promised Cam dinner. I jumped up, exclaiming, "Oh! It's getting late! I'd better get to work on dinner."

Before I could head off to the kitchen, however, Cam grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to the sofa. "Wait. I need to know... does this mean that we're back on? I mean, am I still supposed to be avoiding you and giving you space? Or... " he said, looking uncertainly at me.

I looked at him for a moment, then moving closer, I held his face in my hands and leaned in to kiss him. After a minute, I pulled back and asked, "Does that answer your question?" Smiling, he nodded, then lifted me up in his arms and pulled me onto his lap, returning my kiss as I placed my arms around his neck.

We sat kissing, one of his arms around my shoulders for support. His free hand gently stroked my calf, sliding down to my foot. He gently rubbed his thumb against the instep of my foot for a moment, then slid his hand back up along my calf, caressed my knee, and slid up along my thigh, under the edge of my robe, and to my hip. When he passed my hip, he suddenly made a muffled sound and pulled back. I looked at him, surprised to see him blushing. "I... I forgot that you...."

Realizing the cause of his discomfiture, I smiled, saying, "You forgot I wasn't wearing anything but the robe?" He nodded, turning even more red. I thought for a minute, then took his hand and placed it back on my thigh as I leaned back into his supporting arm. "It's okay, Cam," I whispered into his ear. "Only... only no more than just touching, okay?" He nodded, and leaned down to kiss me again.

After a moment, he tentatively slipped his hand back up my thigh, curiosity apparently outweighing any reservations he felt. He gently stroked my thigh, then moved lightly over my hip, exploring the curves and hollows of my hip and belly. He gently ran his fingers along my side, feeling along my ribcage, then down my spine and back around to my tummy. With some hesitation and with exquisite delicacy, he slowly slid his fingers along the inner curve of my ribcage until he reached my breasts. Gingerly, he traced around the roundness of my breast, then gently cupped his hand around it, stroking the soft skin with his thumb. I gasped and shivered a little, feeling a sudden flush of heat rising in me at his touch. As his kisses intensified, his touch became a little more assured, exploring the fullness of my breasts, the hardening tips of my nipples. He began to kiss me along my jawbone to my throat, then down my neck to the little hollow at the base of my throat. Then sliding the opening of my robe to the side, he kissed slowly, lingeringly, down to my breast, finally kissing the point of my nipple, caressing it softly with his lips. A little moan escaped me as my skin began to tingle deliciously all over and a hot tightness began to form deep down in my belly.

I knew then we needed to stop, or things would soon get beyond my control. So I sat up, pushing Cam gently off and pulling my robe back into place. I snuggled up to him, resting my head on his chest with my arms around his neck. "I think we'd better stop there," I murmured. "Otherwise... well, I fear my virginity may be in danger at this rate."

He looked startled for a moment, then said, "You mean, you... "

It was my turn to look surprised. "Well, yes... what did you think? If I wasn't, wouldn't I have let both of you go farther with me by now?"

Cam shrugged, saying, "I don't know. Maybe? I never thought too much about it. I guess I just assumed that having been in a relationship with Mikhail for a few years...."

"No, I didn't then, nor have I ever," I explained. "I watched too many of my friends just toss their virginity aside without a second thought, only to find out that all the guys wanted from them was sex—and more often than not, as soon as they got it, they moved on to the next girl. I saw too many fragile young hearts get broken. I decided that if I was worth having, I was worth waiting for. So I promised myself that I'd stay a virgin until my wedding night, and I mean to keep that promise."

Cam nodded, saying, "Ahh, I see. Well, that explains why you never seemed to want to go very far. Not that I expected you to or anything!" he added hastily. "I've said all along that it's your body, and your decision what to do, when to do it, and with whom."

I gave him a kiss and leaned against him for a minute, then I rose, pulling him up with me. "Come on," I said, "let's get some dinner! How does risotto sound?"