#FlashFictionMagic: April showers bring...

Forget flowers. This year, April showers had brought mud to Pippa’s backyard. Sloshing along in her boots with Fritz on his leash, she grumbled, "I guess spring isn't my season."

Blissfully oblivious, and undeterred by the occasional slip of a paw, Fritz trotted happily onward, determined to reach his favorite spot under the oak tree. When Pippa’s foot slid, her reaction was less smooth. Arms spiraling, she lost control of the leash and landed in a slick patch of muck. "Fritz!" she called uselessly as the dog darted off to do his business.

“Don’t move!” That was Tyler next door. He'd suggested time apart to decide whether they wanted a relationship, but this situation obviously required contact.

In seconds, Tyler's huge eyeglasses were hovering in her face, his deep brown eyes soft with concern.

"Are you checking my pupils?" Pippa asked, amused.

"Sorry," said Tyler. "I went into med student mode. Can you stand?" He put out a hand, blinking owlishly.

Pippa hesitated. If he decided to make this separation permanent, she'd have to get used to doing things on her own. Ignoring his hand, she attempted to get up. A sharp pain in her ankle instantly thwarted her effort. "Ow!"

Tyler immediately swooped in, tucking his arm securely beneath hers so that he bore most of her weight. "Easy," he said, helping her to her feet. "You'll probably want to get that x-rayed,"

Pippa scoffed as they began hobbling slowly toward the house. Fritz bounded over to lead the way. "I'm sure it's just sprained."

"Well, see how it feels tomorrow. You don't want to mess around with a break."

"Personally, I'm sick of breaks." Pippa gave Tyler a pointed look. "They're overrated."

Relief flooded through her when he squeezed her mud-caked shoulder and said, smiling, "You could be right about that."

When they reached her back door, Pippa’s eyes landed on the garden bed. She'd missed it before, but there, peeking through the freshly laid mulch, was a tiny shoot of of green.

“Hey look!” she said, pointing. “Finally!”

Tyler kissed her cheek.

Adages aside, it looked as though things would bloom this May after all.