The good egg
Dory and her best friend, Jack, are searching for treasure at the annual Easter egg hunt…but what they find surprises them both: a chance for love
Dory’s 8-year-old twin nephews bickered in the back seat over the best jelly bean flavor all the way to the park. She sighed as she parked, herding them toward a crowd already gathered for the annual Easter egg hunt. Within seconds, Matty stomped in a puddle, splattering Mikey and his jacket. Mikey retaliated with rapid-fire foot-splashing of his own.
Dory pulled them apart just as her cellphone buzzed with a text message. Look to your left, Dodo! I’m over near the apple tree.
Thank goodness he was already there. Reliable Jack. Always saving the day.
Dory turned and laughed aloud. “There he is!” She pointed across the park to her best friend who, with white fuzzy rabbit ears on his head, waved wildly, hopping in place like a giant Easter Bunny.
“Jack!” the boys shouted, trotting toward him with their baskets. They really loved him. Her whole family did.
And, like the spring daffodils blooming, Dory too had recently discovered new feelings blooming for Jack. Not just friendly love anymore. A maybe-we-can-be-morethan-friends love.
But she wasn’t about to make a move. For one thing, she wasn’t sure he’d gotten the memo. And she and Jack had history, built on years of teasing and shoulder-crying. Mainly his shoulder, and her crying.
Jack greeted Dory with a grin and an even bigger hug. She relaxed as soon as his strong arms encircled her. Then he held her at arm’s length, wiggled his eyebrows, and dipped into his pocket. “These are for you.” He handed her pink bunny ears.
She put them on, of course.
“Now we’re talkin’!” His blue eyes flashed in the emerging sunshine.
He turned to the boys. “Are you fellas ready to hunt for some Easter eggs?” Matty and Mikey chanted, “Treasure! Treasure!” jumping up and down as Jack joined in. A whistle signaled the start, and the egg hunt launched, a sea of pastel-clad kids scurrying across the park. Jack and Dory followed as the twins peeked under rocks and behind trees, squealing each time they dropped an egg into their baskets. Soon they’d collected several rainbowcolored eggs filled with candy, toys and coupons for free pizzas or donuts. And when an argument broke out over a shiny
“She relaxed as soon as his strong arms encircled her”
blue egg the twins unearthed together, Jack sneakily produced another from his pocket and hid it under some nearby leaves. He nudged Mikey, and tipped his head toward the pile. Mikey happily gave up the fight for the new find.
“As a former boy scout, I am always prepared,” he whispered to Dory.
That was Jack. He was what Dory’s mother called “a good egg.” Trustworthy and dependable, he was the guy that always answered the phone at 2 am when you had a broken heart and needed someone. The guy who would save the day when you got a flat tire or who would crawl under your porch to rescue a stray kitten or play marathon games of Monopoly on rainy Saturdays while you were babysitting.
But to Dory, he was more than that now. And maybe she’d tell him someday. When the time was right.
Jack gazed at her. “You all right, Dodo?” She realized she’d been staring at him. Admiring him, really. “Yeah. I’m good.”
“Did you take your allergy meds? Because you seem a bit dazed,” he laughed.
“Just enjoying the sunshine.” Dory spun around with her arms out. Her whole demeanor changed when she was with him. A calmness spread over her. “You’re coming to my sister’s for Easter dinner, right?” The boys cheered, “You are, right?” “I wouldn’t want to disappoint my fan club.” Jack grinned.
They walked to the parking lot and as the boys piled back into Dory’s car, it was her turn to notice Jack staring. “Look, another egg!” he said, pointing to Dory’s front tire.
She bent to retrieve it— a sparkling golden egg that she held up to the sun.
“Pop it open,” he said and cleared his throat.
Inside, a fluffy yellow bird held a note. She read, “Be my chick. For real.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“I know, I know: I promise to never call you a chick again!” he laughed.
“Oh, Jack!” She threw her arms around his neck. “Are you sure? I mean, I think you’re the best…”
“Dory,” he looked her straight in the eyes. “You mean everything to me. Just getting to be with you, to call you my best friend was enough, but I’m…” He stopped, grabbing her hand. “I’m in love with you, Dory. Be mine?”
Dory nodded, her heart soaring as he picked her up and they spun around in the sunshine together.