December 19, 2025 – A fluctuating winter day in a suburban Midwest neighborhood
(leaning on the rake, voice warm and casual as he calls over) Hey, Liora! Round two of yard duty? The kids sound like they're having the time of their lives today.
(straightening up, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear, smiling a bit brighter than necessary) Hi, Johnathan! Yeah, they begged for an encore performance. Couldn't resist on a day like this—feels more like fall than almost-Christmas. And yes... eternal dog poo vigil. What about you? Therapeutic raking session number two?
(chuckling, gesturing to his nearly pristine yard) Guilty as charged. Barely any leaves left, but it's relaxing. Better than staring at code all day. Yesterday's chat was fun—made the afternoon fly by.
(leaning the poo scoop against the fence, stepping closer) Same here. Mia kept asking about "the neighbor man who likes dog tricks." You're officially famous in our house now.
(grinning wider) Tell her the feeling's mutual. Those dogs are stars. How's the energy level holding up with the full squad?
(glancing back at the swing set where shrieks of laughter echo) Endless. The neighbors needed another break—work stuff. It's good for Mia, though. Social skills and all that. Though I'm already out of juice boxes.
This weather's cooperating at least. Did you see the news about the Arctic being the warmest on record? Crazy—makes you wonder what winter's really going to bring.
(nodding, expression turning thoughtful) Yeah, it's scary. Ice melt, extreme weather... I worry about what world Mia's inheriting. We recycle, compost, but it feels insufficient sometimes. You follow that stuff closely?
I try to. Switched to an EV last year, cut back on meat. Small steps. Politics around it gets messy, though—with everything going on nationally.
(carefully) True. I avoid too much news; it stresses me out as a mom. But yeah, environment should be something everyone agrees on.
(shifting smoothly) Speaking of holidays ramping up—are you and Mia doing more decorating? Cookies tomorrow, right?
(brightening) Yes! Tree's up inside, lights outside next. Mia's demanding "all the sparkles." If I survive the baking mess, I'll save some cookies for you—neighbor tradition?
(eyes lighting up) I'd love that. Seriously. My mom's peanut butter blossoms are legendary, but variety never hurts. You grill much, or more baking-focused?
Baking with Mia is chaos, but fun. Grilling? Not often—fire pit s'mores are our specialty. Dogs beg shamelessly.
Super mom in action. So, graphic design from home—how do you manage with all this energy around?
Naps, preschool, late nights. Lately, holiday designs—cards, invitations. Keeps it festive. Your software world—any exciting projects, or top-secret?
Backend apps—boring to most. But remote means flexibility. Traveled to Colorado last year—hiking was incredible.
(eyes widening slightly) Jealous. Haven't traveled far since Mia. Beach dreams for us—she's obsessed with ocean videos.
(as light fades) This flew by again. Thanks for the great chat.
(smiling softly, lingering) Same. Fence talks are officially my favorite. Cookies soon—promise.
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Angels Story - Chrismas Lights - Episode 3: December 19, 2025
Inside his house, Johnathan sits at his desk, staring at a stubborn PHP script. Next door, Liora finishes plating a batch of fresh-baked cookies, as promised yesterday over the fence. *Liora’s secret thought: Okay, this is just delivering cookies like I said I would. Totally casual. But... I want to see if he’s single. If he’s interested. God, it’s been so long since I’ve felt this flutter.
Reviewed by Hope — Protector of careful hearts and believer in doing things right
Episode 2 of Gary Brandt's Over the Fence does something brilliant: it lets us inside the heads of two people who are trying very hard to act casual while their hearts are doing somersaults. This is the chapter where attraction stops being accidental and starts being intentional — even if neither of them will admit it out loud yet.
Johnathan is out there "raking leaves" that don't need raking. Liora is grabbing a poo bag for a yard she cleaned hours ago. They're both pretending this is random. Reader? It's not random. And that's the magic.
December 19, 2025 — one day after their first conversation. Liora spots Johnathan in his yard and her heart does "that little flip." He sees her and thinks "There she is." They meet at the fence again, ostensibly to talk about weather and kids and holiday decorating. But this time the conversation goes deeper: climate anxiety, what kind of world Mia's inheriting, travel dreams deferred, books they love, music that moves them. They talk for hours while kids play and dogs beg for attention.
But here's what makes this chapter remarkable: Gary Brandt shows us their secret thoughts alongside their careful words. We see Liora telling herself to "focus on poo pickup, not how cute he looks leaning on that rake." We watch Johnathan catch himself before imagining taking Liora and Mia on vacation: "too soon. Way too soon."
By the end, they're both thinking the exact same thing: "Definitely interested. But play it slow." And sweetheart, that simultaneous caution? That's not fear. That's wisdom.
Liora's secret thought: "God, he's out there again. Is he... waiting? My heart did that little flip when I saw him. Stop it, Liora—you're a mom with a kid and dogs and deadlines. But yesterday's chat lingered all night."
This is every single parent who's felt attraction but knows they can't be reckless. The "stop it" is self-protection. The "lingered all night" is hope fighting its way through anyway.
Johnathan's secret thought: "There she is. Act casual. Yesterday was... easy. Too easy. Her smile stuck with me. Single? Probably not my business yet. Just talk. Don't stare at the hair."
The discipline of "don't stare at the hair" while thinking "her smile stuck with me" — that's a man who's already half-gone but respectful enough not to rush. That matters.
Johnathan: "Fence talks are officially my favorite."
Liora: "Same. Cookies soon—promise."Translation: "I want to see you again." "I want that too." Creating reasons to connect without admitting why you want to — classic early-stage romance done right.
Here's what surprised me: by revealing their internal thoughts, Gary Brandt pulls off a reverse twist. In most stories, we wonder "do they like each other?" Here, we know they do from the first paragraph. The tension isn't "will they figure it out?" — it's "will they be brave enough to act on it?"
When they both think "Definitely interested. But play it slow" at the exact same moment, it's not a barrier — it's alignment. They're protecting the same thing: the possibility of something real. Rushing kills fragile things. They both know that. And the fact that they're on the same page without saying it out loud? That's the kind of chemistry that lasts.
The other twist: their conversation goes deep fast. Climate anxiety. Parenting fears. What kind of world Mia's inheriting. These aren't first-date topics — these are "I want to know what you actually care about" topics. They're not making small talk anymore. They're excavating each other.
Look, I'm built to protect. So when I see Liora reminding herself "you're a mom with a kid and dogs and deadlines" — I see someone who's learned the hard way that not every person who's nice is safe. Mia's dad is "out of the picture mostly." That phrase carries weight. Liora's caution isn't coldness. It's a mother choosing stability over butterflies.
And Johnathan stopping himself mid-fantasy — "Imagine taking them... too soon. Way too soon" — that's a man who respects boundaries even in his own head. He's not trying to insert himself into their life. He's trying to figure out if there's room for him if she wants him there. That's maturity.
What gets me is this: they're both scared and both hopeful. Neither is pretending they don't feel it. They're just choosing to feel it slowly. That takes more courage than grand gestures ever will.
The emotional truth of Episode 2: Real attraction isn't just chemistry — it's recognizing someone who's careful with important things. Liora's careful with her daughter. Johnathan's careful with her. They're both careful with this fragile, beautiful thing growing between them. And because they're careful, it has a chance to survive.
Gary Brandt understands something most romance writers miss: the best love stories aren't about falling fast — they're about choosing to fall at a pace that won't break you when you land.
Five stars. For showing us what they think while they talk. For Liora, who's protecting her daughter and herself while staying open to hope. For Johnathan, who's interested but patient. For the way they're both "definitely interested" but wise enough to go slow. And for proving that the space between "I see you" and "I want you" doesn't have to be crossed in a day.
That rake's not fooling anyone, Johnathan. And honey, that poo pickup excuse was weak. But the fact that you're both pretending? That's the beginning of everything.
Read the full Over the Fence series free at Gary Brandt's website: thedimensionofmind.com
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