We walked for a time then found a secluded grassy area shaded by a grove of cottonwood trees. Sunny spread out the red blanket she held, and I placed the picnic basket on it. I sat down and she joined me, leaning against my body.
“Perfect spot,” she remarked.
I smoothed her hair down her neck and kissed the top of her head. “You’re perfect.”
We enjoyed the quiet and being together for some time, just listening to birds chirp and the occasional branch breaking in the distance.
“I’m hungry,” Sunny said, opening the picnic basket. She retrieved the wine and corkscrew, giving it to me to open while she lifted out the plate of cheese, crackers, and fruit.
“Oh, you put my dates in here too.” She smiled. “You know what I like.”
“Yes, I do.” I laughed.
I popped the cork and poured two paper cups for us and we munched on the food. I grabbed a date and put it on Sunny’s lips. She opened her mouth and grabbed it from my hand.
“I’m so glad I found you,” she said. “What would I be doing if we never met?”
“You’d be at UCLA, fighting off all the frat guys,” I said.
She laughed. “How do you know I’d be fighting them off?”
“I don’t think frat boys are your type.”
“They’re not,” she said.
“I never have been happier with anyone else,” I told her. “Nobody compares to you.”
“I feel the same.” She paused. “You know I hold a lot inside of me. Emotions and stuff from the past.”
“I know. I feel it, and if you want to, we can talk about it, but I don’t think you do.”
She looked at me. “I don’t, not now, maybe not ever, but you knowing that without me having to tell you is what I love about you, Dream.”
“Well, I love everything about you, Sunny,” I said, kissing her.
Love isn’t something you plan on, but when it’s real, it’s everything. I thought I’d found love in the past, but that relationship had gotten messy, messier than what I wanted or expected. I was a different man now. A man of balance and meditation. Calmness and thought. I wouldn’t allow anger and darkness to lead me down its tight, narrow path. I had light now.
I had Sunny.
SIXTEEN2023
Aimee
Relief flooded me when Robin walked through the door of my store, her high ponytail bouncing, a bright smile on her pretty face. I was so glad she had decided not to investigate what was happening inside our house.
“I’m glad to see you,” I greeted her.
“You too,” she replied. “So, yeah, you must have left music on or the TV on at your house. I don’t think Archie was home. I texted him too, but he didn’t answer.”
“No, he went to Elmville this afternoon. Needed to get something to fix the sink in the laundry room; it’s leaking. The hardware store here didn’t have the part. And we need chicken feed and some things for the barn too. He’ll be gone for a while,” I explained.
She nodded, and I busied myself arranging my assorted jams. A few more customers had purchased jars in the past half hour, and they were a bit askew. I was a stickler for order in some ways, a big departure from my former self. Plus, I could let my mind wander about the music playing in our house. It was possible that Archie had left the TV on, possible. Or someone else was inside the house.
Waiting for me.
Knowing I wasn’t home.
Playing games with me.
Like old times.
I sighed. I didn’t want Archie to get home before me. I glanced at the clock. I probably had another hour or so until he got back from Elmville. Maybe I’d close the store early and head home. Noise broke through my thoughts and I realized Robin was talking to me.
“Do you and Archie want to go to the fair with me tomorrow?” She looked at me expectantly.
“The fair?” I asked.
“Yes, tomorrow, it’s the first day of the Poplin Area Fair. It’s at the fairgrounds on the edge of town. It’s nothing much. Some agriculture displays, animal judging contests, games, a couple carnival rides, lots of great food. I love the milkshakes.”
“Okay, sure,” I agreed. “What time?”
“I’ll pick you up around five.”
“Sure, that works,” I said, turning away from the jam. “Your boyfriend was in here earlier by the way.”
Robin raised her eyebrows.
“John,” I said.
Robin scrunched her face. “Ugh, don’t call him that. Definitely not my boyfriend.”
“I know, just teasing you,” I replied. “He is going to be harvesting our fields though.”
“Better yours than mine,” she quipped. We both laughed.
“Okay, well, I have some phone calls to make; is that all you wanted?” I asked, trying to hurry her along.
“Oh, here.” She handed me a grocery bag. I peeked inside to see a stack of empty egg cartons. “You said you were running low on cartons, and my mom has saved egg cartons for years.”
I laughed. “Thank you!”
She turned to walk out the door. “See you tomorrow.”
She waved and the door closed behind her. I quickly went to lock it and put up the closed sign. Then I grabbed my purse and hurried out the back door to my car.
I pulled my car into the garage but didn’t hit the button to close it. Archie’s car was gone, so he wasn’t home yet. I held my house keys in my hand and paused outside the side door that led into a newly added laundry room. A few birds continued to chirp outside and dogs barked far away. A soft breeze rippled the tall, green corn standing all around our house—the perfect camouflage for someone to hide in and watch from afar. My eyes darted around me as I listened for the music Robin had heard earlier, or any other unusual sounds, and my other hand gripped the pocketknife I always kept in my purse, sharpened and ready to bite, if needed. All I heard were the earlier sounds, nothing out of place.
The house remained silent. I inserted the key into the lock and turned. The door creaked open, and I entered, closing it behind me. Stepping lightly onto the tan linoleum floor, I passed the washer and dryer and entered the kitchen. A lingering aroma of coffee hung in the air. That couldn’t still be from this morning. I walked over to the deep farmhouse sink. A single blue stoneware mug sat in the center. The long, curved, stainless-steel sink faucet dripped, echoing in the otherwise quiet room. I pushed back the handle to stop it.
