Page 13 of Reaper

Never mind that I always have the fixings for an old fashioned on hand as well as tequila and other types of alcohol, but I wouldn’t have expected anything else. Like me, Miracle likes mixing drinks for customers and friends alike. However, I take it a step further by brewing my own beer as well.

With the last bag in hand, I head downstairs. I need to grab a few things before heading outside. When I reach our woodworking room, I leave the bag I was carrying at the door. I refuse to let Aiden and Kelly further taint one of my two spaces that’s even more important to me than my bedroom.

Looking at the back wall, I take in my bows that are carefully hanging from hooks. There are also some of Pappy’s bows displayed as well as some that belonged to Grandpa George and Great-Grandpa Raymond, though Grandpa George and Grandpa Raymond’s bows are all encased in frames to help protect them due to their age.

My gaze snags on the compound bow that Pappy gave me a few years ago for my thirtieth birthday. However, instead of picking up that bow, I pick up the one beside to it, a long bow that I’d made myself. Next, I pick up my favorite set of archery gloves and a quiver of arrows before heading back out into the hall. Grabbing the bag that I’d left out there, I make my way through the house.

Once outside on the back patio, it doesn’t take me long before I have a fire going in the fire pit. Dusting my hands off on my jeans, I take the old fashioned Miracle hands me. Without even asking her, I know it’s a Wisconsin old fashioned and not a regular old fashioned.

The difference?

We use brandy, not bourbon.

Taking a sip, I reach into the nearest garbage bag and toss the first few pieces of Aiden’s clothing onto the fire. More tension starts to leech out of my body as I watch them turn to ash. I takeanother sip of my drink as I pick up the box of pictures that will soon meet their demise. I pin them to the targets I keep set up back here and leave the rest in the box on the ground nearby.

Walking back to the patio, I put on my gloves before grabbing my bow and quiver. Walking a few steps away, I get into my usual stance. However, before I do anything else, I run my hand up and down my bow, admiring the grain of the zebra wood and the designs I’d carved into it. As I do, I feel my heart calming and the outside world fading away.

Drawing an arrow out of my quiver, I nock it before verifying my stance is still good. Raising my arms, I cant my bow to an almost two o’clock position. Drawing back the string, I anchor, aim, and release. The arrow flies beautifully and hits its intended target.

Right smack dab in Aiden’s chest, where his heart would be.

“Whoop! Excellent shot, Babe!” Khloe yells from her seat near the fire.

“Well, he toyed with my heart for over a year. I think I’m entitled to using his as target practice.”

“Damn straight you are,” Miracle responds, a hard edge to her voice that makes me wonder what she’ll do the next time she comes face-to-face with Aiden or Kelly.

Half an hour later, I’ve driven so many arrows through all of Aiden and Kelly’s pictures, that you can’t even tell it was them to begin with.

After retrieving my arrows, I grab the now empty box and head back to the patio, setting my bow, quiver, and gloves on a tablenear the door. Breaking down the box, I put it in the fire, along with the remains of the pictures and a few more clothes before retaking my seat. As the afternoon wears on, I continue to throw in Aiden’s things and whatever they tainted bit by bit.

When I toss in the last piece, Miracle raises her glass.

“Here’s to Lark. May you always stay true to yourself, Babe, and never let anyone tell you that you aren’t worthy. This is just a speed bump. You are a strong, independent woman and I know you’ll find the right person to share your life with when the time is right.”

I smile and raise my glass as Khloe cheers on in agreement. We all clink glasses before I take another sip of my drink.

Miracle’s words wash over me as I watch the last of Aiden’s things burn to ash and I make a vow to myself.

I’ll get over this speed bump and will continue to live my life the wayIwant to live it. Not the way another person wants me to be. To just beme.

If someone comes along to share the journey with me, well, I just hope they love me for me. Hobbies, weapons, curves, and all.

At that thought, another one comes to me. Maybe it’s time I finally got a cat. I’ve always wanted one, and I’d brought it up to Aiden before, but he insisted he would never own one. He didn’t want fur covering his work suits all the time because it wouldn’t send the right image to his clients.

Well fuck Aiden, I think as I pull out my phone and bring up the site for the local humane shelter.

“Whatcha doing?” Khloe asks as she takes a sip of her martini.

“I’m going to get a cat.”

Both of their faces light up as they smile. They know I’ve wanted a cat for years, and I should have listened to them when they said I shouldn’t care what others think. No one in my family is allergic to either cats or dogs, so that wouldn’t be an issue.They’ve even hinted before that they wouldn’t mind having one either.

Well, I’m taking that advice now.

They both scoot their chairs closer to look over my shoulders at the pictures on my phone.

As they ‘aw’ and ‘ooh’ over the pictures, once again I count my lucky stars that I have two such great friends that are here for me today to help me through this. Especially since I was betrayed so badly by two people who were so close to me.