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“An outdoor grill. Not like the ones you get from Lowes, but a real outside kitchen.”

“Funny you should mention that, Possum. I’m gonna put a barbecue pit ’round here, too.

” He pointed up ahead. “’Round there yonder.

Just need to decide what kind. I figure I can build a little park one day, slides, monkey bars, ’nd swings, if I ever—” He stopped mid-sentence, swallowing his words. “Here you go.”

Poet took another slice of apple from him, popped it in her mouth, and chewed.

“Thank you for telling me that story ’bout the wolf and river.

I enjoyed it. You’re an amazing storyteller, man.

You’ve got the voice for it, too. You should work in radio, or be a narrator.

I’d never heard the tale of the wolf and the river before.

It was sad, beautiful, and inspirin’, too.

Your grandmama told you that story, huh? ”

“Yup. And I always remembered it. It resonated with me for some reason.” He looked off to the right at nothing in particular.

“She told it to me a few times, actually. I hope one day I can tell… never mind.” He slipped his knife against the apple, cut out a wedge, and popped it in his mouth.

He hated how he kept drifting to the wrong damn thing.

The words formed on the tip of his tongue, and sat there, waiting to be spoken and heard.

Maybe it was the story that conjured these dreams up? His wishes and hidden desires.

“It’s okay. You’ve got children on the brain.” She leaned in close, lowered her thick black lashes, and kissed him. A pleasant chill waved throughout his body at her touch.

“Yeah… I was just thinkin’ about the future I guess is all. What I want outta life. How to move forward. How’s Melba now?” He asked, desperately wishing to switch topics as he removed the top from a couple of Coke bottles, and passed her one.

“She’s much better. Thank the Lord.” Poet sighed.

A few days ago, Poet had explained something awful had happened with her neighbor.

After all was said and done, she ended up at the hospital bedside of a woman who’d given her nothing short of grief.

Now, things were different. Arrangements were being made for this old lady’s husband to be cared for in a nursing home, and she was getting the care she needed, too.

Melba was still in the hospital due to dehydration, and a few other medical issues they’d discovered, but according to Poet, she’d be released in the next couple of days, and could recover at home.

Poet had already made a schedule, and plans to drop in and check on Melba.

Make sure her house was cleaned up, and she had fresh food to eat, too.

“I’ll be over tomorrow to install cameras and an alarm system at your house,” he stated before chugging the Coke.

Poet grimaced, then burst out laughing. “I knew you were gonna get on me about that again.” She plucked a blade of grass from the lawn and twirled it around between her forefinger and thumb.

“Why were you opposed to it in the first place? It ain’t like it could do you harm.”

Poet was quiet for a long while, and then she drew her knees up to her chin.

A lone tear streaked her cheek. Then another.

He didn’t ask what the issue was. It was a long time coming.

Instead, he leaned in close and kissed her.

Taking her hand, he squeezed it. She just kept sitting there…

quietly falling apart, like petals dropping from a flower.

“Come on now, girl. You can lean on me.”

She looked at him and smiled the biggest smile he’d ever seen.

“That was right on time,” she said with mirth, but then her gust of joy rapidly faded away. “…yeah, right on time.” She flicked a weed off her knee.

He set his drink down, took her hand and kissed it. His lips brushed against her fingers, then he intertwined their fingers. Locked in.

“Why do I get the feelin’ you’re holding out on me, Possum?”

She seemed unwilling to fully face him, but also reluctant to turn away.

“Kage, I should have told you something about me… somethin’ important. I just… I just don’t know if I can.” She ran her palm back and forth along her knee as she looked towards the river, then back at him.

“Well, everybody got somethin’ they hold close to their heart.” He slipped his hand from hers, and beat on his chest as he looked sternly into her eyes. “Ain’t that right? We’re allowed to have our secrets, baby, but some secrets hurt us, and they need to be set free. So, we can be free, too.”

“Free? I don’t know if I’ll ever be truly free, Kage, even if I tell you. I uh, I shoulda told you long ago, though, so I will. I had plenty of opportunities I suppose.” She shrugged, then casually scratched her arm. “I’m afraid of your reaction, I guess.”

“Mmm hmm,” He looked at the river, and plucked a blade of grass, too.

“I know you’ve been keeping something from me.

I could feel it. I could see it, too. The way you avert eye contact sometimes, ’specially when I tell you things that happened to me as a child.

Damaged children recognize other damaged children, Possum.

We’re grown—but we see the child in each other.

It lives on. Let me ask you something. Do you feel safe with me?

” He drew close to her, and stroked her chin.

“…Yeah, I do.”

“Well, then, now you can tell me your story. You’re someone who deserves me, and I, you. Ain’t shit you got to worry about. Who am I to judge you? Don’t be afraid of my reaction. Don’t be afraid of nothin’, as long as we’re together.”

Another tear fell from her eye, and this time, her sobs were loud.

Painful. Echoing wails. A deep release, from a long time bruise.

He snatched a napkin from the picnic basket and handed it to her, then sat right by her.

Wrapping his arm around her, he didn’t look directly at her.

He needed just a moment to collect himself—something about seeing her fall apart like that was tearing him to pieces.

He wanted to hurt whoever hurt her, made her broken like this.

She held up her finger, asking for a moment.

After she was composed, and the tears were all dried up, she cleared her throat, then looked him in the eye.

“…Kage, I ain’t never told another soul this. The only people who know are Aunt Huni, my therapists, and the police during the investigation. So, I guess I’ll start at the beginning, but I hate to take too long.”

“Take as much time as you need, I’m not in a rush. Even if I was, I’d slow down for you. In fact, I’d put this whole damn world on ice, just so you could have the floor…”