I held the letter up into the wind and lit the corner with the lighter I stole from Ben last year when he still smoked and I tried to get to catch but the wind kept putting the lighter out and my thumb was going numb and burning too and the wind kept changing and really it just wasn't happening and I finally thrust the whole thing against Lochlan's chest. He caught all of it in a jumble, leaving smudges of black soot against his green t-shirt, a questioning look on his face.
What do you want me to do with it?
Make it burn because I can't!
He laughed.
You should just use it for toilet paper and then send it back to him.
Classy.
Nothing but the finest, babe.
I shot him a look and marched back up the path. I have bigger fish to fry than dealing with my emotions about Caleb's latest summons-on-white. We need groceries. Badly. I literally cooked the last meal in the house last evening, and it's getting late.
Hurry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He is passing me things to put in the cart and I am taking forever, fidgeting, fussing and dropping things and telling him to slow down.
What's the matter?
My ring keeps falling off.
You know, that's probably an omen.
Don't even say that, Lochlan.
Well, it is.
No it isn't.
Sure it is. Your whole being is trying to unmarry you to the point of your ring forcing itself off.
No, the band is too big and my fingers are cold.
And you're losing weight again.
Good. I gained a lot last fall when we settled in.
Bridge-
Can we drop it? There, go get me some haddock, okay?
Want me to keep your ring for you until we get home?
So you can lose it and say the cosmos reclaimed it? I don't think so.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I wrap my hoodie around myself, chilly but not cold, exactly. It's going to be ten degrees this afternoon and we have abandoned coats again in favor of sweaters or at the most, a light jacket.
What would it be?
Right now? A hot cup of butter rum coffee instead of this regular stuff and a dark chocolate bar filled with blackberry preserves.
Sweet tooth in overdrive?
PMS.
Oh, right.
You?
A chickenburger from the Chickenburger. Definitely. Fries from Queensland.
Oh, man, that would be so good right now. And a milkshake.
Yeah. Have to have all three.
Great. Now I'm starving.
Just think! Your ring will fit again.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
August walks into the front hall and sees the blackened mess of paper on the tray.
What's this?
Nothing. Just exorcising demons again.
It work?
No comment. Want to stay for lunch?
Sure, what are we having?
Nothing worth mentioning, sadly. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?
Lochlan bursts out laughing from two rooms away and I frown.
Pervert! Shut up! Just answer the question, August.
Tell me what's for lunch and that's what I feel like having.
You're the last gentleman I know, aren't you?
Probably.
