All my words sucked straight into the void
Same black hole where my heart was destroyed
The trap is time and no one gets off of this ride alive
The trap is time and no one gets off of this ride alive
Fresh hillside raspberries in a glass of chilled rosé and five men playing water polo, water pouring off their muscular arms, the droplets glinting in the late afternoon sun as they torment one another with gentle insults meant to distract, not crucify.
I'm in heaven.
Absolutely.
Lochlan sleeps easily beside me on the chaise, its sunshade pulled up against that cruel sun, keeping me cool and protected. My book long forgotten in favour of watching the boys play so nicely. Such a rare sight. Such a rare day overall, in which we woke up early, made love easily, hungrily even and then made breakfast, also hungrily, in order to get our errands run and chores done.
So we could do absolutely nothing. Like right now.
John comes and sits on the edge of the pool. What's for dinner, Bridge?
What are you making?
Let's make tacos.
Sounds good. We have tortillas and beef.
Perfect. I'll go pick some tomatoes. He smiles contently. He looks like I feel.
Cool. I settle back against Lochlan, who throws his arm around my neck, waking up slow. I ask him Is this heaven?
The only thing missing is our Ferris wheel.
Caleb offered to buy us one once.
We'd never get a permit to build it.
I like it to be hard to get to. It keeps the magic that way.
True. It does. I raised you right.
I think you did.
You know what we need?
A wakeup like the one we had this morning?
That was stellar. I was thinking an evening like this morning is in order. Maybe some candles, incense, music. Sam can join us, if you're up for it.
Ben is going to come up early.
Better still.
My relief is tempered by Caleb getting out of the pool. I'd watch him any day. Especially soaked. He towels off his face and hands, checks his phone and then comes around to us. Hope you don't mind, dinner is coming and will be here in fifteen if you want to get everyone organized and dressed.
What is it?
Mexican.
That's amazing. We were just discussing making tacos. John's gone to pick tomatoes.
We can have them sliced, along with the dishes I have coming. He grins. It is a perfect day.
Okay. I return the smile. Jesus. Pinch me. There will never be another day like this. Only one thing would make it even more perfect.
The quicksand tugs at my toes and I yank my foot away at the last second. Hey guys? Time to clean up for dinner. We always dress for dinner. It's just a thing.
A chorus of confirmation rises up and Lochlan pulls the shade all the way down so no one can see us before bending over me for a kiss the likes of which I dream about on a daily basis. Time to go, Mrs. MacIntosh.
I'm in heaven.
Absolutely.
Lochlan sleeps easily beside me on the chaise, its sunshade pulled up against that cruel sun, keeping me cool and protected. My book long forgotten in favour of watching the boys play so nicely. Such a rare sight. Such a rare day overall, in which we woke up early, made love easily, hungrily even and then made breakfast, also hungrily, in order to get our errands run and chores done.
So we could do absolutely nothing. Like right now.
John comes and sits on the edge of the pool. What's for dinner, Bridge?
What are you making?
Let's make tacos.
Sounds good. We have tortillas and beef.
Perfect. I'll go pick some tomatoes. He smiles contently. He looks like I feel.
Cool. I settle back against Lochlan, who throws his arm around my neck, waking up slow. I ask him Is this heaven?
The only thing missing is our Ferris wheel.
Caleb offered to buy us one once.
We'd never get a permit to build it.
I like it to be hard to get to. It keeps the magic that way.
True. It does. I raised you right.
I think you did.
You know what we need?
A wakeup like the one we had this morning?
That was stellar. I was thinking an evening like this morning is in order. Maybe some candles, incense, music. Sam can join us, if you're up for it.
Ben is going to come up early.
Better still.
My relief is tempered by Caleb getting out of the pool. I'd watch him any day. Especially soaked. He towels off his face and hands, checks his phone and then comes around to us. Hope you don't mind, dinner is coming and will be here in fifteen if you want to get everyone organized and dressed.
What is it?
Mexican.
That's amazing. We were just discussing making tacos. John's gone to pick tomatoes.
We can have them sliced, along with the dishes I have coming. He grins. It is a perfect day.
Okay. I return the smile. Jesus. Pinch me. There will never be another day like this. Only one thing would make it even more perfect.
The quicksand tugs at my toes and I yank my foot away at the last second. Hey guys? Time to clean up for dinner. We always dress for dinner. It's just a thing.
A chorus of confirmation rises up and Lochlan pulls the shade all the way down so no one can see us before bending over me for a kiss the likes of which I dream about on a daily basis. Time to go, Mrs. MacIntosh.