"Well, I love you," I say against her lips before kissing her softly.
“I love you too. So much, Austin. I can’t wait to give you a beautiful life. It may have been a little delayed, but that just means we’ve got a lot of time and experiences to make up for.”
I press my forehead to hers. “It was worth it just to have you here in my arms right now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Char. We lived out our dreams and now we get to make new ones together.”
She smiles. “I like that.”
“I like you. And I’m thinkin’ I might need to show you just how much.”
Her body melts into mine and she tilts her head to bring our mouths together, this time it’s a slow, lazy kiss full of promise. I drag my hands down her back to frame her hips and lift her when–
“Quack?”
We jump apart like sprung teenagers.We’re in our own home, dammit.
As if I know where to look, my eyes dart to the unfortunately still-open front door, and as expected, there stands the intruder.
That’s not what surprises me, it’s the old envelope crumpled in his beak that has me curious.
"Whatcha got there, Doofus?" I ask, slowly making my way over to the bird, not wanting to startle him.
“Quack! Quack!” he replies with a slap of his webbed foot against the floor as he hops up and down.
“I’m guessin’ this is the famous Duck Norris?” Char asks, hanging off my shoulder and peering over at him.
“Yep. Duck-blockin’ like his life depends on it.”
"Doesn't he live on the ranch? How did he get into town?" she asks curiously.
“He may have one leg, but he’s got two wings that work perfectly fine.”
“Quack!”
“And a voice too,” she giggles, resting her cheek on my arm.
“Always the voice.”
“Quack. Quack. Quack,” Doofus replies emphatically, hopping on his one leg again.
I ease my way forward until I'm within pouncing distance, bending down so that I’m closer to his level. Holding my hand out, I knee-walk toward him, hoping he’ll drop whatever is in his beak for me.
“Sorry, bud. I don’t have any trail mix on me. That’s back at Bull.”
“Quaaack,” he says, almost sounding disappointed in me as he shakes his head from side to side. I eye the envelope, trying to work out whether I should try to reach out and grab it from him.
Thankfully, I don’t have to do anything because Doofus hops a little too enthusiastically and the envelope drops down onto the floor.
Then, with a flap of his wings as a final show of what I assume is duck frustration, he turns and leaves the same way he came.
I stand there wondering what the hell just happened when Charlie’s giggles get my attention.
“Never thought I’d witness you and your duck havin’ a conversation, but I’msoglad I did,” she muses. “That was hilarious.”
Chuckling, I grab the envelope before standing up again, taking the time to close the front door before moving back to Char. Turning the letter over in my hand and I frown when I see a name written there.
