We took another sip.
The men chopped wood.
A soft wind swayed the pines.
Mutt snorted in his sleep.
And two women who had been put through it by men, sat watching two men chop wood who would die before putting a woman through it.
The tuition to pay for life’s lessons didn’t come cheap.
But let me tell you, that was a bill worth paying.
Absolutely.
Parents Part Two happened that evening.
It was after dinner, I was curled on their couch, and Robbie was folding in next to me.
He did the man spread with his legs, reached both his arms along the back of the couch, which put in him into position to catch my shoulder and tuck me to his side.
I put my head on his shoulder.
Seriously, my dad of the heart was the greatest.
Gabe had gone out to keep an eye on Mutt while he did his evening’s business so he didn’t have an unsuspecting and unwanted visit with a coyote, mountain lion or javelina.
Mom was in the kitchen, futzing for no reason.
“Build you two a cabin,” Robbie muttered to the fire in the fireplace. “Not close to this one, but an easy walk.”
I froze then, due to what he said being so important, and so beautiful, but I forced my way through the ice to lift my head and look at him.
“Got fifteen acres,” he stated, turning to me. “Plenty of space to build on. Make a family compound.”
My heart warmed so much, I thought it would melt.
But my mouth said, “You’re not envisioning enlisting Gabe in creating a militia or something, are you?”
Robbie laughed (and I loved making him do that too).
“Would that be so wrong?” he teased.
“I have a life goal of never being interviewed for a true crime documentary,” I replied.
He busted out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Mom came in with a cup of tea for her, and one she passed to me, just as the front door opened and Gabe and Mutt joined the party.
Mutt raced directly to sniff and lick my hand before he got between his daddy’s legs, sat, leaned against Robbie’s calf and put his head on Robbie’s knee.
As a reward, Robbie buried his fingers in his dog’s ruff.
Hmm…
My thoughts were on the fact that Gabe needed a dog.
But my mouth said, “Robbie’s thinking about building a compound and forming a militia using Gabe’s and my offspring.”
