My thoughts are never far away from the man I met last night.
I need him to know that I’m not just a one-note damsel in distress.I would never want any man to think of me like that.
And there is so much I want to ask him.
Does he have any photographs of Tempest?Could he show me how to get the home brewery in the inn’s basement working?
What about his connection to my aunt?
Not willing to take any risks, I choose a suede sheepskin coat as my outdoor wear.Hooking my fingers around a pair of matching sheepskin boots, I hobble downstairs.
Seeing my choice of footwear, the Samoyed gives a half-hearted howl.
“I know, Mu.Ugg-ly shoes.But my ankle is so swollen, it’s the only boot that will fit me.”
Placing the sheepskin boots by the door, I pad around in my socks cleaning the kitchen and preparing breakfast.
It can’t hurt for me to visit the general store.Some butter and fresh milk would be nice.
Spreading peanut butter and jelly on four slices of toast, I grab my mug of coffee and sit down.It’s second nature for me to reach for my phone so I can play on it while I’m eating.I left it in my jacket upstairs.The battery’s probably dead by now anyway.
Muohta licks the drool from his mouth as he watches me eat.I can’t even Google to find out if peanuts and jelly are good for dogs, so I give him the toast corners instead.
Sipping the last dregs of coffee, I go upstairs again to rinse my teeth with mouthwash.I’ve never been a gum-chewer.
Spitting out the minty fresh liquid, I hear a knock on the door.Muohta barks.
That tells me that it’s not Dante revisiting me to find out how I’m doing.
Damp baby hair curls stick to my forehead from the shower.Mussing them with one hand and baring my teeth to check for toast crumbs, I head back downstairs.
It’s Ben Magoo.Shit.Is he here to ask me about the bear trap?
He’s wearing a cap and touches the peak when he sees me.
“Morning.Just came by to see how you’re doing?”
Ben is definitely the kind of gentleman someone would have no hesitation inviting into their home.
“Morning, Ben.Would you like some coffee?”
He shakes his head as he sits down in the same chair as Dante was sprawled on last night.
“I’m headed out to the mainland in my boat.Got a whole heap of chores to do before winter comes back round.Wanted to know if you’ve got any mail you want me to post?It’ll go quicker if I take it.”
“Thanks, yes.But I’ll have to write the letter first.The sooner my friend knows I’m only contactable by mail, the sooner she can relax.”
“I hear you,” Ben says.
Moving to the hutch by the wooden dining table, I slide a few drawers open until I find what I was looking for: one of those yellow legal notepads and a pencil.Scrabbling deeper, I find a packet of envelopes.
Looking at the banded packet of folded rectangles makes me smile.My dad used to give me my allowance in one of these until I left to go to college.
I haven’t seen an envelope in years.All my bills arrive electronically.
Muohta settles at my feet as I write.
Dear Tallie,
