“Why?”
“We’re alone, in what is supposed to be our own home. I just feel kind of awkward.”
“For what it’s worth, you’ve completely relaxed in our house. You seem quite at home here. And you’re speaking as though you plan on staying.”
Angelle nodded slowly as she looked around the room. “I honestly can’t imagine living anywhere else. Can’t imaginemyself leaving here. But when I realize that, I start to want to hyperventilate.”
Boon laughed. “Your heart knows what your brain hasn’t figured out yet.”
“You’re probably right. I just need to figure out how to get out of my own way.”
“I have an idea,” Boon said.
“Okay…”
“Let’s not consciously think about it. Let’s just go about our time here without questioning it. Put all consideration of the future out of your mind and just live in the moment. We’ll see where it leads us when we get to where it is.”
Angelle grinned and a weight seemed to be lifted off her shoulders. “I like that idea.”
“I have another idea,” Boon said.
“And that is…”
“Let’s go sit out on the porch and watch the night fall. We can listen to all the nighttime sounds and creatures.”
“I really like that idea, too.”
“I do have some good ideas from time to time.”
“I believe you. That’s two in just a few seconds,” Angelle said with a grin as she draped her dishtowel over the faucet to dry, then walked over to Boon.
“The evening is my favorite time to just sit and experience. You’re going to love it,” he said, leading her out onto their back porch. He paused long enough to grasp the handle of a hurricane lamp and took it out with them. He placed it in the far corner of the porch, then went back to sit beside Angelle, pulling her near. And there they sat for more than an hour; Angelle leaning against Boon, and Boon’s arm draped protectively over her shoulders. Each time Angelle heard a sound she didn’t recognize, she’d stop and focus, sometimes hazarding a guess, sometimes just looking at Boon expectantly. Each time he’d tellher what it was… a particular type of owl, a whippoorwill, a frog or even an insect that was unique to Whispers, she’d nod and log it into her memory like she was going to have a test on it.
It wasn’t long before she started trying to stifle her yawns.
“You’re tired. We should turn in. It’ll be an early day tomorrow.”
“Will it?”
“It will. My mother and father are both early risers. We should go to them before they come to us.”
Angelle covered her mouth when she unexpectedly yawned again.
Boon stood and extended his hand.
Angelle placed her hand in his, and he pulled her to her feet. “I am tired,” she confessed.
“Hot shower first?” Boon asked as he led her into the house.
“Oh, yes. That’d be great if you don’t mind.”
He leaned over like he was going to tell her a secret and whispered in her ear. “It’s your house. You can take a shower any time you want to.”
Angelle laughed and instinctively pecked a kiss to his jaw.
He had been chuckling, but that stopped when she kissed his jaw.
“Sorry,” she said, getting bashful suddenly.
