“…before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o…”
“…many a mile to go that night
Her melodic voice lulled his eyes closed, her private serenade only for him, ushered Argyll to tranquil calm. The soft, siren’s song eased the tension from his shaken being. Their bodies twined like ivy; Argyll buried his head in the top of his wife’s damp midnight black hair.
“…He ran till he came to a great big bin…
where the ducks and the geese were put there in…
Argyll stilled.
“…a couple of you will grease my chin…”
A gentle memory intruded.
“…before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o,
a couple of you will grease my chin…”
Gregory opened his eyes.
A rumble built slow steadily, deep inside him; pure parts of him—ones he hadn’t known were there—where cynicism hadn’t spoiled and only Daria tapped.
“…I would recommend you The Fox, as it is a cautionary tale…”
Laughter burst from him.
Daria’s song faltered. “G-Greg—?”
“D-Do n-not!” he rasped, between gasps of laughter. “Do not s-stop!”
As if no question were needed, because with Daria there wasn’t any need to fill the air with questions, she resumed her verse.
“…He grabbed the grey goose by the neck,
threw the duck across his back…”
Argyll’s body shook harder. Tears of mirth stung his eyes; drops of joy that seeped from the corners and spilled along his cheeks.
Innocence existed. A place where ribald ditties and wicked song did not. He’d found it.
“…and their legs all a-dangling down-o, down-o, down-o,
he didn’t mind their quack, quack, quack,
and their legs all a-dangling down-o….”
Argyll laughed until his voice went hoarse, and his wife’s last verse faded, and his amusement settled into a soft, quiet space.
Rolling onto his back, Argyll pulled Daria across him so she lay sprawled across the hard wall of his chest.
Argyll rubbed his palms over her back in smooth circles.
Daria propped her chin up and gazed at him with luminous eyes. He’d been an object of scrutiny his entire life.
No one. Not a single man, woman, not the parents who’d given him life, ever looked at him the way this mesmerizing lady did.
Her lips curved, soft and unguarded.
