I text Troy. His nephew is getting married in a few weeks, and it’s messing with the schedule.
Me: Hey, when exactly are you and Jessa going to that wedding?
Troy: Actually, I was just about to text you. These crazy kids decided to elope to Puerto Rico and take just our family with them. So, I’ll send you the dates we’ll be there. Sounds like the houses they rented for all of us aren’t far from where your friend’s house is. Maybe we can just meet up with you all for some activities?
Me: Great! Send me the details and I’ll lock in our trip dates.
Troy: Will do.
A minute later, I get his trip itinerary. Checking my calendar again, I find that there are six days that work for everyone. Time to plan a trip!
I get started with activities and then dinners, and by the time my stomach growls, I realize I’ve skipped dinner. And I haven’t gone to check my cameras or Cliff. Not that Cliff needs checking.
I head down to the bench and find my camera still attached. I had been looking to upgrade to a camera that sends me notifications, but I was afraid of spending money on it if Cliff decided to mess with it again. The flowers are gone. Sitting down, I look for my furry friend. A noise above me draws my gaze, and I see two little beady eyes staring down at me.
“Hey, buddy. How’s your day going?” I ask as I lean back on the old wooden bench. The weathered boards have seen better days. I’d love to donate money to fix it or replace it someday.
I grab some peanuts from my pocket and scatter them on the ground. Cliff scurries down and sits in front of me as he eats them.
I try to keep my distance, but it’s hard. He’s friendly and cute.
“Why friend-shaped if not friend?” Jocelyn’s voice says from behind me.
I turn to see her walking over from the trail. Her bag slung over her shoulder, a cute white hat on her head, and a matching scarf around her neck. The color highlights her gorgeous skin. Her cheeks are rosy from the cold. She really is beautiful.
Patting the bench, I motion with my head for her to come sit and watch Cliff.
She hesitantly walks up and sits. “Uh, shouldn’t you, like, not feed wild animals?” she asks.
Shrugging, I look down at the trash panda. He’s sitting like a person with his back legs out in front of him while his front paws bring up a single peanut to his face.
“Look how he’s sitting, he’s practically a human,” I protest.
Jocelyn giggles, and the sound lightens my mood.
I had been thinking about my family and wondering how it all fell apart so spectacularly. Their guilt over my accident. The falling out with my siblings over my wanting to buy out the farm to help. My parents wanting me to work it out with my ex-girlfriend. So many arguments that eventually led to me pushing them away. Now it’s only the holiday visits and birthday cards that bring us together. When I do go out there, I stay at a little cottage on the edge of the property. I hate feeling this way, feeling like the people I should have trusted the most failed me when I needed them.
“What’s eating you?” Jocelyn says, pulling me away from my dreary thoughts.
“Oh, nothing,” I answer without thinking. I always do that. I’m never too serious. I’m never too deep. Then people don’t ask questions, questions that are hard to answer.
She eyes me suspiciously.
“Want to join me for dinner?” I ask, hoping to distract her with food.
“Whatcha makin’?” she asks, tilting her head to look up at me.
“Meat,” I tease.
She elbows me, and I pretend it hurts.
She rolls her eyes. “You’re a big baby.”
“Great, you can carry me back, then,” I say as I start putting my legs over her lap.
“Stop!” she giggles as she pushes at me.
I place my feet on the ground and toss the last of my peanuts at Cliff.
