Lovely Summer Smoke Deluged by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Chapter 25

I wake up in a start, stretched out on the couch with my face buried in the plushy, fringed pillow. I must have been exhausted. I see that the computer screen has gone black and I am worried that I may have lost all my work. I jump up and hit the space bar. I am relieved and sigh happily. I save the file three times and leave it on the screen.

I hear Posie’s voice call out; “Kale, you’ve got to get moving.” I look behind me and see her enter the room with her hands on her hips, the same petulant, predacious pose she patented perpetuities prior. I take in the view and offer a smile as I rise from the computer.

“Come, come now,” she says. “The snow has ended and the plows are clearing the roads. The kids will be here for Christmas dinner soon. They’re bringing the grand-kids. Put on something presentable.”

I briefly rest my forehead on hers. I look into the eyes I have joyfully known all my life and kiss her cheek. I walk to our upstairs bedroom to change.

I return and approach her. She is sitting at the computer.

She senses my presence and reaches back with her left hand. I take it in my right and gently squeeze as I stand alongside her.

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“I’ve been reading this while you were changing,” Posie demurs. I kneel next to the chair. “This wasn’t at all what happened. On the very day we met ........................”

The End

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