Page 16 of All the Promises We Break

“I’d like to think he does. He never left me, no matter what.”

“Neither will I, Eli.”

“I know, but I want you to tomorrow.”

“What?”

“I checked your schedule between classes and AnSa this week and booked you daily hours in the studio. I want you to get back at it.”

“I can’t tomorrow. It’s your first day back. I want to go with you and help.”

“Viper, you can’t coil around me like a wall. I need things to get back to where they were. I can’t be totally me if you’re not totally you. You can’t give to me from an empty cup. Please, be creative. Get blisters. Get sore hips so I can massage them for you. Be so tired all you want to do is collapse on me and I can care for you. You can still be at my wing and fly solo.”

“What if you need me and I’m not there again?”

“Do you think if you don’t let me out of your sight I won’t be hurt?” Dylan wraps her arms around me, staring down into the water as it ripples near the glass. Occasionally, a random penguin will pop out of the water in front of us to waddle along the rocks. “I need things to go back to the way it was before we split in our daily lives but not lose what we’ve gained since. I don’t know if that makes any sense to you.”

“It does. It doesn’t mean it won’t be hard for me.”

“Nothing worth having is easy though, right?”

“Have I said thank you yet?”

I laugh a bit. “Today? No. What are you thanking me for?”

“This. Exactly this, bringing me here for something as simple as hanging with the penguins.”

“Moving forward will only be as easy or as complicated as we make it. I mean, look at what we did with your parents. I had a drink in your father’s study with him. I set the boundaries and expectations then look at what happened.”

“Is that what you’re doing with me?”

“Viper, I think you know by now my boundaries are shattered where you’re concerned. The only thing I’ll ever expect from you is the truth. As long as we have that, everything else we can work out. Deal?”

“Yes. I promise.”

We watch the penguins swim, eat, and play for nearly an hour. Bono never goes far from our corner and when we leave, he hollers with another patented flap. Reaching up with my right hand, I press my palm to the glass. He waddles over and simply stares. “I’ll be here more often, buddy. I promise.”

Dylan wants to see where I usually play chess with David. It’s the opposite direction of home, but it’s such a beautiful day and the more I’m out in it, the better I seem to feel. On the far side of the park are rows of tables with affixed chairs. It takes me a minute to realize it, but David’s here today.

“You see that man two tables over, with the dark blue cardigan and driving hat? That’s David. Do you want to meet him?”

She doesn’t have to answer in words. Her smile says it for her. I weave our fingers together as we quietly walk through the maze of tables to stand by David’s side. As we approach, I can see that he’s about two moves away from victory, if his opponent doesn’t realize his strategy.

I look down at the pieces then back at David, hoping I can will him to his next move. He knows it too. With a wink, I know his win is certain. We’re right and his opponent concedes. Dylan and I give them both a bit of courtesy applause.

“Well look what we have here. A couple of good luck charms. Not that I needed it, right, Frank?” David’s friend greets us before he offers his seat to Dylan. I share a bit of the end of her bench. “It’s about time you brought your lovely lady to meet me.”

“I’m sorry it took so long. I don’t want to speak for her, but I know she’s grateful for the time you’ve spent with me while I was recovering.”

“You’re right, son, don’t speak for her. Never a good thing. It’s lovely to meet you, Miss Dylan. I’m David Duncan. I adopted your future husband as my grandson about, what, Eli, four years ago now?”

“I’ve heard so much about you. It’s really nice to see your face.” They reach across for each other’s hands at the same time. “He’s right though. Thank you. You’ve been such a good friend to me too without knowing it.”

“It’s my pleasure, little lady. Your man tells me you’re quite a dancer. My Claire was a dancer too. Have you heard of Alvin Ailey?”

“How could I not? What a pioneer. His work was so breathtaking. Your wife was in his company?”

“I didn’t know that,” I add. “All the time we’ve spoken of her and this is the first I’m hearing of it?”

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