Page 102 of Years in the Making

“But there isn’t a position available yet.”

“The trailer will stay put as a temporary library until things are set. It’s going to be a long winter, but spring comes eventually, and with it a new adventure. The trailer then will be able to be used as a mobile library.”

“Those kids are psychotic,” Nellie gasps as she bursts through the patio door and collapses dramatically at my feet.

FORTY

NELLIE

After Teddy does a sweep of the yard to ensure there are no children with snakes ready to jump out at me, we head to the lake.

Teddy sits behind me with his arms wrapped around my body while Kevin gnaws on a stick that’s far too large for him.

It’s the first time we’ve been like this with one another since our reunion. It feels like before, when the reality of just being together was enough.

Sighing, I lean back into his embrace. “This is nice.”

“It is,” Teddy says quietly, tightening his hold ever so slightly and dropping a kiss to the top of my head.

There’s a splash from somewhere at the end of the lake, and we both lean forward trying to see what made it. Kevin, who most definitely has better eyesight, starts barking aggressively. Or as aggressively as an eight-month-old puppy can manage.

“Our protector.” I laugh, reaching over to grab the dog. “See anything?” I look over my shoulder to see Teddy still focused on the distance.

“It’s either a moose or a bear,” he says. “Definitely not a giant snake.”

I jab him with my elbow. “Not funny.”

“It’s a little funny,” he murmurs into my neck, no longer concerned with what made the noise. “It wasn’t even alive.”

“Being chased with a dead snake doesn’t make it better,” I insist. “That kid is so weird. Not a bad thing. I mean, weird kids make awesome adults. But he’s unnervingly obsessed with dead things.”

“We need those people, though,” Teddy replies thoughtfully. “Everything dies eventually. It’s good to have people who care about that part of it. And look at it this way: he’s notcreatingthe dead things.”

“That’s true. I guess if he was obsessed with that part of it, we’d have a reason to be worried.”

“There ya go.” His lips glide over the exposed skin of my neck, and I feel myself relax against him more. “So, I was thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

I feel his breath replace his lips, humoring me with the smallest laugh. “When we get home…” I tense at the word “home.” No more bunkie sleepovers or early morning swims. I’ve managed to forget that this isn’t my real life.

“Hey,” Teddy says softly, scooting around so we’re facing each other. He distracts Kevin with a stick and then picks up my hands. “Don’t freak out.”

“I’m not,” I squeak, giving away the fact that yes I am indeed starting to freak out. “Okay, maybe I am a little bit.”

“Why?”

“Because home is real life. This place is”—I look around and take a deep breath—“a fantasy.”

“Your fantasy involves twin beds in a one-room hut?” Teddy’s eyebrows arch comically high.

“No, but this place feels like a vacation.”

He looks down at our hands. “So am I just some guy you had a vacation fling with?”

I’m shaking my head before I even know what I’m going to say. “You’ve never been a fling, Teddy,” I say so quietly, at first I don’t think he hears me.

“When we get home,” he starts again, “we are going to try this thing for real. You and me. No meddling townsfolk or meandering moose. Just Nellie and Teddy going for dinner or a movie. Just us finding each other again.”

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