Page 45 of Long Live the King

“Tis fine.” He looked down at his hands.

I took the chair beside him and began a slow rock, watching the rain fall. “I love it out here, this porch is one of my favorite places. You can see all the comings and goings of the family. It’s like a different world from the back of the house, the sand dunes and ocean. This has trees and feels like somewhere else. It’s also an in-between, connecting the outside and the house, it’s protected from weather and…” My voice trailed off.

He understood, and he was quietly rocking, not talking.

We sat there for a while then he said, “I am an in-between.”

“I’m really sorry about that.”

“I daena ken how to be here in Florida doin’ the things that men must do. I need a wife, a family, and I could go tae the past, but where and when?” The side of his mouth went up. “And how would I live in the past without bein’ able tae play Fortnite?”

“Yes, that would be a tragedy.”

“I am used tae this time, growin’ used tae it, but I am just a visitor.”

“Maybe think of yourself as an immigrant. You want to become a modern American... you know, now that I think on it, now that you can read, you could take the citizenship course and test, if you wanted. That might feel good to have that win.”

He said, “And a driver’s license.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea, we’ll get that started. I just wasn’t thinking about it.”

“Nae worries, neither was I, until I met Ash. I believed I was a modern man and I hae learned a great deal about m’failings.”

“Lochie, I have never heard you say such a thing, what happened?”

“I got invited tae her house tae hae a slice of pie.”

“This is not a euphemism? Are you saying pie to mean something else...?”

“Like what?”

“Like um...sex, Lochie.”

“Och nae, ye canna...” He looked shocked and shook his head, “She is a modest and chaste lass, Kaitlyn, and I hae only begun tae... ye canna mean it. Nae, she baked a pie and served me a slice with cookies and cream ice cream on top.”

“That sounds like your dream come true. Forget I said anything about ‘pie’ meaning something more.”

“Twas nothing more but a slice of pie. And then we began tae talk of our lives and I told her I play with m’nieces and nephews, twas goin’ well. But then I couldna keep m’mouth shut, I was tellin’ her I like tae spar and next thing I ken we are talking on dueling and weapons and swords, fightin’ tae the death, and I couldna get control of the conversation. I could see the fear in her eyes and I left.”

“She had invited you into her home and then you exposed your dangerous ways.”

“Aye, twas verra dire.”

“You barely knew her, maybe she wasn’t right for you.”

“Ye ken, Madame Kaitlyn, how ye just know someone? And tis easy tae be with them?”

I nodded.

“But tis also difficult because ye canna function over yer mind running through its mutterin’?”

“Your mind mutters, Lochie?”

“Aye, tis verra noisy, unless I am at work or battle tis always goin’, tellin’ me what tae do and while I was with Mistress Ash, twas tellin’ me that I was goin’ tae misstep and say somethin’ that would expose m’self, and then I did.”

“That really sucks.”

“Aye, and we were meant tae be taegether, ye ken why?”

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