Page 72 of Until Landon
“I know what I expect. Basically, it’s what I am willing to give. Respect. Loyalty.”
“That’s right. I like that you put respect first. That’s the basis of it all. She taught me that.”
“Tell me what was so different about Victoria. Why was she the one?”
He sits up straighter and looks happy to be asked.
“I loved the girl in her. I loved the woman. A man needs to know that never changes.”
“Very wise.”
“She loved me as I am. Warts and all. Not for what she could change. You do that for a man and he naturally wants to become better. Just to live up to how she sees you.”
“Makes sense. I like that.”
“And she was playful. That might sound like a small thing to a young person’s ears, but it’s more important than you’d think. At least for me it was. It’s very appealing when a woman is that way.”
“I like that too. Landon and I are playful.”
“That’s good to hear. But being playful at the start is one thing. Keeping it up in year twenty is another.”
“Most of us start forgetting to play as soon as we leave childhood.”
“You’re right. But then you find out what love’s about and suddenly playing reappears.”
He smiles with recognition.
“You need to be aware of the state of your relationship. Forever. That’s how you keep the play, the romance, and your sanity. Sometimes playing your troubles away is the only thing that works.”
“I’m going to remember everything you’ve said. You’re one smart man.”
He pats my leg like a father proud of his child’s conclusion.
“Oh look what Landon has done! It looks much better.”
The kennels and shed have been washed and repaired as much as possible. It’s neater. Weeds and overgrowth cleared. Something has been planted on the borders, but they’re only sprouts so far. The path through has new gravel.
“I don’t know what I’d have done without Landon,” he says in a low tone.
“He’s stepped up. As he should have.”
We drive on, past the empty kennels, and toward the property’s biggest project tackled. Ronnie chuckles.
“I think you had something to do with that.”
“Oh no! That was all him. He loves you.”
There’s the oddest look on his face. He wants to ask something but hesitates.
“What?”
“I don’t know. It’s just that we stopped saying the words years back. Did he actually say that?”
“In many ways. Do you need the words to believe it?”
“Sometimes words are good. I don’tneedthem, but it would be nice. I’m getting old you know.”
He laughs, but I believe it is to hide how serious he is about the subject.
