Page 148 of The Seven Rings
And when you really looked, it had spider legs crawling down your back.
“Creepy. Well-done creepy.” She glanced back at the covered canvas. “Whatever that is, I bet it’s not.”
She walked down, and out the front door. The breeze blew; the waves crashed. Boats plied the water under sunshine and a scatter of pretty white clouds.
Fingering the stone in her pocket, Sonya sat on the seawall, and just let herself be.
Before long Yoda raced around to her, the ball clutched in his mouth. The cat gave a leap and took her place on the wall.
“Jack didn’t wear you out? Did he send you around because he thought I needed that happy face?”
She crouched down, petted him, rubbed his belly when he rolled it up in ecstasy.
“Well, he was right. It’s just what I needed.”
She took the ball, tossed it. While Yoda chased it down, Sonya reached out, stroked the cat, who undulated her body in approval of the attention.
She threw the ball until her arm ached.
“That’s it for the day. Everybody, inside. Time for a snack.”
When she reached the kitchen, the dog and cat treats waited on the counter.
“I’m on it, Jack.”
She doled them out, made herself half a PB and J along with some fat purple grapes. After refreshing her water bottle, she took it all upstairs.
She could get another couple hours in, maybe a little more, before Cleo came back with groceries.
She picked up where she’d left off, but ten minutes later admitted she couldn’t focus on work. Unfocused, work suffered, so she set it aside.
Instead, she pulled out a sketchbook and began to draw.
Two hours later, she looked up, blinking, as Yoda yipped and ran downstairs. A little surprised at herself, she studied the sketch.
She took the book down, set it on the table in the foyer, then went out to help Cleo.
“Tell me you got out and grabbed some of this day!”
“I did. My arm’s rubber from tossing Yoda the ball. How was the sail?”
“Glorious. I ran into John Dee at the marina. He was doing some work down there. He sends his best. We’re having those pork chops,” she continued as they carried bags into the house. “The green beans I picked up at the farmer’s market, along with smashed red potatoes.”
“Smashed?”
“I wanted to try something new to me, and they look like fun. I’llget the last of them. You start putting things away. Then I call glass of wine time.”
“I hear you.”
Sonya did her duty. She didn’t know why Cleo bought eggs when they had nearly a dozen, but she didn’t question the cook.
Cleo came back with the last of the bags, and Sonya’s sketchbook.
“Have you been sketching? I didn’t open it, but it was right there.”
“I have, and I’ll show and tell over that wine.”
“Pour that wine. I’ve got this. Good workday?”
