Page 113 of Clint & Ivy

“Of course. The gym has a great view, and I play fun music. Keep me company until someone wakes up and entertains you.”

Following Darby, I considered a twenty-year-old Shay starting over in a new city. I bet meeting Darby was a highlight in those early days.

The older woman exuded confidence. As we arrived in the large sunroom turned gym, she set her phone out and played “Seven Nation Army.” Darby started stretching near the weights.

“Clint’s always been soft compared to his dad. They’re wired differently. A good upbringing will do that,” Darby said while I adjusted the height on the stationary bike. “But neither man seemed at all interested in romance or marriage. I was as surprised as anyone when Ford went gonzo for Shay. I warned her about his reputation, but the girl was blind to reason.”

Unsure if I was supposed to agree with Darby, I mumbled, “They seem happy now.”

“Of course, they are. It’s been thirty years. If they weren’t happy, they’d have bailed on each other by now. But who could have seen that coming?”

Clint told me that if I didn’t know what to say that it was okay to say nothing. I chose that route right now as I started cycling.

“Clint never dated. I tried setting him up. He wasn’t celibate, obviously, but he showed no interest in having even a casual girlfriend. That’s why I was so surprised when I heard he brought you home.”

“Clint saved me. I have nothing negative to say about him.”

“That’ll change. I was the same way when I got into relationships that stuck. I had stars in my eyes. That’s for the best, I think. Most of life allows for zero dreamy wonder. Best to enjoy the times when you can turn off your brain and let your heart run the show.”

Finding a solid pace, I smiled at her words. Clint and I didn’t make sense. Not yet anyway. Eventually, I hoped I’d be more suited for his world. I imagined a day when Little Memphis would feel like home.

“What is this madness?” Stevie asked mid-yawn as she stumbled into the room. Her bandaged wrist was the same shade of pink as her hair. She wore boxers and a black tank top. “Is this what people do in the morning around here?”

“Why are you up so early?” Darby replied as she reclined on a weight bench. “Come spot me, tough stuff.”

“My wrist is fucked.”

“If I need you, I have no doubt you’ll find your inner strength.”

Stevie walked over to the weight bench and smiled down at Darby. “You’re such a badass. Staying strong for battle and sexy for your lover.”

“Did Clint tell you about my late-in-life step into lesbianism?” Darby asked me as I continued to cycle.

“No.”

Stevie snickered at my response while Darby lifted the weights and blew out a gush of air.

“I was married to Joker long before Shay stepped foot in Little Memphis. After our marriage ended, I wasn’t looking for love. I’d had my one shot, and it was great, but it was over.”

“That’s sad,” Stevie said with her hands ready to grab the weight bar. “But not too sad since I know how the story ends.”

“In my sixties, I met a woman named Keener at the farmer’s market. She makes artsy stuff as a hobby. Back then, she was staying with her sister and was new to town. We became buddies, and she moved in since I didn’t like living alone.”

Darby hesitated as she lifted the weights a few more times. Catching her breath, she continued, “Keener and I didn’t instantly hump or anything. We stayed friends and roommates for a few years first. Then, I looked at her and thought she was great. If she were a guy, I’d be on that in a hot minute. She also admitted she thought I was great. So, we gave our relationship a little lube. We’ve been together going on six years now.”

“That’s beautiful,” Stevie told Darby and then smiled at me. “Especially the lube part. I like picturing people slamming bacon.”

I smiled at Stevie’s teasing while Darby only grunted her disapproval.

“My point was that love can be unexpected.”

“Oh, well, that’s sweet,” Stevie replied. “I plan to fall in love when I’m forty. I figure I’ll either find a young, stupid stud to worship me or an older doofus to live in awe of me. Either way, it’ll be great, and we’ll have birds for children. People will pretend that’s cool, but you’ll all talk shit behind our back.”

“I can talk shit about that right now if you want,” Darby suggested.

I laughed at their teasing and gave up on the cycle. I was only exercising because Darby was. Climbing off, I sat on the floor near the women and petted Hanzee. The other dogs sat on the other side of the room, eyeballing a squirrel.

“There you are,” Elle said as she entered the gym. “I walked around the house three times before considering you might be back here exercising.” Elle glanced at Darby and sighed. “Look at you showing off again.”

---