Page 83 of Refraction

“I don’t know what to say that isn’t weird and chattery, so I’m going to just… work on Pandora’s box. Okay?”

“Pandora’s box? Is that a metaphor?” Calvin moved toward him with a soft smile.

“No. No, come see. I needed a break, so I started making this. It opens and everything.” He grabbed Calvin’s hand, hitting the spots. “See? It has multiple lids, each one opens to a deeper level, and in the center? There’s going to be a secret!”

“Oh wow.” Calvin started playing with the different lids, opening and closing and peering inside, looking every bit as excited about it as he was. “This is so cool! What’s the secret going to be? Oh. It wouldn’t be a secret if you told me!”

“I don’t know yet. I keep waiting for it to show.” He ran his hand over the side of the box, feeling the tiny words carved there. Love and need, care and wonder. Secrets. Faith.

“I can’t wait to find out.” Calvin’s eyes twinkled at him. “I’m going to take myself on a walk, tiger. I’ll find you here after I have a look around.” Calvin kissed his cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you. Don’t be scared.”

“I’m not scared. I’m a little nervous, but you didn’t set this up to be easy, you know? I’m fine. You work.”

“Okay. I can do that. I know how.” In fact, he was already there, his fingers finding a spot that needed fixing, smoothing.

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