Page 81 of Torin and the Princess

“Dost ye think it could get worse, Dude?”

Dude meowed again, looking verra much like he was offerin’ important advice.

“Aye, ye are right, perhapsthisis the correct sequence. Perchance twas not workin’ before — twas why I kept returning. Maybe now it has righted itself. I am verra glad tae see ye hae a hopeful aspect as well, Dude. I dinna think much of cats, but I suppose I hadna truly met one before or discoursed with them. Ye are a fine conversationalist.”

I turned off the light.

“Uncertain of what tae do, I will jump anyway.”

I strode off the porch, sayin’ tae Dude as I passed, “Ye must be bold when ye are faced with uncertainty, and if it goes wrong, Dude, I promise, I winna hold ye responsible.”

I walked tae the road in front of Mistress Lexi’s house, and then I walked down it for a time, but as I scanned the darkness I would see Dude, following along, “Dude, ye canna follow me, ye hae tae go home.”

He continued on, so I stopped walking and decided I had gone far enough. I twisted the vessel tae jump again.

28

LEXI

2004 - MY BEDROOM

The next morning, the sun was warm, sparkling on the trees, shining through my window. I lay, thinking about seething some more, but decided not to.

Torin was leaving town.

He was expecting breakfast.

Jen was going to make pancakes, hers were always delicious.

And Cooper had been in a mood, but he would be in a better mood today. Time heals...

So I would not be a seether, I would be a facilitator. Breakfast. Conversation. Support. Starting now.

I pushed off the covers and went to the bathroom and peed and brushed my teeth.

I heard Cooper waking up. He called in, sleepily, “Hey, Babe, wanna come back to bed?”

I stuck my head from the bathroom. “Though that is a delightful request, yes, generally — I have a guest downstairs and one in the back-shack, gotta make breakfast.” I spit in the sink and rinsed my mouth. I pulled my hair up into a twist and secured it with a fancy clip.

I went to the dresser, pulled off my shirt, and put on my favorite white sundress covered in a pale blue flower print. It was a corset-style, with spaghetti straps. I said, “But yes, I do need a bit of sexy-fun time with you.” I smoothed down my dress. “How about a little afternoon delight? We haven’t welcomed you home yet.”

I turned toward the full-length mirror in the corner and checked myself, posing flirtatiously, because I knew he was watching.

I turned to smile at him and he was indeed watching, an arm cocked under his head. “You’re so sexy, why no bed? Why so sexy? No bed?”

I flung an arm toward the window. “Look at the day, Coop, the sun is up, and you’re home, I want to look sexy, but forlater.”

“Fine, later, but the only reason I can put it off is because I heard there will be a big breakfast and I’m famished.”

I strode to the bed, kissed him. “Good morning, and yes, big breakfast. Come down when you’re up, I’ll have coffee brewed.”

And I went downstairs.

29

LEXI

2004 - THE KITCHEN

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