Breathe. On my own …
SUDDEN FOCUS
Buzz. Silence. Buzz. Silence.
What? Doorbell. My head clears
with a deep breath. Doorbell?
Bryce. “Just a second,” I call
loudly. Don’t leave! I’m here.
And now he is here with me.
I go to the door, trying not to
look as pasty faced as I feel.
An exercise in futility.
Are you okay? are the first
words out of Bryce’s mouth.
You don’t look so good.
“I’m fine now you’re here.” I pull
him over the threshold, close
the door quickly, so the neighbors
don’t notice I have a visitor. I want
it to be our luscious little secret.
Grandfather and Aunt Cora
are in Austin, scouting Baptist
churches that might be available
for an hour or so on short notice.
With dozens in the phone book,
odds are they’ll be gone all day.
Hours, anyway, providing the perfect
opportunity to spend some quality
one-on-one time with Bryce.
We’ve never been quite so alone
together. His arms surround me,