Let Go

Little did I know, Beverly’s life was almost as segregated at Teah’s outside of dealing with me and her work. It’s been wonderful seeing them bond and finding a friendship they were both lacking.

Me? I’m still writing music. I think that’s where my heart lies. Not in the performing. It’s in the creating. I’ve written a few songs that have been picked up by other artists and that feels more natural to me than getting out in front of thousands of people screaming my name.

I hear the beep from the security system announcing someone is buzzing the gate.

I walk over to the control panel, look at the screen and see a guy in a beat up pickup, one arm hanging out the open window. He’s about my age, looking like a cowboy version of Tom Hardy.

“Can I help you?” I ask, my protective instinct on high alert.

“Uh,” He pushes up the brim of his brown cowboy hat and scratches at his head, looking down at a piece of paper in his hand. “Yeah, I have a delivery for Lock Hamilton.”

I’ve adopted an official alter-identity since we moved here, but I don’t remember ordering anything for delivery.

Just as I’m about to send him away, Teah comes rushing back through the room to rest her hands on my shoulders and speak into the microphone. “Yes. Come on up.”

She reaches over and pushes the button, opening the gate.

“What are you up to?” I reach over and grab Teah’s hand, her face exploding into a smile.

“It’s a surprise. He’s early.”

“Anything to do with your ‘secret’ project out back?”

“Maybe.”

I give Teah a lot of freedom to do things here at the new place. She’s made me promise I wouldn’t venture back onto the rear of the property as she’s been working with some contractors building something. It’s taken a lot of willpower not to go back there but I don’t want to ruin her surprise. The only thing I did, was when the contractors came I made sure they understood they better keep their eyes or anything else off of my wife and give her all the respect she deserves, otherwise they would quickly have to deal with me.

So, for three weeks I’ve kept my promise and stayed away from whatever it is she has going on back there. But I’m getting the feeling today I’m going to find out what my sweet wife has been up to.

“Come on.” She tugs at my hand as Beverly comes in the back door, chuckling.

“You in on this?” I point my finger at her as I follow Teah toward the front door.

Beverly puts her hands up. “I know nothing,” she says, but her face tells me otherwise.

Teah pulls me down the front steps of the house as the pickup crunches down the drive with what looks like a horse trailer attached. Cowboy Tom Hardy slows and parks, exiting out the driver’s door as we come up to the pickup.

“Lock.” Teah looks to me, then the man. “This is Gruber. Gruber, my husband Lock.”

He reaches out and I shake his hand.

“Ah, you’re Lock. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Can’t say the same.”

He laughs. “Ah, I see. All very secretive. Well, your lovely wife has done some great work to accommodate what I’ve brought you today. It will be a pleasure working with you both.”

“Working with us?” I draw my brows together, trying to get this all straight in my mind.

“Yes, sir.” He nods, whisking his fingers along the brim of his hat. “You’ll need help, at least for a while until you feel comfortable.”

“Okay.” I look at Teah. “Time to spill, what’s all this?”

“Come here.” She grabs both of my hands, then looks toward Gruber. “Is it okay? Can we look in?”

“Sure can. They’re a little scared right now, so just be mindful.”

We walk to the back of the horse trailer and Teah climbs onto the bumper and nods for me to stand next to her.

“Look, Lock. Aren’t they so cute.”

In the back of the trailer, I see two gray furry creatures curled up in some blankets in the front corner of the trailer.

“Dogs?” I look at Teah. “We have three already, why did you make this such a big surprise? You usually just come home with them.”

“These aren’t dogs. Look closer.”

As I stare into the trailer, one of the little fur babies raises his nose and takes a long sniff of the air.

As he does, he turns to lock eyes with me, the other one lifting its nose and doing the same, then looking right at Teah. My heart leaps in my chest as they both wiggle out of the blankets and stand to look right at us.

Teah and I look at each other, then back at the pups.

“Wolves.” A voice comes from behind us. “Orphaned wolf pups. Your wife here has been kind enough to set up a rehabilitation home of sorts for my group.”