Departed by Tess Thompson

Author:Tess Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tess Thompson

At the outside grill, David turned the chicken. Smoke wafted upward as the fat caught fire. Temperatures remained warm as the sun set over the ocean. They’d decided it was too nice not to eat outside. He’d offered to grill, and Sara had agreed.

Laine and Oliver were taking turns on the slide on the playground equipment. Sara was inside with Harper, preparing a side dish. He stole glances of her through the window. Barefoot and wearing a cotton dress, she moved about the kitchen with her usual gracefulness. She’d braided her hair, which hung down her back and emphasized her long neck.

He turned back to his chicken. The outside kitchen, which he and Trey had designed, was made of flat rock and granite. No detail had gone unnoticed, including the pizza oven that Sara had asked for. They’d done a great job creating a home that was both traditionally elegant but also one where a family would live. He’d think about that when he built his own home. After the year was up, he’d have the opportunity to do whatever he wished. He would definitely have a pool and an outdoor kitchen. Spending the afternoon here had convinced him of that.

The idea of financial freedom was intoxicating. To be without worries over money was still such a foreign concept. Sara had promised that after dinner they could get online and take care of all his bills. He’d finally be able to answer his phone without fear of it being a creditor.

Sara came out with the baby on her hip and set her inside a bouncy seat next to the table. “I’ll be right back with the rest of dinner. How close is the chicken to being done?”

He stuck the thermometer into one of the thighs. “A few more minutes.”

“Great. Keep watch on Harper for me?”

“Sure.”

There wasn’t much to do. Harper was safe in her chair and playing with the built-in toys. He was about to take the chicken off the grill when Sara returned with plates and silverware.

“How many more days will we have like this?” David asked.

“I’d say maybe one or two more weeks.” Sara plucked Harper from her bouncy seat and put her in the high chair. “I love fall out here.”

“I love the weather in general,” he said. “Back home we have such harsh winters.”

Sara looked out toward the ocean. The orange-and-pink sunset gave her a rosy glow. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I’d say so,” he said, huskily. She was, too.

She called out to Laine and Oliver. “Come eat, guys.” She tugged a sanitizer wipe from a packet on the counter. “You mind if I wash their hands this way?”

“Not at all. Saves a trip inside.”

In minutes, she had them washed and sitting at the table. David cut up some chicken and green beans for Laine and set the plate in front of her. She stared at it for a second before picking up the child’s fork and eating a bite of chicken.

She hardly ever ate meat. This was a good sign.

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