Stranger, Father, Beloved by Taylor Larsen

Author:Taylor Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books

CHAPTER NINE

John was becoming a permanent part of their lives, or so it seemed to Michael. He had been working in the backyard for a couple weeks now, and having him around eased Michael’s mind in an inexplicable and yet fundamental way. John was always cheerful in a quiet manner and seemed to admire Michael, how he had a large house, a successful career, and children. He smiled at an offered glass of iced tea with sincere gratitude. Why couldn’t Michael appreciate the little things like that? Perhaps it was his wealthy upbringing; perhaps he had been spoiled, always wanting more, more, more. Now he saw John’s face in his mind’s eye, handsome in a subdued way—there to restore order should a family emergency rise.

Michael had gone to bed that night at eight, while it was still partly light. He lay down just to rest for a minute, and the warm breeze and the smell of the hydrangeas through the window, the sky all lit up with pink, bewitched him. He found himself heavy, a delirious form of slowness, and the sheets felt better against his skin than they ever had as he lay in them, and he could not bring himself to get up but felt he would sleep forever.

Michael drifted off holding that stoic and trustworthy face of John’s in his mind. John wouldn’t let them down. He had stayed for dinner with Nancy the other night, and imagining the two of them alone, eating and talking, gave Michael pleasure. Nancy should be able to enjoy a nice meal with a grounded, normal, single man.

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