Page 31 of A Constant Love

Have I mentioned how perfect he was?

“But instead of going home right away, do you think maybe we can stay here for a few days? There are some things I’d like to show you.”

He smiled, “Anything for you, Kansas.”

Chapter 20 – Tyler

After saying a quick hello to Sam’s family, we were back outside, and she was leading the way. There were rows and rows of pins with cows in them, and we walked down a trail that led in between them.

Finally, we hit woods that she ventured into, me trailing right behind her, checking out her nice ass whenever I could.

I had no clue how she could even tell where she was going because everything in those damn trees looked exactly the same, but she just kept moving forward like there was an invisible path she was following.

After walking for what seemed like an hour, she pushed through some bushes and emerged into a clearing with a small lake, complete with a fishing dock on one end.

“What is this place?” I asked as she walked toward the deck.

“My favorite place in the world…aside from wherever you are.” She winked.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, looking around and taking it all in.

“It is. I found it when I was little. I used to play in the woods all the time, and one day, just stumbled across it. It was always my escape from the world.”

I walked over to take a seat next to her on the dock.

“My parents always used to wonder where I went, so finally, I showed my dad, and he built me this dock. He knew it was my oasis, so it was our secret. He never told Jessie or Luke…or even Mama.”

Every time she got around Kansas or any of the people in it, she had the slightest accent start to come through. I wondered how thick it had been when she was growing up.

Taking a good long look at her, I said, “You’re different out here, aren’t you? I mean here, in Kansas.”

She bit her lip. “Before I answer, I want you to read something.”

Pulling out a folded piece of paper from her pocket, she hesitated before handing it to me.

“What is it, Sam?”

“A letter from my mom. I found it earlier today when I was going through her closet. I guess she left it for us to read right after she died, but my dad had no idea they existed.”

She handed me the letter, and I began to silently read it to myself.

When I was finished, I honestly had no idea what to say. How do you comfort someone who lost their mother to suicide?

I settled on, “It sounds like she really loved you guys.”

She smiled, “Yeah, she really did.”

We sat quietly for a moment as if we were both searching for the right words to fill the silence.

Still, without speaking, she took off her shoes and socks, rolled up her jeans, and stuck her feet in the lake.

My hand reached down so my fingers skimmed the top of the water, and it quickly jerked back. “Holy shit, that’s cold!”

Her laughter filled the serene setting, and I couldn’t help but join in.

“So, I take it you don’t want to go skinny dipping?” She asked playfully.

“How about you jump in, and I’ll just watch?”