After our leisurely time on the porch, we go inside to rinse out our espresso mugs and prepare for the day. Jaxon decides because the climate continues to be holding up, he desires to take us for a experience on his bike. He instructs me to pack a lightweight lunch. I do and some minutes later, with our lunch packed away in his saddlebags, we take off.

He takes us again to the lake, the place he took me the evening he heard from his father. The one time I used to be right here it was darkish so I wasn’t in a position to respect the fantastic thing about it. Now, with the solar sending sparkles throughout the water and the geese wading and dipping their heads in, it’s completely breathtaking.

With the autumn colours of yellows, oranges, and reds the bushes are beautiful. They encompass the lake on all sides besides the facet we’re at the moment on, which has a clearing. Off to the facet is a dock with an previous boat on the finish.

“Oh wow! I didn’t notice the final time we have been right here how lovely it’s.” I flip to him and smile.

He smiles at me in return after which grabs our lunch and a small blanket out of the saddle luggage. We make our manner nearer to the waterline and he units the basket containing our lunch down and spreads out the blanket. We sit, and I begin pulling out finger sandwiches, freshly reduce fruit, cheese, crackers, and two bottles of water.

After we end our lunch Jaxon gestures for me to return nearer. I scoot in between his legs. With my again to his entrance, his legs on both facet of my hips, and his arms surrounding me, we glance out on the water.

There are a number of white Pekin geese floating near the shore. I watch as one after the other they slowly make their manner nearer to us.

“Will they arrive to us?” I ask Jaxon—quietly, so I don’t scare them off.

“Watch and see,” he says, simply as softly. I really feel Jaxon shift barely and some seconds later he holds out a pair high layers of our sandwiches. I break aside a number of items and maintain them out in my hand.

A few the geese waddle nearer till they’re simply out of attain. They stand there and watch us for a bit. I maintain my breath when one closes the hole between him and my hand. He takes the bread and swallows it complete. Shortly breaking up extra, I maintain my hand out once more. As if sensing that it’s protected, the remainder of them make their manner as much as us. They nibble their manner by all of the bread, each infrequently nipping my palm. I giggle once they miss their mark and hit my palm. It doesn’t damage, simply tickles slightly.

As soon as all of the bread is gone, they waddle again towards the lake, scooping up water of their beaks as soon as they get there.

“That was so cool! I’ve by no means fed a duck from my hand earlier than.”

Jaxon laughs in my ear and tightens his arms round me. “They’re normally fairly pleasant. I don’t know why, however whilst a toddler the geese right here would at all times come as much as us for bread. Usually wild geese gained’t get shut sufficient to eat out of your hand.”

I flip my head and place a kiss on Jaxon’s cheek. “Thanks for bringing me right here.”

“Anytime you need to come, simply let me know,” he says, and nuzzles his face within the hair at my neck.

We sit for a couple of minutes in silence till Jaxon breaks it.

“Once I was little, my dad would deliver me right here to fish. The boat that’s on the dock is similar one we used.” He stops speaking and I sit there in silence, ready for him to proceed.

“We might come out proper after daybreak and spend all day right here. I believed I used to be the luckiest boy on the town these days. As soon as we have been completed, we might come residence with our catch, clear it, after which we might all have it for dinner. I used to be so pleased with myself that I might assist present dinner for us. The fishing journeys stopped after I turned twelve. I don’t know why, however my dad modified. He withdrew from us all and began appearing in another way. He wasn’t the fun-loving dad anymore. He turned imply and bitter. Nonetheless to today, I don’t know why he modified, and neither does my mother.”

I place my arms and palms on high of his and lace our fingers collectively, squeezing them.

“I’m sorry, Jaxon,” I murmur to him.

“Don’t be sorry, angel. I acquired used to it a very long time in the past. To be sincere, when he left it was a aid. Sure, it damage who he left with however I used to be glad he was gone. The entire home was on tenterhooks round him. We have been in a position to be ourselves once more.”

Having grown up with horrible mother and father I can sympathize with him. No, his scenario wasn’t as dire as mine, but it surely doesn’t damage any much less. To have a dad or mum neglect you when they’re supposed to like you unconditionally hurts all the identical, it doesn’t matter what the scenario could also be.

We sit for a bit longer, simply having fun with the view earlier than we rise up and begin packing away our stuff to make our trek again residence

* * *

IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT AND the bar is packed as soon as once more. The juke field is blasting “Demons” by Think about Dragon and everyone seems to be dancing, consuming, and in good spirits. Mia, Andrew, and I are behind the bar busting our butts attempting to maintain up with orders. As Jaxon’s Pub doesn’t have waitresses, everybody who desires a drink has to return to the bar. Simply after I end one drink order one other comes up. I ponder speaking to Jaxon about hiring on a pair waitresses for Friday and Saturday nights. It’ll assist reduce the stress on us behind the bar.

“Hey, child, are you able to get me a shot of Jack, and one for your self?” a deep voice asks from behind me.

I flip to see a person, in all probability in his mid-thirties, with darkish brown hair. His gold-colored eyes are wanting me up and down and it sends a chilly shiver down my again.

I seize a shot glass and splash some Jack in it earlier than sliding it throughout to him.

“Sorry, however I don’t drink,” I inform him.

He offers off amusing, tosses the shot in his mouth, and slams the glass again on the bar.

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