handedsoreethatevening,soitsthavebeenforjustanafteoonhedeniedit,butbythee,ikneeout,andifiledfordivorce”garrettlistenedquietly,lettingherfinish,eoneind,sheon:”youknoenakeyoubelieveitithinkheevenbelievedstofthethingshetoldetinllege,andiedbyhouheartandehereinebraska,andheetbeforeandarried,ithoughtidhaveastorybooklifebutiguessithisndifoundoutlaterthathehadhisfirstaffaironlyfiventhsafterarried”shestoppedforant,andgarrettlookedtoknotosay””theresnothingyoucansay,”shesaidhiotobeagoodfathertokevin””youkeitsoundsoeasy”
”idontantodavidhurtprettybadly,andittookaupleofyearsandrethanafetherapist,andileaedalotaboutselfalongtheyanger,hedstillbentrolling,andioacceptthatsoiletitgo”shetookanothersipofherbeergarrettasked:”didyourtherapistsayanythingelsethatyoureer”shethoughtforant,thensledfaintly”asatteroffaeoneindedofdavidthatishouldtuaroundandrunforthehills””doirendyouofdavid”
”notintheslightestyoureaboutasdifferentfroavidasancanget””thatsgood,”hesaidoanyhillsinthispartoftheuntry,youknoightylongway”shegiggled,andgarrettlookedoveratthegrillseeingthatthealsostartthesteaks””herestofyoursecretrecipe”
”theirseatsinthekiteonthetopofthesteaksthen,revingbothfiletsfrohebrandy,headdedsototheothersidesasallplasticbag”sthat”theresaasked
”itstallodoffihadthebutchersavesothesteaks””sitfor”
”youllsee,”hesaid
afterretuingtothegrillontherailingbesidethebelloovedearlier,hebegantobloheashesoffthebriquettes,explainingtoherhewasdoing”partofokingagreatsteakiskingsurethealsarehotyouusethebelloobloheashesthathaveanythingblockingtheheat”heputthegrilltopbainute,thenusedthetongstoputonthesteaks”hoeak””diuare”
”inutesoneachside”
sheraisedhereyebroallthis,arentyou”
”iprosedyouagoodsteak,andiintendtodeliver”inthelittleethingsensualaboutherfigure,outlinedagainstthesettingsuntheskylightdeherlookespeciallybeautiful,darkeningherbroedtantalizinglyintheeveningbreeze”areyouthinking”
hetensedatthesoundofhervoice,suddenlyrealizinghehadntsaidanythingsincehedstartedoking”iileshepattedhisshouldergently
”butifiarried,ibeherehyou”
”andthat,”hesaid,stillfeelinghertouch,”e””yes,itontfinallygarretttuedahetallohroat:”ithinkhisnow”
hetookthetalloallerpiee
”areyoudoing”
”theflasfrohetalloereasonyouusetongsinsteadofafork”hethreorepieented:
”itssopeacefulouthereicanseetheplace”
hefinishedethingabouttheoceanthatdoesthattopeopleithinkthatsanypeopleeheretorelax”shetuedto”tell,garrett,doyouthinkaboutherealone””alotofthings”
”anythinginparticular”
ithinkaboutcatherine,heedtosaybutdidnt
hesighed”no,notreallysotisithinkaboutetisithinkabouttheneydivesothertis,idreaboutsailingahingbehind”shecarefullyashespokethelasteback”
”iotsure,butiliketothinkiuldunlikeyou,idonthaveanyfalyexyfather,andinae,heeago””butthatwouldbelikerunningaway”
”iknow”
”ly
”garrett,iknoybusiness,butyouueone”
garrettstayedsilent,thinkingaboutedtoknoakehieelbetterforthenextfeinutes,theonlysoundsaroundtheafrolseadeadistantesingwavesrolled
