Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Satisfied I’d reached an understanding with my feelings, I spent another few minutes working up the motivation to stand up. After I’d done just that, I grabbed my sarong, but didn’t put it on. I draped it over my shoulder and let it billow out behind me. Naked, I returned through the trees and bushes to the property. I happened to look up and noticed how high the sun was in the sky. Had I really been gone so long?

I entered the house. Silence. There was no evidence of breakfast.

“Hastings,” I called.

No reply.

I walked to our bedroom.

“Hastings.”

As I approached the doorway I could see he was no longer in bed. I could also see flickering candles despite the fact it was mid-morning. The bed had been festooned with petals and buds from the flowers we grew in the front yard. Naked and erect Hastings stepped into view with an open bottle of Spencer’s wine.