David Cummings

And I refused to allow an act of recklessness to be our undoing.

So, I put the matter aside, let bygones be bygones, but I never forgot.

I kept my sights on him, ready and waiting for a slip.

The next few days passed without incident.

Howard returned to his routine, and I returned to mine.

Since I did not have a job of my own, I made sure to engage in many activities to keep myself busy.

In our backyard, I had taken to maintaining a small garden with a few flowers and some ferns, but the blueberry bushes were my primary success.

The garden was enclosed by a large stone wall, so that I could have some privacy from the gaze of our neighbors.

I was gathering a few blueberries into a small basket when Howard returned home.

Normally, I would be inside to greet him, but he was abnormally early that day.

Yet another deviation from our routine, but I could imagine that there was a reasonable explanation.

I stood from the ground as he walked out the sliding back door.

His face, as always, lit up when he saw me.

Mine did too, although it was hard to force a smile.

He pulled me into a hug.

Hmm, gardening?

I thought that my current position made that obvious, but I decided to humor him.

Yes, darling, the berries should be ripe soon.

Howard's expression turned sour.

I don't know why you choose to grow those things.