Sunshine Valley

What have you been working on?

When I thought about an answer for this prompt, I suddenly came up with a whole list of things I’ve been working on. A painting that I posted a picture of today. Sawing up the tree that blew down in my yard. All kinds of stuff on KDP. And of course, me. A constant work in progress.

But the big winner: the next installment of my story Sunshine Valley. I hope you enjoy.

Sunshine Valley

Do we have it right?

     Evie sat with her knees under her chin, hugging herself. Dillon had built a small fire. Her mother’s tombstone glittered in her peripheral vision. Her house was right there but he thought out here might be better. Sometimes being outside was therapeutic. 

     Her voice was dry when she spoke, “do we have it wrong?”

     He sat down at her feet, “about?” 

     “What if the things we believe are wrong?” She sniffed, “what did I ever do to that woman who spouts her Christianity”

     “What happened?” 

     “You should never spend the night. I should fork over a copy of my financial statements and dig out my baptism records.” She sniffed, “that’s what it boils down to. I think she lives on her front porch. Nosy.”

     Dillon didn’t know what to say right off the top of his head. Then spuddered, “she said that in private?”

     “Oh no, in the open meeting.”

     “What are you gonna do?”

     “I want to go over there and ram my fist down her throat.” She sighed. “Done crying. Hurt. Tired. I’m so tired of fighting. Ever thing I’ve ever done seems like a fight.” A deep breath escaped her, “I know that isn’t Jesus talkin’. It is Satan using ignorance to get to me. Now he can add a gaze of mistrust and embarrassment. How is that loving like Jesus?” She pointed angrily toward the Ledbetter’s. “What would you do?”

     What to say? He searched his mind. “‘I have never assisted the sun materially in his rising’.  – Maybe?”

     A big smile lit up her face, “look at you.”

     “I payed some attention.”

     She laughed. “You are amazin’. Maybe I should practice Transcendentalism instead of Christianity?”

     “I don’t think that would make you..” Happy wasn’t the right word. Complete? Content? “Faith has always been a big piece of your life.” She moved to where she could lay her head on his shoulder, facing her house. Her mother’s stone at her back. He hugged her up, “‘I will weave baskets. It is a thing I can do.’”

  “Thank you.” It startled him when she leaned back up. He didn’t want her to move. “I’m sorry.” Now he was confused. “For puttin’ you in this situation. People are gonna talk about you now. Question your morality and ethics. All because you have chosen to care for this failed human experiment.” She fell back into him sobbing. 

     A ping of pain raced through him. Here goes nothin’. He took a deep breath. “Failed human experiment?” 

     “Nothing I do is right. Ever decision I’ve made has been wrong.”

      Was her lying here in his arms right now wrong? “I’m sorry you feel that way.” His voice was flat and dry. 

     “You and dad.”

     Now he liked the sound of that. His heart ran away with his mouth, “I know how we can fix that.”

     Was he saying what she thought he was saying? She rose up out of his arms, studying his face. IF they were on the same page, it wasn’t a bad idea. It was terrifying. Not in a Doug kinda way. In a, I’m 16 all over again, kinda way. 

*If you’d like to start from the beginning,

Sunshine Valley