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Laughter fills the night and lightens the tone back up as Arlow smiles at me. “I stand corrected. You’re an awful person.”
Helen regards Silver. “You’re not wrong about love being used to control women and get us to sacrifice for everyone else.”
“Here comes the feminist stuff,” Leo groans. He looks over at Arlow. “We need another man to weigh in. Arlow, is love a positive or negative?”
Arlow goes quiet for a moment, and I’ll admit, I’m curious about his response. Has his last heartbreak soured him to love like it has Silver? Instead of giving a quick answer, he rubs his hand across his cheek. “Years ago, I was driving through a town in Illinois on my way back home when I ran into some storms. They kept getting worse and I couldn’t see to drive so I pulled into a little convenience store parking lot.
“Tornado sirens were blaring, and my ears started popping. The rain stopped and suddenly, there it was, not far away. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen a tornado up close, and it was a big one, surrounded by flying debris.
“The convenience store probably wasn’t a great place to shelter but it was better than my truck. People were pulling in one after the other, abandoning their cars and running for cover. There was this young guy, not more than twenty years old, who parked near me, and we ran inside together. It was a close call, close enough to shatter the windows and damage the vehicles but nobody got hurt.
It was terrifying, of course, but more than the roar, the sirens, the screams and broken glass…better than my fear in that instant, I remember that guy. The panic in his voice as he announced, ‘I love you all. I love everyone.’ He came in alone. Didn’t know a soul in that place, but in that moment when he thought it might be the last, that was how he felt. So strongly that he kept repeating it. ‘I love everyone.’”
Our eyes meet across the fire as he finishes, “I think love is what we are at our core before the world puts its hands on us. I don’t know if it’s negative or positive or somewhere in-between, but it’s human. It’s what we do, what we’re best at.”
Everyone has fallen silent listening to his story, and he seems to realize it, giving a sheepish shrug. “Anyway.”
Helen smiles over at him. “I’ll take an artist’s view of love any day.”
Arlow is the first to leave, after giving me a hug and telling me how happy he is that I’m back. The party breaks up not long after and everyone finds a place to sleep—Freya and Leo in the RV, Silver and Calvin in my living room while I share my bed with Helen.
Despite our late night, everyone is up early since they’re eager to get on the road to go home. There are lots of hugsall around, and Helen pulls me aside for a last piece of advice. “Arlow seems like a good man. I understand why he has you tied up in knots. Just keep something in mind. The sweet, artistic, deep thinking types aren’t always as soft as they appear. They love hard and that can make a person do almost anything.”
“He doesn’t love me.”
Her smile brushes aside my argument. “Just a bit of advice. See you next year.”
Over the next two days, I put my new plan to get a life in motion. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past months, it’s how much I enjoy nature and the peace it brings me. I’m taking that into account with my search for hobbies. Some videos on homesteading have also piqued my interest. With the WIFI out temporarily and questionable service on my cell when I’m home, videos and online research aren’t possible, but that’s okay. I’ve been meaning to visit the local library and they have plenty of books on gardening. On a whim, I pick up another on keeping chickens. I wonder how Arlow would feel about having chickens for neighbors? Or maybe a few goats.
If I start learning now, I should be ready to try my hand at growing some vegetables this spring. The kind librarian informs me that they have classes on gardening and canning at the community center starting in March which sounds like a great option. Before I leave, I also sign up to attend a bi-weekly poetry appreciation club. It’ll be fun to study poems along with others who love them.
My last stop is a gym where I become a member and take a dance fitness class that is so much fun. I can’t wait to go back. I’m on my way to my car to meet Silver for a movie when she calls me.
“Hey, uh…raincheck. I’m at the hospital with Mom.”
“What? Is she okay?”
“Better than Gary is going to be when I get my hands on him!” Mona shouts in the background.
“She tripped over a stepstool at work this morning and fell. Broke her knee and her arm. Her knee is going to require surgery.” I can hear the stress and exhaustion in her voice.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Have you been at the hospital all day?”
“Since about six this morning. They’ve casted her arm and leg, and we’re waiting for insurance to approve a wheelchair.”
“What can I do to help? Do you need me to bring you anything? Help at the diner?”
“Thanks, but I’ve got that covered.”
“Let me bring you two some food at least.”
“I won’t argue with that,” Silver sighs. After some discussion, I hang up and swing by a restaurant to pick up some BBQ.
Mona looks awful when I locate her hospital room. Gary stands nearby, holding flowers and a box of chocolates. “Oh no, your dominant arm too,” I remark, as Silver gets her food ready for her.
“I can punch just fine with my left,” she says, glowering at Gary. Considering how many times she told him to keep that stool under the counter and not inside the kitchen door, I can’t blame her. It’s hard not to laugh at the look on his face. He’s out of his element, standing there like he’s just shown up for a date.
Silver pulls me out into the hall to give the two of them a minute. “Is she going to be okay?”
