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“The better to smite yourselves. No churches. What about the Abbey we were looking at last night. Hiking trails, a garden, it’s a good day trip since we’ll be leaving in the morning. We have all day, and then some,” I say, grinning.
“Tintern Abbey?” Noah asks, coming up alongside us. “It shows its part of a Heritage Walk? I’m down.”
“We could frolic in the woods, my queen?” Leave it to Abel to turn something nice into something icky in one sentence. “We might scare off the wildlife,” he teases her.
I release her arm and loop mine with Noah as the two go back and forth. At the car, I slide in and go back to looking at the Heritage walking trails on my phone. Today will be fun for sure.
“So according to this site, the Tintern Abbey is a Cistercian abbey that was founded back in the 1200’s.” I turn to look at Abel and Brenna who are in the backseat. “It was used ‘til the 60’s according to what I just read.”
“1200’s. Like Robin Hood times?” Abel perks up in his seat.
“Maybe?” I shrug. “Robin Hood was somewhere between the 12th and 14th century. There are conflicting statements there. But I’m gonna say yes so that you pay attention.” I laugh softly.
“Castles and men with big swords, yes please,” Brenna croons.
“I’ve got a big sword for you.” He leans in and kisses her so I turn around.
“Yuck.”
Noah’s chuckle draws my attention. “What?” I ask.
“You should have expected that,” he indicates toward the backseat.
“I did. They are nothing if not predictable.”
“Says the woman I could hear screaming through the walls last night.” Brenna, the traitor, sits up, leaning in between us from the backseat. The huge, wicked smile on her face makes my cheeks blush so hot, I’m sure I am on fire. Kill me now. Just put me out of my misery. Stunned silence is all I have.
“If you had time to listen through walls, your husband is falling down on the job,” Noah shoots back without hesitation.
“Whoa, I am very capable of handling my woman, bro.”
“Uh huh,” Noah grins, winking over at me.
Yikes, just kill me now. These three are trying to kill me. It is just one, then two and now… Oh yeah, even my husband is in on the ‘how bad can we embarrass Mara’ fun. He’ll pay for it later.
“I could off you all and walk away a very rich woman…” Muttering to myself, I look out the window, ignoring them all as laughter fills the car.
By the time we park and get out, my embarrassment is almost gone. Being overheard…it wigs me out. I don’t know why. If they could hear me, had anyone else? Is she just saying that she did? Ugh, why do I let this neurotic crap get to me?
I’m nuts, that's why. It’s a given. I blame this on Brenna. Yeah, it's totally her fault. She’s scarred me for life with her years of crazy.
“Come on, heffa, stop pouting, and let's have some fun.”
I give in and walk with her toward the signs. With a shift of my arm, I get her attention. “Did…never mind.” Shaking myself, I chuckle. Jesus.You’re a married woman, get over yourself.“No breaking into your husband’s pants in public, okay? This is a family place.” By the time the words are out, I am grinning like a doofus. We really do love to torture each other. Guess it’s a good thing she loves me as much as I love her.
“I make no promises, you know me.”
Laughing, I nod. “I do. That's why you got the warning. If you go to jail here, I’m gonna leave ya there. Comprende?”
“Yeah, yeah.” She too is laughing now.
We make our way toward the fellas, who know to give us a moment together after…my utter embarrassment. I will work on that part of me.
I watch a group of elders stroll into the gardens before us. They are holding hands, smiling, and having a private talk. Okay, so it melts my cold little heart.
The sight… That could be us in forty years. Older, gray haired, wrinkled, and still so deep in love that it will hurt to be apart from each other. Then there are Brenna and me. We made a pact as kids to never leave each other. We will be the ones haunting the beach, putting out bonfires, stealing towels, and any number of crazy things after death. Cackling the whole time, mind you.
“You all right, love?” Noah asks, his voice just behind me.
